AFTER serving the best part of 17 years on Aldermaston Parish Council, its vicechairman is stepping down.

As a hands-on councillor, Cllr Clive Vare has been instrumental in a lot of the work in the village, from helping prevent a mineral pit being put in behind the village, to helping organise Aldermaston’s celebrations for the Queen’s birthday.

At the parish councils, annual general meeting held on April 11, Cllr Vare was presented with an engraved piece of Aldermaston Pottery as a thank you for his service.

He said: “It was a really nice touch to be presented with the plate at the AGM.

“Aldermaston is such a special little village with a great little community and I am so proud to have been a part of helping create this village’s identity.”

Cllr Vare was heavily involved in being part of the Atomic Weapons Establishment local liaison committee, development of the recreation area and skate park, and his proudest moment fighting West Berkshire Council on the proposal of gravel digging near the village.

Aldermaston parish council chairman Councillor Dave Shirt praised Cllr Vare’s commitment to the village adding: “Although we are sorry to see him go, we wish to say a huge thank you to him for all the work he has undertaken on our behalf – much of it unnoticed – and wish him all the very best in the future.”