Remembrance is one of the most important moments each year that brings our community together.
It’s a chance to remember, with profound gratitude and respect, those who have given their lives in the service of our nation. It’s also a moment to think of all of those here in Aycliffe who live with injuries and disabilities sustained serving our country and those living with the mental trauma of conflict.
I’ve met many veterans while knocking on doors and at community events. Two of my neighbours in Aycliffe served in the forces. While many of us grew up thinking of veterans as older gentlemen with medals earned during the Second World War, local veterans today are often men and women in their thirties, forties and fifties who fought in Iraq, Afghanistan and served in UN peacekeeping missions around the world. And our armed forces are engaged around the globe right now, 24/7.
That’s one of the reasons Remembrance is so important. Because veterans of war aren’t distant figures – they’re our friends and neighbours. Many bear the scars of things they’ve seen. They deserve our respect and our support.
Having attended the Newton Aycliffe Remembrance Service many times as a local resident, it was an honour to attend as your Member of Parliament and lay a House of Commons wreath. It was a privilege to join the Deputy Lord Lieutenant, Dame Della Smith, Major Nikk Lovelock-Jeffels and the Mayor and Mayoress of Newton Aycliffe, Cllr John Clark and his wife Bernadette, in the parade and service at St. Clare’s.
I wanted to say a special thank you to all the children and young people involved on Sunday. We had some fantastic young people who read parts of the service in St. Clare’s Church. Some were so young they had to stand on a box and a stool at the same time to reach the lectern! They did our town proud and it was very moving to see young people from our community learning the value of remembering those who have served. I also wanted to thank all of the parents who brought kids along to watch the parade. As we marched through Aycliffe, I was really struck by how many families were in the crowds. If you’re a Mam or Dad who encouraged your children to come along to mark Remembrance Sunday – thank you. It’s so important.
My thanks to Great Aycliffe Town Council for organising the event and to councils across the constituency. I also attended services in Ferryhill, Spennymoor and Quarrington Hill to pay my respects. It was heartening to see good turnouts from residents across the constituency.
In addition to representing our area at Remembrance Services, I have had a number of other important engagements.
Alongside other County Durham MPs, I attended a regular meeting with the senior leadership team at County Hall to be briefed on the latest plans for public health and council budget issues. I raised questions and concerns about the high suicide rate among young men in the county and what more can be done on this crucial issue.
I also visited the Hitachi Rail factory in Aycliffe Business Park to see the launch of their new battery train project. Hitachi have been investing in research and development to see if batteries could replace the secondary diesel engines in the trains they make in Aycliffe. The trial has been a success and I’ll be raising this innovative work with government ministers to highlight the fantastic work going on in our town.
Finally, I’m pleased to say that my staff team is now up to full strength, and we are working hard to serve you. I’m continuing my regular advice surgeries with residents. If you’re interested in attending to discuss an issue or problem, the next dates are:
• 15th November, 3.30pm-5.30pm, West Cornforth;
• 22nd November, 4.00pm-6.00pm, Ferryhill;
• 29th November, 4.00pm-6.00pm, Newton Aycliffe.
To contact me about a problem, or to arrange a surgery appointment, please contact me on alan.strickland.mp@parliament.uk