Dave Wiltshire is Melksham’s Person of the Year 2013

MELKSHAM’S Person of the Year 2013 is Dave Wiltshire, Melksham Town Football Club chairman.

Hundreds of votes were received in the competition, organised by the Melksham News to find the person who has had the most impact on life in the town during 2013, with Dave coming out ahead of eight other candidates.

Dave has been chairman of Melksham Town FC for four years where he has overseen huge developments in improving the fortunes of the club both on and off the pitch.

Dave has been involved in the successful relocation of the football club where building of the new stadium is due to start later this year at Woolmore Farm. The club has also recently been awarded Charter Standard community status which means youth football in Melksham, through to senior football, is all played under the Melksham Town Football Club umbrella. As a result, hundreds of children and adults now represent the club.

Dave has also seen succes on the field during his time as chairman, as the club was promoted to the Toolstation Western Football League Premier Division, with hopes for the club to progress even further in the coming years.  And it has been done with a policy of using home grown, Melksham based players.

For three years Dave has negotiated with the local council for the new stadium that will have 11 football pitches, a main stadium, function room and six changing rooms.

“I am so proud to have won,” he said. “I am just one part of the club committee though and it is the team as a whole with everybody working endlessly that has made the club a success.

“The award should therefore go to the whole club and not just me! I am also extremely pleased to have won as it proves the club is doing well for the local community which I am passionate about.”

Ian Drew, editor of the Melksham News, presented the winner’s shield last week. Ian said, “I’d like to congratulate Dave on being this year’s winner of the ‘Person of the Year’ competition. All of the nominees work extremely hard for their local community and they all have reason to be proud. We hope this award helps to highlight all the fantastic work which is carried out to help make Melksham such a great town.”

Other nominees were Rob Bridges, who is involved in youth football; Marie Bucknell-Smith, who set up the Melksham branch of the Cancer Research charity; Beth Dark, member of the carnival committee and fundraiser for Bristol Children’s Hospital; Norman Drake, Rotary Club member for 42 years and chair of the ArtHouse Cafe; Graham Ellis, campaigner with the Melksham Railway Development Group; Liam Richards, who has raised thousands for charity throughout the year; Brian Warwick, coordinator and founder of the Melksham Senior 55+ Forum; and Miriam Zaccarelli, who helps organise major events in the town.