A 98-year-old gallant soldier from Codford has helped to keep England’s historic churches looking shipshape.

Colonel Michael Elcomb joined thousands of people raising money to safeguard England's historic churches when he took part in 'Ride+Stride for Churches' on Saturday, September 14.

He did his bit by riding on his mobility scooter from his home to St Mary's Church in Codford. So far he has already had £760 pledged in sponsorship money.

The former officer in the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry saw action during the Second World War in Malta, Sicily and Germany and in North Africa, where he was wounded.

Colonel Michael Elcomb said: “Churches are such important historic buildings and do so much to keep communities together. That’s why we must keep them in good repair.”

St Mary's Church in Codford has survived for 750 years and now provides a comfortable and comforting place to worship regularly, and more occasionally in which to marry, to be baptised, to be buried and also to celebrate music, melody, verse, oratory and the provision of a forum for a multitude of other festivities and functions.

Next to the church is an ANZAC (Australia and New Zealand Army Corps) graveyard in Church Lane which is the final resting place of 66 New Zealanders and 31 Australians from the First World War.

The Ride+Strike in Wiltshire was launched by the county’s Lord Lieutenant Mrs Sarah Rose Troughton at St Bartholomew’s Church in Corsham.

‘Ride+Stride for Churches’ is a sponsored event in which people walk or cycle between churches.

The money raised helps fund urgent repairs and the installation of modern facilities at historic churches, chapels and meeting houses. Last year the event raised over £1.3 million.

National 'Ride+Stride for Churches' chairman Hilary Cakebread Hall: “Churches are so important spiritually and aesthetically, and they are the setting for some of the most important events in all of our lives – baptisms, weddings and funerals."

“They are also increasingly becoming a focus for the wider community, and ‘Ride + Stride for Churches’ helps them do this by keeping them in good repair and funding kitchens and heating that make them available to the public for events every day of the week, not just for Sunday services."

‘Ride+Stride for Churches’ started in Suffolk in 1981 as a sponsored bike ride but quickly became a national event. It is organised locally by county church trusts with national support provided by the National Churches Trust.