Melksham community stalwart honoured for reviving Neighbourhood Watch

Mrs Stoker, 68, of Fuller’s Close, beat three others for the title after being nominated by Melksham Without Parish Council for her tireless work in reviving Neighbourhood Watch schemes in the area and supporting new ones.

The accolade, along with police officer of the year, neighbourhood policing team of the year and police community support officer of the year, were was presented by the Police and Crime Commissioner for Wiltshire and Swindon, Angus Macpherson and the High Sheriff of Wiltshire Lady Gooch, in a ceremony at the county’s police headquarters in Devizes on Friday.

A delighted Mrs Stoker said: “I was in shock, I never expected it and I really feel honoured. I couldn’t do without the support and help of an awful lot of people. It’s not just me, it’s the Neighbourhood Policing Team, it’s all the people who want to set up the watch scheme.”

The retired staff nurse is passionate about health and safety, so when she moved to Melksham with her husband Graham from Jersey she wanted to set up a Neighbourhood Watch scheme and since then has continued to support and create initiatives to benefit the town.

The panel that selected the winners and runners-up consisted of former Chief Constable Pat Geenty, Corporate Director of Wiltshire Council Dr Carlton Brand, Lady Gooch, Chief Executive at Swindon Borough Council Gavin Jones and Mr Macpherson

The other winners were: PC Tim Bunt (Tidworth), PCSO Will Todd (Amesbury) and Swindon East NPT.

Melksham PC Kane Fulbrook-Smith came runner-up in the police officer of the year category and Melksham Rural North NPT in the neighbourhood policing team award.

The commissioner said: “The awards provide an opportunity to recognise and applaud some of the excellent work that goes on, not just by volunteers, but also but police officers, police staff and members of the special constabulary, many of whom go well beyond their remit to keep their communities safe.”