Review of the year (From Barry And District News)

Review of the year

BARRY has had a busy year, with many ups and downs. There have been celebrations as loved ones returned from armed conflict in Iraq, and sorrow with the loss of many young lives. Reporter Jessica Hinton looks back at 2003.J

FANUARY saw police launch a high-tech database to take the town's steep rise in mobile phone thefts, allowing information to be shared among all the UK mobile networks.

Mother-of-four Eileen Sutton of Romilly Road was overjoyed when one of her children escaped from war-torn West Bank, Israel, where his estranged father had taken him three years before. Fifteen-year-old Ahmad was reunited with his mum.

Supermarket giants Morrisons made a bid for Safeway stores, but promised workers in the Palmerston Road branch that their jobs would be safe if they took over successfully.

Wheelchair-bound Christopher Price and his mum Jane were told they had scooped the Round Table 'Fix It' campaign payout. The money would take the family to their dream holiday in Disney World Florida.

Five Barry joyriders who caused a major car crash were jailed for theft. Four were youths, who could not be named for legal reasons, and the fifth was Sean McSheehy, 25, of Holton Road.

FEBRUARY started on a low note, with residents facing a council tax hike of nearly 10 percent. It meant the average household saw an increase of £1 per week.

Curita Forrest blasted a decision made by Llantwit Major Comprehensive School to ban her 11-year-old son, Geraint, after he accidentally shot a teacher with a plastic ball bearing. She said her son was not a nasty boy and it had been an accident.

After raising hopes that Barry was going to be welcoming an Argos store on the Waterfront, the development was shelved with no date set for rescheduling.

The infamous Mochrie house, which had stood empty for nearly three years, was sold to a young family for the bargain price of £159,000.

MARCH saw pregnant mum Nadia Spears and her 16-month-old daughter Emily escape two separate blazes started in properties either side of her Main Street, first-floor flat. The smell from the first fire masked the second fire, and they suffered from smoke inhalation.

The first teenage death to hit the headlines this year was Barry College student, Karla McCauley. In a terrible accident, the 15-year old was flung from the back of a moving car, and hit by another vehicle.

Survivor' Charlotte Hobrough swore to stand by her husband, policeman Mark, who was in court after being accused of a sex attack on a female colleague while on a night out in a Cardiff club.

Concerned Barry grandmother Bonnie Bellamy was worried for her grandson Gareth Jones, 19, who had been sent out to serve in the Gulf just a few months after his mum died.

IN APRIL, the finger was pointed at the Vale of Glamorgan Council for not providing safe play areas for children in the area. Labour councillor Rob Curtis was joined by Scott Salter, agednine, and Megan Gardiner, six, who complained the council did not look after parks. nThere was shock in the town when Marcus Dwyer, 27, of Avocet Close, walked free form court after subjecting his partner and their children to a violent assault. He admitted his crimes, was given a two-year community rehabilitation order and made to do 100 hours of community punishment. Also that week, Major Charles Ingram, formerly of Sully, and his wife Diana, were given suspended sentences and fined for their parts in the 'Millionaire' scam.

More news came in from the Gulf. Loved ones of soldier Ashley Karnicki were relieved to hear that although the 19-year old soldier had been caught up in a mortar attack and injured, he was safe.

MAY, and the town shed tears over Barry's brave little Megan Ashford, who finally lost her battle against cancer. The five-year-old was buried under a blanket of red roses, and her family released dozens of brightly coloured balloons in celebration of her short, but rich life.

The murder trial of Christopher Michael Pugh continued at Cardiff Crown Court. The 43-year-old stood accused of beating his wife Karon to death in their Court Road home in 2002. He denied the charge.

But the following week, the verdict came through that Pugh was guilty. Despite the decision, Karon's family spoke of their anger at his six-year sentence, saying it was too short for what he had done.

IN JUNE, Barry Island residents were fighting to keep a vital link between the town and their homes open. The Clive Road steps had been blocked by Associated British Ports. Plans to bulldoze the area were foiled when neighbours turned up in force and refused to let the machines enter.

The argument over the steps continued as residents met with ABP staff and agreed to work on a mutually-acceptable solution in the coming months.

A frail pensioner was the victim of a distraction burglary and spoke of her anger at the crime. Pat Hunt, 83, warned other elderly people to be on their guard at all times.

A Barry family were lucky to live after a shower of rain forced them indoors and away from their back garden. Minutes later a car smashed through their fence and landed at the place where the Potters' had been enjoying a barbecue.

IN JULY, vandals attacked the Red Cross centre in Breaksea Drive. The cost of the damage occurring over four weeks was hitting the day care centre hard and staff were concerned they would have to change the open and welcoming image of the place by putting bars on the windows for security.

The family of Barry dad Alec Williams, who had been left battered after an attack on Barry Island, said thank you to everyone who had supported them through their difficult time. Alec was still recovering from a fractured skull.

Pencoedtre Lane resident Mary Hodgkinson was worried that joyriders abandoning stolen cars in the secluded road were going to start a serious fire.

There were serious doubts about the future of Barry Town AFC after it was revealed there was not enough cash in the kitty to pay the game fees.

AUGUST brought a heatwave, and a call for taxis to be fitted with CCTV after Iqbal Miah was viciously attacked by a female assailant. The customer had refused to pay, turned violent and stole Iqbal's cash.

Barry Town AFC sank deeper into trouble, as news broke that the club owed hundreds of thousands. The Dragons made a desperate plea for cash, and it was in doubt whether a team could be raised.

The crisis deepened and Dr Liz Davies stepped in to try and save the club. She said she and her team would not give up on the Dragons without a fight.

And the fate of Barry's fought-over Knap lido was finally decided.

The eyesore was going to be turned into a public open space, calming fears yet more houses were to be built at the desirable locale.

SEPTEMBER, and Barry's traditional policing methods paid off. The Vale of Glamorgan crimebusters reached the top spot in a government league table for catching burglars and robbers. Figures compared our area with 29 similar divisions in England and Wales.

On the second anniversary of September 11, the Shah family, who owned a convenience store in Robins Lane, spoke of their sadness at a noticeable increase in racial abuse since the atrocity. Peer Shah, called Pete by regulars and friends, talked of a racially-motivated attack on his son-in-law.

Pensioners on a Barry estate were in tears when they were notified that they had to move out of their homes or face living next to homeless people and possibly ex-convicts. Pontalun Close residents were up in arms and started a battle against the decision with the Vale of Glamorgan Council.

It was a sad weekend when two Barry teenagers were killed in accidents. David Stimpson died after being struck by two vehicles on the eve of his 19th birthday. And Ben Greening, 15, died when walking home to Barry along railway lines, days after celebrating his birthday.

OCTOBER, and the town was rocked by a treble tragedy. As Ben Greening's family came to terms with their loss, his dad, Richard, attacked his wife with a hammer. Leaving her for dead, he threw himself in front of a train at the same spot Ben died. Sarah Greening survived, but was fighting for her life.

At Ben's funeral, while Sarah was in hospital, hundreds of his friends, family and teachers turned out to pay their last respects to a popular young man.

A fund set up to help Sarah Greening's three daughters, Abby, Hayley and Jessica, was stolen from the King William IV pub. Landlords Susan Neale and Robert Morgan vowed to replace the cash themselves and carry on collecting.

Soaring prices made Barry town the second hottest property spot.

The build up to bonfire night saw gangs of youths terrorising families. Jackie Gunter narrowly missed injury when a rocket shot straight through her uPVC door and landed at the bottom of her stairs.

IN NOVEMBER, there was more teenaged tragedy. Fifteen-year-old Angharad Raworth was killed after walking home from Barry along the same stretch of railway track that claimed Ben Greening's life.

Another firework attack caused public outcry, when a rocket hit the home of a man dying from stomach cancer. Although it was thought the attacker did not intend it, frail Hubert Walters died 11 days afterwards. His twin daughters Vivienne Perrett and Lesley Magee called for restrictions on the sale of fireworks.

Shock figures revealed that one in four Vale of Glamorgan women will experience domestic abuse.

Surprise benefactor Stuart Lovering saved Barry Town from closing by offering creditors £100,000 for the club. The take-over was the first ray of hope.

DECEMBER was a month for battered dad David Gee to speak about an attack that left him fighting for his life and so disfigured that his three-year-old-daughter, Jordan, could not recognise him. The four men responsible for the attack received a total of 27 years in prison.

A knife-wielding burglar was given a 27-month sentence after breaking in to a house in Porthkerry Road.

Also, Stuart Lovering's bid for BTFC was accepted and the club looked forward.

Recovering from their ordeal, the Shahjahan family spoke about their relief to hear the teenaged thief who came into their shop with a knife had been given an 18-month sentence.