Nominate your Person and Group of the Year 2021

Melksham News’ Person and Group of the Year awards are back – and we need your nominations.

Melksham’s community spirit again shined brightly in 2021 as the Covid-19 pandemic continued, with so many people doing great things. And we’re looking for your nominations for the person and group who contributed most to the local community.

For the Person of the Year award you can nominate a friend, family member, community leader, colleague or even someone you don’t know – any person who lives or works in the Melksham area.   

For the Group of the Year award you can nominate a group, organisation, or committee – any group that does work in the Melksham area. Don’t worry if not everyone from the group comes from Melksham, what’s important is that the work of the group benefits the town in some way.  

The only conditions are that the person or group lives or works in Melksham or one of the surrounding villages and haven’t previously won one of the awards. 

Nominations must be received by 3pm on Wednesday 12th January and the winner of each award will be chosen by a panel of local representatives and announced in our next issue. 

Ian Drew, editor of Melksham News said, “This is a chance to nominate someone or a group who deserves recognition for their outstanding contribution to Melksham over the past year or who has had a big impact on life in the town. 

“There are so many people and groups doing fantastic work, more than ever during these difficult times, and these awards are a real opportunity to celebrate and acknowledge their efforts.” 

Nominations can be made by emailing news@melksham news.co.uk stating your name, address and contact number with your nominee’s name and why you are nominating them. (We won’t disclose who has made the nominations). If you have contact details for your nominee, please include these. Or write to Melksham News, 31 Market Place. SN12 6ES. 

The Person of the Year for 2020 was Flight Lieutenant Greg McKay, the Officer Commanding 2385 (Melksham) Squadron Air Training Corps, for his ongoing support to local cadets throughout the pandemic. 

The Group of the Year for 2020 was Melksham Community Support, the volunteer service set up in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, for their efforts to support vulnerable and isolated residents in the community. 

Other previous winners of the Person of the Year award include Sue Mortimer for her work running Melksham Community Meals and her other volunteering roles in the community; owners of The White Hart pub in Atworth, Nathan and Kirsty Cortilla, for their fundraising work; the late ex-councillor and community volunteer Mike Mills; fundraiser Bev Viveash; Anne Cranham for her 37 years with the Scouts; Ann Peirce and the late Brenda Abbott for their fundraising for Dorothy House; former Melksham Town FC chair Dave Wiltshire; Alex and Colin Goodhind for their charity Christmas lights displays; George Brown from Melksham Council for Community Service; Paul Weymouth, organiser of the Melksham Christmas Lights team; and Christine Broom, a cub leader for over 20 years. 

The award for 2019 was given to community transport group, Link, for their charity driving service, ensuring people in the town and beyond get to medical and other appointments.