Archive for November, 2009
Monday, November 23rd, 2009
Last week I visited South Staffordshire College (Tamworth campus) with David Willetts MP, Shadow Universities Secretary, to meet staff and students. The college has over 20,000 students across three campuses – Tamworth is the biggest. It was great to see the work being done there and the enthusiasm of both teachers and taught. Charlotte Burford, who won a well deserved international award at the World Skills finals in Calgary, Canada, was also there and she told David all about the skills she is developing. David rounded off his visit with an interview on Touch FM and a plug to bring the Staffordshire Hoard to Tamworth! I know he enjoyed it and I look forward to visiting again myself soon.
Sunday, November 22nd, 2009
Despite the wind, the rain and general November greyness, we have been out and about meeting people in Wilnecote this afternoon – a great response from the doorstep so thank you to people in Falcon and Lakeland.
Wednesday, November 18th, 2009
We’ve just run a telephone poll of local residents in Tamworth constituency about the MPs’ expenses scandal.
Nearly 20 helpers made calls from our tele-canvassing centre to ask people if they agree all MPs’ expenses should be published on the internet so people can see what is being claimed, and whether they agree with David Cameron that Sir Christopher Kelly’s proposals to fix the abuses should be implemented in full without delay.
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Sunday, November 8th, 2009
In the last couple of weeks I’ve been helping out in the Elford Walled Garden in the grounds of the old Elford Hall now long demolished.
Villagers have clubbed together to revive the garden, cleaning up the two acre interior, stripping ivy from the walls, fixing the conservatory and the mushroom houses, replanting the orchard and renovating the old head gardener’s house as a visitor centre.
Since starting work last February a huge amount has already been done to clear away decades of undergrowth and rubbish but the project will take years to complete. It is a great example of what local people can do together for their community, volunteerism at its best.
It’s also a good opportunity for me to get out and about doing some heavy lifting – I can do with the exercise!
