Notable figures from across Corsham are gearing up for an evening of celebration tonight in the town’s annual community awards.

The winners of the five categories will be presented with their awards at the annual town meeting in the town hall.

Among those honoured will be Brian Hunt, who is being recognised after 25 years as leader of the 1st Neston and Box Scouts.

He said: “I got a letter from the council saying I had won an award – it was a surprise, completely out of the blue.

“In 1987 they wanted someone to set up a new group, so I stepped forward and have been there ever since.

“You get the chance to get outside and do the things you wouldn’t otherwise get to do, like hiking, camping and climbing. I have seen one of my old Scouts come back with their own kids, which does make you feel old though.”

Humphry Barnikel will be recognised in the sports category for running the One Mile Club, which helps children in the town to keep fit.

He said: “The club is there for children and their parents, we try to make it a family thing. We hold different events, runs, relays, anything to make it fun, then the kids get prizes the more they’ve run.

“It started for adults in 2008, but just took off as a children’s club. Mums and dads would come with their kids and end up running themselves.”

Seventeen-year-old rugby player James Catlin has won the youth award for a career that has already seen him join the Bath Rugby academy and gain his first England U16 cap.

He said: “It’s fantastic winning an award for something I really love doing, it doesn’t get better than that.”

Also due for awards are Matt Booker, of Automattic Comics for his work supporting the Corsham Charity Sci Fi group, and Corsham Primary’s Broadwood site for its redevelopment of a strip of land used for fly-tipping into an outdoor learning space, called The Forest School.

Anthony Welch, head of the Broadwood site, said: “At the moment we are getting close to the point where we can open it as a woodland learning area.

“We were thrilled to win the award and we’ll be going along to collect it with everyone there.”