REVIEW OF THE YEAR 2019: May and June saw IMH quit town and dog save a life

Manchester-based IMH had assumed responsibility for back office management in September 2018.

The surgeries involved were Taw Hill, Eldene, Phoenix and the Abbey Meads and Moredon medical centres.

Patients soon began reporting a catalogue of problems, notably having to wait long periods - sometimes two hours or more - before anybody answered the telephone.

There were also many reports of appointments being cancelled at the last minute.

In spite of repeated promises from IMH and the Clinical Commissioning Group that concerns were being listened to and acted upon, the misery continued.

There were fears that the difficulty in securing appointments might lead to deaths, and that frightened patients would make unnecessary visits to walk-in centres and hospital emergency departments.

Politicians and candidates from across the political spectrum had voiced concerns about the situation.

Kate Linnegar, Labour’s parliamentary candidate for North Swindon, said: “This is a success because the private company which was failing patients has gone.

“It makes me wonder how it was ever given the contract in the first place - it has a reputation for these problems.

“I’d say well done to patients who have written and emailed and complained, and never seemed to be getting anywhere.

“Today their voice has been heard, which is great.”

MAY: The local elections saw Conservatives in Swindon buck a national trend which saw the party lose more than 400 councillors across the country.

The party increased the ruling administration’s council chamber majority by taking Penhill and Upper Stratton, a ward previously regarded as an unassailable Labour certainty.

Tory candidate David Ibitoye was helped by the splitting of the Labour vote; Coun Teresa Page was elected in 2015 for Labour but left the party in 2018 and stood in May as an independent.

Labour candidate was Kate Linnegar, who in the December General Election would be thwarted in her bid to take the North Swindon parliamentary seat from Justin Tomlinson.

The local elections occurred against a backdrop of political upheaval and crisis at national level, largely due to the ongoing Brexit row.

Council leader David Renard said of the elections as a whole: “I think we were all expecting a bad time, but we have increased our majority.

“There is a very strong anti-politics mood on the doorstep.

“People aren’t happy with any politicians and this was a local election, but nobody wanted to talk about that.

“All they wanted to talk about was the national picture and what’s going on in Parliament.”

Labour group leader Jim Grant said the party had found it difficult to get its message across.”

MAY: A reunion brought together the participants in a remarkable real-life drama.

Brian Corrigan, 89, had been with his grandson’s Labrador, Chewy, in Lawns Park when he collapsed.

Chewy ran and alerted a professional dog walker, Carol Dyer, who realised something was wrong and raised the alarm.

Following surgery to unblock a valve, Brian and wife Frances asked the Adver to help them track down the Good Samaritan.

Carol saw the report and got in touch.

She said: “It was Chewy who alerted me - he wouldn’t leave his side. He was protecting him and licking his face.

“He saved his life – four people walked past him without realising. Brian was quite high up on the hill.”

Carol couldn’t find a pulse. She called for help and a young couple rushed over to give Brian CPR while an ambulance was called.

Carol said: “There were moments where I didn’t think he was going to survive.

“I’m just so pleased to see Brian standing and smiling.

“Dogs are definitely a man’s best friend. If he wasn’t on such a long long lead he would have stayed with him.

“It’s heart-rending.”

Grateful Brian said: “Had she not persisted who knows how serious it could have been.

“As for Chewy, I would be interested to see how much of that is something natural to him as a breed or his age.”

JUNE: Campaigners were appalled and disgusted to learn that a huge energy plant powered by waste was to be built on their doorstep.

People in Stratton St Margaret and South Marston faced the prospect of the enormous complex being put up near their homes after Rolton Kilbride’s planning appeal was upheld by government inspector Melvyn Middleton.

The company’s plans for the site were turned down unanimously by members of Swindon Borough Council’s planning committee in 2017 but the decision was overturned by the inspector.

Some protesters referred to it as an incinerator, but the company disputed the description.

The facilities work by shipping in tonnes of domestic waste and heating it to produce combustible gas, which is then converted to power.

Among the horrified residents was Barbara Parker, 60, of Hatherall Close, which will be overlooked by the plant’s 52-metre chimney stack.

She said: “I’m appalled. This is a disgusting decision.

“We already have to put up with the noise of the A419 - nothing’s been done about that for 20 years - and now we’re going to have to have this.”

South Marston couple Jane and John Davies were just as unhappy.

Mr Davies said: “We’ve been badly let down. They said they’d take it to the government if it was voted down here, and they have, and they’ve got the decision.”

Mrs Davies added: “We were near Exeter a few weeks back and there’s a massive incinerator there - it’s a monstrosity.

“I’m disgusted that someone is going to be allowed to build one here.”

Rolton Kilbride issued a statement saying: “We welcome the inspector’s conclusion. It is our view that this appeal should not have had to take place. However, we understand that councils have a difficult job in making these decisions and balancing different points of view.”

JUNE: A six-year-old Shaw Ridge Primary School pupil climbed Britain’s three highest peaks in as many days.

Hollie Lennon is one of the youngest people to complete the junior Three Peaks Challenge, and her feat of endurance raised £1,328 for the NSPCC.

She walked up Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon independently, carrying her own kit with mum Helen and dad Jamie on hand to support her.

The challenge spanned a Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and on the Monday Hollie was back at her school desk.

She said: “I like the challenge of doing something tough and I want to raise money to help other children.

“I mostly looked forward to getting to the top of Scafell Pike because I hadn’t been there before.

“I’m really happy with all of the money I have raised and I hope I can raise as much as possible.”

Before even reaching her sixth birthday, Hollie had conquered Snowdon, Ben Nevis and Pen y Fan, which at more than 2,800 feet is the highest mountain in South Wales.

Her mum, Helen, said: “She has always been adventurous.

“At home, Hollie has got bundles of energy. She does loads of activities each week which really help to keep her busy.

“It was her idea to do the challenge after she heard about it; she was eager to try it.

“We are extremely proud of her because she showed great courage and determination while preparing for the challenge, and she couldn’t wait to give it a go.”

Regional NSPCC community fundraising manager Caroline Morgan said: “It was such a pleasure to meet Hollie before she set off on her adventure.

“For someone so young to be taking on such a big challenge and to help children at the same time, by fundraising, is incredible.”