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Community News

Pride of Swindon awards celebrate town’s unsung heroes

Steam Museum played host to the
naming and presentation ceremony
for this year’s Pride of Swindon
awards on 17 March, giving the
town the chance to celebrate its
unsung heroes.
In February community and
business representatives from across
the town judged the nominations.
The awards are supported by the
Mayor of Swindon and this year
Excalibur and Positive Media Group
became the event’s main sponsors,
joining Swindon Advertiser, Intel,
Nationwide, Zurich and McDonalds.
Nominations were made for The Pride of Swindon awards Brunel badge winners at Steam Museum
an individual or team and each
shortlisted nominee was presented community based football teams. local residents to come together’, Individual Winners:
with a certificate. He was nominated for his ‘selfless celebrating the diversity and Marie West, Ailsa Palmer,
A select group were chosen to voluntary community commitment’ strength of community in Swindon. Gina Musty, Phoebe Maddison,
receive the special commemorative at home and abroad. A posthumous award went to Ricardo Defazio, Ken Stronach,
Brunel badge. They will also have Josie Williams works as a ward councillor and campaigner Josie Williams, Michelle Howard,
their names honoured on a plaque Community Arts Development Frank Richards, who passed away Penni Sevious, Sue Lee, Jo & John
at Swindon Central Library. Officer at Commonweal School in November 2015 aged 90. Mr McCue, Michael Blunsden,
Among the winners were Wiltshire and is a leading organiser of the Richards oversaw planning and Helen Steward, John Maxwell,
Fire and Rescue service chaplain Little Big Festival held in Town construction of a community Frank Richards (Posthumous)
John Maxwell, Old Town Festival Gardens. She also chairs the Old centre in the Lawns area of Team Winners:
organiser Josie Williams and Town Festival, ‘working tirelessly’ to Swindon during the 1980s, having
the late Swindon councillor and promote arts activities. campaigned tirelessly for it. BIOS mobile youth club,
campaigner Frank Richard. The organisers of Swindon Congratulations from Swindon Swindon Phoenix Rotary Club,
Having spent 14 years with Mela received a team award to Link to all of the Pride of Swindon Swindon Downs Syndrome
the Fire Service, John Maxwell recognise 14 years of putting on nominees and award winners. The Group, Swindon Mela,
regularly makes two trips a year to the South Asian festival of culture town is indeed proud of you and Swindon Big Breakfast,
The Gambia, to coach school and which ‘provides an opportunity for this recognition is much deserved. Youth Offending Team volunteers
Pride of Swindon schoolgirl puts Swindon couple print new book
diabetes in the spotlight for Nepal earthquake relief

Eleven-year-old Phoebe Maddison, Dr Ian Matheson and his wife Rosa country a couple of days before the
who attends Isambard Community returned to Nepal on 22 March for huge earthquake which struck.
School, was diagnosed at age four six weeks, to mark the anniversary Their experiences and those of 50
with Type 1 Diabetes, but she hasn’t of the 2015 earthquake that others including volunteers, doctors,
ever let it stand in her way. shattered the small mountainous students and children from across
In 2012 she starred in a nation. the world have been documented
programme that earned a Children’s The Highworth couple were part in a new book to raise money and
BAFTA nomination, and won a of Health Partnership Nepal in awareness of the impact of the
bronze award for endeavour at the Spring 2009. Whilst in Kathmandu devastation: Earthquake Nepal 2015
Stagecoach Theatre Arts Awards. they were approached by Amrit – The Human Story.
Last year, whilst a pupil at St Bikram Shahi, now known as Rosa said: “We hope to have the
Catherines Primary School, she Angel, requesting the assistance of book printed in Nepal, so as much
continued her work to raise a doctor and medicines for some money goes back into the country
awareness of her condition by children who were unwell in his as possible. We will be out there for
making a film, about the facts Phoebe with the iMac she won orphanage. the anniversary on 25 April and will
and myths surrounding diabetes, for St Catherine’s Primary The couple have been supporting be returning with copies of books to
entering the work into a national Angel’s Orphanage ever since, sell in the UK for £10 each.
competition run by Diabetes UK. in which Phoebe has lived with Type fundraising and making regular “Our luggage includes all the
Phoebe’s film, ‘What Do You Really 1 diabetes but not letting it control visits to deliver supplies, toys and usual items like knitting wool,
Know,’ was the overall winner her. She is a shining example to essential materials. All of this they pencils and books which have very
for the Best Individual Film. Her others in living life to the full and have done through the charity they kindly been donated this time by
prize was a GoPro camera and an using her sparkling personality created called Friends of Angel’s James Phipps and his wife.
Apple iMac and iPad for her former to ensure she is able to raise Orphanage. “We’ve had so many donations
primary school. awareness and understanding of Angel looks after a group of since our last visit late last year
St Catherine’s headteacher diabetes to a wide range of people.” orphaned and abandoned street that it will take a few trips to
Andrew Henstridge said: “We’re so At the Pride of Swindon award children who have been together deliver it all.”
proud of everything that Phoebe presentation Phoebe said: “It’s for several years. The Friends Rosa and Ian have joined fellow
has achieved and the way she simply amazing to be a Pride winner. provide money for food, shelter, trustee Brian Mildenhall who has
approaches life with confidence and I’ve heard about so many people education and now employment been in Nepal since early March.
positivity. Winning the award for doing wonderful things. I’m really training. Help Friends of Angel’s Orphanage
her film was recognition of the way proud to win the Brunel badge.” In 2015 Rosa and Ian left the via: www.angelsorphanage.com
swindonlink.com n April 2016 5