Eileen Thompson helping pupils Louisa Gougien, Jack Chui, Alex Young and Joshua HenwoodA WOMAN aged 72 who teaches pupils at her old primary school how to garden has been given an award.

Eileen Thompson, of Greenway Gardens, Chippenham, won the carer in the community award in the annual People of Wiltshire Awards.

Despite her age, Mrs Thompson cycles every week to St Paul's School in The Oaks, where she helps the children tend their vegetable patch.

And now she is going to spend her £500 prize money on buying a new bike.

She said: "Mine has become a bit old and rusty.

"It will have to have a large basket and saddlebags to hold all the produce, but it will be lovely for the children to be able to see it and know where the money came from to buy it."

Mrs Thompson said: "I love coming to the school.

"We grow all manner of vegetables from cabbages and carrots to marrows .

"I usually grow the plants at home and then bring them in for the children to transplant into the school garden.

"When the vegetables are ready, the children take them home to eat."

Mrs Thompson, who was a pupil at St Paul's when the school was in Park Lane, said: "I get a great deal of satisfaction out of helping the children learn.

"They tend to enjoy coming outside because they think they're getting out of lessons.

"But what they don't realise is that they're actually learning about nature, science and even practising their reading and writing by creating all the labels for the plants."

Bob Buckley, headteacher at St Paul's, is full of admiration for Mrs Thompson.

He said that she richly deserves the award which she received at a black tie event in the Civic Hall, Trowbridge, last night.

Mr Buckley said: "Eileen is a very special lady. She gives up her time to come into school and has been dong so for a very long time.

"Even when the weather is bad and too wet to garden, she still comes in and helps out with reading and other activities in the classroom."

He added: "Unfortunately, in society in general, there is less chance than there was for children to interact with older members of the community.

"This is a shame because when you see Eileen and the children working and talking together, you realise the value of the knowledge and experiences she passes on to them.

The awards, hosted by Wiltshire County Council, recognise the huge contribution of local people to their communities.

Members of the public nominated individuals and organisations in six categories young people, good neighbours, carers in the community, those who protect the environment, people who have achieved sporting success and employers.

Mrs Thompson was nominated by St Paul's, where she started volunteering after retiring from Westinghouse as a cashier.

Twelve years on, Mrs Thompson has helped many hundreds of children to develop green fingers and has helped transform the garden into a regular supplier of produce.

Mr Buckley said: "We were happy to nominate her for the award and are thrilled that she has won.

"The children and the staff love her she really is a great friend to St Paul's and we hope she carries on playing a very important role here at school for as long as possible."

All the winners received a £500 prize at the event which was hosted by Magic Circle Close-up Magician of the Year, David Penn.

Wiltshire County Council chairman Allan Peach, said: "This year's winners are all very worthy and show just what can be achieved in our communities.

"People who actively contribute to their communities are helping to improve life in Wiltshire every day."

Others share in awards limelight

The other winners in this year's awards are:

Environment Award Salisbury-based Wildlife Rescue, which provides wildlife care, advice and expertise in the UK.

Youth Award Jonathan Bates, 15, from Westbury, has become actively involved at Matravers School in Westbury since moving from Yorkshire 18 months ago, helping other students and sitting on the student council. He has also helped to care for several elderly neighbours and went to the aid of an 89-year-old neighbour who had fallen down in her bungalow.

Sporting Success Award Abigail Regler, from West Ashton, was the youngest person to train to be a British Gymnastics assistant coach at the age of 14, qualifying in September.

Good Neighbour Award Charlie Finbow, from Westbury, is a full-time carer for his disabled wife. He is also chairman of his local school's board of governors, he set up a computer club and is also well-known for helping people in his community to sort out problems they are facing.

Employer of the Year Shelwork Industries of Salisbury is a subsidiary of the Action for Blind People charity and employs people whose disability may be a barrier to employment and professional training. Its overall objective is to employ, train and place individuals in the wider workplace in Wiltshire.