Town Hall bids farewell to deputy clerk

Melksham Town Council’s deputy clerk, Miriam Zaccarelli, is stepping down from the job after five years at the Town Hall.

Miriam, a familiar face at – and driving force behind ­– a number of local events in recent years, has been praised for her work and efforts on behalf of the town. Town clerk, Steve Gray, said she has been an asset to the community and that the town is lucky to have her. She has been nominated four times for the Melksham Person of the Year award.

Miriam told Melksham News, “It has been a real privilege working with the team in the Town Hall. I am really lucky that my role involved getting out and about in the town and meeting so many lovely people.”

Miriam joined the town council after spending three years with the Melksham Community Area Partnership. As well as her official duties at the council, she has been heavily involved in organising Melksham Food and River Festival, the town’s South West in Bloom entries, and  the monthly Tidy Town Days.

“These events are so incredible to be a part of,” Miriam said. “You get to see the sheer amount of voluntary time, effort and dedication that goes into a Melksham event, and the immense community pride that ensures they will always be a success.

“I have enjoyed getting to meet and work with the people who make the town so great, particularly town and parish councillors, who are all volunteers, giving hours and hours of their time every week for the community, as well as the 234 voluntary groups who continue to provide excellent services and support to the town.

“The town council team has been a complete joy to work with and learn from;  people might not realise just how hard they work to keep the whole council running!

“It’s not until you work for local government that you appreciate just how much work goes on behind the scenes – in the town, parish and Wiltshire Council. I will really miss my lovely colleagues, and the hundreds of amazing people in Melksham who have made the last five years so wonderful.  I’m not going too far, so I hope I will still see everyone and stay in touch.”

Clerk to Melksham Town Council, Steve Gray said, “Miriam has proved to be an absolute asset to our community and the team here at the Town Hall.

“Her achievements have been many and varied and she has played an integral role in community initiatives such as Town Team; South West in Bloom; Town Tidy Days; the Food & River Festival; Churchyard Challenges; the Queen’s birthday celebrations; Sports Roadshows; Town Council newsletters and consultations; business bulletins; and ongoing liaison with voluntary and charitable groups. The list goes on and on!

“We can consider ourselves extremely fortunate that Miriam has been working with us over the last five years and that, in so doing, that she has given our community so much. We can’t thank her enough for everything she’s done and we all wish her every possible success and happiness in the future.”