DEVIZES stalwart Margaret Taylor has been given the Freedom of the Town after a campaign by former Kennet chief executive Sidney Jacques won support.

Devizes Town Council voted on Thursday to give the honour to long time Labour supporter Mrs Taylor, 77, who moved to Devizes in 1964 with her husband Ray and quickly became involved with town life.

She said: "I am very honoured to receive the freedom of the town. Originally we didn't plan to stay in Devizes but it is a lovely town and we ended up not wanting to move."

Although no longer involved in civic life Mrs Taylor is still a big supporter of the town's twinning association and health campaigner. She is delighted that after many years of hard work there are now firm plans to open an urgent care centre in the town. She is still chairman of the Friends of Devizes Hospital and was determined this organisation should continue even though the hospital was gradually stripped of most of its services.

She said: "I am now optimistic the new centre will be built and when that happens it will be a great achievement. Once it is open a new friends group can be formed."

In 2009 when she announced she would not stand for the new Wiltshire Council after representing Devizes North as a Labour councillor on the old Wiltshire County Council since 1997 and on Kennet District Council for 15 years she said: "The fight to save the hospital went on for 20 years at least and when the Primary Care Trust did decide to close the hospital I cried."

She also served twice as Devizes Mayor and used her position to lobby for the maternity unit and the hospital.

In a letter of support for Mrs Taylor to be given the freedom of the town Mr Jacques said: "Margaret was elected to Devizes Town Council in 1983 and, in recognition of her services, was twice elected Mayor and served for 26 years. She was elected a county councillor for 12 years.

"Since 1972 Margaret has been a dedicated member of the Devizes, Mayenne and Waiblingen Twinning Associations and was a leading light for 20 years at their conferences as chairman of the Joint Kennet and Devizes Twinning Committee.

"Margaret retired from the Devizes Town Council in 2013 and I am sure that many like-minded residents would wish her long service to be recognised by awarding her the Freedom of the Town."

After Thursday evening's vote Mr Jacques said: “I nominated her for the award and I am delighted she is getting it as recognition for all of her work."

Mrs Taylor and her husband are both retired teachers and met while at Durham University. They have three sons and two grandchildren.

Mrs Taylor joins just three other people still living who have Freedom of the Town. They are former town clerk Julian Macdonald, former MP Michael Ancram and former councillor Pat Morris.

Devizes deputy town clerk Simon Fisher said the role did not come with a key or any particular rights but was a honorary title which meant holders would be invited to all important civic events.