AS the clock on the tower of St Peter's and St Paul's Church struck noon on St Peter's Fair Day yesterday (Wednesday) Holsworthy's 173rd Pretty Maid emerged through the belfry door and the well-kept secret of her identity was revealed to the expectant crowd.

She is 13-year-old Lizzy Flaherty of Holsworthy.

Lizzy said she was very happy to have been chosen.

She attends church regularly and is an acolyte who carries the altar's candles in the processions.

A former pupil of Clawton Primary School Lizzy is now a student at Shebbear College where her favourite subjects are maths, English, science and languages. Her ambition is to follow a career in either science, medicine or the law. She enjoys playing the piano and cycling and is a member of the Streamline Swim Club at Holsworthy pool.

Lizzy's mother, Helen said she was born in London, but around 11 years ago they moved to Holsworthy which was a better place to live and bring up children.

She loved traditions and regularly watched the Pretty Maid ceremony so she was delighted that Lizzy had been chosen.

Asked what advice she had given Lizzy, Helen said: "Just be yourself and smile!"

Ted, her father, was also proud of his daughter and had gone along to help her choose a dress for the occasion.

The Pretty Maid tradition is a focal point of St Peter's Fair week and goes back to a bequest in the will of the Rev Thomas Meyrick, rector of North Petherwin, who died in 1841. He was the brother of the Rev Owen Meyrick, a rector of Holsworthy.

Under the terms of the will the income from the legacy is to be paid annually 'to the young single woman resident in Holsworthy under the age of 30 who is generally esteemed by the young as the most deserving; the most handsome; the most noted for her quietness and attendance at church'.

Trustee of the Pretty Maid charity, Angela Blackman, said: "Because of her long association with the Church and her participation in its activities Lizzy thoroughly deserved to have been chosen."

See full coverage from St Peter's Fair week in next week's edition of the Post.