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David's Blog
July 09 posts
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lgilmore | 
15 July 2009 at 10:58 | 336 views
Last week I was hoping to return home to Somerset on Thursday evening, but instead I had a request to appear on the panel for BBC TV’s “Question Time”, with David Dimbleby. The other panellists were Harriet Harman, Iain Duncan-Smith, the journalist Peter Hitchins, and the singer Jarvis Cocker (of the band “Pulp”).
I seem to make a habit of appearing on this programme with “pop stars”, as in the past I have been on the programme with Alex James (of “Blur”) and Mick Hucknall (of “Simply Red”).
The programme was being filmed in Cambridge, so I travelled up there by the boiling hot underground, and then by train.
This is probably the highest profile weekly politics programme, with a viewing audience which runs into millions. It is therefore just about the only media programme which I get slightly nervous before appearing on, and which needs a bit of preparation.
David Dimbleby and his team are also very insistent about us not knowing which questions are going to come up – and this is kept from us until the audience member actually asks the question.
The programme is recorded “as live”, but actually about 2 hours before broadcast, in case there are any problems! So by the time that people are watching our answers at 10.30pm, the guests have normally sat down with David Dimbleby and his production team for a dinner.
I didn’t have time to stay for the dinner, as I had to catch a train back to London. My first engagement on Friday morning was at 8am at Westland Helicopters, so I had to get up at 4.15am, in order to complete the journey back in good time.
After the Westland visit, I called in at Stanchester School to see Glyn Ottery, who has been head teacher at the school for the last 18 years – an extraordinary record!!!
Glyn is an excellent school leader, who is very passionate about the work he does. He has made an enormous impact for the better on many generations of young people in our area, and I would like to thank him for this on behalf of the whole local community.
My next visit was to St. John’s Road in Yeovil to see a new housing development at “The Manse”, which is just off St. John’s Road – near Bucklers Mead School. The properties here have been built by Yarlington Homes (which used to be “South Somerset Homes”). I met up with Mike Kay, the Chief Executive of Yarlington, as well as some of those involved in the building work, and some of the new residents.
The development is of a very high quality, and the new residents seemed very happy with their new homes.
By 11.15am I was in Ilchester to meet the “Mad Marines” from the Yeovilton air base, who are doing a sponsored half Marathon in September – while carrying a 31ft long 300lb Sea King Main Rotor Blade! The weather was hot, and the marines had carried the blade all the way from RNAS Yeovilton – nevertheless, the journey was a fraction of what they will have to do in Bristol in two months time. This event is to raise money for the “Help for Heroes” charity – do please sponsor them if you are able (via: www.justgiving.com/jimcoulter).
At lunchtime, I called in at the Yeovil Court Hotel, and had lunch with representatives of the Yeovil and Mendip Branch of the Federation of Small Businesses. This was a very good meeting for me, and a real insight into the challenges and opportunities facing small businesses at this time. As well as all of the problems associated with recession, it is also clear that we have some very dynamic businesses in our area that are determined to be positive about the future.
In the afternoon, I visited the Fleet Air Arm Museum, where a new display – “A Celebration of Naval Flying” – was opened by the Duke of Edinburgh. This really is a fantastic museum, and I need to find time to go back again soon to see all that is on show. If you have visited before, do go and see the new display. If you have not visited, then do – you will be incredibly impressed by how good this museum is!
In the afternoon I drove over to Chard, for a meeting up the ambitious regeneration plans for Chard. This work – led by Andrew Gillespie of South Somerset District Council – is coming on very well, and later this year the detailed plans will be unveiled. The regeneration of Chard is one of my highest local priorities over the next couple of years.
Finally, in the evening I dropped in at the Millennium Hall in Seavington for the Annual General Meeting of the Seavington Community Shop and Services Association. Andy Murray had just been knocked out of Wimbledon, so the turnout was impressive and not undermined by the tennis!
This is a really excellent local initiative to secure a shop and community facility for the village, and a lot of money has already been raised. The Committee is determined to adjust the project costs to accommodate the current very tough economic climate, and this should help to ensure that the project goes ahead. Congratulations to the whole Committee and to all those in the village who have given their backing. This is a real opportunity to breathe some life back into our village communities.
On Saturday, I held a busy Advice Centre in Yeovil in the morning, and then I popped into Christopher House in Yeovil for their “Open Day”. I then went to Huish Park for the Terry Skiverton Testimonial Match – “Johnson Conference Champs versus Skivo Select 11”. It was a very entertaining afternoon, and it was good to see so many faces from the last decade of Yeovil football.
Ever,
David.
lgilmore | 02 July 2009 at 15:14 | 327 views
This week Parliament will debate the Finance Bill, which implements this year’s Budget. More time is spent debating the Budget measures each year than almost any other legislation, and as Budgets have got more and more detailed and extensive so has the size and complexity of the associated legislation increased beyond all expectations.
This Friday, I will start the day with a visit to Stanchester secondary school, in Stoke sub Hamdon.
I will be meeting up with Glyn Ottery, the head teacher at Stanchester, to talk about recent developments in education policy and the progress at the school.
However, this will not be a “routine” visit to the school, because I am also going to be wishing Glyn the best for his retirement at the end of this term, after a very long period of service at the school.
Glyn is one of the most experienced head teachers in our area, not just as head at Stanchester, but as a former Chairman of the Somerset Secondary Schools Association. Glyn has made a big contribution to the development of education in our area, and at Stanchester School he has made a real impact for the better on a generation of young people from South Somerset. He deserves a very relaxing retirement!
On Friday afternoon I am due to visit the Fleet Air Arm Museum at RNAS Yeovilton, for the opening of a new Exhibition by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh. The exhibition is on the theme of “A Celebration of Naval Flying”, and I am sure that it will be up to the high standards that have made this museum one of the biggest visitor attractions in Somerset.
Before I attend this meeting, I am due to meet up with Royal Marine aircrewmen from RNAS Yeovilton, who are planning to run the Bristol Half Marathon on 6th September. The team of 10 aircrew are from 845, 846 and 848 Naval Air Squadrons, and are being led by C/Sgt Jim Coulter, and they are hoping to raise over £13,000 in aid of the “Help for Heroes” charity. This cause is particularly close to the hearts of the team, as the brother of one of the runners was sadly killed serving in Afghanistan in January of this year.
Running a half-marathon may already seem quite a big challenge, but I have so far left out one rather important “detail” of the challenge – that the 13 miles will be run while carrying a 31 foot long 300lb Sea King main rotor blade!
The team has already had some local publicity, and now they need to secure a lot of support in sponsorship. Westlands and BAE Systems have generously made pledges, but the team also need personal sponsorship if they are to meet their target. The best way to donate is via www.justgiving.com/jimcoulter, but another site is also being created to publicise the event – www.rmbladerunner.com.
This is a great cause and a huge challenge, so if you can help sponsor the team, please do!
Later on Friday, I will be attending a briefing about the project to help secure additional investment in Chard, and in the evening I will be calling in at the AGM of the Seavington Community Shop project, at the Millennium Hall in the village.
On Saturday, I will be holding one of my regular Advice Centres in Yeovil, and in the afternoon I will be calling in to the Open Day at Christopher House in Yeovil.
I am particularly looking forward to this Saturday afternoon, when there will be a Testimonial Match for Yeovil Town Manager Terry Skiverton, at Huish Park.
Terry has been at the club for a decade now, and he has made a huge contribution to the Glovers’ most successful ever decade of football – as player, captain and now as manager.
Terry’s passion, determination and commitment have long made him one of the fan’s big favourites at Huish Park, and it will also be good to see some other big name players, from Yeovil’s past and from outside the club, at the game.
Very best wishes to Terry for Saturday’s celebration.
Ever,
David.