Page 28 - link magazine

28 The Link Magazine • June 1999
Scouts get on Road made safer for pedestrians
their bikes For West Swindon mother Diane Johnson, the completion of the pelican crossing on Whitehill Way
Members of Swindon Road Club between the Link Centre and Shaw Ridge Leisure Park brings a breath of healing.
teamed up with Toothill Scouts
on 30 April for an evening of Diane's twelve year old son,
Cycleworks. Ashley, was tragically knocked
down by a car as he crossed
Whitehill Way in late September
1996. He died at Oxford's John
Radcliffe intensive care unit.
In the months that followed, she
organised with great energy a pe-
tition for a crossing to ensure that
no other parent had to experience
the loss of a child in this way. Over
5,000 people signed it and Diane
called for action at a council public
works committee.
For some time after the accident,
Diane avoided Whitehill Way.
Indeed, when we asked her to ap-
pear in a photograph for this arti-
cle, she was apprehensive, but felt Diane and Lyndsey at the Whitehill Way pelican crossing
The scouts got their hands compelled to express her thanks to
grubby repairing punctures and all her supporters. She paid particular tribute to on the roadside where he was
chains, and also found out how With the roads becoming ever Toothill councillor David Cox, knocked over.
healthy it is to cycle. Fast and furi- busier and more dangerous for former council leader Maurice Fan- And Diane's first granddaugh-
ous peddling on static bikes linked pedestrians, Diane is delighted that ning and to Julia Drown MP for ter, born to daughter Lyndsey three
up to computers demonstrated the crossing is now in place. their support for her campaign. months after Ashley died, carries
how much energy is used by show- "I'm glad it's come to an end," Diane says she has experienced his name.
ing heart rate and power output. she said. "It just shows what can many little bits of help which have "When Ashley was on life sup-
The evening was supported by be done if people get together; but added up to a lot of kindness. port in the hospital, I decided that
Mitchells Cycles and Total Fitness. it's sad there has to be a tragedy Ashley's memory is very much the baby would be called after
Toothill Scouts can be contacted first. I was determined that we alive. A chair is still kept empty him," said Lyndsey. "She's now
on 520387. would get the crossing, but the for him by his tutor group at Ridge- very grown up for a two year old
Call Bryan Telford about Swin- success is down to the people who way School. Each October, flow- and very cheeky, just like big
don Road Club on 7260920. signed the petition." ers have been anonymously placed Ashley."

CAR
a
•1
, STOP F UNCAN
SELF DRIVE HIRE SERVICES DUNCAN CAR SPARES
COMPREHENSIVE STOCKS OF
Zlaua 4 e ''a€ eom f 4,uy Repair and service GUARANTEED NEW & USED SPARES
Vehicles for Hire at Competitive Rates to all makes of car MOT FAILURES & ACCIDENT DAMAGED
YOUR
Cars • Vans • Lutons • Tail-lifts radios and cassettes. CARS & COMMERCIALS
BOUGHT FOR CASH
ONE STOP SHOP 272 Ermin Street De-code service available
Stratton St. Margaret, Swindon PARTS REMOVED BY
GUIDE TO Tel: 822193 Tel: (01793) 480544 © OUR OWN PERSONNEL
Mob: 0374 935344
MOTOR SERVICING FREE PARKING
Open Daily 8.30am - 5.30pm Unit I, Axis Trading Estate,
& REPAIRS Sundays 8.30am - 9.30am Westmead, Swindon

LYDIARD SERVICE STATION M.O.T.

Why not try us
Cars, Motorcycles, Class 7
r Servicing
,r MOT testing 01793 428430
7r Brakes More than just your local bus company
* Clutches

Air conditioning Thamesdown
service & repairs Call Mark on 770554

The Street, Lydiard Millicent, Swindon Corporation Street, Swindon SN1 1 DS