- Angie Dowds, 42, sent text saying 'my heart is broken; my spirit is broken' before death leap
- Starred in ITV's The Biggest Loser with Davina McCall
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A celebrity personal trainer jumped off Beachy Head after losing her job and having problems with her girlfriend, an inquest heard yesterday.
Angie Dowds, 42, sent a text in her final moments at the notorious Sussex suicide spot saying: 'My heart is broken; my spirit is broken'.
At the time of her death last November, presenter Davina McCall, who she appeared on hit ITV show The Biggest Loser with, led tributes to her.
She said: 'Rest in peace Angie Dowds. So so sad.'
Tragic suicide: Angie Dowds was a health guru on ITV show The Biggest Loser
The inquest heard that Miss Dowds had drinks and drugs in her system, a combination described as 'severely toxic', when she threw herself off the cliff.
Her GP said she had experienced ongoing addictions to alcohol and drugs and had taken overdoses and made a number of suicide threats in the past.
The award-winning fitness guru had contact with mental health services and had refused treatment at one point.
After her death, it was revealed that local health services had neglected to book an outpatient's appointment for her after she declined treatment.
It was put down to an 'administrative error' initially, but a 'serious untoward incident' inquiry has since begun into what happened.
Yesterday, her brother Kevin Dowds accused doctors of letting down his younger sister.
Shocking death: Miss Dowds jumped from the cliffs at Sussex beauty spot Beachy Head
Health expert: Ms Dowds with presenter Davina McCall and fellow trainer Richard Callender on The Biggest Loser
He said: 'I feel she's been failed. Letting her decide whether she continues with mental health doesn't seem appropriate to me.'
Heartache: Ms Dowds had gone through another break-up earlier the same year
He also vowed to further investigate the failure to book the appointment.
In the days and weeks prior to her death, Miss Dowds told friends and family she was worried about having lost her job.
She was also concerned about where to live as she did not intend to continue living with her girlfriend Edwina Benson, with whom she was having 'troubles'.
Miss Dowds had a meeting with a housing officer to discuss where to live and had also discussed claiming benefits.
Her girlfriend Miss Benson, an administrator at a primary school, said that she exchanged texts with her shortly before she jumped.
Miss Dowds sent a series of heartbreaking texts to her partner, including one saying: 'My heart's broken; my spirit's broken'.
She added: 'On your head be it' and 'I'll be at peace very soon.'
Miss Benson then called the police after her partner revealed she was at Beachy Head.
Miss Dowds' body was discovered hours later.
Catherine Palmer, assistant deputy coroner for East Sussex, returned a verdict of suicide.
- For confidential support call the Samaritans on 08457 90 90 90, visit a local Samaritans branch or see www.samaritans.org
Source: www.dailymail.co.uk
Asda staff to share £50.9m pay out - Talking Retail
Around 18,000 Asda staff are set to pocket a record £50.9m as a three-year Walmart Sharesave scheme matures.
This year’s payout, the biggest on record for staff, will see those saving £50 a month receive more than £2,808, over £1,008 more than their original investment of £1,800. Colleagues who have saved the maximum amount of £250 a month will take home £14,008, over £5,008 more than their original investment of £9,000.
The scheme, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, allows colleagues to set aside £5 to £250 per month for a three-year period, at the end of which they receive a tax-free bonus and an opportunity to buy Walmart shares at a 20% discounted price. Colleagues are then able to sell the shares at market rate, giving them the opportunity to benefit from an additional dividend on top of their savings.
Since launching back in 1982, Asda colleagues have shared over £530m through the scheme.
Hayley Tatum, executive people director at Asda, said: “Our in-store and depot colleagues are the heart of our business and work tirelessly, week-in week-out, to serve the 18 million customers that visit us each week.
“Giving our colleagues the chance to have a stake in the company is just one of our ways of saying thank you and a great way to ensure that they share in the success that their hard work has achieved.”
The most popular choices for colleagues to spend their windfalls on remain foreign holidays, weddings and home improvements.
Source: Asda
Source: www.talkingretail.com
Asda opens first George franchise in Jersey - Retail Bulletin
You are here: Home | News | Asda opens first George franchise in Jersey
Asda has opened its first George clothing franchise. The 6,000 sq ft pilot franchise store has opened at the Sandpiper CI store in Jersey's Liberty Wharf taking up three of the largest remaining retail units in the shopping centre.
Sandpiper CI, Jersey’s largest retailer, jointly announced with Asda earlier this year that it would be one of the first organisations in the world to run a pilot George franchise.
Sandpiper CI CEO, Tony O’Neill said: "This really is the right time to be opening a George store in Jersey, shoppers are looking for real value in the current economic climate. George’s award-winning designs at customer-winning prices are going to be very popular with all Jersey consumers, particularly families with children."
Kevin Rusling, director of George International added: "We’re thrilled to be opening our very first pilot franchise store in Jersey. Shoppers everywhere are looking for the highest quality at the most affordable prices and that’s exactly what the new George store will be offering. Sandpiper is one of the most respected franchise partners in the world, we wish them every success with George."
Tagged as: george clothing | asda
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Source: www.theretailbulletin.com
Vestas scraps Kent offshore wind factory plan - businessgreen.com
The UK's emerging offshore wind sector has been dealt a major blow, after Danish turbine manufacturer Vestas scrapped plans to build a factory in Kent that had been expected to create 2,000 jobs.
Vestas and the Port of Sheerness today issued a joint a statement announcing they had halted plans for the facility at a 70-hectare site where the manufacturer had planned to build its new 7MW V164 offshore wind turbines.
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The statement said Vestas remained committed to the UK's wind energy market, and stressed that the company would continue to build and test blades at its R&D facility in the Isle of Wight.
"Vestas' strong commitment to the development of both the offshore and onshore wind industries is not affected by this decision," said Juan Araluce, chief sales officer for Vestas. "We will remain active across the two markets in the UK as they both continue to show considerable potential."
But the company provided no indication as to where it will now manufacture its next generation offshore turbines.
The move comes a year after Vestas signed a deal to secure exclusive rights to the land in Kent, with a view to building a manufacturing and installation facility for turbines that would supply the proposed Round 3 wind farms that will be located in deeper waters off the UK coast.
Ditlev Engel, Vestas chief executive, previously told BusinessGreen that the company would push the button on the investment as soon as sufficient orders were confirmed for its 7MW turbine.
A spokesman for Vestas told Reuters that the company had failed to secure any orders so far.
"Such a factory is conditional on concrete orders in our order book and we have not announced any signed orders at this point," he said. "We want a good pipeline of orders before we advance further and we do not have that at this point in time."
Last month Vestas announced that had delayed the pace of development for the 7MW machine. A prototype is now expected to be installed in Denmark during 2014, instead of 2013 as originally expected, with production starting "when the market is ready".
Round 3 developers are planning to start building the first wind farms in 2014-2016, however the bigger 6-7MW turbines are likely to be used for the later phases in 2018 onwards.
Trade association RenewableUK said it was disappointed by the news, but insisted the industry should not be downbeat as other manufacturers had factories in the pipeline, including Areva, which last week announced its ambition to set up a UK offshore wind turbine plant.
"Naturally we are disappointed with this decision, but as the world-leader in offshore wind, the UK remains an attractive place for manufacturers and members of the supply chain to have a base," said Maria McCaffery, chief executive of RenewableUK.
"Investors in both projects and employment are poised to follow through on pledges but delivery on green jobs needs certainty and confidence in the market, with clarity on implementation arrangements and timescales."
Mark Whitworth, chief executive of Peel Ports, said it would continue to seek contracts with other renewable energy companies.
"We are extremely disappointed that we have been unable to conclude the agreement with Vestas," he said. "However, we remain fully committed to the strategy outlined for the Port of Sheerness of attracting major renewables manufacturers to complement our valued heritage business within the significant footprint of the Port."
However, Vestas' decision will crank up pressure on the government to confirm the policy environment offshore wind developers can expect to operate in and take further steps to live up to its pledge of making the UK the world's most attractive investment environment for renewable energy.
A number of wind turbine firms, including US giant GE, are still mulling plans for new manufacturing facilities in the UK, but frustration is mounting at the government's failure to clarify the level of support renewable energy projects can expect through its electricity market reforms and the growing criticism the sector is facing from some Conservative MPs.
Friends of the Earth energy campaigner Guy Shrubsole said the news should act as a wake up call for the government to boost its support for offshore wind energy.
"The government is costing the UK jobs by failing to come up with a decent Energy Bill that supports renewables and gives investors certainty," he said. "Instead it's committing the country to a costly dash for gas that will bust our carbon targets and keep us dependent on imported gas.
"The government needs to see this as a dangerous warning that it's on the wrong path - and ensure it radically reforms the draft Energy Bill to deliver us clean, British energy and green jobs."
Source: www.businessgreen.com
Mental health services in this country are a joke...im sorry but it is true...armpit of the NHS and that really is saying something - apathy and ignorance, yesterday, 22/06/2012 08:50 Why blame the Mental Health Service !!!, they certainly have their hands Full in this day and age, what with all the Drug Fuelled Madness that has Exploded onto the Scene over the last 10 - 15 years. Don't blame them for this womans misfortune, they do the best they can with the little resources they have got.
- Morphious, Northeast England, 22/6/2012 11:00
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