REVIEW OF THE YEAR 2016: March and April

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INSPIRATIONAL teenager Emily Clark, whose battle against a rare form of cancer inspired hundreds of people to become bone marrow donors, died in hospital on March 12.

For more than two years the 18-year-old, who lived in Llantarnam, Cwmbran, had through her Remission possible blog charted her fight to beat Burkitt lymphoma, an aggressive form of non-Hodgkins lymphoma.

Her determination to help others even as she faced a daunting battle for her own life earned her admiration and support across the UK and beyond.

Diagnosed late in 2013, Emily twice beat the disease with the aid of a gruelling programme of treatment that included a bone marrow transplant.

She had recently marked her first anniversary of being cancer free, but died after developing breathing difficulties and problems with her lungs.

Despite her illness, Emily was determined to help other teenagers in a similar position, and through her blog she updated followers regularly on her own position, while launching a campaign to find a bone marrow match for herself and the 1,800 other people searching in the UK.

She called on people aged 16-30 to join the bone marrow register for charity Anthony Nolan.

She and her family also raised several thousands of pounds for the Teenage Cancer Trust, whose unit she had attended in hospital. The trust also benefited to the tune of more than £30,000 as councillor Matthew Evans' chosen charity during his term of Mayor of Newport, an appeal Emily helped inspire and support.

She also called on 16- and 17-year-olds who could not vote at the 2015 General Election to make a difference by joining the stem cell register, and backed the work of the Welsh Blood Service and the charity Bloodwise.

Mum Donna Dunn called Emily "just the messiest, unorganised and perfect daughter you could imagine."

She said there had been "amazing" tributes to Emily, including many "from people who I have never met and Emily had never met."

At the former Croesyceiliog comprehensive school pupil's packed funeral service at Llanyrafon Methodist Church on April 11, the Reverend Cathy Gale said Emily had "dared to be different."

"Faced with all the struggles and hurdles in her life, she shone and she dazzled. Her inner sparkle could not be contained," she said.

"Thanks to her Remission Possible blogs there was a spike in bone marrow donations from the south east Wales area.

"Four people have found donors thanks to Emily and her campaigning."

The Reverend Rhiannon Francis, chaplain with Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, who spent time with Emily in hospital, called her "exceptional, motivated, inspirational."

"She was named the 37th coolest woman in Wales, largely due to her blogs and her campaigning," said Reverend Francis.

"I didn't know many in front of her, but she beat Katherine Jenkins and Nessa from Gavin and Stacey."

March 5

Caerleon campus

UNIVERSITY of South Wales chiefs launched a public consultation on plans for the future use of the Caerleon campus.

All development options focused on new housing, with various proposals including 200-400 new homes.

Retention of the original 100-year-old college building and sports facilities was not ruled out, but demolition of the former was an option too, if a viable and economic use could not be found for it.

By mid-April, almost 1,200 people had signed a petition protesting the plans, a number of whom made their concerns known at a packed public meeting.

March 6

Runners take on the Admiral Newport Half Marathon

The fourth annual Newport Half Marathon attracted around 1,600 runners and helped raise thousands of pounds for St David's Hospice Care and other charities.

More than 200 volunteers helped make the event a success, as did the people who lined the route to cheer on participants.

Swansea Harrier Phillip Matthews was the fastest man home, with Totton Running Club's Helen Wallington leading the women in - but for less serious runners, it was a chance to raise money for good causes and enjoy a sense of achievement.

March 7

THE Welsh Government backed plans for a new primary school at Six Bells, despite fears among residents that the project would restrict access to the Guardian memorial to the 45 miners who died in the colliery disaster in 1960.

Approval of the final business case marked another step in the creation of an integrated Abertillery learning community for pupils aged three-16 years.

Concerns had also been raised about parking, but Blaenau Gwent council said this and other issues would be addressed by working with villagers as the project progresses.

March 16

E-cigarettes have become a frequent sight at public places in Wales

LANDMARK legislation that would have seen the use of e-cigarettes banned in public places in Wales where children are present, was blocked in an 11th-hour protest by Plaid Cymru AMs.

The controversial proposal was the centrepiece of the Public Health (Wales) Bill that also included regulations on tattoo and body piercing outlets.

The shock failure of the Bill followed Labour's public services minister Leighton Andrews' "cheap date" jibe at Plaid Cymru's expense earlier in the day, referencing the parties' former coalition.

Plaid Cymru accused Mr Andrews of showing disrespect for parties and AMs who sought consensus.

Health minister Mark Drakeford said Plaid's actions had wasted five years' planning on the proposals.

March 28

Ieuan Joel with his mother's 'idol', Paolo Nutini

A HEARTBROKEN Newport youngster asked singer Paolo Nutini to play at his mum's funeral.

Bevlee Jones who "loved everything" about the Scottish star, died suddenly in her sleep on March 8, aged just 34.

The Argus reported that her 13-year-old son Ieuan Joel wrote a poignant plea on the Last Request singer's Facebook page: "I was wondering if you could play at my mum's funeral as she loved you. You were her idol. Please, I beg. She'd love it if you did."

The grieving teenager's emotional message was shared more than 1,000 times.

Meanwhile, an appeal to help pay for her funeral raised more than £3,500.

Mr Nutini was unable to make the funeral, but he phoned Ms Jones' son that day to pass on his condolences - and there was more to come later in the year.

March 31

THE steel industry in Newport and across the rest of south Wales was thrown into turmoil by Tata Steel's announcement that it would go ahead with plans to sell off its UK operation.

The move put thousands of jobs at risk, including at the firm's Llanwern plant, and was greeted with dismay by staff and politicians.

There were calls for the UK Government to temporarily nationalise the steel industry in order to save it from collapse and the loss of thousands of jobs.

Newport East AM John Griffiths summed up the mood of many in describing "a crisis of great magnitude for Wales."

He and Newport East MP Jessica Morden wrote a joint letter to UK Government ministers, expressing concern about steel jobs in the city, and warning that the industry could not be allowed to die "a slow death" while buyers were sought.

March 31

THE murder of Cerys Yemm by Matthew Williams at the Sirhowy Arms Hotel, Argoed, in November 2014 would have been "difficult to predict or be prevented" according to a Healthcare Inspectorate Wales report.

The 22-year-old from Oakdale was killed by 34-year-old Williams just two weeks after his release on licence from prison. He subsequently died whilst being arrested.

The report concluded that a change in his behaviour at the hotel - used as emergency bed and breakfast accommodation by Caerphilly council - was likely to have been a result of a severe reaction to taking illicit and/or psychoactive substances.

April 2

A TEENAGER who was among pupils caught up in a shooting incident involving an armed man at Capitol Hill in Washington DC, told the Argus how she feared she and her classmates would be shot dead as they hid under desks.

Lowan James, aged 16, was among 80 Tredegar comprehensive school pupils on a trip to the US capital when the incident happened on Sunday March 27.

Back in Tredegar, Lowan related how she texted her mum Sian that "something bad" had happened, after being shouted at by armed officers who told them to hide when they were at the site's visitors' centre.

Lowan said "we were all petrified and were just running for our lives." Mrs Thomas said that when she rang her daughter she could hear shouts and sirens in the background during "one of the worst phone calls I've ever had."

April 2

The scene of a suspected gas explosion in George Street, Newport.

A MAN was left fighting for his life in hospital and a major Newport road was closed for several hours after a gas explosion badly damaged a house and surrounding properties.

Debris was blown across both lanes of the eastern dual carriageway of George Street in the early evening blast, with drivers having narrow escapes.

The occupant of the ground floor bedsit where the explosion occurred suffered life threatening injuries.

Neighbouring properties had to be evacuated, and at one stage 27 firefighters were involved in dealing with the incident.

April 6

An artist's impression of the Circuit of Wales project in Ebbw Vale

PLANS to create thousands of jobs in Gwent were in the balance as it was revealed that the Welsh Government had refused to underwrite the Circuit of Wales motor racing project at Ebbw Vale.

Edwina Hart, economy minister at the time, announced it would be too risky for the Welsh Government to underwrite Aviva's entire 3357.2 million investment in the scheme, which was predicted to create 6,000 jobs.

Her intervention raised the prospect of the project not going ahead unless new investors were found, or another underwriting deal was reached.

Blaenau Gwent AM Alun Davies said it was too risky for the taxpayer to underwrite 100 per cent of the private investment, as proposed, but he believed another deal could be struck.

April 9

PREPARATION work began on replacing the road bridge over the railway at Bridge Street, Newport, as part of the ongoing London-South Wales railway electrification programme.

The road, a major route into and out of the city centre, was due to be closed to traffic and pedestrians from May 3.

Work ahead of that date included installing a service bridge - involving the use of a 600 feet high crane - to carry diverted gas, electricity and water supplies for the duration of the project.

Later in April, the Cardiff Road bridge fully reopened after months of partial closure while electrification preparations were carried out.

April 9

AROUND 1,100 elderly and vulnerable people in Gwent were put on 'suckers lists' by scammers, the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Gwent warned.

The lists are sold by conmen to other scammers and act as a directory to find vulnerable people who are easy to target.

Lyn Webber, head of criminal justice and rehabilitation for the OPCC in Gwent, said raising awareness of the issue is vital, as perpetrators are "well co-ordinated and planned, and are often organised crime groups."

April 13

IT isn't every day shoppers are told they can't buy plants from a garden centre.

But that was the case at the Newport branch of Homebase after management acted when robins - cared for by staff - nested in a display of flowers.

Despite being disturbed last year, when a customer inadvertently bought the plant they were nesting in, the birds returned and had five chicks.

The store wasn't short of customers however, as curious shoppers popped in to see the birds and to catch a glimpse of the new arrivals.

April 29

Matthew Kennerley at Newport Docks.

THE owner and operator of the port of Newport stated its intention to formally object to plans to build part of the proposed M4 Relief Road on its land.

Associated British Ports (ABP) opposed a compulsory purchase proposal for about 87 acres, or 20 per cent, of its site.

Director Matthew Kennerley said ABP supports around 3,000 jobs and helps pump £186 million a year into the Welsh economy, but the proposal to build a six-lane motorway bridge over the port would cause "long lasting and irreparable" consequences for its Newport operations.

His warning came a week after Gwent Wildlife Trust claimed the road proposal signalled "dark times" for Gwent Levels wildlife, after it received a compulsory purchase order for a section of its Magor Marsh nature reserve.