03/01/07 - Cllr Rod Bluh, Swindon Advertiser Person Of The Year

Swindon Advertiser 03/01/07

That's it. The lines are closed, the votes have been counted and it is time to announce who you have voted the Swindon Advertiser Person of the Year.

Many votes were cast but one figure stood out head and shoulders above the others for Adver readers - Swindon Council leader Roderick Bluh.

Coun Bluh (Con, Dorcan) took over the reins of the council in May and is keen to see Swindon flourish and make its mark globally. He scooped 52 per cent of the vote.

"I am totally amazed and delighted to have won the title," he said.

"To be honest I'm a little bit stunned. It isn't usually middle-aged politicians who win these types of polls.

"But I would like to say a big thank you to everyone who took the time to vote for me." 

Since he became council leader, Coun Bluh has ensured big steps have been taken towards the regeneration of the town centre, started talks about restoring the canal and worked to make sure the council is meeting its 50 promises.

"I have a passion and vision for the town and I hope that people can recognise that," he said.

"I think we are only at the start of the process and there is an awful lot of hard work ahead.

"I am pleased that it looks like the Tabernacle will be returning to Swindon and I think that will give a boost to the other projects we want to implement.

"I truly believe that Swindon has a great future ahead of it."

It was a closely run race for second place, but Laurie Pycroft took the silver medal with 27 per cent of the vote.

The 16-year-old shot into the public eye earlier this year when he decided to take a stand against animal rights activists.

He formed Pro-Test, an organisation supporting animal testing for scientific research, and received the backing of top medical scientists and even the Prime Minister.

Coming in third place was the town's starlet Billie Piper with 14 per cent of the vote.

In the last couple of years the 24-year-old former Bradon Forest School pupil has gone from teen pop sensation to respected actress and her popularity shows no sign of fading.

She quit top TV show Dr Who earlier this year and is now landing plum roles in high profile television dramas.

Last year's winner was Azim Khan, who hit the headlines after losing more than 20 members of his family in the Pakistan earthquake in 2005.

Since then he has been working tirelessly to collect aid for survivors.

Cllr Justin Tomlinson, North Swindon Conservative Parliamentary Candidate, "Congratulations to Rod, who as Leader of Swindon Council has played an essential role in the continued much needed improvement in performance of Swindon Council, which under Labour was ranked as the joint worst in the UK."