ALL Saints Choir took the time to celebrate the dedicated service of member Maxwell Turner last weekend, with a special evensong service.

Maxwell has been part of the choir for 60 years, joining as a choir boy aged eight years old in 1953.

Rev Compton approached his parents and asked if Maxwell would be interested in joining the choir, and he has been heavily involved ever since.

He also served as churchwarden, playing a key role in providing the church with water and electrics.

His long standing dedication to the choir was recognised with a special choral evensong at All Saints Parish Church on Sunday, July 21.

Rev Nick Weldon, team vicar for the North Tawton Benefice, officiated the service. Five choirs from the Deanery of Okehampton took part.

Mr Turner said: 'It was absolutely superb.

'When you organise these things you never know how many people will turn up but we had 50 people in the choir in the end.

'The sound and the repertoire was top notch.

'You don't need to go to London or the Royal Albert Hall, we have our own Albert Hall here in Okehampton at All Saints.

'It is an honour to be able to do it, I didn't think I would get recognised in this way so it is wonderful.

'I remember going up to the church on a Thursday evening, with organist Ian Cann, who was a whipper snapper back then, only in his twenties.

'I used to go to evensong with my parents so I had an idea of what to expect, but it was awesome really.

'For me, the choir is a way of life.

'People worship in different ways, but my praying is done through my singing.

'I shall know when to give it up, having seen older gents than me sing for far too long when their voices have gone. But that is not going to be for a long while yet.'