Tom Langdon-Davies is the Chairman of the Devon Towns Forum, and is currently the Chairman of the South West Market & Coastal Towns Network and was the vice chairman of the Market and Coastal Towns Association until June this year. Tom was the chairman of the Devon Rural Renaissance Action Group leading up to the successful bid to enable the Devon non objective two areas to get funding and join up with Devon Renaissance after their highly successful first year.  Tom has twenty years commercial experience at Director and Chairman Level in the food industry where he created an internationally recognised brand and has worked in the oil industry overseas.  He has coached on a cutting edge international leadership development course and is a co-founder of BDM Business Coaching, where he enjoys coaching high flyers in both the public and private sectors to achieve more and suffer less.  Tom has a keen interest in Environmental Issues and in his spare time has worked with the Samaritans.

Bob is currently a District Councillor on East Devon District Council, Vice Chairman of the Devon Towns Forum, Chairman of Honiton MCTi, Chairman of Honiton Development Trust and Vice President of Honiton Chamber of Commerce and was voted Honiton Citizen of the Year 2007.  Bob has been a regular attendee at DTF and the previous Devon Chairs Forum from its inception in 2001.  Bob has a strong background in business and is currently working in the Tourism Sector with extensive retail experience and local knowledge. Bob is a keen sportsman and recognises the importance of good communication and is keen to support the Forum and foster good community relationships.

Roger Grainger is the Devon County Council representative on the Devon Towns Forum.  Roger, a chartered secretary, is a senior officer in the Community and Strategy Team which has lead responsibility for the Devon Sustainable Community Strategy and the Local Area Agreement.  His Team also contribute to other community plans developed throughout the County, covering District, Town/MCTI and Parish areas.  Roger has a policy development responsibility for localism, with a particular focus on working effectively with Devon's Town and Parish Councils.  He has been with the County Council for over 21 years and has substantial experience of managing a range of corporate projects and in facilitating the political management of the Authority. Roger is a firm believer in the benefits of partnership working and in the importance of bottom-up community planning and locally-led regeneration initiatives.  Roger is keen to ensure good and effective connectivity between local and strategic community planning. He is particularly interested in how partnerships that develop local community or regeneration action plans engage effectively with their stakeholders and secure a consensus on priorities.

Brian  Lowe is the DTF Area Representative for Southern Devon. Brian has been involved in Market Town Planning since the early days of the MCTi Programme and as Chairman of the Kingsbridge and Salcome Area Partnership was a regular attendee of the then Devon Chairs Forum.  Since then Brian has remained actively involved with KASAP and a keen supporter of the Devon Towns Forum. Brian brings considerable experience and knowledge of Market Town Planning and Community Engagement to the role of DTF Board member.

Christopher Kirwin is the DTF Western Area Representative. Christopher joined the DTF board a year ago as the Western Area Representative and has been involved with the Tavistock MCTI almost from the outset and has been the Chairman of TAVI MCTi, now know as TaVi  the Tavistock and Villages Initiative since January 2003.  Christopher is also Chairman of the Tavistock Music & Arts Festival Ltd. and Company Secretary of the Tavistock Youth Cafe Ltd., both companies that were set up following initial funding by TAVI/Tavistock MCTI.   Christopher is also Vice Chairman of Tavistock Forward, Chairman of the West Devon Joint Partnership (of market Towns) and has been a keen supporter of Devon Towns Forum events.

Jane Mills is the DTF Area Representative for the Northern Area of Devon. Jane is a business woman living and working in Fremington in the Torridge District. Jane is also the Clerk for Fremington Parish Council. Although not a Market Town Fremington is one of the largest parishes with some 11,000 inhabitants and with close proximity to Barnstaple in the North and Bideford to the south is ideally situated to represent the area. Jane has been a keen supporter of Forum events and training opportunities. Jane also attended and supported the Bridges event held in South Molton and is keen to develop links with other partnerships in the area.

Geoff Lee is the DTF Area Representative for the Torridge Area of Devon. Geoff is a District Councillor with Torridge District Council and is a ward member for Torrington Town Council.  Geoff also Chairs the Torrington Area Committee and is a Trustee for Great Torrington CDT and is Vice Chairman of Torrington and Bude Citizens Advice Bureau.  Geoff is interested in strengthening links between different Local Community Partnerships including the Torridge Market Town Chair’s Group, the Local Strategic Partnership and the Agencies. Geoff is committed to improving local conditions and services for the whole community and sees the Devon Towns Forum as great way of helping to connect people.

Dr. Fern Clarke is the DTF Area Representative for Mid Devon and is the representative for three Mid Devon MCTi groups: Crediton, Cullompton and Tiverton on the Mid Devon Local Strategic partnership. Fern has been a keen supporter and attendee of DTF events and meetings. From March 2005 to February 2007, Fern was the Community Co-ordinator for the Exe Valley Plan the Community Strategic Plan for the Tiverton area published in February 2007. Fern was formerly a teacher in Tiverton and then a lecturer at Exeter University. She is currently active on the management of Tiverton Civic Society and Devon Conservation Forum, and is a lay representative on the management structures of the Diocese of Exeter. She is a firm supporter of the importance of community strategic planning in articulating and achieving the aspirations of local community groups, civic and ecclesiastical, and in the need to identify the training needs of these groups to enable them to achieve their goals.

A vacancy has arrisen following the retirement of Cllr Vernon Whilock from the DTF Board earlier this year. If you would like to know more about the DTF or wish to stand as Area Representative for the Eastern Devon Area please contact the DTF.  Cllr Bob Buxton is covering the position at the present time.  Many thanks to Vernon for all his past and future support.