Volunteers who have made a significant contribution to Melksham were honoured with Civic Awards at a special reception evening hosted by the Mayor.
The awards were presented by Mayor Saffi Rabey at the Spanish-themed reception on Saturday 14th March at the Assembly Hall.
Carolyn Fernandes was named Advocate for Vulnerable People for running a friendship café for adults with learning disabilities, Wendy Isaacs was named Champion for Tackling Deprivation for supporting pets and their owners through the Pet Food Bank, Ellis Holloway received Young Volunteer of the Year for volunteering with young people, and Karen Dwyer was awarded Community Volunteer of the Year after nearly 50 years with Girlguiding.
Chance to celebrate
Mayor Saffi Rabey said, “My Mayor’s Reception and Civic Awards was such a lovely evening, and it honestly meant so much to have so many brilliant people all together in one room. It was a chance to celebrate the volunteers who quietly keep our town going, people who give so much of themselves without ever expecting anything back. I’m really grateful to everyone who came along and helped us raise money for my chosen charities.”
Carolyn Fernandes – Advocate for Vulnerable People
Carolyn helps run the Shine friendship café for adults with learning disabilities at Queensway Hall. The sessions welcome around 90 adults, carers and volunteers for refreshments and activities, with quieter afternoon sessions for crafts and baking. She also offers volunteer roles to help participants build confidence and skills.
Wendy Isaacs – Champion for Tackling Deprivation
Wendy was given the award for her work in making Melksham a more equal place through the Pet Food Bank, which supports people who are struggling to feed their animals. Her work helps families stay together with their pets and provides vital support to those experiencing financial challenges.
Ellis Holloway – Young Volunteer of the Year
Ellis helps young people build confidence, discipline and respect through volunteering at The Contender Gym, supporting children’s boxing classes and leading sessions for Melksham Amateur Boxing. He was nominated for his commitment to young people, sport and the local community.
Karen Dwyer – Community Volunteer of the Year
Karen has volunteered for the local Guides, Rainbows and Brownies for nearly 50 years. She also spends extra weekends taking part in fundraising and sleepover events. Her creativity, positivity and enthusiasm support the Girl Guides in working towards earning badges.
A special tribute was paid to Mick Perrin BEM, who died recently. Mick was a much-loved member of the community and dedicated 62 years of service to Melksham Town Football Club and the wider town.
The Spanish-themed evening raised funds for domestic abuse charity FearFree and the Wiltshire and Bath Air Ambulance Charity. There was an auction hosted by TV antiques star Paul Martin and live music.
Mayor Saffi Rabey added, “A huge thank you to everyone who donated raffle and auction prizes – your generosity really does make a difference. I’d also like to thank the town council team and the Assembly Hall staff for all their hard work, the Air Cadets and my Mayor’s Cadet for their support, and Craig and Evie’s Kitchen, Duff Enyon and Paul Martin for giving their time on the night.
“It was just a wonderful reminder of how special our community is and how lucky we are to have so many people who care.”
Support Local News
Help us keep your community connected and informed.
Local news is under pressure more than ever. For just £2 a month, you can support independent reporting that shares local stories, investigates the issues that affect you, and keeps residents up to date.
Choose a monthly subscription or a one-off donation. All donations will be reinvested into producing local journalism for Melksham.
Donate Now
