THE EARLY DAYS OF WEST DEVON

West Devon District was established as a result of the Local Government Act 1972 and was the successor local authority to the then Tavistock Rural District Council, Okehampton Rural District Council and Okehampton Borough Council.

Borough status came about on 27th April 1982 by the granting of a Royal Charter by Her Majesty The Queen, although it was almost a year later that Prince Charles and Princess Diana personally presented the Charter to the then Mayor, Cllr Mrs Jo Hawkins.  

Prince Charles is reported to have said “I am delighted to have this opportunity to present the Royal Charter to West Devon Borough Council, even though regrettably it is almost a year late, and that I suspect is more my fault than anybody else's.  I just couldn't get here at the right time.” (Evening Herald, March 1983)

WHAT THE CHARTER SAYS

 ELIZABETH THE SECOND by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of Our other Realms and Territories Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith:

TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, GREETING!

WHEREAS certain new local government areas known as districts were established by the Local Government Act 1972

AND WHEREAS a Petition praying for the grant of a Charter conferring upon the district of West Devon the status of a borough has been presented unto Us by the council of the said district

AND WHEREAS We are pleased by the advice of Our Privy Council to grant a Charter for such purpose

NOW THEREFORE KNOW YE  that We, by virtue of Our Prerogative Royal and in pursuance of the Local Government Act 1972 and of all other powers and authorities enabling Us in that behalf, have granted and declared and by these Presents do grant and declare that the district of West Devon shall have the status of a borough.

This Our Charter shall take effect upon the twenty-seventh day of April, One thousand nine hundred and eighty-two

IN WITNESS whereof We have caused these Our Letters to be made Patent

WITNESS Ourself at Westminster the twenty-sixth day of April in the thirty-first year of Our Reign

BY WARRANT UNDER THE QUEEN'S SIGN MANUAL