He was a courageous man - a fighter - long before this tragedy If I could describehim in one word I would call him a tiger. Andrew Pennington typified grass-roots politics; a hard-working local councillor whose work with residents went beyond securing votes. A bachelor in his mid-forties, Mr Pennington, a well-known local party figure, had thrown himself into a punishing political schedule following the death of his girlfriend who succumbed to a long illnesstwo years ago.He had been a Gloucestershire county councillor for 15 years, representing the Hesters Way ward, one of Cheltenham's most troubled areas with an unenviable reputation as the "crime capital of Gloucestershire".Social services was his chief interest on the council and he chaired the social services committee on the "politically hung" council for several years.Mr Pennington was the leader of the Liberal Democrat group on the county council and has, in the past, been Liberal Democrat agent for the town's parliamentary candidate Richard Holme, now Lord Holme of Cheltenham.Mr Pennington had been working as assistant to Nigel Jones for several years sharing the work with a fellow Liberal Democrat councillor, David Fidgeon.The town's former mayor, Jeremy Whales, described Mr Pennington as a fighter, someone who would not shirk a confrontation, and it perhaps offered some explanation as to why he bore the brunt of the attack.Mr Whales said: "He is not the sort of man who would walk away from a situation like that. Andrew Pennington typified grass-roots politics; a hard-working local councillor whose work with residents went beyond securing votes. "We apologise to all our customers for the inconvenience they have suffered during the past weeks," he said.. Both sides have also accepted new procedures for solving disputes.Mick Rix, general secretary of Aslef, said : "We are pleased to have achieved this deal, which should avoid further disruption for rail travellers and allow further meaningful negotiations to take place."It is thanks to the solidarity and determination of our members at Connex that we have been able to achieve this satisfactory result."Geoff Harrison-Mee, managing director of Connex, said the deal was satisfactory and ensured normal services would resume.
In particular, management wants to ensure that drivers spend more of their shifts actually driving trains.An estimated 80 extra drivers will be needed to deliver the shorter working week, according to the union. The company agreed that drivers' pay would be pensionable by 2003, another of Aslef's main demands. However, the company is insisting that the benefit must be self-financing and no accord was reached on how that might be achieved. A walkout last Wednesday led to the cancellation of nine out of ten services into London, with many of the 200,000 commuters who use the services opting to stay at home.Aslef has also agreed to abandon a ban on voluntary overtime, which had also disrupted services. However, further disruption could be experienced this autumn when the details of the deal are finalised.Under the outlined agreement, settled in talks over the past few days, drivers' hours will be cut to 36 hours a week by this October and are set to fall to 35 hours by autumn 2001. Further industrial action on Britain's busiest rail routes has been averted for the time being after management and unions agreed yesterday to a shorter working week. Further industrial action on Britain's busiest rail routes has been averted for the time being after management and unions agreed yesterday to a shorter working week. Aslef, the train drivers' union, called off next Wednesday's 24-hour strike and four more stoppages planned by members at Connex, which covers much of south-east England.
The Coastguard rescue helicopter has been put on alert and is currently looking into the feasibility of attending the scene."However the distance is at maximum range for the helicopter and may not allow this."We remain concerned for the safety of the vessel."The craft was believed to be near Rockall in the Atlantic, around 250 miles west of the Hebrides.Clyde coastguard said Audacious was only launched last year and was well equipped.. The damaged craft had engine power but no electrical power.The weather was said to have reached severe gale conditions and be approaching storm force 10 with a 12-foot swell.A spokesman for Clyde Coastguard, which was coordinating the operation, said: "A Nimrod from RAF Kinloss has proceeded towards the scene and has made intermittent communication in which it was established that major damage has been sustained to the wheelhouse."It is not yet known if any injuries have been sustained."The vessel still has power but it has requested a tow. Rescuers battled through mountainous seas to reach a stricken fishing boat with a crew of seven in the Atlantic about 250 miles west of the Hebrides. The Audacious, registered in Banff, north east Scotland, has broadcast a Mayday message early today but it was not immediately known if any of her seven-strong crew was injured.An RAF Nimrod aircraft was flying to the scene after Coastguard received a distress call shortly before 5am and subsequent communications established that the boat's wheelhouse had been smashed in.Other vessels and fishing boats in the area were making their way towards the Audacious which had requested a tow - but a Coastguard spokesman said the nearest vessel was 30 away. The main advantage of advisers, however, is that they can identify potential tax savings, helping you to reduce your tax bills.". Rescuers battled through mountainous seas to reach a stricken fishing boat with a crew of seven in the Atlantic about 250 miles west of the Hebrides. Mistakes are commonly made with regard to pension contributions as an employee.
