Wiltshire Community News: Fundraising, Heritage, and Local Updates

This week, numerous schools across Wiltshire participated in fundraising activities for Children in Need, with Pudsey making appearances to greet some students. Concurrently, a complex cleaning operation was underway for the carpets at Stourhead, and a new illuminated display was revealed at the Longleat Festival of Light. On Monday, residents throughout the county observed a moment of silence for Armistice Day. Triplets Albie, Beau, and Judie from Holt, near Bradford on Avon, successfully raised £1,200 for Children in Need through significant challenges for their age of seven. Albie completed a 20km cycle, Beau swam 60 lengths in a 25m pool, and Judie ran 10km. The Longleat Festival of Light has introduced its heaviest lantern to date. This five-tonne Simuwu Ding lantern is an enlarged reproduction of a rare cultural artifact initially discovered in China in 1939. Dale Smith, the proprietor of the Wheatsheaf pub in Calne, which is 200 years old, has indicated that maintaining its operation is an increasing challenge. The establishment, which first opened in 1822, is considered an integral part of local life by many in the community. The National Trust’s Stourhead estate, located near Warminster, has been conducting vital conservation work on its antique and fragile carpets while the house remains closed. Despite cooler temperatures, the estate’s walled garden, which remains accessible to the public, was observed to be in full bloom this week. Forty-five young individuals, aged between 11 and 25, convened in Trowbridge to become new members of the Wiltshire and Swindon Youth Commission. The commission’s mandate is to influence the services Wiltshire Police delivers to young people. On Monday at 11am, people across Wiltshire gathered to commemorate Armistice Day. Armed forces personnel were specifically present at the cenotaph situated on Regent’s Circus in Swindon. For updates, follow BBC Wiltshire on Facebook, X, and Instagram. Story ideas can be submitted via email or WhatsApp at 0800 313 4630. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the content found on external websites. Information regarding our approach to external linking is available.