THE new chairman of Sidmouth Round Table says he is looking forward to boosting deserving causes – and one particularly close to his heart.

Ben Tilbert’s first duty in his new role was to choose the Cystic Fibrosis Trust as a beneficiary of the group’s charity work in the next year.

His daughter, Sophie, 12, suffers from the condition.

Fencing contractor Ben, 35, said: “The charity is quite personal to me.”

Ben has been a member of the round table for six years.

He said the group would try to help causes in need if it could, adding: “That’s what we’re there for.”

? James Lavers is pictured handing over the role of chairman to Ben Tilbert.