Audrey Parsons was born in North Hill, Coads Green in the 1940s. She was educated at Coads Green School and Launceston College. She graduated with ‘O’ levels in English Language, English Literature and French.
Audrey married in 1964 and moved into her current property with her husband and in-laws. The family kept bullocks.
She took on jobs as a dental assistant and later as a counter clerk for NatWest Bank. She also worked as a receptionist in Tavistock.
In 1974 Audrey became Lezant Parish Clerk, taking over from Owen Steed. At the monthly parish meetings she took handwritten minutes and dealt with correspondence generated by parish business. Audrey recalled the Silver Jubilee celebrations held in the playing field in Trekenner in 1977. The field was bought by the Parish for £2,000 using funds they had accumulated over the years.
Audrey was the secretary to the Jubilee Field trustees.
Audrey printed off parish meetings’ minutes using a Gestetner machine kept in the basement of her house. She also started the Parish Diary with Neil Burden. Mary Crewe suggested the idea after there was a complaint following a clash of events held at the church and chapel. Audrey printed off some 300 copies of the Parish Diary, which she personally distributed throughout the Parish.
Audrey was also responsible for doing the Parish accounts and organising the Parish boundary walk held every 5 years. She retired in 2007.
Audrey has provided us with a list of the Parish Clerks from 1895.