ONE of the leading lights behind the campaign to preserve the Mechanics Institute in the Railway Village is to meet the Prime Minister.

Martha Parry of the New Mechanics' Institute Preservation Trust and the Swindon Civic Trust, is one of 450 people from the south west who will get to meet the Tony Blair and wife Cherie at a special reception in London on Saturday, February 26.

The reception is to recognise the efforts of people working in the not-for-profit sector.

Ms Parry, (pictured) has been a driving force in the development of the preservation trust, which has been battling to save the Mechanics Institute and return it to community use.

She was also involved in the setting up of the Swindon Civic Trust and also a member of the Swindon Cultural Partnership.