LOOE'S outgoing mayor, councillor Ron Overd, has announced that a popular and well known resident of the town, Mrs Jeanne Dingle, is his choice for the town's new Citizen of the Year.
And added to the honour, the mayor elect, councillor Wally Scarah, has personally invited her to become one of his mace bearers for the new term beginning in May.
Jeanne, who says she is looking forward to her special year immensely, said she feels very humbled and proud, to receive such an honour from her own town.
She has lived in the town since the age of three, and her family name of McCreedy came from her great grandfather who came to Looe from Ireland to take up duties as the coastguard. One of his four sons became her grandfather and he had married Hannah Hearl Pengelly, from an old Looe fishing family dating back to the 17th century. By marrying her husband Alan, she entered another fishing family, the Dingles.
But the Dingles are also highly musical, and this is reflected in much of Jeanne's community work. She was responsible for the forming of The Looe Entertainers five years ago, a group which brings much pleasure to many residents, and for which Alan is the keyboard player. She is also a member of the Looe Valley Singers, and is very committed to her place of worship - Riverside United Church.
For than 20 years, Jeanne has been associated with the Old Guildhall Museum, of which she has been curator for the last three years. Mayor Overd, said the other nominees - Wesley Walke, David Jones and Ruby Aliker - were all excellent members of the community, making the final decision hard.