STALWART river campaigner Jack Ainslie has stood down as chairman of ARK, Action for the River Kennet.
Retired farmer Mr Ainslie, from Mildenhall, was the founder chairman of ARK but has decided to hand over the helm after 12 years.
The new chairman is Roger de Vere from Durnsford Mill at Stitchcombe.
ARK was formed at the suggestion of Mr Ainslie as a campaign group of local people concerned at the steady decline of the River Kennet.
Mr de Vere said: "In the early days ARK was treated by those in opposition with amused contempt but Jack showed that two could play at that game and turned this into a respect for ARK."
Under Mr Ainslie's leadership ARK's achievements included a four-year rehabilitation project on stretches of the Kennet, funded by Thames Water at a cost of £500,000.
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