The nominees for Westbury’s Person of the Year 2009 competition have been compiled, and now White Horse News readers are being asked to cast their vote on who they think should be crowned the winner.
Last month, White Horse News asked readers to nominate their ‘person of the year’ – somebody in the town who deserves recognition for their outstanding actions over the past year or who has had the biggest impact on life in the town.
We have drawn up a shortlist of four deserving finalists, who will now go head to head for the title of Westbury’s Person of the Year 2009.
A profile of the final four nominees is on page 19.You can vote for your winner by either filling out the form on page 19 and dropping it into the Westbury Heritage Centre on the High Street. Alternatively you can visit www.whitehorsenews.co.uk and vote for your winner online.
• Full round-up of the nominees on page 19.
Henry Leigh, “It’s a little surprising, you never think of yourself in that way, but it’s nice to be nominated. It’s amazing.”
In 1983 Henry and his wife Anne moved down to Trowbridge from the north east, where they had fostered 97 children.
In 1997 Henry and Anne became involved in the charity Chernobyl Children Life Life, and formed new links for the charity in Bristol.
Henry said, “I think that children eating contaminated food was something that rang home to most people, not just Anne and I.”
Later they decided they wanted to work more specifically with disabled children and set up Belarussian Ray of Hope, which aims to benefit disabled children from Belarus, often by bringing them to England for a holiday, and medical treatment.
The couple have hosted 43 children, and worked with hundreds
Henry said that seeing the children he’s worked with grow into adults, and the difference is reward in itself.
Nigel Inseal, team leader at Westbury First Responders, said, “I started in first aid when I was in the military. I left in 1998 and set up my company EFA Training in 2000, which has been running 10 years. I set up the Westbury First Responders in 2006. Originally it was just myself and one other, but it’s grown to a total of seven now. Since November we’ve been providing 24 hour cover seven days a week. We’ve been handling about an extra 20 percent of calls and it’s proved well worth the effort.
“It’s a bit of a shock to be nominated really, it’s come out of the blue. If anything does come out of it I’d be happy to accept the award on behalf of the First Responders because it’s a huge team effort.”
Bev Donnelly, “I don’t like sitting down doing nothing. I like to help people and it’s better than being on the dole!
“You meet a lot of people, I enjoy it. I don’t mind being nominated, it’s a bit out of the blue.”
Lollipop lady, volunteers with fball team, delivers WHN.
22years in DM.
Hilary Reed, “First and foremost I do puppy walking. I take them from six weeks to a year old, bringing them up until they go on to more expensive training.
“I do the basics, I house train them and take them on buses and trains to get them used to them.
28 years in June, 34 puppies.
“I do a lot of fundraising for the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association. Every year at Longleat we do a Paw Trail, I do talks and go into schools and each October I organise a coffee morning. I’m passionate about dogs, I can’t imagine lofe without one. It’s very satisfying to know what a difference the dog will make to someone’s life.
“I’m honoured to be nominated, I do what I do because I want to do it.”
