Westbury’s strong sense of community was in the spotlight on Friday evening when Mayor Jane Russ presented this year’s Civic Awards.
The award winners were seven-year-old Allegra Lang – Westbury’s youngest-ever Civic Award winner – for her efforts supporting litter picks and community events; Lynne Vercoe for her long-standing contribution to the town’s civic life including organising sewing days to produce reusable sanitary pads for refugees and vulnerable women and girls; and Stepping Stones, the Mayor’s chosen charity for the past two years.
“The awards are for people giving their time and energy to make Westbury a better place,” said Jane. “They are inspirational examples of what Westbury’s community spirit is all about.”
The first award of the evening went to Stepping Stones, a specialist school for primary-aged children with special needs in Trowbridge. Although based outside the town, over 80 Westbury children benefited from its work in 2025.
“I have attended many events at their site, cutting ribbons, starting bike rides and most importantly, mixing with the children and teachers,” said Jane. “The thing that has surprised me most about what they do is the joy that is there. At their 50th birthday party (yes they have been going for 50 years) former pupils talked to me about the importance of what they had been given by the school – the confidence, the can-do spirit, the sense of opportunity…and of course all these things apply to the parents too.”
The second award recognised seven-year-old Allegra Lang for her efforts supporting local litter picks and community events.
Jane said she had seen first-hand how Allegra was “always there when we do a litter pick, or have an event that needs support (even in the teaming rain). She commits wholeheartedly to everything she takes on, in spite of only being seven.”
The final award of the evening was presented to Lynne Vercoe for her long-standing contribution to the town’s civic life and heritage.
Her work includes supporting the local museum, assisting residents with family history research and organising sewing days for the Pachamama Project, which produce reusable sanitary pads for refugees and vulnerable women and girls.
More than 5,000 pads have been sent from Westbury through the initiative, made from donated and upcycled materials by volunteers which the Mayor said, “was the most perfect of example of one community’s commitment to helping others.”
Allegra told White Horse News she was “surprised but really pleased” to receive an award. “I was exciting but a little bit worried to go up on stage to get the award,” she said. “It was a complete surprise when my name was read out; I didn’t know I was getting the award.
“I love getting involved in local events. It’s really fun. I’ve got some of my friends involved now and hopefully more children will do things to help the town.
“I help out at the litter picks and Sunday brunches and went to the environmental fete last year and set up a plant stall and I raised money for my Beavers group. The environment is very important to me because if we look after the planet, it will look after us. There were other stalls telling you all about different projects and they were really interesting. There was also the dome; it was really cool and told you all about what animals needed (like thick fur or thin fur) for their habitat.
“If there are any community events going on, I like to go along whenever I can.”
