Your Town Councillors

Cllr. Mark Reddaway (Chair/Mayor) 

I was born in Okehampton and have lived locally all of my life. I attended Hatherleigh Primary School, Chumleigh community college, then Bicton College of Agriculture.

My family owned a Beef and Sheep farm near Winkleigh, and In 1993 following the death of my father I changed career and started working for West Devon Meat in Hatherleigh. I moved to Hatherleigh in 1989 and a few years later, bought a house in South Street where I brought up my family with my partner Helen.

In 1996 I attended Salford University and qualified as a Meat Inspector for the Meat Hygiene Service. In 2000 the Meat Hygiene Service was integrated with the newly formed Food Standards Agency, where I have held various managerial and enforcement roles throughout the Southwest. In 2001, I held a frontline position in the Foot and Mouth outbreak working alongside many Government agencies.

Outside of work, I am involved in various community activities and events in Hatherleigh. I Chaired Hatherleigh Carnival for nearly 20 years, implementing regulatory changes in policing, safety, logistics and procedures. I was also involved with the building of numerous family floats. I played in a Rock band for many years performing at Shebfest, Exeter Chiefs, Hatherleigh Festival etc. I played rugby for North Tawton and Okehampton 1 st teams.

I have recently taken on a new challenge and am enjoying being one of the oldest ever trainee Bell Ringers for Hatherleigh Church. I am a member of the Christmas Lights team, Hatherleigh Players (backstage) and still support the Tar barrel teams and Hatherleigh Carnival.

I have two grown-up daughters and four grandchildren, who all like to be part of the special spirit Hatherleigh holds. I am fully committed to building the best future for Hatherleigh by embracing change, supporting local businesses and initiatives, enhancing public services and facilities, and making Hatherleigh inclusive for everyone.

Cllr. Rachel Laycock (Deputy Chair/Mayor)

I was brought up in Exbourne but moved away when I was twenty, lived abroad and around Great Britain. I decided to move back to the South West when I got divorced since I felt this was a safe place to bring up my children, it was a place that I knew well and I was close to my family.

I chose not to move back to Exbourne since I had felt that I needed somewhere slightly larger and since I had fond memories of Hatherleigh from my childhood (Brownies and Guides ) It seemed the best place to move to. I have now lived in Hatherleigh for twelve years, in that time I have been on the Festival Committee and I ran the senior section of the Girl Guides until I had to disband it. My children are now grown up but both return as much as they can since they both have grown to love the people and the town of Hatherleigh and surrounding area.

Before I moved back I had been a councillor in the village where I lived and felt it was a worthwhile position. I chose to join Hatherleigh Town Council because Hatherleigh is going to change over the next few years and I feel strongly about it. We need to have a town that can move forward but keep everything safe that we hold dear, not lose the community spirit that we have but give future generations something that they can be thankful of. I hope as a Town Councillor I will be able to help with future plans and strategies that the people of Hatherleigh will be grateful for.

Cllr. Deb Laing-Trengove   (ex- Chair/Mayor 2003 – 2004, 2008)

I was born in Hatherleigh and have lived here for most of my life. I moved to London in my late teens-early twenties where I worked for a recording studio, then a lighting company before returning to college to take A-levels at Kilburn Polytechnic. After returning to Hatherleigh I married and had my daughter and later returned to education to study for a degree in Archaeology at Exeter University. After graduating I worked with my sister and brother in law at the Paper Shop in Market Street, then joined an archaeological company, where I specialized in the recording of historic buildings. Since 2014 I have been self employed as a Historic Building Consultant.

I first joined the council in 2001; holding the office of mayor in 2003 and 2008, but left after the death of my mother in 2009. Prior to that I had sat on the Steering Committee for the Hatherleigh Area Project, where I helped to set up the Youth Group. I was on the Festival Committee for 11 enjoyable years, during that time holding the positions of Secretary or Chair.

I am firmly rooted here and since the death of my father, Tim Laing, in 1989 I have sat on the  Moor Management Committee, as hereditary owner of the moor. My family has owned the moor since 1791, as Lords of the Manor, and since the 1950s the land and finances have been managed by a committee of Potboilers, which is now a major local funding body for local projects.

I am also involved with or a member of a range of Hatherleigh groups and clubs including Free Range Art, the History Society, Hatherleigh Art Group, the Badminton Club and the Film Club. I enjoy gardening and have an allotment, I am at present the Town Council representative for the Allotment Association.

Cllr. Kay Walters

Hello, I’m Richard. Born in Exeter, I grew up in a farming family in Coleford nr. Crediton. Growing up on a farm has given me some unique insights into rural life, and I have fond memories of coming to Hatherleigh market on market days with my father and grandfather to watch cattle being sold and keeping up with the latest cattle prices. 

I moved to Hatherleigh with my partner Callum Entwistle in 2020 and was struck by the remarkably strong sense of community that I found here, which was particularly evident in the way that the town responded to the Covid pandemic by mobilising volunteers to support the more vulnerable members of the community. 

Prior to moving to Hatherleigh, I lived in Winkleigh for 10 years, and driving across hatherleigh moor from Winkleigh has strangely always felt like coming home for me. My maternal grandmother and great grandmother both Hockins were born in Hatherleigh. Since joining the Hatherleigh History Society – its been lovely finding out more about the history of the Hockins and the boot and shoe making business they had on the square. 

My involvement with Hatherleigh Town Council began earlier in 2023, when I started working with fellow local residents on exploring an ambition for Hatherleigh Town Council or another organisation to lease the new market building, paved market square and car park from Kingswood Homes to properly secure its future for the town – for generations to come.  Building upon the research and business case that we put together to support this ambition, my expression of interest to join the town council was accepted and I was co-opted to the council to support the project. I was later asked by the council to form a Hatherleigh Market Working Group which I now chair and have worked hard to build a diverse team of motivated people with the right set of skills and experience to help achieve the goal securing this vital community asset for the benefit of the town and wider community. 

Cllr. Clare Kemp

I was born in Scotland and since then have lived all over the UK because my Dad was in the marines.  My first degree was in English, then from 1980 I lived on and off in Africa for a total of 25 years with my husband and 3 kids.  I started my career as a writer and illustrator in the UK, then retrained in web and film technologies.  I  got an MSc in science communications from Imperial and made documentaries across Africa about agriculture for NGOs and Governments.  After my divorce I came back to the UK and by luck found myself in Hatherleigh in 2016  because my oldest son had moved here. I am really interested in doing what I can for my adopted town, so I became a West Devon Borough Councillor.  I also got an allotment and 2 dogs and then suddenly there was the COVID lock down.

Cllr. Jake Barrs 

Hello my name is Jake. I was Born in Exeter to where I spent most of my childhood in a relatively small family. After and before leaving school I have been lucky enough to travel around the world visiting over 30 different countries through Rugby and work commitments.

I am now a skilled worker / digger driver for a medium sized Civil engineering company which has a varied customer base across the South West which keeps me very busy.

I moved to Hatherleigh with my wife and two children in 2019, this is where my wife grew up and always wanted to come home and I’m very glad she did as it is such a special place and has a great community.

Being a councillor is very new to me but it is something I am very interested in learning and helping the community where and when I can with various practical tasks around the Town.

Cllr. Sadie Harrison –  Info to be added soon

Cllr. William Turner – Info to be added soon.