Opinion: A new chapter for Active Torridge

It has been another busy couple of weeks at the council. One notable event was the appointment of a new chief operating officer for Active Torridge, who will build on past success and bring his own energy and fresh ideas to the organisation.

As Leader of the council I am appointed as chairman of the board at Active Torridge, a company that we set up to run the council’s leisure facilities.

I hope that you saw our recent announcements about the appointment of Chris Keeble as the new COO for Active Torridge.

Chris is a highly experienced professional with more than 25 years of experience within the leisure industry. He has managed a number of large facilities across Devon and Cambridgeshire, which has given him a wealth of knowledge and expertise in the field.

In his new role, Chris will be responsible for overseeing the daily operations of Active Torridge, ensuring the provision of high-quality leisure services to the local community.

This is a key appointment and I’m sure that Chris will maintain the successes of Active Torridge and our efforts to improve the well-being and quality of life for residents and visitors alike.

I don’t usually like to finish on a sombre note but a couple of weeks ago, the council was shocked by the news that Councillor Peter Christie had sadly passed away. 

Above: Peter Christie and his partner. Credit: Graham Hobbs

Peter was first elected to the council in 1991 and had been an ever-present figure since then. He was always willing to go the extra mile to help his constituents and was well-liked and respected by his colleagues and those he represented.

It has been heart-warming to read the numerous tributes to Peter since his passing. They were full of words of respect and admiration because Peter was a dedicated and tireless councillor who served his community with passion and commitment.

His friendship, vast local knowledge and great experience will be sorely missed.