WESTBURY’S Person of the Year 2012 is Steve Lloyd, chair of the Chernobyl Children’s Life Line (West Wilts Link).
Votes came in thick and fast in the competition organised by the White Horse News to find the person who has had the most impact on life in the town during 2012, with Steve coming out ahead of six other candidates.
Hundreds of votes were received in the competition, with second place going to Cherry Lewis, a Filipino woman who supports both the local community and her community back in the Philipines, most notably with a project sending refurbished computers to schools. Third place went to Jonathan Burke and the team at Crosspoint, the Westbury charity who operate the Welcome Centre in the Market Place.
Steve Lloyd has been involved with Chernobyl Children’s Life Line (West Wilts Link) for the last six years, becoming chair in 2012. The charity arranges for children who are still affected by the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster to come to the UK for a month’s respite holiday, where they stay with host families, enjoy visits to local attractions, and benefit from visits to the opticians and dentist. Steve was also nominated for other aspects of voluntary work, including boot sales for charity, the Big Sing for Christian Aid, and the Operation Christmas Child shoebox appeal.
Steve said it was ‘brilliant’ to win, and hopes that his award will help promote the work of the Chernobyl Children’s Life Line. He said, “This is for the good of the charity, which is what I like, and it’s a bonus for me. I think most people in Westbury are very generous in supporting the charity; I go to different companies and organisations and get fantastic support.
“I didn’t think I would win, there’s other people who are as worthy a winner as me.”
Steve explained that a month of drinking clean water and eating good food extends a Chernobyl child’s life by around two and a half years.
He said, “The children return much healthier after their month’s stay. This year’s visit is planned for July and hopefully we will be inviting eight children. They will have a month in the Westbury area, and they will have a whole host of fun activities to do whilst they are here.
“The charity could not host and achieve what it does without the generous people in Westbury and their continued support.
“A big thank you to all those who voted for me. I am delighted on behalf of Chernobyl Children’s Life Line.”
If you would like to find out more about the charity or help in any way, please contact Steve on 01373 822148
Ian Drew, editor of the White Horse News, presented the winner’s shield last week. Ian said, “I’d like to congratulate Steve 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 Westbury such a great town.”
Other nominees were Steve Carrington, who led the project to clean and paint the White Horse; Ali Crew, manager of SK Fruits in the High Street; Lisa Henderson, who set up a pole dancing fitness club which helps empower local women with confidence and fitness; and Michelle Slade, who has taken on many roles in the town including youth work, the cinema club, the town’s carnival, and the Tourist Information Centre.
