Author: wiltshirebobbyvan

Many thanks to everyone involved in making the Devizes Autumn Fair such a success. From our sponsors, Gaigers and JS Weeks & Co to all our volunteers, stall holders and supporters, who came to enjoy a fun shopping experience, thank you so much. A special mention to Peter Vaughan who produced some delicious canapes for our preveiw evening on Monday night and then ran a cafe upstairs on the Tuesday. Thank you Peter.

A fabulous £9,000 was made for not only the Bobby Van but also Dorothy House, Prospect Hospice, Salisbury Hospice and Cancer Research UK. This was a case of one community coming together to support some amazing local charities. Well done to all.

Will Todd attended Michelle Donelan’s inaugural Over 55’s Information and Advice Fair on 19^th July at The Neeld, Chippenham. Despite the weather it was very well attended with over 300 local residents. The feedback has been extremely good with local people delighted to learn more about the groups, charities, clubs and support available. Loneliness and social isolation are especially bad in more rural areas and events like this help to reach out to those people. 

A second  ‘Over 55’s Information and Advice Fair’ will be held on Sunday 6^thOctober 2019, 15:00 – 17:00 at Melksham Assembly Hall, Market Place, Melksham, SN12 6ES.

This event will be a chance to get together for a cup of tea and to find out about the facilities and support in and around the Melksham area. Michelle hopes to see as many people as possible at this event.

Will Todd, one of our fantastic home security operators, raised over £1,000 by cycling in the Ride100 at the beginning of August. Here he is taking a well deserved rest at the finish with his medal!

For more information and tickets for the Preview Evening on Monday 7th October go to http://www.devizesautumnfair.org.uk/

One of our fabulous Bobby Van home security operators, Mick Leighfield, came to the rescue of Mr L from Marlborough recently. On a trip into town his dog slipped out of the car door and he was unaware of this till he returned home. With no one manning the police station in Marlborough these days he was at a loss at what to do.

Luckily our hero, Mick, was flagged down by Mr L and was straight on the radio. Someone had found the runaway and had taken him to the vets. Mick drove Mr L to be reunited with the beloved rascal!

Nick and Annette Mason once again opened their gardens last weekend, 3rd and 4th August, to the public in aid of The Wiltshire Bobby Van Trust and Wiltshire Air Ambulance. Around 4,500 people of all ages came to see the gardens and some of Nick’s classic and super car collection and an incredible £40,000 was split between the two charities.

Jennie Shaw, Director of The Wiltshire Bobby Van Trust, said:

“I’d like to thank Nick and Annette Mason for opening their home so generously, the neighbouring landowners who allowed us to use their land as an exit and all of the volunteers who gave up their time to support us.

It was a marvellous weekend and we were amazed at how many people came. We usually have around 700 on each day but we had 2,000 on Saturday and 2,300 on Sunday.

We’d like to thank the wonderful people of Middlewick Lane and others living nearby for their patience. They helped us to raise more than £40,000 and we couldn’t have done it without them. It was a true example of a local community supporting two vital local charities.”

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A pop-up community policing shop is making a return to Swindon town centre.

It was originally in place in November 2018 and more than 1,100 people visited over Christmas.

The pop-up allows visitors to engage with local community policing team officers and get advice on crime prevention as well as a better understanding of policing work in their communities.

Swindon Community Policing Team South has been donated the retail space in the Brunel Shopping Centre with the idea supported by, in Swindon BID and the Bobby Van.

Team member PC Paul Bezzant said: “The shop was a big success and we’re really pleased that we have been donated this space over the summer so we can continue to engage with members of the public.

“Quite often we find that people prefer the face-to-face contact to raise any concerns or ask for any advice, so we would encourage people to pay us a visit in our new premises.”

Rob Faulkner, site facilities manager, said: “We are very proud to support this initiative and hope that this summers shop sees more visitors and allow Wiltshire Police to engage with the people.”

The pop-up launches on July 19 and will be open between 10am and 2pm on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays until August 10.

It is located opposite Sainsburys on the ground floor of the Brunel.