Latest news with #Lacock
BBC News
17 hours ago
- General
- BBC News
100th birthday tribute to Wiltshire AA veteran
An AA patrolman has completed a 420-mile round trip on a heritage motorbike to celebrate the 100th birthday of a Foster made the journey to Lacock, Wiltshire, to present his former colleague, Derek Fothergill, with a commemorative roundel in tribute to his 37 years' Fothergill, who started as a patrolman in 1950, played a "pivotal role" in the launch of AA Relay in 1973. "He's just a superb man, and I remembered his name from many years ago, so I took the opportunity to visit Derek and it was lovely to see the smile on his face," said Mr Foster. Mr Fothergill joined the service as a motorbike patrol aged 25, when his future father-in-law suggested he should "get a proper job" after serving in the British Army in India and Burma. As a reserve captain in the Royal Military Police, Mr Fothergill was called up during the 1956 Suez Crisis, serving with the AA's own Military Police Company, made up entirely of volunteer patrol staff. "I suppose The AA was a type of military organisation and structure to start with," said his son, Steve Fothergill, who also worked for the AA, for 34 years."There's a similar sort of camaraderie in the AA that exists in the British forces - constant joking and laughing amongst patrols to get through the difficult times - and that's still there today," he of Mr Fothergill's call-outs caused him particular embarrassment."One of the breakdowns that he had to attend turned out to be his ex-girlfriend and her new partner," said Steve Fothergill. Mr Foster, who himself has worked for the company for 46 years and is a founder member of the AA's heritage team, made the 420-mile round trip on an AA-liveried 1961 BSA motorcycle and side-car combination, which he restored himself. Mr Foster said the values underpinning the AA have survived through the decades since the service first began in 1905."Customer care to me is especially important because I get called out to so many people now who say, 'Oh, I remember you from a long time ago."And I think, OK, we've looked after you, and you've looked after us by staying with us."There is a camaraderie - we get this thing we call 'yellow blood', and once it gets in your system, you can't really get it out," he added.
Yahoo
30-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Bill banning ballot harvesting passes House committee with support from AARP, clerks
CHEYENNE – A House bill that bans the act of 'ballot harvesting,' or gathering of ballots, passed easily through a House committee Wednesday morning on a 6-1 vote. Rep. Steve Johnson, R-Cheyenne, is the sponsor of House Bill 238, 'Ballot harvesting prohibition.' This bill fulfills one of Secretary of State Chuck Gray's goals to tighten the security of Wyoming's elections and boost election integrity. Rep. Steve Johnson, R-Cheyenne Rep. Steve Johnson, R-Cheyenne The act of ballot harvesting is used in places such as nursing home facilities, where qualified voters are unable to deliver their ballot to the clerk or visit a voting center on Election Day. As written, Johnson's bill would have allowed only the voter themself or an immediate family member to deliver the ballot to the clerk. An amendment passed by the House Appropriations Committee allows residential care facility employees to deliver ballots of qualified voters within that facility to the clerk. This includes nursing homes, assisted living facilities, adult family homes and community-based residential facilities. In order to deliver the absentee ballot, the employee must file an affidavit with the county clerk on a form provided by the Secretary of State's Office. All affidavits must be submitted to the Secretary of State within 30 days after the election. This amendment was brought forth through a combined effort between Wyoming county clerks and Gray. Wyoming County Clerks Association lobbyist Mary Lankford said this amendment remedied a concern for qualified voters who live in these facilities without family members to help them vote. 'Primarily, the issue is that we have qualified electors in nursing homes and long-term care facilities that may not have immediate family for delivery of a ballot,' Lankford said. 'And that's where our amendment came from.' Lacock, Tom (2020, AARP Wyoming) Tom Lacock AARP Wyoming spokesperson Tom Lacock said he appreciated this amendment and what it did for older voters living in nursing homes. Lacock told committee members similar bans on ballot harvesting in other states have made it difficult for nursing home residents to vote in elections. 'So, good work,' Lacock said. Civics307 blogger Gail Symons said she supports this bill because it addresses 'a real opportunity for (voter) fraud.' 'There must be a good distinction between acts to deliberately affect outcomes and those intended to support valid voter participation,' Symons said. 'And I believe the attempted amendments start that distinction.' Symons said her remaining concern with the bill is the felony charge for violators. She described the bill's penalty as 'draconian' and asked lawmakers to amend it to a misdemeanor. Rep. Trey Sherwood, D-Laramie, made an attempt to add this amendment, but it failed. Rep. Jeremy Haroldson, R-Wheatland, who's previously served on the Legislature's House Corporations, Elections and Political Subdivisions Committee, said it was rare to see so much support for an election-related bill. Rep. Jeremy Haroldson, R-Wheatland (2025) Rep. Jeremy Haroldson, R-Wheatland 'I want to just sit here and have a moment of silence as I see Civics307, the Secretary of State, the clerks and AARP all saying, 'Good job,'' Haroldson said. 'On a serious note, I appreciate you guys working together and making this happen. I feel this is an answer to a potential problem.' The bill now goes back to the full House of Representatives for up to three votes.
