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Handmade, local and full of Christmas cheer – The Melksham Makers’ Christmas Market returns!

November 19, 2025
in Latest news, Things to do, Whats on
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Handmade, local and full of Christmas cheer – The Melksham Makers’ Christmas Market returns!

The Melksham Makers’ Market is back for its final event of the year – the much-loved Christmas Market, taking place on Saturday 29th November, from 10am to 2pm at the Melksham Assembly Hall.

Now in its seventh year, this volunteer-led community market is run by local makers Sarah Hillman, Nicola Coleman and Catherine Carpenter. What began as a small outdoor market in 2019 has grown into one of Melksham’s most anticipated events, giving local artists, crafters and small businesses the chance to showcase their work and connect with the community.

Visitors can expect a hall packed with handmade gifts, festive bakes, artwork, jewellery, ceramics, home décor and much more; all lovingly created by talented makers from Melksham and across Wiltshire.

Regular favourites will return including Roc & Floss Coffee, Sandridge Brownies & Bakes, The Holistic Mummy, Florrie & Jean, The Secret Crocheter, Amanda Humphrey Ceramics and Happy Hounds Bakery, alongside new faces bringing fresh creativity to the mix.

Organiser Nicola Coleman said, “There’s such a lovely buzz around the Christmas market each year. It’s our biggest event of the season and a real celebration of everything handmade, local and full of heart. You’ll find beautiful, thoughtful gifts and a warm, friendly atmosphere that makes shopping small such a joy.”

Co-organiser Sarah Hillman added, “The Assembly Hall is the perfect venue for our festive market. It’s wonderful to see it full of stalls, lights and laughter – and so many familiar faces coming back year after year to support local talent.

“The market is free to attend, and with more than 25 local makers taking part, it’s the perfect opportunity to start (or finish!) your Christmas shopping while supporting small, independent businesses.”

The team are now fully booked for traders for all 2025 events, but they’re always keen to hear from new local makers interested in joining future markets. To be added to the 2026 trader mailing list, email hello@melkshammakers.co.uk.

For sneak peeks of the traders and updates in the run-up to the big day, follow www.facebook.com/themelkshammakersmarket on Facebook.

Picture by Linda De Santiz

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  • New head coach appointed at Melksham Town

Melksham Town have appointed a new head coach as it looks to turn around its fortunes.

The side, currently near the foot of the Southern League Division One South, has brought in Stuart Fleetwood, the former Swindon Supermarine boss, following the departure of Mark Collier earlier this month.

“We are delighted to confirm the appointment of Stuart Fleetwood as new Head Coach and Dan Gillespie as part of his backroom team as we try and turn around our fortunes and climb the league table,” said Club Chair Adam Young.

“Stuart, aged 39, brings plenty of experience. As a player, he enjoyed a career in the Football League and non-league game, representing teams including Charlton Athletic, Luton Town, Hereford United, Exeter City, Forest Green Rovers and Sutton United. His most prolific spell came during his time at Forest Green Rovers, and he has also represented Wales at various youth levels."

Read more on our website. The link is in our bio.

Pictured: Town players mark Remembrance with a pre-match tribute before facing Brixham on 8th November. New boss Stuart Fleetwood
  • Nominations open for Melksham’s Person and Group of the Year

Melksham News’ Person and Group of the Year awards are back and it is time to get your nominations in!

The awards will recognise the person and group who have made a real contribution to the community in 2025.

For the Person of the Year award, any individual who lives or works in the Melksham area and has made a significant contribution to the local community can be nominated. This could include someone involved in a local charity, helping to run a sports club or volunteering their time to improve life in Melksham.

For the Group of the Year award, any group, organisation or committee whose work has benefited the area in 2025 can be nominated. The members do not all need to be from Melksham, as long as their efforts have had a positive effect on the local area.

Melksham News editor, Ian Drew, said, “We know there are so many people and groups in Melksham doing incredible things for the community. We encourage everyone to get involved and submit their nominations – it’s your chance to recognise those who make a real difference to our town.” 

Nominations can be made by emailing news@melkshamnews.co.uk or via Facebook Messenger, stating your name, address, and contact number, along with your nominee’s name and the reason for your nomination. (We won’t disclose who has made the nominations.)

If you have contact details for your nominee, please include these. Alternatively, you can write to Melksham News, 31 Market Place, Melksham, SN12 6ES.

Nominations must be received by 5pm on  30th November. The winner of each award will be chosen by a small panel of local representatives and announced in an upcoming issue. 

Read more on our website. The link is in our bio.

Pictured: Melksham News Editor, Ian Drew
  • The latest issue of the Melksham News is out now.

Read our digital edition on our website. The link is in our bio
  • Fundraising Christmas spectacle set to be bigger than ever

A fundraising Christmas spectacle on Sarum Avenue is set to be bigger than ever, and this year will feature the UK’s largest illuminated Father Christmas sculpture. 
Last year, the display raised £16,000 for the Wiltshire and Bath Air Ambulance Charity, and residents are hoping to raise even more for the charity again this year. Sarum Avenue residents decorate the street and houses with hundreds of Christmas lights and decorations, welcoming people from Melksham and surrounding areas to view the display and take part in the festivities, including a raffle and a bar offering refreshments. The lights will be switched on Sunday 30th November at 6pm, then be on every night from 5pm to 9pm, with Father Christmas and his elves out every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. 

Read more on our website. The link is in our bio
  • Melksham woman shaves head for cancer charity

A Melksham woman has raised nearly £2,000 for a cancer charity by shaving her head.

Maureen Woodruff, 84, completed a ‘Brave the Shave’ at Queensway Chapel last month to raise funds for Macmillan Cancer Support.

She said, “So many people I know have used the charity and it costs money for them to care for people who are very ill and survivors as well, but sadly some just don’t survive because it is a horrible disease.

“I have had a few friends who have had cancer. They need a nurse, they need support, which is why I have done it. It was a lovely morning at Queensway Chapel with family, friends and members of the congregation.”

Pleased with the outcome of the shave, Maureen added, “I don’t mind it at all. My head feels much colder now, but it is quite easy-going, definitely wash-and-go.” 

Read more on our website. The link is in our bio

To contribute to Maureen’s fundraiser, visit https://buff.ly/apl81GE
  • Help create new woodland at tree planting day

Hundreds of new trees will be planted in Melksham later this month as part of plans to create a new community woodland and nature trail.

The local community group Melksham Green Space is inviting residents to join its Community Tree Planting Day at Clackers Brook on Sunday 30th November, where around 400 native trees will be planted.

Families are encouraged to take part in the event, which marks the first stage of creating a new woodland which will stretch from Ruskin Avenue, near King George V Park, to the Eastern Bypass, transforming an area of open land into a thriving habitat for wildlife.

“Everyone is welcome to come along, bring the family and get involved – it’s a great way to make a real difference in our town,” said Nigel Benham, Chair of Melksham Green Space.

Pictured: Mia, Annie and Nigel from Melksham Green Space 

Read more on our website, the link is in our bio
  • Helicopter enthusiast remembered with lifetime achievement award

A helicopter enthusiast from Bowerhill was presented with an aviation lifetime achievement award for rebuilding a vintage helicopter shortly before he died this week aged 81.

John Phillips recently received the award from Aviation Heritage UK after Wight Aviation Museum nominated him for his long-standing membership and his work restoring a vintage Saunders-Roe Skeeter helicopter, which he donated to the museum in 2023. John died peacefully at home on 16th November.

Due to ill health, he was unable to travel to receive the award at a gathering held at Rolls-Royce in Derby, but a small delegation from Wight Aviation Museum presented it to him at his home in Bowerhill instead.

Sandra Phillips, John’s wife, said, “It was just wonderful for John to receive the award. It was happy tears all round. We didn’t know anything about it. The helicopter is now on a stand in the museum and it has his name on a plaque, along with his nephew Adrian, who helped him restore the helicopter.” 

Read more on our website, the link is in our bio.

Pictured: John Phillips with the Saunders-Roe Skeeter helicopter
  • Police share Melksham crime statistics

Anti-social behaviour has decreased in Melksham over the past year, while shoplifting and violent and sexual offences have increased, police have reported.

At the full town council meeting on 20th October, Sergeant Gemma Rutter said that anti-social behaviour reports had fallen by 65 over the year.

She said, “Compared to other surrounding towns, specifically Trowbridge – I can say that because I work there as well – there is not nearly anywhere near the antisocial behaviour here that we’ve had elsewhere, in numbers and by nature.”

There are certain pockets within the town the police are looking into. One area of anti-social behaviour that Sgt Rutter said the team is dealing with ‘quite quickly’ involves customers leaving a pub in the town centre late at night and causing disruption. 

Read more on our website, the link is in our bio
  • Green electricity tariff referred to council watchdog

By Local Democracy Reporter Peter Davison 

An attempt by Reform UK councillors to scrap the green tariff the council pays on its electricity has resulted in the matter passed to a Wiltshire Council finance watchdog for consideration.

Back in September it emerged that Wiltshire Council was spending an extra £230,000 a year on top of its £6.35 million energy bill to support renewable energy production.

The tariff means the council can report that its electricity is generated by renewables, which puts it on track to achieve its net zero target by 2030.

Without paying the tariff and supporting renewable energy production the target would be derailed.

At a meeting of the full council on Tuesday 21st October, Reform councillor Mike Sankey tabled a motion to scrap the green energy tariff. 

Read more on our website, the link is in our bio
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