A PARISH council has elected its new chair and vice chair.

Councillor Judy Marsh was elected as chair of Bishop's Waltham Parish Council by the by fellow council members on May 10.

Judy, who was born and bred in Bishop's Waltham, spent a term as the vice-chair before taking her new post.

Her father was the local baker, and she ran a local Girl Guides group for nine years, spending 17 years working at a hardware store in Victoria Road.

Judy is keen to continue the growth of the village, supporting local independent business, including the restaurants she frequents, as well as continuing to drive the minibus.

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She said: “I am very pleased to be elected by my fellow councillors to lead the parish council this coming year. Bishop’s Waltham is a vibrant market town that is ever growing. The community is at the heart of the town and this is what makes it so special.

“I am looking forward to working with councillors and staff to support our town, focus on challenges and continue building on its successes.”

Elected as vice-chair was local business owner and council member, Don Iro.

Father-of-two Don is the CEO of Allteks, an IT company which has recently put a lot of effort into bridging the digital gap and allowing more people to access Citizen’s Advice Services during the Covid lockdowns.

He has lived in Bishop's Waltham for 16 years and is an independent governor for Solent University and a member of its audit committee, as well as a member of the strategic independent advisory group for Hampshire Constabulary.

He said: “It was a pleasant surprise to be elected as vice-chairman and it is a position that I hold with great pride. I’m looking forward to continuing to support the Parish Council over the coming year and the years that will follow.”

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