WESTBURY’S Person of the Year 2014 is Sean Price, who served the town as town crier for 20 years and is involved in many community groups.
Hundreds of votes were received 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 2014, with Sean coming out ahead of five other candidates.
Sean served the Westbury community for nearly 20 years as a town crier, after his mother volunteered him, before stepping down in 2014.
He is also chairman and membership secretary for Westbury Wheelers, a club that has gone from just 21 members when Sean joined around five years ago to 180 in 2014.
Sean is also event director for Southwick Parkrun, a free 5km run with has an average of 170 runners each week and he is joint secretary of Avon Valley runners with his wife Fiona. Avon Valley became Wiltshire Champions at both off road and road racing in 2014. The club went from 262 to 447 members over the past year and becomes even more competitive with each year.
He is also vice-chair of Trowbridge Sports Forum and a member of Westbury Running Group.
Sean said, “I am absolutely gobsmacked to have won the award as I feel others are more deserving.
“I feel a bit guilty for winning the award of Westbury Person of the Year as I actually enjoy everything I am involved with and so I feel I shouldn’t be awarded for something I want to do and get so much out of.
“But, it does mean a lot and I am overwhelmed that people took the time to nominate me in the first place and then people followed it up by taking the time to vote. In everything I am involved with there are others that help so much and without them it wouldn’t be possible so, for me, this award is for everyone that has contributed so much.
“So many people do great things in Westbury and it really is a great town where the people make it special. Thank you again to everyone that nominated and voted, it means a lot and I am honoured to win the award.”
Ian Drew, editor of the White Horse News, presented the winner’s shield last week. Ian said, “I’d like to congratulate Sean 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 Ian Cunningham, chair of Westbury Music and Arts festival; Sally Hendry, community area manager for Westbury; Daphne Lyons, a volunteer for Westbury Day Centre; Leander Morales, a musician who has helped raised £11,000 for charity and been involved with the music and arts festival; and Chris Wheeler, chair of West Wilts Youth Sailing Club who helps so many local young people.
