August was another busy and rewarding month representing Calne across the county and within our local community. Here are a few highlights from the month:
Celebrating a 100th Birthday Milestone
The day featured brilliant live entertainment sung by Nick from Mini Concerts, a delicious BBQ prepared by Anne Marie, and a stunning birthday cake made by Dawn. A huge thank you to all the staff whose hard work and dedicated care made this milestone such a happy and memorable occasion!
Amesbury Mayoral Service at Stonehenge
Also on 4 August, I was honoured to join Deputy Lieutenants, the High Sheriff of Wiltshire, the Chairman of Wiltshire Council, fellow Mayors, Town Councillors, and community leaders for a special service at Stonehenge marking the Mayoral Year of Cllr Laura Knight, Mayor of Amesbury.
The service, led by Frank and Amelia of the Aes Dana Grove Stonehenge Druids, offered a spiritually captivating and inclusive experience, beginning with a procession around the monument before entering the inner circle. Guests participated in the sacred Awen chant and passed a wooden staff while calling out their names, followed by a prayer of reflection from Revd Canon Kelvin Inglis of Amesbury Abbey Church of St Mary and St Melor.
During the service, I had the opportunity to address the congregation and share a few thoughts on community, history, and civic leadership:
"Wiltshire’s history has a depth and clarity that reaches back beyond the foundation of our country. Standing among landscapes such as Stonehenge and Avebury, you feel a sense of continuity that is almost magical, especially for someone like me who grew up in a place without that depth of history.
I came from an industrial town, a mono town, where for many decades you either worked at the steelworks or knew someone who did. My lifetime has only seen the continued decline of that industry and of the town that once thrived on it. Repeated buyouts of the works, along with ever decreasing production, pushed the town into decline, and that is how I left it.
I then found myself in Calne. A smaller town, but also a mono town, once dominated by C and T Harris and known for its bacon. It too suffered when the industry failed, leaving the town and its people in a depressed state. Over the decades it recovered because of the strength and commitment of its community. I have lived there for ten years now, and I have been proud to be embraced by that community and to play my part in its ongoing improvement.
Whether we were born in Wiltshire or arrived here for any number of reasons, I believe we are all fortunate to hold positions of leadership within our communities. We have the opportunity to work on their behalf and to support the aims and aspirations of the wonderful people we represent.
Thank you to Laura for inviting me, and thank you to the Amesbury council team for welcoming us today. Thank you. I am grateful to be here with you all today and to share in this moment."
@calnepastandpresent A magical day at Stonehenge for the Amesbury Mayor's Celebration. Circling the stones, chanting Awen, children running with Druid Frank, a heartfelt prayer, and a moment to speak about Calne's amazing community. Standing inside the henge itself was something I'll never forget. Thank you to Warminster Town Mayor Councillor Jack Jones for the additional video clip.
♬ som original - Anime
Local Governance & Community Action
During August, I also chaired a meeting with representatives from neighbouring local parishes to discuss the proposed Household Recycling Centre (HRC) closure and the ongoing HRC booking trial.
This collaborative session directly informed an agenda item at our September Full Council meeting, resulting in Calne Town Council formally submitting our collective considerations and concerns to Wiltshire Council on both matters.
