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Thank you for support

SWINDON Phoenix Rotary Club would like to thank everyone involved who made last Saturday’s Know Your Blood Pressure Day so successful.

Special thanks go to Swindon’s Brunel Shopping Centre management team, headed by Jane Stewart and Rob Faulkner, for once again supplying us with a shop for the whole day and our wonderful volunteer nurses, who cheerfully gave up their free time to give us their professional help.

And, of course, special mention must go to our other volunteer helpers, Swindon Phoenix Rotarian’s partners for working alongside us.

A team of more than 30 people worked in shifts all day, some bringing the event to shoppers’ notice as ‘barkers’, others inside writing people’s details and then our blood pressure takers doing the readings.

During this very slick operation no-one waited more than three or four minutes, thereby ensuring that shoppers’ days were not curtailed.

In the four annual Know Your Blood Pressure events that Swindon Phoenix Rotary Club has organised in the Brunel Shopping Centre, more than 1,000 members of the public have been made aware of their blood pressure numbers as well as leaving advice on what to do next, with documentary evidence of their number and a leaflet giving more information.

High blood pressure has no symptoms and has been called a silent killer.

As this event has been so successful there will be readings and health checks given free of charge at our Annual Dragon Boat Event on June 26 at Coate Water in the lakeside stall area, near the model railway.

On the Dragon Boat topic, there are a few stall places available and we can accommodate more teams in the boat event. Visit www.dragonboatswindon.org.uk.

PETER GOLDSWORTHY

Swindon Phoenix Rotarian and KYBP organiser

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Backing junior doctors

I MUST say I support the junior doctors 100 per cent.

When it comes to contracts and their negotiations I have always understood they are agreements between two or more parties which are enforceable by law.

Further, an agreed contract cannot be changed unless both parties agree to the changes?

I am not a ‘legal-beagle’ but Hunt’s action must be illegal?

I think all employees in all work places, including most readers of the Adver, should be aware if Jeremy Hunt changes junior doctors’ employment contracts then all contracts of employment would be at risk.

Why do I support the junior doctors? Because I would rather be examined by a well rested doctor who has worked a reasonable shift than a doctor who has been on their feet for 12 or 24 hours – simple!

I heard a commentator on TV say doctors earn more than prime ministers. She is obviously unaware that the CEO of Swindon Borough Council earns more than the PM and look at the state of Swindon and the debt they have accrued.

I would bet the doctors save more lives than the CEO and Cameron put together. To me that more than pays for their salaries.

I have used the following phrase before in letters but as a reminder, in the UK unelected people in grey suits in Whitehall, ie Civil Servants, they propose new laws, These are published as ‘white papers’ and ‘green papers ‘ for discussion, so Jeremy is not alone in this caper.

MIKE SPRY

Mayfield Close

Nythe, Swindon

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Question of physicians

WHATEVER happened to the Hippocratic oath?

GEOFFREY HEAFORD

The Green

Highworth

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Excellent production

I AM very privileged to be asked to review a great many productions for this paper.

Unfortunately sometimes, due to space, not everything I write is able to be used in the review column.

It’s not often that I’m gushing with praise for a job well done. But Tanwood Youth Theatre, under the direction of principle Pollyann Tanner, took on the mammoth task of producing the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical Cats, at the Wyvern Theatre.

The scene was set by splendid scenery and excellent lighting.

From the opening chords from the orchestra, under the MD Chris Newton, we knew we were in for something special.

Pollyann’s direction and choreography was spot on.

The young men in the male leads were a highlight for me. They had exceptional musical theatre singing voices and a stage presence that only excellent training can give.

Jess Smith strutted his stuff as Mr Mistoffelees and Carl Daniels, as Old Deuteronomy, sent shivers down my spine when he started to sing.

The young ladies taking on leading roles also had good voices and characterisation throughout.

Suffice to say: Excellent work all round from all the leading roles, both male and female, and indeed some of the smaller ones.

Nicole Darvill-Batten, who was Grizabella, sang Memory, the song we all associate with Cats. Did she do well? Too right she did.

All amateur companies will probably know what it’s like when you have an emergency and you have to change things ASAP. I was reliably informed that, with minutes to spare, the lighting man took over the sound desk and the stage door man took over the lighting.

I knew what had happened, most of the audience did not. These two guys did a splendid job at a minute's notice, believe me. Well done you.

The logistics of getting this production to fruition can only be described as monumental, from tiny tots to those superb musical theatre trainees. Everyone looked as though they were thoroughly enjoying themselves.

I have to say a big well done to everyone involved, including the parents of the young people involved, who will have had to fetch and carry to rehearsals and productions.

How wonderful that you brought Pollyann’s vision to fruition with hard work and that thing called talent. I can’t wait for the next one.

ROS HOLLANDS

Woodchester

Swindon