MALMESBURY will be represented at one of the most historic events of the year next month – the celebrations in Salisbury to mark the 800th anniversary of the signing of the Magna Carta.

People in the town, especially those with an artistic flair, are now being urged to help with the project which involves creating an eight foot Malmesbury Baron that will take part in a procession around Salisbury.

Volunteers are being asked to discuss the project with the aim of designing and making the larger-than-life puppet which will be carried around the city amid a group of 20 Malmesbury people on June 15.

No Malmesbury Baron was actually involved in the signing of the Magna Carta at Runnymede 800 years ago – or even existed then.

But Salisbury Cathedral, which has the finest preserved copy of the four surviving original 1215 documents and will pay a leading role in the UK-wide celebrations, was keen for representatives from the oldest borough in the country to take part.

Coun John Thomson, chairman of the Malmesbury Area Board, said: “I hope local people will come forward to get involved in this Magna Carta project.

“I know we have a lot of talented people living in the community area and it would be great to see their artistic skills demonstrated in the Magna Carta procession in Salisbury.”

Wiltshire Council’s community area manager Miranda Gilmour said they were especially looking for people with an artistic flair or craft skill, or an interest in local history.

She said: “We need people who are good at translating good ideas into practical action.”

Over the next few weeks volunteers will agree the design of the cloak that will adorn the Malmesbury Baron that will include numerous references to the town’s history.

The symbolic representative of Malmesbury will then go on a ‘trial run’ around Malmesbury a week before the Salisbury pageant.

The group will be working alongside Malmesbury School whose students will be providing banners to travel with the Baron in the procession.

These will include a 21st century clause suitable for a modern day Magna Carta as well as a banner to distinguish the Malmesbury group.

One “strong, fit adult” is being sought to be the baron carrier, who will have two guides while the rest of the group will be presenting the banners and flags.

Further information is available from Ms Gilmour at (01672) 515742 or email: miranda.gilmour@wiltshire.gov.uk or from Malmesbury Town Council on (01666) 822143.