A NEW plaque honoured a former Stratton councillor who spent five decades serving his parish, his town and his county.

John Foley retired last year after he and his wife Eileen spent a combined total of 90 years serving their community.

A permanent tribute to Mr Foley's tireless commitment to public service is now installed in a new orchard dedicated to the entire family at the allotments off St Philip's Road.

Mr and Mrs Foley could not attend the unveiling due to illness, but John's daughter-in-law Coun Alison Foley said a few words in front of her fellow councillors.

Visibly moved by the occasion, she told the Adver afterwards: "It's a great honour for him to be recognised as a councillor.

"He has a daughter called Jacqueline and he had a son John, who died suddenly last year, who was a parish councillor as well.

"I'm the only councillor left to continue carrying on the family name, and I'm enjoying every minute of it.

"You could ask Mr Foley anything about Stratton St Margaret and he would tell you, he's a lovely man.

"He enjoyed doing his parish work. If you had any problems, you went to him and he would help as best he could.

"When I first started, he was there to say 'this is how it works' and I'm continuing that - maybe not for 50 years, but as long as I can.

"The orchard will be here for people to come and help themselves. That's what it's here for, that's what we do, we look after the people in our parish."

Mr Foley served as a parish councillor along with his wife, late son and daughter-in-law, as a Swindon borough councillor with Eileen, as Wiltshire councillor for nine years, and as a keen scoutmaster for Stratton St Margaret.

At the orchard opening, Coun Tim Page spoke on behalf of the parish council as he praised John's lifelong passion for supporting people in the area.

He said: "We are opening this orchard to commemorate and celebrate the service of the Foley family over more than 50 years at all levels.

"He served at all levels, and four family members have served as parish councillors. Truly fantastic work from the Foley family.

"It's totally unparalleled and won't be equalled in our lifetimes, it's unique. It's a record of service that needed to be remembered and will be through this orchard, which will be a pleasure for hopefully generations to come."

When he retired in 2019, Mr Foley said: "I’ve had a very happy time on the parish council, it’s been so lovely."