Tributes have been made following the sudden death of well-known and respected former Calne Town Mayor, Tony Trotman last week.
There will not be many, if any, residents in Calne who haven't heard of Mr Tony Trotman.
The Trotman family name has been deep-rooted in Calne since 1921, when Tony's grandfather, Cecil, took over the premises known as E.W.Brown and Co in the High Street having previously traded for many years as an Ironmonger in Wooten under Edge.
Cecil's son - Tony's father, John Trotman, took charge of the company after Cecil died in 1964 and changed the name to Trotman and Sons Ltd with Tony and brother Hugh.
In the early 70's, Trotman and Sons sold the High Street premises, converted their garages and workshop premises in The Pippin and began trading from there. Tony was involved with the family business for 44 years until an offer to purchase the freehold of 83 The Pippin was taken up in 2009 as retirement age was imminent for both Tony and Hugh.
Away from the family business, Tony devoted his time to the town he lived in - serving Calne Town Council for over 30 years and as our Town Mayor four times. He had represented Calne Chilvester and Abberd on Wiltshire Council since 2009 and was the chair of the Northern Area Planning Committee. He had also been a member of Wiltshire County Council and North Wiltshire District Council.
On Friday, Tony's wife Miriam released the following statement: "It is with our deepest sadness that we inform you of the death of Councillor Tony Trotman, beloved husband and father who died suddenly at home on the 30th November.
Following the sad news, councillors have been paying their own personal tributes to their colleage and friend.
Current Town Mayor, Robert MacNaughton said: "It is still difficult to believe that Tony passed away last Thursday morning, he was 76 years old. He had been diagnosed with pneumonia two days earlier at the Great Western Hospital, and then released.
"His family asked the Council not to release anything over the weekend, other than to repost what had been published on Miriam’s Facebook page.
"Earlier today I had a two-hour meeting with the Director of Council Services – Alison Robinson. She mentioned that Tony gave her a lengthy tour of his ward back in September. It was a hot day, and they walked a good distance.
"Tony was married to Miriam for 49 years. He has been involved as a Councillor for around 35 years. I remember back in the summer he mentioned he had started his Councillor career when he was living in a thatched cottage in Blacklands. He moved from Calne Without to Calne at a later date. He has been a Wiltshire Councillor for over 20 years.
"I can confidently say Calne will never see another Councillor like Tony. He served for so long, and held such esteemed positions on Wiltshire Council. Everybody in the town knew him, and his family. I remember standing chatting to him at the polling station in St Edmund’s church at election time. Everybody that came to vote knew him by name. He exchanged a few words with each and every one of them. He was re-elected with no problem.
“His untimely death marks the end of an era. The world is changing at a rapid rate, and it is a shame we have now lost such a vital link to our community past. He will be missed.”
Cllr Tim Havenith told us: "Hearing the sad news of Tony’s sudden death, my thoughts are with Tony’s wife, Miriam, along with his family and friends at this difficult time.
"Many will know Tony from his family’s shop in the town centre that served the community for decades. However I first met Tony in 2018 as the Chair of the Calne Heritage Centre when I became a volunteer and I quickly came to respect the boundless energy he had for his work at the Centre as well as being a Unitary and Town Councillor.
"Along with being the first person to encourage me to become a Councillor myself, I admired Tony’s dedication for Calne and the wider County in the many roles he held as a councillor. Tony was Mayor of Calne an impressive four times during successive decades, most recently in 2022, a sign of his unwavering commitment to our town.
"It has been an honour and a privilege to work alongside Tony over the past five years. He will be missed."
Councillor Richard Clewer, leader of Wiltshire Council, said: "I am sorry to hear the sad news of the passing of Councillor Tony Trotman. “My thoughts are with his family and friends at this very difficult time. "I have known Tony for many years working with him as part of Wiltshire Council where he was an effective member and passionate advocate for the residents of Calne. “Councillor Trotman's dedication in his role as a local councillor for Calne Chilvester and Abberd was a great example to us all. “He will be greatly missed by everyone."
Cllr Ian Thorn added: "Truly sad and shocking news regarding Tony Trotman, an outstanding councillor and a real servant of Calne. This is the end of an era."
