WEST Malvern has a new Parish Council Chairman this week.

At Monday's meeting of the Council, Cllr George Waugh was unanimously elected to succeed Dr John Raine, Chairman for the past three years.

Dr Raine had indicated his wish to step down as Parish Council Chairman after last May's elections when he was also elected as a District Councillor with MHDC, but agreed to remain in the Chair through the summer before handing over to a successor. He will however stay on as an ordinary member of the Parish Council.

George Waugh is the first native West Malvernian to be Chairman of Parish Council since it was first formed in 1986. Brought up in Malvern until he was 15, he was a career soldier, having joined the army straight from school. After wide experience, he retired from the service in 1992 with the rank of Major and returned with his wife Pauline to live at Peelers in West Malvern Road.

He is well known in the area as Chief Officer of Malvern District Age Concern and as Secretary and Show Director of Madresfield Show between '93 and '97.

West Malvern also has two new Parish Councillors following the May election when only four candidates stood for the seven seats and were therefore elected unopposed. As well as Cllr Waugh, Helen Barker of Lower Dingle and Eric Hollands for Blackheath Way were co-opted to join Cllrs Joyce Roberts (Park Road), Martin Bayliss (Lower Road), John Raine (West Malvern Road) and Colin Jack-son, also of West Malvern Road, to bring the Council up to full strength. Cllr Jackson continues as Vice Chairman.