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News Post Leader, Thursday, March 29, 2012
150 extra jobs on the way at new Morrisons n From Page 1 new one opens within the next financial year. All the store’s existing staff will be transferred, and up to 150 extra jobs will be created. Once the new store is open, the existing Morrisons building will be demolished and the site cleared to make way for additional car parking. The county council and Morrisons are working together to make various improvements to the town centre as part of a long-awaited regeneration project. Tom Brechany, the council’s executive member for regeneration, said: “The redevelopment of the Morrisons store and its surroundings represents a vital step towards delivering a town centre that better meets the needs of local residents and visitors. “The partnership between the council and Morrisons will not only secure the continued vitality and viability of the town but, in the longer term, will also hopefully trigger further development and investment in Blyth.”
full scale of loss is only starting to hit us now, says heartbroken mum
‘This year has been worse for us than the first year after losing Michael. We have had more time to think’
Kim Sweeney.
By Tegan Chapman
How Blyth’s new Morrisons will look.
Guns seized n From Page 1 seized. We take reports of firearms and weapons extremely seriously and will always take action if we have reason to believe people are in possession of illegal weapons. “Inquiries into the incident are ongoing.”
IT is now almost two years since teenage soldier Michael Sweeney was killed by a bomb blast in Afghanistan, but the last 12 months have been harder to cope with for his heartbroken family than the 12 before. Michael, a guardsman in the 1st Battalion of the Coldstream Guards, was killed in the Babaji district of central Helmand Province on April 1, 2010. The 19-year-old, originally from Lindsay Avenue in Blyth, was on foot patrol when he was killed by an improvised explosive device (IED). His family, bracing themselves for the second anniversary of his death this Sunday, say that it is only over the last few months that they have grasped the scale of the gap left in their lives by the tragedy. His mum Kim, 41, said: “This year has actually been worse for us than the
first year after losing Michael. “I don’t know if we were just so numb the first year that it was maybe too hard to believe. “This year, we have had more time to think, more time to grieve, more time to remember. “Michael has more than 2,500 followers on his RIP site on Facebook, and people leave wonderful messages, pictures and memories of their times together. It’s wonderful, but sad at the same time. “Michael hasn’t been forgotten. “The amount of people that still think of him often is lovely. “His grave is always covered in flowers. Sometimes it’s hard to find somewhere to put them. “We have so wonderful memories of Michael and love to share
them with people. “I feel Michael is still with us and around us. It’s not the same as having him here with us still, but it’s the next best thing.” Michael joined the Army cadets at the age of 12, and by the time he was 15 he had decided to enlist in the Army. He chose the Coldstream Guards because his grandfather was from Coldstream in the Scottish Borders. Since his death, his family have been busy fundraising for the ABF (Army Benevolent Fund) in his memory, and they have raised £30,000 so far through events including a football match, bag-packs, stalls and a race day. They are now arranging a series of further fundraisers including an anniversary event next Saturday, April 7, in Blyth’s Market Square.
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Attractions on offer will include a climbing wall, stalls and live music. Another charity football match will follow in May in memory of Michael and fellow guardsman Sgt John Amer, of Sunderland, also killed in Afghanistan. “The people of Blyth have always been, and still are, so very generous in contributing to the charity,” said Kim. “There are so many people coming back from Afghanistan both physically and mentally hurt. This money will hopefully help them live with their conditions. “Even when they come home from Afghanistan, for many the conflict is not over and never will be. “Fundraising, will be an essential part of helping our soldiers now and in the future. “I hope people remember and continue to be generous for our heroes.” In May, Kim and her husband, also called Michael, are invited to Windsor Castle to watch the Queen present new colours to their son’s regiment.
Burglar fled after being confronted by 76-year-old A BURGLAR ran off empty-handed after being disturbed by an elderly woman while rifling through her purse. The crook sneaked into the 76year-old woman’s home in Blyth’s Rosebery Avenue in broad daylight looking for easy pickings but was By supplying your contact details, including e-mail address and mobile number, you agree that Johnston Press, publisher of the News Post Leader, and its business partners may contact you about new promotions, products and service by mail, e-mail, phone, fax,
caught red-handed and fled. He struck last Thursday between 12.40pm and 1pm, running off down Renwick Road towards its junction with Claremont Terrace after being confronted. Police are investigating and carrying out house-to-house
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inquiries in a bid to identify the culprit. The woman is said by police to have been left upset by the incident but was otherwise unharmed. Police are appealing to any witnesses to the burglary to contact them on 101 ext 69191. and training purposes we may monitor communications. SMS service is provided by Velti DR, SE1 8ND - 020 7633 5000. By submitting any contribution, you expressly grant Johnston Press a royalty-free licence to use such content in accordance with our terms and conditions
Cash means Archie is set to undergo op in July n From Page 1 money. It is an incredible gesture by workers who are going to lose their jobs. “I couldn’t stop crying when they told me. “The money means we can definitely go to America for Archie’s operation, and the other fundraising will help pay for ongoing physiotherapy when we come back and any equipment he might need. “We want to give him the best chance, and I am truly overwhelmed by the generosity shown by so many people – family, friends and complete strangers. “Thanks to the workers at Alcan and everyone who has donated, Archie will hopefully soon be able to achieve his dream of walking, running and playing, just like his friends. “We are over the moon. It makes it even more humbling that it is money from people who are actually losing their jobs, and it is really nice that they have thought to support Archie and help us. “Reaching the total is absolutely life-changing for Archie and for us. The operation will make every day easier for him.” Workers at Rio Tinto Alcan have decided to split their social fund between three charities following the announcement of the plant’s closure rather than share it among themselves despite most of them facing redundancy at the end of May. Archie’s appeal, the children’s heart unit fund at Newcastle’s Freeman Hospital and the Great North Air Ambulance have all been given £10,000. Alcan Lynemouth Social Club chairman Roland Sanderson said he and his colleagues wanted something good to come from the closure. “We are all absolutely devastated at losing our jobs, but we all wanted to make sure the money we had saved up went to great causes,” he said. “We have been following the story of Archie and are delighted our donation means he can definitely go to America for his operation, while the air ambulance and children’s heart unit fund are two causes which make such a difference. “All the social club members wanted to give something back. It is nice to do something positive at what is a difficult time for us all.” Archie, a pupil at St Aidan’s First School in Ashington, has to wear leg splints and a Lycra bodysuit to keep his posture straight. He hopes to undergo the op, a selective dorsal rhizotomy, at St Louis Children’s Hospital in Missouri in July. n A video version of this story can be seen at www.newspostleader.co.uk
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