A ROTARIAN who slept rough for a week in winter to support a disaster aid charity, has been awarded for his services to the community of Highworth.

Terry Williams, 62, of High-worth, pitched his ShelterBox emergency tent on the Podium in the Market Place in February and lived in it for seven days and nights.

Terry, who is a member of the Rotary Club of Swindon North, had set out to raise £2,000 but he well and truly smashed that.

Currently the amount raised stands at more than £8,800, which will enable the Rotary Club to buy 12 ShelterBoxes and also send more than £1,000 to the END POLIO NOW Campaign.

When it was all over, Tom Henderson, the founder of ShelterBox, telephoned Terry from his office in Cornwall to congratulate him on his supreme effort and to offer him a personal thank you.

To mark his voluntary services to the community in general, the Highworth Link magazine, the inter church committee and the local Highworth community have awarded Terry the great honour of being the Citizen Of The Year.

The award was presented at the civic service held in St Michael’s Church in Highworth on Sunday, June 10, by Matt Ford.

Terry said of his tent ordeal: “I had some wet days but generally the weather was kind to me.

“Apart from my first night I slept very well indeed.

“I had lots of visitors and some generous donations and I want to say a huge thank you to everyone who supported me and contributed to the fantastic sum we have raised.

“I was hoping to raise enough for four or five boxes, which would have cost around £2,500 but the amount I have raised will be able to buy many more.

“I think I achieved my aim – the fact that I got so much press coverage meant that all of those who live in Highworth, if not Swindon, knew what I was doing which raised the profile of the charity.

“Hopefully next time there is a natural disaster then as well as the normal charities, such as Oxfam, people will now think of ShelterBox as well.”

Tony Brewster, who is in charge of advertising, sales and administration at The Highworth Link, said: “He has become something of a local celebrity.

“This award is for his work over the last 25 years.

“He is a very quiet man, but he thoroughly deserves this award.”