Councillor Roger Davies has decided to leave the Council after spending over a decade poring over planning applications, helping to keep Chaldon's footpaths in good shape, leading on two village plans and guiding the Village Council to Quality Council status in 2007. He chaired the Council with great distinction between 2004 and 2011.

Recently he has fought doggedly to improve safety for children attending St Peter and St Paul School by championing the pavement extension in Rook Lane. The project is due to start later this month.

His wife, Linda, recalls that when discussions were taking place in 2000 about the Chaldon Association taking a new shape as the Chaldon Parish Council, Roger had been the only member to oppose the move but had said "I had better just join it to see what's going on".

From then on he has spent a large part of his life in local government and community affairs, always with the interests of Chaldon at the heart of his activities.

Looking back Roger said: "The highlights for me were being one of the first three councillors in a brand new council, the pride of being given the Quality Council award by the Lord Lieutenant of Surrey and the recognition it gave Chaldon.

Also high on the list are our first Village Plan 2007-2011 and the progress made to enact it and the Burial Ground Project when we restored the resting place of former patients of St Lawrence's Hospital and ultimately took it over from the NHS in 2011. Throughout my time as a councillor I have always been aware of our special position as a non-party-political council focused solely on the needs and concerns of Chaldon and I hope that will continue.

I would encourage local people to get involved in the Village Council as though we have limited powers, the Council is respected by both the District and County Councils and can influence the actions of its more powerful partners."

Roger has been a very active 'hands-on' councillor in the old tradition who has led from the front and has been a dependable colleague.

We will miss him greatly and hope that he will enjoy his retirement tending his garden, cycling and walking with Linda and having fun with his grand children.