Volunteer Ian Lawes – who was born and bred in Trowbridge – is this month’s Wiltshire Times Community Hero, thanks to his relentless help in the community and at Trowbridge Rugby Club.
The retired 66-year-old, who worked at Bowyers for 29 years, lives in George Street with his partner, Susan York.
He said: “I didn’t have a clue I was nominated.
“I like to keep my place together, so I thought I would help out the neighbours and repair all their fence posts and panels.
“I try and scrape the gutters, strim the banks and pick up rubbish. I always welcome new neighbours.
“I started off in the catering business, so I am always looking after and caring for people and making sure people are happy.
“I like to keep people happy because it keeps me happy and I like to see a nice community.”
Mr Lawes helps people with shopping and gardening and took second place in this year’s Trow-bridge in Bloom competition.
He has volunteered at Trow-bridge Rugby Club for eight years, doing repairs and helping out with the kit and scoreboards.
He recently achieved a 100 per cent attendance record for games and training sessions, won the Clubman of the Year award in 2008 for his volunteer work and won the Services to Trowbridge Rugby Club Award in 2013.
He said: “My sons play rugby and I went down to watch them and it built up from there.
“Anything I see busted, I repair it. I just get on with it. You don’t need to have a committee meeting about it.
“It is natural to me. I like things tidy and neat.”
Trowbridge Rugby Club president Mike James said: “It is his second home, the amount of work he does here.
“He is indispensable and has done a tremendous amount of work for the club.
“The players and members appreciate everything he does.”
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