It’s been two years since we wrote our first column for the Sidmouth Herald.

Seventy two more have followed and our thanks go to the editors and everyone at the paper for the opportunity given to spread the word when nothing else was available to let visitors know that Ottery not only has reason enough to enchant us with its history and traditions but also had what we call its own “golden era”.

Ten years spanning from 2008 to 2018 in which Ottery flourished with events, developments, new businesses and achievements that laid the foundations for what future generations of residents and local authorities could work for and enjoy. Let’s go back in history, we may have overseen some information, but after reviewing this exhaustive list, it couldn’t do more than prove our point.

To start with, records were broken when the 2008 re-election of Mayor Glyn Dobson and Ian Holmes as Deputy Mayor created a partnership that lasted until 2018 making them the longest-serving Mayor and Deputy Mayor in Ottery Town Council history. Likewise, the first female foreign national was elected Deputy Mayor and Chairman of the Regeneration Working Group and another foreign national and fellow council member, received a 2018 League of Mercy award in recognition of her services promoting health and wellbeing.

Community involvement during this period brought considerable initiatives to the town. In 2009 the Coleridge Memorial Trust launched a campaign to establish a memorial to Coleridge that created the Kubla-Kahn and the Coleridge life-size statue cast in bronze projects. A food bank sets up; the outdoor gym opens; Ottery becomes a “Walkers are Welcome” and “Plastic Free” town; the Food Festival takes place for the first time; the Street Market returns and 700 signatures back the museum’s new site.

An efficiently managed Council bestowed “Quality Status” in 2012, provided the necessary facilities to meet all the demands of residents by supporting the development of Strawberry Lane, home of the Ottery Petanque Club, LED walks and the future MUGA; also championed the Coleridge Bridge & Cycleway, winner of the Green Apple Environment Award in 2011, and Adult Education classes using the Council facilities.

Equally, in that period, the sale of the Silver Street premises secured the purchase of the Old Convent which accommodates the present Council Offices and the Police Station; the old Station is handed to the Council and the Youth Club, the Health Scheme plus the Men’s Shed operated from there. The continuity of the Allotment provision was secured and the purchase the old NatWest bank, guaranteed a new library, Information Office and public toilets. The refurbishing of the Old Town Hall allowed it to accommodate a Museum and Heritage Centre and the First Traffic study produced by the Regeneration Group and the Neighbourhood Plan was ratified.

The love for sports in Ottery clearly showed in the events happening during this period. A community-initiated skatepark opens after 10 years of hard work. The Tour of Britain comes for the first time in 2016 and returns two years later, followed by the First King & Queen of the Mountain and Bike Fest in 2017.

There were moments of great community pride and also great sadness. In 2011, King’s School achieved academy status; Ottery Reformed church marks its 350th anniversary; our popular pub The Volunteer gets an excellence award; a newborn beaver is seen on the River Otter; the Queen’s Jubilee, Coronation and 90th Birthday provide an opportunity to celebrate together as a community. Sadly we also lost many respected members of our community, such as Tony & Viv Abbott, George Handsford and Phyllis Baxter.

In May 2023, Ottery starts a new stage of that valuable collaboration between residents and local authorities under the slogan "all for the benefit of our town". We hope we all recapture those golden years when significant achievements took place and continue to make Ottery the place we all are proud of and love to call home.