Parish Council Leader breaks predecessor's record.
There've been celebrations this week as Huish Episcopi's parish council leader reaches a record-breaking milestone. Shirley Nicholas, pictured above some years ago when she heard the then local vicar had sold the church hall on e-bay and bought a derelict pub in Langport with the money, has now chaired the local authority for 663 years, 7 months and 2 days. It means that Dame Shirley - first elected the week the Langport Arms went on the market back in 1352 - is the longest serving holder of the title beating several of her ancestors.
Unveiling a suspect hanging basket display at Courtfield yesterday, the council leader thanked well-wishers for their messages of support. Moments later, her partner - a dodgy Somerset Prince - lived up to his reputation for speaking his mind and asked if the Courtfield development was still all council housing and if that meant they were all on benefits. But the gaffe didn't ruin the day and Dame Shirley, waving serenely to the crowds, got back in her stretched limousine which - on its way out of Courtfield - accidentally drove over Langport Town Council Leader Janet Seaton's foot.
For more details, a close-up of the look on Councillor Seaton's face and the chance to win souvenir plates of Dame Shirley - see the next edition of the award-winning local magazine Levelling Langport.
Above: Huish Episcopi Parish Council Vice-chairman Graham Lock, photographed as he watched Dame Shirley's limousine driving over Councillor Seaton's foot.
