Tynedale Plans tomorrow

Heddon First School first thing, followed by surgeries in Corbridge and Ovingham, a trip to Allendale Post Office, and meetings this evening in Hexham. Also trying to pop in to a couple of care homes to meet and thank staff on National Care Home Open Day.

Action to tidy up all gravestones of Britain's Victoria Cross Recipients is very welcome

Sometimes charities, newspapers and government come together to do small things that really make you feel very proud. I do not know who thought this up but I am delighted that key servicemen charities, the Sun Newspaper and the Department for Communities and Local Government are committing money to the "Honour our Heroes Campaign". This is partiocularly apposite given it is the Frist World War anniversary. It ensures that money is spent making sure the gravestones of of Britains Victoria Cross Heroes are restored and respected properly, as proper and poignant tributes to remember them, and mark their sacrifice.
If you want an example of one of our local heroes - born in Ovingham - who is buried close by in Ryton - read here about the heroism of Frederick Dobson:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederick_William_Dobson

Born in Ovingham, Lance Corporal Dobson served in the 2nd Battalion, Coldstream Guards. In actions at Chavonne Aisne, France, on September 28, 1914, Lance Corporal Dobson went out twice under heavy fire and brought in wounded men who were lying exposed in the open; he was badly wounded in the process. For conspicuous gallantry, he was promoted Corporal and awarded the Victoria Cross by King George V on December 8, 1914. He died at age 48 in London, England, but is buried in nearby Ryton and Crawcrook cemetery. His grave is tended well I am told, but for others this is not the case and this is a worthy cause.
More details of the campaign, and why it genuinely matters, can be found here: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/campaigns/our_boys/5580338/Campaign-to-restore-VC-heroes-headstones.html

2013 Year in Review: January and February

January got off to a snowy start which saw us campaigning ankle deep in the snow for the coming Local Elections. It was also the month I raised the prospect of us having to have Border Controls if Scotland goes independent and our support for the opening of Gilsland station came another step closer to reality. January was also when I lost a great friend and inspiration in Dr Alan Reece. It also saw myself and hundreds of locals pack into Snods Edge Village Hall to discuss the Whittonstall Opencast proposals, an issue that will rumble on into next year. Reform to Constituency boundaries was defeated 334 - 292. Labour's scare stories on University admission were undermined when it was revealed UCAS applications from those from disadvantaged backgrounds has also risen to the highest ever on record at 19.5%.

Picture: Campaigning all year round - in all weathers in Hexham!!

February:
We started off February with a visit from Skills Minister Mathew Hancock to our Apprenticeship Summit, which I organised at Kirkley Hall. February was also the month I voted for the Same Sex Marriage Bill. On the 8th February Anne Marie Trevellyan was selected as the Conservative candidate for Berwick upon Tweed at the 2015 General Election; since then the incumbent Sir Alan Beith has announced his retirement. February, as well as seeing the "Horse Meat Scandal", saw me raise the prospect of new form of local governance for Tynedale. We brought Tyneside Blonde (a beer) to Westminster, brewed by our very own Martin and the team at the Hadrian Brewery.  I was also part of the campaign to protect greenbelt land just off Piper Road in Ovingham, an issue which would come to dominate the year locally. I made one of my many visits to Albermarle Barracks; at the same time the Guardian urged it's readers to move to Hexham, describing it as "cute as a puppy's nose and handsome as Clark Gable." The Lib Dem's held Eastleigh and I ended the month holding a public meeting for residents facing difficulties with their housing provider in Haydon Bridge.
The picture below is of the Skills summit at Kirkley Hall - with the Minister, one of our winners, and her boss!

Newcastle International Airport Visit

Wendy and I in front of one of the new fire engines at the Airport with the airport team:
Any time you get to drive down an airport runway, mess around with a fire engine and go to the Air Traffic Control Tower is a good day!
Wendy Morton - the candidate for Tynemouth - and I were given a wonderful tour by the team at the airport - who are rightly very proud of their airport, their facilities on site and the contribution they make to the local economy.
The air traffic control tower is 150 feet high, the runway tarmac is very smooth and feels like a pool table and the fire engines all have a schnozzle - which punches holes in planes and goes to the heart of the fire! You could not make it up
Also worth noting is the amazing college that is run there providing state of the art aeronautical engineering courses amongst other things

In the afternoon I went to the Ovingham Green Fair - where Debbie and her team had laid on an amazing awareness raising fair. Was most impressed by the team from Ovingham First School and had a great chat to the headteacher and the kids.
Evening spent in Ponteland - and sat in on the town council meeting.