HAVING completed my term as Mayor of Chippenham, I would like to thank everyone, too numerous to mention individually, who helped make it such a fantastic, if exhausting, experience.

During the year my wife and I attended more than 200 engagements some very grand and others more down to earth.

As we went about our duties we met lots of wonderful people, many of whom devote much of their lives to raising money for charity and helping the less fortunate.

Others give up their spare time to do things like run youth organisations or entertain folk through their music.

Such people are truly the unsung heroes of our town and Chippenham would be a much poorer place without them. They deserve our fullest support and grateful thanks.

A big thank you must also go to all those who supported my charity for the year.

Through their generosity we managed to raise an incredible sum of money and I hope to be able to present the League of Friends of Chippenham Hospital with a cheque for about £5,000.

The money will be used to purchase medical equipment so more out-patient work can be carried out locally thereby avoiding the need for patients to travel for treatment.

Chippenham is a vibrant, warm and friendly town and it has been my honour and privilege to be mayor for the past 12 months.

Thank you to all those who made it possible and who contributed in some way or other to the memories which will stay with me for the rest of my life.

RICHARD MEEK

Chippenham