MORE than 1,000 Wiltshire Times readers from west Wiltshire and beyond have given their support to our campaign to strip Lt Col Giles Stibbe of his OBE.

This week the campaign gained the support of former RAF officer Pamela Gabell, who spent 23 years in the military.

The 50-year-old, of Boundary Walk, Trowbridge, said: "There has always been double standards and hypocrisy in the services.

"If he had not been an officer he would definitely not have been promoted and considered for an OBE or any other award.

"In fact his career would probably have been over, especially as this was not the first time he had committed a driving offence."

Lt Col Stibbe, who drove off after his dangerous driving contributed to the deaths of two men and a five-year-old girl on the A350, has been awarded an OBE for military services in the former Yugoslavia.

Melksham men Adam Lumley, 21, and Craig Dicker, 23, and Calne schoolgirl Tamara Jayne Sheppard all died in the crash at West Ashton in 2000.

When Stibbe was sentenced at Truro Crown Court in 2001, Judge Graham Cottle told the military officer he had lied to the court and acted in an arrogant manner.

"Not only were you guilty of the offence of which you were convicted, but you were also in my view guilty of dishonourable conduct," he said.

"The glowing testimonies to your character have to be set against the simple, inescapable fact that you told lies in your evidence, and in my judgement displayed an arrogant disregard for the truth in the face of overwhelming evidence as to the way in which you did drive."

Stibbe had been convicted of three other driving offences, including careless driving, in 2001.

Judge Cottle said he felt forced to give no more than a financial penalty because of Stibbe's military position.

He said: "Apparently, any form of community sentence is said to be incompatible with the holding of the Queen's commission. Personally I cannot understand why."

This week Gill Lumley, the mum of Adam who died in the crash, sent in nearly 100 signatures to add to the campaign.

Wiltshire Times acting editor Keith Gale said: "I want to urge readers to get behind our campaign.

"Its success so far has been overwhelming and I really believe we have a good chance of stripping Stibbe of his undeserved award.

"At the same time there is a chance to make a stand against the rotten state of the honours system in this country."

To add your support send in the coupon today or contact Jenny Haworth on (01225) 352483 for a pack of petitions.

Return completed petitions to the Wiltshire Times, 15 Duke Street, Trowbridge, Wiltshire, BA14 8EF.