Deputy Mayor Update: April - 11 May 2026 - Celebrating Our Community, Looking to the Future

During April, I undertook a number of background tasks as we moved through the transition for several posts at the Town Council and the run‑up to Mayor Making.

It is with sincere thanks for their service and warmest wishes for the future that we say goodbye to Alison Robinson, our Director of Council Services, and Dan Martin, our Beversbrook Sports and Facilities Manager.

With the advertisement now live for the Director of Council Services role, we are pleased to confirm the internal promotion of Callum Barrett as Sports and Leisure Facilities Manager. Supporting Callum will be James Cox and Emma Garnett, who have been appointed as Sports and Leisure Facilities Assistants.

We also welcome Romilly Townend as our new Communications Officer.

Eningen to Calne Twinning Visit

On 8 May, we welcomed a delegation from our German twin town, Eningen. This visit was Calne‑focused and showcased many of our local places and spaces, including Marden Vale Academy, the new ninja play area at the Recreation Ground, a tour of the Calne Men’s Shed, and an introductory session at Calne Bowls Club. The programme also included visits to Bowood, Kingsbury Green Academy, Calne Heritage Centre, and the Atwell Wilson Motor Museum.

A visit to Calne Heritage Centre, hosted by Sue Boddington.

Presentation of art print to Eningen’s Mayor, Bürgermeister Eric Sindek

It was lovely to hear from one of our long‑standing twinners that he was experiencing places in Calne he had never seen before.

At Mayor Making, I was very pleased to present a framed art print by Sonia Hill to Eningen’s Mayor, Bürgermeister Eric Sindek, along with individual keepsake prints for Eric and for the members of the delegation: Ute and Rolf, and Lucia and Klaus. It was a small token of our thanks for the friendship between our two towns and for the time we’ve shared together here in Calne.

My thanks go to Jon Fisher, Rob Mercer, and Cllr Ian Thorn for doing the heavy lifting with this visit. Your time and generosity were appreciated by all.

Mayor Making

Mayor Making 2026. L-R:
Town Crier, Mark Wylie - Deputy Town Mayor, Cllr Declan Boore - Town Mayor, Cllr Tim Havenith - Mace Bearer, Kevin O'Daly

It was during Mayor Making that I had the honour of being elected as Calne Town Mayor for 2026–2027.

It has been an honour to represent our town as Deputy Mayor of Calne over the past year. The role has given me the privilege of meeting so many dedicated residents, volunteers, and community groups whose work strengthens the fabric of our town. As I look ahead to the coming year, I will continue to shine a light on the organisations, projects, and people who give so much to Calne, ensuring their contributions are recognised and celebrated.

I welcome Cllr Declan Boore as my Deputy Town Mayor and thank Cllr Ian Thorn for his dedicated service during his term as Calne Town Mayor.

Many thanks to all that attended and to the wonderful council staff that managed the event. A special thank you to Mark Wylie and Kevin O'Daly for the continued service to the town.

Town Mayor's Appeal

During this year, my Mayor’s charities will be Calne Heritage Centre and Calne Men’s Shed: two organisations that represent the very best of our town.

The Calne Heritage Centre preserves our shared story and provides a welcoming space for the community to come together for events and exhibitions.

The Calne Men’s Shed strengthens the wellbeing, skills, and friendships that hold our community together. They may serve different needs, but they are united by something powerful: both are run entirely by volunteers, and both exist because the people of Calne care deeply about their community.

Please consider supporting these organisations with me by donating to or sharing this fundraiser:

Fundraiser by Calne Town Council - Mayors Appeal : Support the Annual Town Mayors Appeal

Place names of Calne: Greenacres Way

Greenacres Way began life as the entrance road to the development off Woodsage Way in the 1990s and was in place certainly by 1995. I have been unable to find any evidence in the field names for Greenacres, as the land was called Brooks and Willow Tree Ground, and similar. So the road is likely named for Greenacres approved school for girls.

Greenacres was an approved school for girls. A boarding school for the unruly, or those who couldn't cope with normal school life. There are quite some stories of the havoc they'd cause in Calne and many can remember having to avoid them, however when it came to behaviour in church, they seemed to be well behaved. This didn't stop Calne parents from threatening to send their kids there for bad behaviour though!

It opened c. 1940s operating until c. 1982 and one of the buildings in use was a house called The Grange, which once belonged to the Harris family and among other subjects taught animal husbandry. During the 1970s it became a therapeutic unit for both girls and boys, with Springfields House housing the girls with the house previously known as The Grange for the boys, at that point called Greenacres.

After a time laying unused, 1983 saw Springfields school open at the site, a residential school for maladjusted boys, at that time. See Springfield Drive.