IN a heartwarming display of community spirit, a Calne resident, who has faced immense personal challenges over the last year, has received much-needed assistance to repair her damaged fence, thanks to the generosity of local volunteers and the Calne Town Council.
Claire Willoughby had been struggling to make ends meet since having to leave her employment to become a full time carer for her terminally ill husband, so when the storms hit last December and her fences blew down, Claire was distraught to find out that GreensquareAccord were not obligated to replace the fences.
Since then, Claire has endured the heartbreaking loss of her mother and then just 7 weeks later her husband,Graham passed away at home.
Hearing of her plight, Councillor Robert MacNaughton visited Claire at her home in Stokes Croft and decided to rally support. Cllr MacNaughton helped Claire apply for the funds needed to buy the panels through the Calne Town Council Hardship Fund and Calne Welfare Charities ( both Hardship Fund and CWC put in 50% of the cost for materials). He also enlisted the help of fellow Councillor Jeremy Percy and reached out to a local businessman, Josh Lovesey of Lovesey Home and Landscape, who generously volunteered his time and expertise to repair the damaged fence.
Yesterday, the trio spent the entire day making the necessary repairs to the fencing. Cllr MacNaughton told us: "I am exhausted, my manual labour days are definitely over, I don't think I was much help but I tried!"
The cost of the repairs was covered by the Calne Town Council hardship fund, administered by the Calne Town Charity. This fund provides vital support to residents facing financial difficulties.
Josh Lovesey, reflecting on his contribution, stated, "We can all make the world a better place if we work together and show compassion. I am glad to be able to help today."
Councillor Jeremy Percy echoed this sentiment, expressing his gratitude to Mr. Lovesey: "Great thanks to Josh, we couldn't have done it without him!"
This act of kindness highlights the strong sense of community in Calne and the willingness of local residents and organisations to support those in need, especially during times of hardship. It serves as a powerful reminder of the positive impact that collective compassion can have on individual lives.
Photo: Josh Lovesey and Cllr Percy (Cllr MacNaughton)
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