Town crier 'totally lost for words' after award
A town crier has described being lost for words "for the first time ever" after being handed a prestigious award.
Trevor Heeks, 80, who has served as Trowbridge's town crier for 38 years, has been awarded the Melvin Jones Fellowship, which recognises outstanding dedication to humanitarian work.
Melvin Jones founded the charitable association Lions International more than 100 years ago in Chicago - work that Mr Heeks has helped continue for the past 25 years at his local Lions club.
He described the award as "beautiful", adding that he knew nothing about the fact he was up for the award.
'I'm just Trevor'
In his time as a town crier, Mr Heeks has won more than 160 competitions, including the World, European and All England town crier championship titles.
"Most people have got a trophy room, I've got a trophy house," he joked during an interview with BBC Radio Wiltshire.
But all those accolades have not changed his view on the world, he said.
"I'm just Trevor, everybody knows me as Trevor and my feet are on the ground and I want to help anyone that I can."
He told the BBC that his town crier championship wins had taken on greater meaning due to the difficulties he had faced as a child.
"When I was younger I used to stutter, so it makes me feel proud to get what I can," he said.
Looking back to his childhood has also informed his passion for giving back through his association with the Lions.
"We do what we can," he said.
"My dad died when I was 11, my younger sister was three weeks old.
"It was a struggle, but all through life I've lived. My glass is always half full."
While there were almost 30 Lions Club members at his local branch when he joined 25 years ago, the group is now down to about 12 people.
The group mainly raises money for local causes with some of their fundraising also going further afield.
"Ninety-five per cent of what we raise in money in Trowbridge obviously stays in Trowbridge, but five per cent goes to things across the world and we've had a lot lately," he said.
Follow BBC Wiltshire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.
