OUTGOING town clerk Kathryn Hemensley has said it has been an ‘honour and a privilege’ to serve Wellington for the past two years.

She oversaw her final full Wellington Town Council earlier this month and via Zoom conferencing technology thanked everyone for their support.

“It’s been my first taste of working for a council and when you hear the word ‘clerk’ you think of a nice admin job,” she said. “But the past two years has been far from that!”

She added: “I have worked hard and learnt a lot, and it has been a real honour and privilege to work with all the different councillors, and all the people and groups around the town who all look to make it a better place.”

Ms Hemensley said the past six months and the restrictions brought in because of the Covid-19 pandemic had thrown up unexpected challenges.

But she added: “I am proud of how we have all stepped up to the bar to work for the town and support those most in need.”

Ms Hemensley said she was pleased Wellington had not been affected too badly by the Covid-19 pandemic and added that an ‘immense community spirit’ existed within the town.

She is leaving Wellington to take up a similar role at Portland Town Council.

The Mayor, Cllr Janet Lloyd, thanked the town clerk for her work over the past two years and wished her well for the future, sentiments echoed by other councillors.

Interviews to find her successor were held earlier this month and the council received 27 ‘expressions of interest’ with ten candidates following through to submit an application.

An interview panel consisted of the Mayor, along with the Deputy Mayor, Cllr Mark Lithgow, and councillors Vivienne Stock-Williams and John Thorne.

The Mayor announced on Monday evening that Dave Farrow had been selected and had accepted the job as new town clerk – and he sat in on the meeting as an observer.

Mr Farrow is set to start with the council on November 30.