In addition to the many local events to celebrate the 80th Anniversary of VE Day, I was also at Westminster Abbey this week for the formal service to commemorate Churchill’s declaration in Parliament in 1945 that the war in Europe was over. 80 years ago Parliament was suspended and both Houses processed over to the Abbey together. On Thursday we recreated that and it was certainly an incredible event to be part of. We also had a VE Day debate on Tuesday evening which I was privileged to be in the Chair for, listening to Members highlight the wartime contributions of their constituencies and particular constituents. It was incredibly moving and as everyone kept saying, probably the last big anniversary where there will be veterans still present.
There have been some wonderful events in the constituency as well, and it was lovely to be back in the garden of King John’s House on Bank Holiday Monday for the official re-opening of the Garden. It may be some while before the House is back open, but there is much optimism about how it can be restored and the saved artefacts put on the best display possible.
This week in Westminster we have been debating the Data Bill, a piece of legislation that started way back in 2022, and has taken a number of iterations to get to the Report Stage and Third Reading that we had on Wednesday. There were some interesting last minute discussions around access to data and the challenge there may well be for older people in knowing how and where they can access their own information.
A number of constituents had asked me to attend the Age UK event in Parliament on Tuesday, and I can report that I was able to complete the Ageing Well tasks. It comes to all of us, and there were plenty of reminders of the need to try to keep active, both mentally and physically. I think I am ok on both fronts, still a crossword fiend and running is going ok, but there were lots of hints and tips about how you can keep physically active just around the house. On which subject, RomDag is holding another of its Dementia Information Days in the Crosfield Hall on the 18th May, so just over a week away. They are always a great opportunity to talk to services and organisations who can help those living with dementia and their loved ones, and I know how lucky we are to have RomDag locally.
This weekend the WI are in the Crosfield Hall for their Literary Day, and Sunday is the annual Florence Nightingale Service in Wellow. So I will be thinking about inspirational women, whether authors or scientists, we have a lot to be grateful to those trailblazers for.