Islam Awareness Week

The 20th to the 26th of November is Islam Awareness Week. Click here to find out more.

Add comment November 19th, 2006

Leyton Remembers

This morning I took part in Leyton’s very moving remembrance Sunday ceremony and church service. Leyton’s war veterans, councillors and local residents gathered together in Coronation Gardens to pay our respects to those who lost their lives in the first and second world wars, fighting to secure the freedoms we enjoy today.

After a lovely sermon conducted by the Reverend Tim Davis (pictured above), we all made our way to St Mary’s Parish Church, in Church Rd, for the official church service.

Thank you again to the wonderful members of the Royal British Legion’s Leyton branch who work so hard every year to make Leyton’s Remembrance Sunday special.

The Leyton branch does absolutely sterling work supporting our war veterans and their families all year around and I felt honoured to be part of their ceremony and service today.

Below are some snaps of the occasion. Many thanks to Amy and Jane Duran (pictured below) who took many of them for me….

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The British Legion’s superb pipe band leads our procession to St Mary’s Church.

One of the pipe band’s young musicians.

With Mrs Moore (secretary to the ladies section of the British Legion Leyton branch), Mr Moore, (secretary of the British Legion Leyton branch), Cllr Tarsem Bhogal, Cllr Elisabeth Davies and Cllr Faiz Yunis after the church service.

With the Reverend Tim Davis after his first ever Leyton remembrance Sunday service. Well done Tim, you did well!!!

The Pipe Band rounds off the day back at the British Legion’s local HQ.

2 comments November 12th, 2006

GMB Young Members Conference 2006

Last weekend I spent a fantastic Saturday and Sunday taking part in the GMB’s first young members’ conference for many years.

Young GMB members from all over the country joined the GMB’s General Secretary Paul Kenny and Deputy General Secretary Debbie Coulter to debate new ideas for encouraging younger people to join the GMB and trade unions in general.

As previous visitors to this website will know, I am extremely committed to the work of trade unions and to the values and policies they stand for.

It was absolutely great to meet other like minded young people who, like me, also believe that trade unions have a legitimate place in today’s society as they continue to stand up for justice, fairness, and equality, both inside and outside of the workplace.

As well as hearing from speakers such as Gemma Tumelty, the new President of the National Union of Students (who also happens to be a GMB member) in the conference’s plenary sessions, delegates participated in three different workshops entitled ‘the way forward for the GMB’, ‘fighting racism and facism’ and ‘organising in the workplace’. I found these sessions stimulating and invaluable. Many thanks in particular to Martin Smith, the GMB’s national organiser, for running the superb ‘organising in the workplace’ session (pictured above).

On Sunday morning, the conference heard from Paul Kenny, the GMB’s general secretary (pictured above right). After his speech, I took five minutes to have a chat with Paul – as well as to lobby him about supporting Jon Cruddas for the Labour Party Deputy Leadership

Thanks also to the GMB’s Deputy General Secretary Debbie Coulter (pictured above left with me and General Secretary Paul Kenny) for sponsoring the conference and giving GMB’s young members such high profile support.

As always, I continue to urge young people to join a trade union. If you’re a young GMB member and want to find out more, please do not hesitate to get in touch!

2 comments November 12th, 2006

Twenty Questions

A fellow Labour party supporting blogger, Paul Burgin, who edits the ‘Mars Hill’ blog, has interviewed me as part of his ‘Twenty Questions to a Fellow Blogger’ series.

Click here if you’d like to read the interview.

1 comment November 6th, 2006

Come along to Leyton’s next Community Council!

Residents who live in Leyton, Forest and Grove Green wards will have the chance to elect a new Community Chair and Vice Chair at the Leyton and Whipps Cross Community Council meeting on Monday (November 6).

Candidates who have put themselves forward for nomination will be introduced and residents will also have the chance to put forward their own candidates as well as voting for the positions.

Monday’s meeting will be an important opportunity for Leyton and Whipps Cross Residents to take part in grass roots democracy and have a real say in the future of Leyton.

Before I was elected to the Council and became the Councillor Chair, I was the Community Council’s Community Vice Chair. I really enjoyed the role and so I would urge interested residents to come along and participate.

Other issues on the agenda include an update on the work of the Police Safer Neighbourhood Team and their impact on crime in the Leyton and Whipps Cross Area and a presentation by the Metropolitan Police about the proposed Hainault Road custody facility.

Alongside local councillors, representatives from the Safer Neighbourhood Team, health services and Neighbourhood Watch will also attend the meeting and there will be an Olympic Park exhibition including maps and plans of the area.

The meeting will take place at George Mitchell School in Farmer Road, Leyton, from 7.30pm on Monday (November 6).

For more information call the Community Councils Team on 020 8496 3000 or visit the Leyton and Whipps Cross Community Council’s website by clicking here.

Add comment November 2nd, 2006