From your new Chair, Peter Crozier, following our AGM on the 21st of June 2025:
I would like to introduce myself to you as the new Constituency Chairman. I thank the executive and the members, and our MP, for suggesting that I stand.
I have farmed all my life, my mother being a farmer’s daughter and my exposure to farming via my grandfather who farmed near Sherborne, sealed my fate.
After training at Merrist Wood Agricultural College in Surrey, I managed farms for several years before taking the tenancy of a 100-acre County Council Farm in Kent. After seven years my wife and I moved to Tor Royal, a Duchy of Cornwall farm in the centre of Dartmoor – the change couldn’t have been greater!
We have lived in Devon now for 45 years.
Since retirement in 2019 I put my energy into joining the Conservative Party and then becoming a Borough Councillor for West Devon, a post I really enjoyed. Since then I have helped in elections and put more energy into volunteering my services - pounding the streets, delivering leaflets and supporting our local MP Sir Geoffrey Cox KC.
In the recent County elections, I became involved further and became agent and campaign manager, for three divisions, Okehampton Rural, Tavistock & Gulworthy, and Yelverton Rural. In managing these candidates, I realised the difficulties of the current climate politically, for the conservatives – especially in a widespread rural constituency. Volunteers are invaluable and we appreciate anything anyone can do, especially in rural areas which take more work to cover.
We know that recruiting people to the party is challenging.
My Parish (Bere Ferrers) had its own Branch twenty-five years ago - I met the original secretary whilst canvassing.
We hope to build back up again and invite you to get in touch.
Going forward, after consultation and discussion with other members of the Association, and our MP, we will split the area into four groups. I believe this is a great move forward as we are such a large diverse constituency both in area and population demographics and it was my aim to achieve this when I had been approached to stand as Chair.
The strength of the area is through its members and our membership. We will aim to be more proactive with active recruitment. I only became a member when I became a Councillor – having never been approached. I remember my father joining in the late 60’s when a local person in SW London just knocked on the door and asked!
Going forward I’m sure there are plenty of people who are strong Conservatives that we all know but just need to be asked. Are you one of them? Come join our happy group, and help keep the Conservatives well and truly on the map in Torridge and Tavistock.
The new line-up of officers is as below. Hopefully if you are a member you will have got our newsletter. Please contact us if not.
And please get in touch if you would like to share anything with me, ask me anything, or arrange a meeting with your nearest local councillor within our team. We are aiming to have several social events and have a strong Patrons club. You really are welcome to get involved and the first step is sending us an email.
You can reach me on [email protected]
I look forward to hearing from you.
Peter Crozier
Chair, Torridge and Tavistock Conservative Association from June 2025
Other officers elected and news of what happened at our AGM, go here.
