9:00pm Monday 15th March 2010
Each day the Adver is featuring those people and groups who have been nominated for this year’s Pride Of Swindon awards. Here are more nominations
MARTIN Vandervelde loves getting on his bike. In fact, since 1988 he has ridden from Land’s End to John O’Groats three times, has enjoyed a hat-trick of rides on sections of the Tour of France course and toured in Spain numerous times.
He has also completed six charity cycle rides around the Canary Islands, six tours of the Czech Republic and he has twice taken part in the Nijmegen March, which consists of a 100-mile walk in four days.
Defying his years, Martin, now 75, has also raised money for charity by taking part in the London to Brighton cycle ride 17 times.
In September 2009, Martin cycled 300 miles from London to Paris.
Backed by an army of Swindon-based sponsors, the cycling enthusiast from Lawn has raised £83,000 from his various adventures for the Prospect Hospice, inspired by the care a relative received from Prospect nurses.
Martin was born in London in 1934 and came to Swindon in 1939 as an evacuee with his elder brother.
His parents later moved to Swindon and the two brothers attended Commonweal School.
He joined the family tailoring business, Harry Best, after completing his National Service and attending tailoring college.
He worked in the Old Town shop, took over the business in 1968 and retired in 1991.
He has been married to Penny since 1963 and the the couple have three children.
His nominator, Felicity Cobb, said Martin has always been interested in cycling and working with charities.
“Martin also volunteers as a hospital driver for the Great Western Hospital,” said Felicity.
“I cannot speak too highly of Martin and his commitment to helping others.”
Vicky Morey, chief executive of Prospect Hospice, said that Martin had made “a stunning contribution to the work of the hospice”.
She said: “Incredibly Martin has now raised £83,000 for Prospect Hospice, making him the single most successful fund-raising individual in the hospice’s 30-year history. A familiar face and a good friend to many at the hospice, Martin is always eager to express his appreciation for the friends who accompany him on his cycling tours, and especially for his wife, for her patience while he is off raising funds for the hospice.”
Martin is also a leading figure in Swindon’s Jewish community and speaks about his faith and evacuee experiences.
TALENTED gymnast Krystal Elaine Styles has been nominated for a Pride Of Swindon award.
Krystal trains more than 19 hours a week in her sport and has won gold medals for her club, the Esprit Gymnastics Club.
The 11-year-old has been nominated for her hard work and determination, has seen her win the western region shield for level five competitors.
IN the brass band world, John Winterflood is highly respected.
He is central to the organisation of the GWR Brass Band, and has been nominated for the Pride Of Swindon awards by Coun Steve Wakefield.
“John works tirelessly to introduce young people into the brass band movement,” he said.
“John brings them on in the music world, giving many of them a great start in life.”
OH yea, oh yea, oh yea! The Pride Of Swindon awards have received a clarion call for town crier Fred Ferris.
He has been Swindon’s town crier for more than 20 years. A former railwayman and serviceman, he is a proud ambassador for the town, travelling around the country representing Swindon in competitions.
RON Inglis is one of the backbones of the community radio station Swindon 105.5, which has just celebrated its second birthday.
A seasoned disc jockey Ron has worked tirelessly and unselfishly to ensure that the technical side of the radio station is both professional and polished.
He trains many young presenters.
When Swindon 105.5s computer system was hacked into last year, Ron worked through the night with a team of volunteers to ensure the radio station was only off air for four hours.
He rebuilt the databases and music collection, putting in countless volunteer hours, and continues to work hard to ensure that Swindon 105.5 is on air.
DAVE Ellis is a leading figure among former railway workers in Swindon.
For 25 years he has run the Thursday Railway Pensioners’ Club at the old Milton Road Baths. The club is a place for pensioners to gain information and to meet up with each other.
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