Dear Reader,
This year has flown by and what a year 2012 has been, definitely one to remember. We hosted the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, and of course we can’t forget the historic event that was the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. Street parties were organised across the country and right here in Rochford and Southend East I know of a number of parties that were arranged to celebrate this remarkable achievement. 2012 saw Southend-on-Sea Borough Council judged the best council in Britain and was awarded Council of the Year at the Local Government Chronicle Awards, well done to the team.
In the past 12 months I have attended 131 official events across Rochford and Southend East including Macmillan coffee mornings, the reopening of Prittlewell Priory, a day with the Crouch Harbour Authority on their annual ‘Beat the Bounds’ event, the official opening of the new Hinguar School, the Fun Factory in Rochford, Temple Sutton School and a number of new and established businesses.
I have worked together with constituents and local organisations to secure a driving test centre here in Southend. This was a remarkable achievement for all those involved, particularly as, despite rigorous campaigning from a number of Essex MP’s, we were unable to prevent the previous test centre’s closure back in 2008.
We have had a number of Ministers come and visit us this year including Mike Penning, then as Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Transport, Eric Pickles, Secretary of State at the Department of Communities and Local Government, Nick Hurd, Minister of State at the Cabinet Office, Bob Neill also of Department of Communities and Local Government, Chloe Smith, Parliamentary Secretary at the Cabinet Office, Ian Duncan Smith, Secretary of State for the Department of Work and Pensions and Theresa Villiers, Minister of State at the Department of Transport although now in the Cabinet.
So here we are, at the end of 2012. I’m looking forward to a break between Christmas and New Year with my wife Katy and our children Tom, Henry and Mary who will love the magic of Christmas. All that is left for me to say is I would like to wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year.
Ho Ho Ho
James