WESTBURY Town Council has expressed its sadness following the news that two former mayors, Marion Clegg and Mike Hawkins, both recently died. Both councillors served as Mayor of Westbury for two separate periods of duty. Current councillors marked their respects by holding a minute’s silence at a meeting of the policy and resources committee of Westbury Town Council on Monday 5th December.
A statement from Westbury Town Council reads, “The council expresses its sadness at the death of two former councillors and mayors, Marion Clegg and Mike Hawkins. The town council councillors and staff send their sincere condolences to the families and friends.”
Speaking at the meeting cllr Gordon King said, “It is sad to report that our Mike, who was a long-standing servant of this council, has passed away.
“I would like to pass on our best wishes to his family at this difficult time and to thank him for his service to the town.”
Westbury and Wiltshire councillor, Gordon King, also shared some memories of Marion Clegg. He said, “Marion was a long-standing Westbury town councillor who held the office of mayor on two occasions. During her final mayorship she campaigned for the cleaning and repainting of Westbury White Horse, labelling it Westbury’s dirty grey mare.
“Her campaign led to the first ever cleaning and repainting of the horse by volunteers, led by the Rotary Club of Westbury. Years later, the horse was repainted and is now long overdue its third refresh, which is entirely in the hands of the Environment Agency. What we can say confidently is that it was Marion who led the way.
“Marion was also a member of the former West Wiltshire District Council, rising to become chair of council in 2005/06.Though we sometimes saw things differently, I can say that I never had any doubt that Marion held Westbury very close to her heart and always did what she saw as best for the town. There was also much we could agree on, and I was always grateful to her for her support whenever it was necessary. She could always find a compromise to get the job done.
“A keen twinner, Marion passionately believed in British/European educational and cultural engagement, first with Soisy-sur-Seine and later with Chateau-du-Loir, Westbury’s current twin town.
“Marion and John regularly hosted the visits of the Chernobyl children and their hosts, at a garden barbecue to make them welcome. In the early 1990s Marion, her husband John and I campaigned tirelessly for the West Wiltshire bypass and then joined forces to campaign against the Westbury eastern bypass in 2008. Marion saw the protection of the special landscape area below the White Horse to be of the greatest importance.”
John Clegg, who also served Westbury twice as mayor, in 1997 and 2000, died in July 2018.
Pictured: Marion Clegg and Mike Hawkins.
