Royal Wootton Bassett Mayor Mike Farrow welcomed many official guests from around the county to his Civic Service at St Bartholomew's Church last week, to celebrate community and friendship.

Sea Cadets provided an impressive Guard of Honour alongside the church path as the congregation arrived..

Items written by the Mayor were read, and there was also a Bible reading.

Organist David Parks played Bach's Prelude in C Major BMV553. An augmented choir, with soloist Haydn Williams, sang Libera Me from Faure's Requiem.

Congregational hymns were All Things Bright and Beautiful, Give Me Joy in my Heart, and One More Step Along the World I Go. The National Anthem was also sung. The Rev Canon Jane Curtis, Mayor's Chaplain, led prayers and gave an address on the theme.

The ancient ceremonial Sword of the old Borough of Wootton Bassett, carried in procession, was held aloft by Town Crier and Sword bearer Owen Collier. It was received by Canon Jane, and remained on the altar throughout the service.

The afternoon ended with delicious sandwiches, cakes, tea and coffee.

Donations were welcomed for the Mayor's chosen charity, the Loganberry Trust, founded by Kevin Logan to promote early diagnosis of prostate cancer.