There's a new woman about town in Helston and she's getting ready to take over its running.

Pamela Lavelle has been appointed new town clerk to take over from Chris Dawson when he retires at the end of the year.

She has, in fact, been with the town council for the last 15 years, working her way up from a part-time role of just 12 hours a week, in 2005, to the top job.

Until now she's been keen to stay out of the spotlight, but come January 1 that will all change, as she takes charge of the council - and the ceremonial wig that comes with it.

Pamela, who is stepping up from role of deputy clerk that she's been doing for the last five years, said: "I had no clue Chris was planning to retire. It wasn't that I was waiting there with aspirations of it coming - it was something in the long-term plan.

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"But it's a natural progression of my role and when the opportunity came up it was just an obvious one to go for."

She began her time with the council as a part-time mayor's assistant before working her way up to assistant to the clerk and then deputy - so you could say she knows the ins and outs of its running pretty well.

Falmouth Packet:

Pamela has been with the council for 15 years

"I've done basically every administrative function in the place," she said.

"That's the good thing really. I've worked my way up from a part-time, 12 hours a week job to being the town clerk and main officer.

"It definitely proves there's room to improve yourself and expand on what you want to do here."

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Pamela paid tribute to Chris, describing their years together as "like working with a big brother, rather than a boss."

She added: "I am sorry to see him going, because it's been great working with Chris. We've had a great working relationship.

"I'm looking forward to the new challenge, but it will be a bittersweet moment I think."

It will now be her job to advise Helston's councillors what they legally can (and can't) do, as well as oversee its public building and open spaces - and will the town taking on increasing responsibility from Cornwall Council it's a job that will keep on growing.

"The council is quite forward thinking now and I think when opportunities arise they will be looking forward to taking stuff on.

"I'm quite looking forward to supporting them with that."