THE nominees for White Horse News’ Person of the Year 2018 competition have been shortlisted, and now readers are being asked to cast their vote on who they think should be crowned the winner. In our last issue, 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. Below are the shortlisted names. You can vote online at our website – www.whitehorsenews.co.uk – or by simply emailing your choice to news@whitehorsenews.co.uk (please include your own name and address) or by filling out the form on page 5 and returning it to Westbury Visitor Centre in the High Street or send it to White Horse News, 31 Market Place, Melksham. SN12 6ES. The deadline for voting is 3pm next Wednesday, 23th January.
Nick Jones
Nick Jones is a fundraiser who has dedicated his time and effort to create a foundation to help support children who are dealing with bereavement called, ‘The Nick Jones Foundation for Bereaved Children’. To raise money he has organised charity events with celebrity guests including Peter Andre and Martin Kemp. He also, alongside a team of friends, climbed to Base Camp of Everest with the plan to climb Kilimanjaro in March, all whilst suffering with a terminal illness.
Nick’s nomination said, “I’d like to nominate Nick Jones for his bravery, literaĺly climbing mountains, even though he has a terminal illness, he is fighting it to raise money to help bereaved children, including his own – Lara and Cameron. Even knowing these challenges might kill him, he isn’t giving up, as he cares so deeply about his charity.”
Sharon Jones
Sharon Jones is known in the town for her many volunteering roles including running and organising events at All Saints Church, co-organising the Christmas Tree Festival, and running the First Steps to Worship group for the past 23 years of the group’s 25-year existence. She also set up ‘Leave it in the Cot’ which alerts parents/ carers that using the baby pacifier beyond the crib could have detrimental and long-term effects for young children.
Sharon’s nomination said, “Sharon is a very special person indeed, and is involved in many activities in and around Westbury. Her part in the local playgroup is really vital, and she throws herself into these activities and more with great enthusiasm and compassion.
“When we first moved here some years ago it was Sharon who made us feel welcome and safe, and she was a real lifeline for our family and for that I will always be grateful.
“She is the sort of person who makes you feel listened to and understood, a rare quality in today’s increasingly busy and inward-turning community. Sharon and her husband Ashley are pillars of the Westbury community and together make a strong team that seem able to tackle whatever life throws at them with energy and skill. Sharon is indeed a worthy nominee for Westbury’s Person of 2018.”
James Lewis
James Lewis is an emergency care assistant for Southwest Ambulance Trust (NHS) and a volunteer for the ServeOn Search and Rescue K9 Unit based in Salisbury. He is a dog handler for a certified urban search and rescue dog named Molly. He helped organise the first ever dog unit in the island of Cebu in the Philippines by identifying dogs that could be trained to become search and rescue dogs. In addition James supports the Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation, imparts his knowledge and skills in medical emergency. He gives training to the crew and sends donated items useful in the ambulance and emergency assistance.
James is also a teacher by profession. In the past few years he has donated computers and other IT equipment to deprived schools in the Philippines (the used equipment is donated by UK schools and individuals). He trained 3,500 students for Emergency evacuation in case of earthquake. He has also been a carer for people with learning difficulties for over 20 years.
James’ nomination said, “I nominate James for his dedication to share his knowledge, skills, experiences in the field of his expertise not only here in the UK but also to a developing country which is a high risk of natural calamity.”
Bill Prior
Bill Prior, a former RAF serviceman, has been the organiser of the Poppy Appeal in Westbury for over 30 years, first starting in 1987. The amount raised for the Royal British Legion continues to increase year on year thanks to the efforts of Bill and his team. He has also volunteered at the Heritage Centre in Westbury town centre for a number of years.
Bill’s nomination said, “Bill does so much for the town with the Poppy Appeal, but he was also the district officer for St John Ambulance for many years and is also a member of lots of different local organisations and most certainly deserves recognition for his hard work.”
Jim Shaw
Jim Shaw has been a member of Westbury Fire Brigade since joining in October 1988, at the age of 18. He now serves the brigade as the watch manager and works hard to encourage people to join the fire service.
As well as their normal duties, each year Jim and the team organise a charity car wash, raising money for The FireFighters Charity, last year raising £500 washing over 100 cars.
Jim’s nomination said, “I would like to nominate Jim Shaw, who is currently the crew manager at Westbury Fire Station. He is retained, gives over 120 hours a week to the service and has been serving for over 30 years.”
Another nomination said, “As Jim is now in his 30th year I feel it is time he is put forward so others can be made aware of his hard work and dedication to the people of Westbury over the past 30 years, though he is not doing his firefighting role for recognition.”
Lynne Vercoe
Following from the 100 years celebration of the end of WW1 last year, Lynne Vercoe has been nominated for her role in creating the WW1 exhibition and poppy display that was featured in All Saints Church over the remembrance period with The Westbury branch of the Wiltshire Family History Group. She, alongside a team of helpers, spent the last four years researching soldiers from Westbury who served in the war and also recorded those who then returned to the area. It was visited by hundreds over the week.
Alongside the exhibition, Lynne helped organise a yarn-bomb poppy display in the church and contributed hundreds of the thousands of poppies used with the Wooley Wednesdays knitting group lending a hand. She is also a member of the group that yarn-bombs Fairfield Farm College each year.
Lynne’s nomination said, “Lynne should be Person of the Year because she works hard to keep the history of Westbury families alive and encourages people to delve into their family history. The exhibition was eye-opening and greatly received by the community and she should be recognised for this.”
