COUNCILLOR Bruce Heywood is taking up the role of West Somerset Council chairman in the year ahead following the example set by his grandfather, who was chairman of Dulverton Town Council, at times, from 1907 to 1942.

So, in his words, he is following family footsteps in representing a part of Exmoor as a 'home-grown' councillor.

Cllr Heywood has represented the Dulverton and District ward for the past five years and takes on the chairmanship from Cllr Stuart Dowding who has been in post for the past two years.

Born in Withypool while his family was farming Cloutsham on the Holnicote Estate, Cllr Heywood was raised in Porlock Vale.

He spent four years at school in Minehead, going on to senior school and agricultural college before farming in North Devon and East Yorkshire. He and his family returned to the Exmoor area, buying a livestock farm near Dulverton.

He returned to his roots as generations of his family have farmed in the Barle Valley. He has written a biography of his father, entitled A Singular Exmoor Man, and enjoys oils and watercolour painting - when time allows.

He hunted regularly with foxhounds and the Devon and Somerset Staghounds and owned and trained a number of point-to-point horses and won the prestigious Grimthorpe Gold Cup twice in succession.

He said: “I am looking forward to the challenges ahead – I am a link in the chain, carrying the flame during my year in office.”

The chain of office was officially handed over by Cllr Dowding at West Somerset Council’s annual meeting on Wednesday May 11. Cllr Rosemary Woods was elected as vice chairman of the authority.