Area board pays tribute to ‘age friendly’ champion, Brian Warwick

TRIBUTES were paid to the founder of Melksham & District Seniors Forum 55+, Brian Warwick, at this month’s Melksham Area Board meeting.

Councillors described the local stalwart, who died in December last year at the age of 89, as a “long-standing public servant” for Melksham, a “great local character”, and “someone who gave his all for his community.”

And his work to help steer Melksham to become the first rural town in the country to join the UK Network of Age-friendly Communities, was hailed as his “legacy” for the town.

“Brian was a special person, he gave everything to his community,” said chair of the meeting, cllr Jonathon Seed. “I don’t think we could ever ask for someone who would give more than that. And I think he will be remembered in latter years for what he did for Melksham Seniors. He was the Melksham Seniors.”

Cllr Jon Hubbard added, “There is no doubt that the ‘age friendly’ status that Melksham now has with the UK Centre for Ageing Better would never have happened if it wasn’t for the determined efforts and hard work of Brian.  There is a huge debt that we all owe to Brian from Melksham for the work that he put in over the years. His passing is a sad loss for our community.”