RUGBY supporter and coach Dave Farrow takes up his new job as clerk to Wellington Town Council on Monday (November 30).

Born and brought up in Surrey, Dave has lived in and around Wellington and Taunton for the last 32 years, the last 13 in Wellington itself. He is joining the town council following a 35-year career in local government, firstly with the London Borough of Croydon.

He has spent the last 32 years with Somerset County Council where, since 1994, he has delivered and managed support services for schools and vulnerable children and young people and, for the last six months, he has led the council’s support for schools during the Covid-19 crisis.

“I am really pleased to be joining the town council at what is an interesting yet challenging time,” he said this week. “While the core of the job is to make sure the council runs smoothly and efficiently there are huge opportunities on the horizon to develop the role and the work of the council.

“For example, there will be opportunities coming out of the potential reorganisation of local government in the council, emphasising the importance of developing the role of town and parish councils with an expectation that they will take on more in relation to the delivery of local services.

“This, along with other projects like the proposal for the new railway station, can only be good for the town. Clearly there are challenges, including those brought about by Covid which we need to work through, and I look forward to working with all partners in the town and in the district and county councils to ensure that we are collectively making the best of the resources to help those most in need and to make sure the residents of Wellington have a town they can be proud of.”

In his spare time Dave is a big rugby fan supporting Exeter Chiefs and, having coached mini and junior rugby at Wellington Rugby Club where his two sons play, he has taken on the role of chairman of the Minis and Juniors Section.

Going back to his roots he also supports AFC Wimbledon – ‘the only true heirs to Wimbledon FC in the Football League’.