OUTSPOKEN Cullompton mayor Mike Thompson often seems to have a bee in his bonnet. But while he admits he is "persistent and at times vocal", he believes that's what makes him a productive and passionate Mayor.

Mike, now 63, retired after a long and successful career in the police force and became a town councillor in 1999. In 2006 he was made deputy mayor and he's now coming to the end of his second year as mayor, during which time he's managed to stick his fingers into plenty of pies.

"When I was a policeman I became involved in various aspects of reducing crime and anti-social behaviour in the community," Mike explained, "so when I retired, and there was a vacancy on the local council, I realised I could carry on this work helping the community.

"In my first year as councillor I was appointed as the deputy chair of planning and one of my first projects was applying for funding to install CCTV in the town.

"With my police and Home Office background, I was able to fill out the forms and get fully involved! I secured the funds and the CCTV was installed.

"The Government Office South West said it was one of the best value for money systems that had ever been installed."

The law and order theme continued when Mike played a part in the introduction, two years ago, of dispersal orders in the town.

He says: "We have managed to reduce crime significantly since then. We have a good relationship with the police and work closely with them."

More recently, Mike has become involved in the rebranding of Cullompton, for which research and discussions are under way.

On this, as all subjects, Mike doesn't shy away from confrontation when he knows that being vocal and persistent is what brings about change. During his time as mayor, numerous issues have got under his skin and spurred him into action.

"About 18 months ago I attended a meeting about unitary status for Devon where I met the chief executive of Devon County Council, who I approached to find capital to turn a disused health centre building into a proper library for the town," he continued.

"This idea had been around for a long while but, within a very short period of time after our conversation, the ball was rolling. A £3m project has now been approved by the county council and building is due to start any time now — although this isn't the result of just my efforts, there have been a lot of others involved."

"There have also been problems with the mini roundabout at Junction 28 of the M5 since it was built.

"Due to all the building that's been going on nearby, it can't cope with the volume of traffic and there has been a lot of congestion — it needs to be redesigned.

"I've attended three meetings and been involved in ways of addressing the issue with the county council and the Highways Agency — and I won't stop until its dealt with in the best way.

"As councillors, we can make recommendations and raise our concerns, but quite often it feels like we're not being listened to — so often I have to keep pushing things.

"For example, at a recent meeting to discuss poor relations between the parish and district councils, I said I wanted better communications and someone was appointed to liaise between the two. As yet we haven't seen the benefits."

Mike admits he "isn't afraid to call a spade a spade!" if it helps bring about a successful outcome to one of his crusades.

He said: "Recently, I wanted to investigate the town council paying for the cost of grass cutting, which we didn't feel was being done often enough. I requested a breakdown of costs, under the Freedom of Information Act, and was provided with a computer spreadsheet with lots of mistakes, so I asked for the original and went on to challenge the figures.

"My ex-policing skills mean I ask a lot of questions. I will challenge and ask questions whenever necessary — we're trying to provide a better service for the town and the community. I am persistent and at times vocal!"

Mike was born in Plymouth and lived there until he was 11. After three years in the Midlands he returned to the city and embarked on a radio and television apprenticeship for four years before abruptly changing direction and joining the RAF. He was initially based at RAF Locking, near Weston-super-Mare, where he met his future wife. But it wasn't long before Mike swapped the wind-swept beaches of Weston for the hot arid deserts of North Africa.

He recalls: "I joined the RAF electronic mechanic ground communications as a leading air craftsman, which involved dealing with all sorts of ground navigation and aircraft communication. I was posted to RAF Eladem in Lybia for about a year, but on hearing that I was getting married, my commanding officer posted me to RAF Nicosia in Cyprus where there were married quarters — I was lucky I had such a nice boss!"

Mike spent the last part of his service back in the UK at RAF Bampton in Oxfordshire. He finished there in 1970, when he joined the Devon & Cornwall Constabulary and remained a constable for the rest of his career — including a spell on the beat in Florida.

Travelling to far-flung places and dipping his toes into exotic cultures has long been a passion of Mike's, and he says he has always taken a great interest in meeting people from all walks of life, cultures and countries.

"Something I've always loved is to travel and meet people," he continued. "Soon after retiring, my wife and I went on a three-month, round-the-world trip. The Bahamas had a particular effect on me — the island we went to was a mix of shanty towns and wealthy casinos.

"On another occasion, we took a trip to China for three weeks and saw all the major cities and the Great Wall. We also witnessed small shacks being bulldozed and replaced by skyscrapers before our eyes.

"In Beijing, just metres down the road from a large Communist hotel block, we saw a man who had laid a cloth out on the pavement and was selling nail clippers — this was his first attempt at his own enterprise.

"The places I've seen have given me a far greater understanding of people and their backgrounds, giving me a greater understanding of life itself and the plight of others.

"We are so lucky to live in this country — I think a lot of people don't know how lucky we really are."