2016: A year in pictures - September and October

Monday, September 5 

THE nearest thing Terry Powles had to a home was a space beneath the Wyvern Theatre Bridge, but that didn’t stop him from spending a year caring for a sick stray cat he called Ginge.

The cat would sleep on Terry’s chest every night and nudge him with his paw to wake him at 7am.

When Terry, 44, noticed the elderly cat’s eyesight was no longer so good, he realised that Ginge’s safety might be at risk.

Terry then took the noble and heart-breaking decision to give Ginge up for adoption. Ginge was given a new life and a new name, Bert.

Terry said: “I do miss him. I keep expecting him to be on the quilt when I get back.”

Terry, who had become homeless following the death of his mother nearly two years earlier, moved into his own new home shortly afterwards.

Tuesday, September 6

AFTER Richard and Tania Davey took their child for a few days’ holiday during term time, they were hauled into court at the behest of Swindon Borough Council.

They were charged with failing to ensure regular attendance at school, in spite of their child having a 95 percent attendance record. The couple vowed to fight the charge, which was thrown out on the grounds of there being no case to answer.

The Daveys were among a significant number of respectable, responsible parents faced with demands to pay fines and the threat of legal action under laws designed to target the irresponsible parents of chronic truants.

Friday, September 16

JO Garton, head of Swindon’s Bridlewood School for eight years, quit in disgust at what she saw as politicians’ meddling and excessive testing of pupils.

“I know mental health problems are rising for children across the board,” she said. “We are testing them more than ever. Politicians with no knowledge of education at all are imposing their will and their crackpot ideas on children. I cannot put them through it anymore. I want to support children but I don’t want to torture them.”

Jo said she planned to remain at the school until spring of 2017, so as to be there for the next Ofsted inspection.

Tuesday, September 20

MURDERER Christopher Halliwell - already serving a life term over the death of Sian O’Callaghan in 2011 - was finally convicted of having murdered Becky Godden in 2003.

The verdict was the culmination of a campaign by her loved ones, especially mum Sharon Edwards, which began after the murderer's initial admission to the crime was ruled inadmissible.

Detective Superintendent Steve Fulcher had secured that admission in breach of rules for questioning suspects. Doing so effectively cost him his career, but many people believe that had the detective not done what he did, Becky’s murder might be a secret to this day. The murderer will not leave custody until he is in his coffin.

Tuesday, September 27

CYCLIST Denis Hedges, 83, announced he was to take part in the forthcoming Silverstone Time Trial Challenge at the Northamptonshire circuit.

Although it might have seemed an unusual plan for a man of his age, Denis was no stranger to the saddle.

“I started time trialling in 1949,” he said. “I got better and faster when I was 60! I have ‘retired’ several times but ride local club events." 

In 2013 Denis had cycled the length of the country in aid of the Make a Wish Foundation.

Tuesday, October 4

A 63-YEAR-OLD university lecturer celebrated winning back the title he had previously won at the British Natural Bodybuilding championships.

Richard Hooley, who trains in Swindon, had only become involved in the sport six years earlier.

He said: “If someone had told me when I was fifty that I would be a world champion bodybuilder in my sixties I would never have believed it – it’s a wonderful feeling.”

The discipline he chose, natural bodybuilding, is for participants who prefer not to use potentially dangerous chemical training aids.

Richard revealed that when not pumping iron or flexing his physique he lectured in biochemistry, life science, dieting and sports science at the University of Bath.

Wednesday, October 12

THE House of Commons voted to suspend North Swindon MP Justin Tomlinson for two days, following the leaking of a confidential report to payday loan firm Wonga.

The incident had happened in 2013 when the MP was a member of the Public Accounts Committee as it worked on measures to protect consumers.

Mr Tomlinson shared a draft of the report in what he described as an attempt to strengthen regulations. He apologised to the House.

Leader of the House David Liddington stressed that Mr Tomlinson had been co-operative throughout the investigation and had not been motivated by financial gain.

Wednesday, October 19

MOST people know that when it comes to engineering, Swindon can look anywhere else on the planet squarely in the eyes.

Pete Pearson, of Rocket Bobs Cycle Works in South Marston, extended that global reputation when he won the prestigious Artistry in Iron bikebuilders’ competition in Las Vegas.

Rocket Bobs was the first British firm in the competition’s 13-year history to be invited to take part.

Pete’s beautiful machine, called Speed Weevil, was in the salt flat racer style.

Thursday, October 20

SWINDON borough councillor Matthew Courtliff, 25, switched to the Conservatives five months after being elected to represent the people of Lydiard and Freshbrook as a Labour councillor.

Then, within less than 24 hours of announcing the decision, he changed his mind and said he would remain with Labour after all.

Labour leader Jim Grant welcomed him back, Conservative leader David Renard claimed Coun Courtliff had been pressured by Labour – and the public mostly chalked it up to just another day in the weird and wonderful world of local government.

Saturday, October 29

COUNTDOWN presenter, former Apprentice sideman and Swindon boy made good Nick Hewer officially opened a renovated suite at BMI The Ridgeway Hospital in Wroughton.

After inspecting the suite, he said: “I am pleased and proud to be here today. I was asked to do this and delighted to accept.”

Asked about his home town, he said: “Swindon is an honest, hard-working place. It’s home and it holds a very special place in my heart.

"It has made a great contribution to the country with the locomotion industry.”

As a footnote Adver journalists, never the most easily pleased of people, were delighted to find that he met the 'what you see is what you get' criteria with ease... not always the case with visiting celebrities.