One of Fairford’s most proactive and community-minded citizens celebrated his 70th birthday on Tuesday, writes Chris Roberts.

It was not the sort of celebration that he had probably envisaged or even wanted, as Trevor Hing is known in Fairford as a very sociable kind of guy and, on this his special birthday, he was not able to be with family and friends!

Last year, Trevor had a serious fall which caused him to spend many months in hospital and which ultimately saw him being admitted to the Hyperion Care Home for long term care and nursing.

Now, because of Covid-19, the care home cannot allow visitors into the home, so Trevor’s family were unable to be with him to celebrate.

Instead they planned to send video messages to him from his many friends in and around Fairford and his family from all over the country.

Trevor Hing first came to Fairford with the RAF in the early 1970s, met his future wife Jenny in Lloyds Bank, Fairford and then got married in 1976.

They have three children – Robert, Alicia and Rebecca. Over the years, Trevor has got involved with practically everything in Fairford and has been given the very fitting name of ‘Mr Fairford’.

Always retaining his links with the RAF, Trevor was made an Honorary Commander of RAF Fairford and also acted as Fairford Town Council’s liaison representative with the base for many years.

It was while he was stationed at RAF Fairford and billeted in the Officers’ Mess at South Cerney that Trevor got interested in amateur dramatics and continued his love of acting with FADS (Fairford Amateur Dramatic Society) and the Cotswold Arcadians.

Trevor was born a twin and was one of six children. His mother had the dubious distinction of having given birth to three sets of twins!

That might explain why Trevor loves having people around him so much and why he threw himself into community events.

His love of people motivated him to work tirelessly as chair of Fairford Festival for nearly 20 years, bringing fun and happiness to people of all ages in the Cotswold market town.

He helped to organise the VE day celebrations of 1995, the Millennium celebrations in 2000 and the Queen’s Golden Jubilee celebrations in 2002.

One of Trevor Hing’s finest achievements was leading the project team that bought Fairford Community Centre for the community and supervising the renovation and extension of the 282 year old building.

Trevor has been a member of the fundraising Quenington Bulldogs for around 20 years and has helped to raise over £50,000 for local charitable causes.

He was also a trustee for the Lady Mico Trust that donates to local good causes.

He has been a special constable, vice president of Fairford Rugby Club, an active member of Fairford Cricket Club, chair of Fairford Emergency Action Group and a committee member of Cirencester Golf Club.

He has also helped set up and run various youth clubs and initiatives and has been a governor of Farmor’s School and Coln House School.

He will probably be mostly remembered as a Fairford Town councillor and twice mayor of the town from 1991-1993 and from 1999-2001.

Fairford’s current deputy mayor, Richard Harrison said: “I have lived in Fairford for 26 years and Trevor was an outstanding figure in the community for as long as I can remember – a rock of wisdom and good sense on the council and someone whose advice you could always rely on.” Former Fairford mayor, Jennie Sanford echoed those sentiments and said: “Without Trevor’s support, I would have found the task of being mayor very difficult. Without Trevor’s involvement in and enthusiasm for the town, Fairford would now be a very different place.”

In 2012, Trevor was awarded an MBE by HM The Queen in the New Year’s Honours.