Marie hands over the reins of Duncton Parish Council

Marie, who has served on the parish council for some 14 years, has handed the reins to Peter Thomas who is also a member of the village hall committee.

Marie and her husband John are now set to take on a new challenge renovating Marsh Farm in Graffham and establishing a new garden there.

“I feel quite strongly that if you are doing work on the parish council you need to live in the community,” said Marie, “I am really happy Peter has taken on the challenge. I know he will be a very effective chairman.”

Marie joined the parish council not long after she and John moved to Duncton 16 years ago.

“We were having some work done at the house and John Harper who was retiring from the parish council was the builder and he introduced me to the parish council.”

There has been much achieved during her years as chairman and among the high points, said Marie were the safety measures introduced along the dangerous A285 through the village after a vigorous campaign by the parish council.

The A285 from Petworth to Chichester including Duncton has been named Britain’s most dangerous stretch of road by the Road Safety Foundation. Among the measures were the 30mph speed limit through the village and double white lines on the Duncton Straight.

“Another high point was the squashing of the waste recycling plans at Duncton Chalk Quarry,” said Marie which was a victory after another village campaign.

She has also enjoyed being involved in the organisation of community events such as the village fire works.

Duncton also held a successful Queen’s Golden Jubilee celebration and a moving commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of the first world war.

Among the low points she said were ongoing frustration with Heath End sand quarry: “They now have a licence to extract so hopefully they will stick to the terms and conditions,” said Marie.

She will continue as chairman of the Lavington Park Federation of Graffham Infant and Duncton Junior Schools.

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