Milton Keynes disappeared under a mountain of post Christmas and New Year rubbish with some areas not having their bins cleared for around 15 days. But then, because of bank holidays and the fact that Christmas Day and New Year’s Day fell on Saturdays – Serco’s overtime day – crews simply could not catch up. Residents complained that parts of the city looked like Third World countries and councillors called for an investigation.
Three city people got the best gift ever at the start of the year by being honoured by Her Majesty The Queen. Keith Panes was given an OBE, while Miriam Baldock and Marie Collins were awarded the MBE in the New Year’s honours list. Miriam won her gong for services to West Bletchley Community Association after spending almost 40 years working there. Marie’s MBE recognised her work in the voluntary service for sport. When she moved to Milton Keynes she joined Bedford Ladies Rowing Club where she raced for a number of years and remains a life member. Keith, who was formerly Academy Project Lead at the Schools Directorate for the Department for Education has been awarded the OBE for his work there.
Two libraries were given a dramatic lifeline in their bid to remain open. Stony Stratford and Woburn Sands libraries were told by the Lib Dem group at Milton Keynes Council that their efforts to remain open had prompted a rethink. Both libraries had strong support from residents and launched campaigns. Stony Stratford Library achieved international fame when it had 160,00 books withdrawn in a week as part of its ‘Wot no Books’ campaign in a bid to show the council how important the library still was in the community
The city paid its last respects to Paolo Sicorello, a Great Linford man whose body was found after an agonising four week search that gripped Milton Keynes. Paolo’s funeral was held on Thursday, February 17, at St Andrews Church in Great Linford and 100 people stood outside listening to the service on loudspeakers.
Killer Greg Davis, who bludgeoned and stabbed a mother and her teenage son to death, was set to walk free after serving just seven years of his sentence. We revealed how he was due to be back on the streets in just weeks – despite a judge’s ruling that he be locked away ‘indefinitely’. A campaign was started to make sure Davis was not allowed to return to the city with a protest demo organised in the city and hundreds joining a Facebook page called ‘We are against a brutal murderer being released into the community.’
Controversial plans to build a new Tesco store on the former Aston Martin site in Newport Pagnell were given the green light. At a heated public meeting, held at the council’s Civic Offices, people spoke with passion for and against the site. Finally after a lengthy debate objectors could not convince the committee to turn down the application and after votes were tied committee chairman Councillor Andrew Morris used his deciding vote to rule in favour of the proposal. The final result was met with a chorus of both cheers and boos.
A happy-go-lucky dad who mysteriously vanished from a cruise liner was known as ‘John the Book Man’ by companies throughout the city. John Halford ran the Bargain Book Company, dropping off gifts and books to hundreds of businesses for workers to buy. The 63-year-old, who was due to celebrate his silver wedding anniversary to wife Ruth in June, “disappeared into thin air” during a cruise trip.
Popular mum Kim Jeffery died of stab wounds and blunt force trauma, a post mortem revealed. The 36-year-old former MK Citizen worker was found at her Two Mile Ash home with fatal head injuries and Kim’s shocked family paid tribute to their ‘beautiful daughter, wife and mother.’ Grieving friends and family left flowers and loving messages outside the family home in Tavelhurst where she lived with her partner and nine-year-old daughter. Blake Ross was charged with her murder but hung himself in prison.
The city’s political landscape was changed after the Conservative party achieved a four-seat swing to take the majority number of seats in the council. Councillor Andrew Geary was voted in as leader of the party and subsequently of the council. He quickly set about setting a three fold plan to tackle a number of issues, including schools, roads and nurseries. Forty per cent of the city turned out for the elections which also saw MK say No to the Alternative Vote.
The city was in shock after two young men were gunned down in Fishermead. Mohamed Abdi Farah, 19, and Amin Ahmed Ismail, 18, both died after receiving gunshots to the head. The incident happened in an alleyway in Fishermead Boulevard. Farah died at the scene while Ismail was taken to Milton Keynes Hospital but died from his injuries just hours later. Large areas of Fishermead were taped off as investigators moved in on the scene, while members of the community congregated in great sadness to pay their respects.
It was announced that the world’s first ‘green’ marathon is coming to Milton Keynes, just weeks before the 2012 Olympics in London. More than 6,000 people are expected to run in the event, including several of the country’s most elite runners, wooed by the unique environmentally-friendly branding. The event will be the first Milton Keynes marathon for many years and it is hoped it will become a regular feature in the running calendar. It will start and finish at stadium:mk and take in many of the city’s redways and grid roads.
The decision was made to turn off large sections of street lighting in between roundabouts on the city’s grid roads. The council was set to save £394,000 a year by turning off 2,700 lights on the city’s major roads in an effort to cut costs. The plans led to a number of complaints from opposition councillors and members of the public.
Hundreds of people were evacuated, some suffering breathing difficulties, after a mysterious chemical leak at the city’s tax office. The city went into red alert as more than 100 police, firefighters and ambulance workers rushed to Bowback House in Silbury Boulevard. Workers had complained of an strong ammonia-like smell, causing breathing difficulties and itchy eyes. Twenty Inland Revenue workers, 16 female and four male, were given oxygen and treated for respiratory problems with some needing hospital treatment.
HRH the Queen paid a special visit to Bletchley Park. Her Majesty, accompanied by The Duke of Edinburgh, visited the historic site and were shown around the recently restored Colossus hut before being given a tour of the Park and meeting members of staff. The Royal Party went on to view the Turing Bombe Machine and the Enigma display, where she was given a demonstration of the famous machine. They then met with veterans of Bletchley Park and unveiled a Public Memorial.
Around 30 youths caused disorder in Bletchley and various other areas just days after the start of the full-scale riots in London. Police were out patrolling areas in force and in the end just 0.02 per cent of the city’s population got involved in the trouble. Coral bookmakers had its window smashed, and the inside ransacked while damage was also caused to a host of cars, shop windows and restaurants. The police worked quickly and thoroughly on bringing those involved to justice and a dozen people have since been jailed for their parts in the disorder.
The man who fatally stabbed teenager Adil Basharat with a golf club was jailed for a minimum of 16 years after he was unanimously found guilty of murder. Adam Moore, 20, of Bridge Road, Cosgrove, delivered the fatal blow to Adil with the shaft of a broken golf club during an attack outside Kingsbrook School, Deanshanger on November 19, 2010. The club was thrust into his pelvis, severing the main vein, and Adil died from his injuries two days later. Brave witnesses took to the stand during the trial to give their versions of events on the day and Moore was eventually found guilty.
The chief executive of Milton Keynes Council apologised to the public over the Secklow Gate Bridge debacle that cost taxpayers more than £1 million. David Hill said he was sorry for the potential financial losses and problems caused by the lengthy delays in repairing the bridge. He also admitted the council would have to work hard to re-establish the confidence of taxpayers and ordered an independent report to investigate what went wrong.
The family of a man murdered at his Walnut Tree home offered a touching tribute to him. David Law left behind his son David, mum Lynn, dad David, step-mother Maureen, brother Adam, sisters Sam and Tracy, his niece Vicky and nephew Liam. He was described as a happy-go-lucky family man who was devoted to his son David. His girlfriend Naureen Kahn said: “His passing has left a deep darkness in my life. I cannot imagine how I will go on, but for you Dave I will.”
Indianapolis 500 winner Dan Wheldon died after a huge crash in the Indycar series finale in Las Vegas. The 33-year-old from Emberton was involved in a 15-car smash at the beginning of the Indy 300 which stopped the race after just 13 laps. The 2005 champions car became airborne after colliding with another, hitting the catch-fenching before sliding down the banking on fire. He was transported from the circuit to the University Medical Centre by air ambulance where he was joined by his wife Susie, young sons Sebastian and Oliver, and his brothers. He died of his injuries shortly after.
A woman was so fed up of being unemployed that she took matters into her own hands. After being made redundant by the hospital a year before, Sharon Shuchar, from Coffee Hall, tried everything to get back into full-time employment, but up to that point had no luck in finding a job. The 52-year-old took to the square outside the train station, dressed in a sandwich board adorned with her CV and contact details in a bid to promote herself to potential new employees.
Firefighters, police and paramedics were called to Hazeley School after an explosion in the science laboratory. At least one member of staff was injured and taken to Milton Keynes Hospital, along with a six-year-old. The school – an academy which specialises in science – was closed for the day due to teachers taking part in the national strike action. But it is understood non-striking staff had gone in to the lab to make preparations for a science exam.
An extra 10,000 seats will be built at stadium:mk after a deal to bring top retailers, including Marks & Spencer and Primark, to Denbigh was completed. Inter MK – the consortium which brought Asda and Ikea to the city and enabled MK Dons chairman Pete Winkelman to build the stadium – announced a new retail development is to be completed in time for the start of next season. Due to be known as the MK1 Shopping Park the retail centre will be built adjacent to the home of the Dons. It will benefit from a £56 million investment by The Crown Estate, as part of their ongoing strategy to back prime UK retail.
The streets were lined five deep as people from all over the country descended on Milton Keynes for a glimpse of the Formula 1 world champions in action. The Red Bull Home Run attracted around 60,000 people who stood along Midsummer Boulevard as the Tilbrook team sent out both drivers to perform. Fans were at the barriers for the free event as early as 2am to stake out the best viewing spots to watch Brazilian Grand Prix winner Mark Webber and double-world champion Sebastian Vettel lighting up their rear wheels, performing doughnuts and revving their engines to the excitement of the crowds.
Firefighters worked through the night to try and save the popular Swan Inn pub after fire tore through it. Staff and customers escaped unscathed from the blaze and it was initially feared the pub would not be open for the busy Christmas period. However, after extensive hard work the pub was re-opened on Friday, December 23. Regulars helped the cause by bringing in Christmas decorations to make sure the pub stayed as festive as possible.
