Married to Margaret and with two daughters and two grandchildren, Mr Westmancott said he was looking forward to taking part in council decisions and working for the good of the area.

He has been resident in Fakenham for 21 years and before joining the school was an RAF air frame technician stationed at bases in West Raynham, Swanton Morley and Coltishall.

He already plays an important role in the community by regularly winding up the church tower clock to ensure it keeps to time. He and his wife are also bell ringers at the parish church.

There remains one vacancy on the council and interested applicants living in the town should get in touch with town clerk Christine Harrow at Fakenham Connect.

Be quick, though, for Mrs Harrow is to retire and will step down from her post at the end of this month.

She said how much she had enjoyed the job and its great variety of challenges over the past six and a half years.

Tributes were paid to Mrs Harrow at the May council meeting with outgoing mayor Brenda Coldrick saying she was sad to learn of her impending departure and wished her a happy retirement.

Mrs Coldrick presented flowers to the clerk and also her deputy, Jan Perfect, who will step into the clerk's role until the vacancy is filled.

Mrs Harrow intends to take some time out for a couple of months and is looking forward to the birth of her seventh grandchild. She is planning to retrain at City College and also has her name down for an allotment close to her Dereham home.