Continuing our spotlight on local people as part of the Westbury & Me photography project led by artist, Penney Ellis. 

Commissioned by Wiltshire Council, the project teaches people how to take better photographs and with their improved skills, they photographed someone they consider to have made a contribution to community life.

The people they identify will also be asked to complete a set of phrases to reveal a bit about themselves. This will form the content of a set of posters featuring Westbury people. The ‘Westbury & Me’ photographs are then made into posters, which will go up in places such as the library, the community centres and town hall, schools and a selection of shops and pubs.

If you would like to nominate a Westbury resident, please contact Penney Ellis 07896 315778.

Jason Curtis and Debbie Cole have already been featured in the past two issues of White Horse News, and Ellie-J Webb is featured below.

There will also be an opportunity to see an exhibition of images, taken by local people under the guidance of Penney, capturing unique and quirky features of Westbury at Westbury Street Fayre on Saturday 12th July.

Penney explains, “At the street fair I will give out trail maps for people to find the photos. People are invited to follow a picture trail matching photos to their locations. Participants who complete the trail will have an opportunity to win a place on a six-week digital photography course in September.”

To find out more please visit Westbury and me at www.photo- sensitive.co.uk

Ellie-J Webb

Ellie-J Webb, 16, has lived in Westbury for six years after returning from Cyprus where she lived with her family for five years. She attends Matravers School. 

Ellie-J is ranked third in the UK in her age category for hammer throw, with a personal best of 52.68 meters. In 2013, she came second in hammer throw at the English Schools Athletics Association in Birmingham, qualifying her to represent England at the Schools International Athletics Board in Dublin.

Ellie-J trains twice a week with Team Bath and competes most weekends. Her goal is to represent England at the IAAF World Youth Competition next year in Columbia.

The house I grew up in … We lived in Cyprus when I was little and we called our house Bel Air because of the jacuzzi bath and marble floors. It was five minutes to the beach and two minutes to the pool, it was a life of luxury.

When I was a child I wanted to be … A vet. When we lived in Cyprus we had a friend who was a vet and I helped clean out the animals’ cages.

You may not know it but I’m very good at … singing, I can sing a little bit.

You may not know it but I’m very bad at … getting out of bed in the morning.

It might be fashionable but I don’t like … Mosh music.

The thing that makes me laugh … Little Britain and Lee Evans.

The living person I admire ... Catherine Beatty – from Cyprus – she represents Cyprus at hammer throw.

I admire her because … She’s a student at Bath Uni and on Team Bath for hammer throw. She puts a lot of effort into me and supports my training. Her achievements inspire me.

When I have time to myself I … sing. I have a drum-n-bass single on iTunes.

My proudest achievement … Going to Dublin to represent England at the Schools International last year. Also, I’m proud to have been in the top three in the country at hammer throw since I competed at under 15.

If I could change one thing about myself … My size.

It changed my life … Leighton and Maddox, my nephews, when they were born. They’re my boys!

My most treasured possession … my phone!

I wish I had never given up … speaking Greek.

My happiest memory … my nan and grandad lived on a farm. I remember swimming in a stream near their house.

My favourite bit of Westbury … Redland Field, it’s where I chill with my friends.

Westbury would be the perfect place to live if … we had a new sports complex and opportunities for disadvantaged kids.

If the iconic Westbury Horse galloped away, I would like to see it replaced by … a massive Banksy graffiti.