Triumphs and sad farewells

MARCH

MARCH started quietly but we all shivered as temperatures plummeted to minus 3C and the weathermen predicted snow for Swindon.

Old soldier Dan Gurney of Walcot had chilly feelings towards superstar Michael Jackson when he spotted from a newspaper picture that the singer was sporting the insignia of his old regiment, the Royal Warwickshires, on his jacket pocket.

"It's appalling that someone like him can drag down a famous regiment," said the 64-year-old, who also served in the RAF.

Mike Pitt was parachuted in from his senior job with Kent County Council to turn Swindon Council's fortunes around after the sudden departure of chief executive Simon Birch. He took over the chief executive role on an interim basis for six months but is still here.

Muriel Hanks, who sold shoes at Blaylocks in Old Town for 44 years and had measured three generations of children's feet, decided it was time to put her own feet up. "She'll be hard to replace," said boss Arthur Blaylock.

Stage doorman Derek McCarthy, 79, also called it a day after working at the Wyvern Theatre.

Seventies singer songwriter Gilbert O'Sullivan who was born in Swindon lambasted the dismal state of the town's Central Library and said a beautiful purpose-built building was long overdue. Tributes were paid to the man who for nearly 50 years had helped Swindon shoppers battle against dodgy traders. Ivor Branscombe, who had worked as a trading standards officer in the town since 1954, died at his home in Wroughton aged 76.

Swindon Town manager Andy King, fresh from receiving a manager of the month award, urged his players to help him keep it by stretching their unbeaten run to 10 matches.

Min and Norm Price of Wootton Bassett, who could never bear the thought of being parted, died within minutes of each other.

In mid-March the Great Western Hospital had to deal with another beds crisis. Some patients had to wait for up to an hour in the back of ambulances while queues at Accident and Emergency cleared.

Doctors said they were at a loss to explain the huge rise in demands for treatment.

Fly tippers earned the wrath of Swindon Services and local residents were urged to clear up litter dropped in their own streets.

"It just takes one person to create an eyesore for everyone else," said enforcer Geoff Davies.

Sarah and Lee Lawrence enlisted the help of TV to help them get their four children to sleep. The family, of Middleleaze, was featured in on GMTV with Tana, wife of chef Gordon Ramsay.

Countless people were shocked when decorated war veteran Herbert Buckland, 84, took his own life after being plagued by burglars.

His niece Marilyn Dowson said that in his last weeks he was too nervous to step outside his front door.

Mourners who packed Wroughton Parish Church for the funeral of brave cancer victim Abigail Taylor-Silk all wore pink and purple, her favourite colours. The 14-year-old Ridgeway School pupil had planned the service herself.

Swindon GP Dr Kandy Kandiah of Sparcells called the Advertiser to heap praise on Susan Wignam, one of his patients, who was coping with a malignant brain tumour that was threatening her sight.

"She's such an inspiration," he said.

And the courage of seven-year-old Chantel Boland of Highworth, who was also battling against cancer, touched the stars of West End show Saturday Nigh Fever so much that they organised a whip round and raised £2,500 for children's cancer charity CALM and three hospitals that had treated her.

APRIL

AS April began people were looking for ways to achieve tranquillity and tone their bodies.

Frances Lewis of the Namaste Yoga Studies in Dean Street reported that the centre had taken on four new instructors to cope with the increase in demand from potential students.

There was also an increase in James Dyson's fortune. The Malmesbury-based vacuum cleaner tycoon was revealed to be only the second billionaire to have lived in the West Country.

Faithful dog Jasper whimpered as his master, Gary Nicholson, 42, was buried with full military honours. Master Engineer Nicholson died with nine other servicemen when a Hercules from Lyneham was brought down in the Iraqi desert. Hundreds mourned him at his Wanborough funeral.

There was bad news for bosses early in the month. A survey showed only a quarter of employees regarded them as role models.

Swindon's green revolution was hailed as specialist vehicles began collecting recyclable waste from orange boxes at 1,500 homes. "We take recycling seriously," said Coun Justin Tomlinson, who was lead member for Swindon Services at the time. But soon the scheme was in chaos with complaints from householders that their boxes had not been emptied.

Bob Bolam, MD of BMW, said the future of the Swindon plant looked bright and forecast there would be more jobs, not cuts.

A new treatment centre offering shorter waits for some elective surgery opened at Great Western Hospital. First patient to check in was 50-year-old Steve Hudson of Freshbrook, who needed an op to relieve rheumatoid arthritis.

Pre-election fever was mounting as political parties announced their candidates for the two Swindon seats. Sitting South Swindon MP Julia Drown, who wanted to spend more time with her two children, had decided not to seek re-election.

Wootton Bassett police reported that a 13-year-old girl was among four under-age youngsters found to be four times over the permitted drink-drive alcohol limit.

Membership of life drawing classes at Swindon College art school increased after it hired nude model Rosalind Orwin.

Oasis lifeguard Michael McKellar, 20, began training for a bodybuilding competition to raise cash for research into fibromyalgia. His mum Vivienne had had the disease for four years.

A year after smashing a window at a pub following a row with its landlady Andrew Cooke of Rodbourne Road walked into a police station and said he heard the bobbies were looking for him. A court later fined the 37-year-old £125 and ordered him to pay £134 costs.

A tortoise named Salt went into a sulk after its long-time companion Pepper went missing. Owner Betty Jolly of Okus Road said it was the third time Pepper had escaped.

After being together seven years Swindon couple Darren Little, 30, and Kate Cresan, 25, married on the same day as Prince Charles and Camilla Parker-Bowles. But Kate wasn't impressed. "We booked ours before they did," she said.

As electioneering gathered speed 60-year-old Maurice Card of Purton reported the Conservative Party for making nuisance calls. He answered his phone to hear a recorded message from leader Michael Howard.

At Margaret Matthews Court sheltered housing scheme in Rodbourne champagne corks were popping at the news that 24 residents had won £9.42 million between them on the lottery.

Wiltshire police were also triumphant as seven people faced jail after a big drugs bust involving 50 officers. Darren Mensah who had been living in New Road, Wootton Bassett, was named as the gang leader.

In the middle of the month work began on repairs to the 150-year-old spire of Christ Church. The cost: £370,000.

Mother of two Maria Chivers celebrated publication of her book about dyslexia. It was written for parents.

St George, dressed in chain mail and riding a white horse, looked in on the wedding of Paul and Angie Cook at King Edward's Place, Wanborough. The dragon-slayer saint was actually Michael Bird, 25, whose mother Ginny of Ridgeway Riding Stables owned the horse, Spotty.