THIS year’s Westbury Person of the Year has been chosen as Gareth ‘Foggy’ Vaughan, chairman of Westbury Rugby Club while the town’s first ever Group of the Year is Westbury Lions.
The winners of the competitions, run by White Horse News, were chosen by a panel of judges comprised of last year’s winner Jim Shaw, the mayor of Westbury Mike Sutton and White Horse News editor Ian Drew.
Person of the Year Gareth ‘Foggy’ Vaughan, has been a part of the Westbury Rugby Club for over 25 years, joining as a player in 1994. He is the current coach for the men’s team, leading them to a current unbeaten season in the league and well as chairman, looking after volunteers, members and players – including Westbury Ladies.
Gareth said, “It feels fantastic to have been awarded Westbury’s Person of the Year! I have never done the work I do at the rugby club for recognition or awards, it has always been for the benefit of the club and the members. It is also for the other clubs that visit the town to ensure we give them the best facilities and welcome. This is the first award I have won like this, awarded by the town, and it’s just fantastic.
“It shows where the club has come over the last few years. We have undergone a big move, to our current premises at Knott Field, and it has been a huge struggle to get things sorted and to get to where we are today, but it has been so nice to be able to help members, players and supporters enjoy rugby in Westbury.”
Other nominees for ‘Person of the Year’ were: Chris Curtis of Westbury Girlguides; Joan Eggleton for her 21 years volunteering at the Wiltshire Air Ambulance charity shop; Lilly Goodall for her fundraising for The Little Princess Trust; Angela Graham-Leigh, for her voluntary work for the Westbury Leigh Community Hall; Bex Jones for founding online social group ‘Buddy Me’, Nick Jones for his continuous fundraising in the name of his own bereavement charity and Emma Osmond for her work on setting up a pre-school in Bratton.
The first recipients of the new Group of the Year category were Westbury Lions.
The group are known in the town for their fundraising for the community and their organising of annual events like the Donkey Derby, the Classic & Vintage Vehicle Show and Santa’s Christmas Float visits around town.
Michelle Strout, president of Westbury Lions said, “We are highly delighted to have received this award and recognised for the work we do for the community. It’s lovely to be appreciated as our members work really hard. We wish to thank the community for their on-going support by coming to our fundraising events. We hope you continue to support us this year.
“Also a big thank you to those who nominated us and to the judges for choosing us as the winners. We are very proud to be the first recipients of the ‘Group of the Year’ award as the other groups nominated also do such a good job for the people of Westbury.”
Other nominees for ‘Group of the Year’ were: Buddy Me, an online forum for those struggling to make friends; Crosspoint that gives support and advice to those less fortunate; The Horse and Groom for their charity fundraising; POPCAN for their work for the residents of Oldfield Park; and Westbury Ladies Rugby Club for a successful league-winning season and the work they put into making the club inclusive for all.
