AS ever, our communities have come together in the most extraordinary way to mark Remembrance this past week.

I had the pleasure of attending another special and thought-provoking Remembrance assembly at Summerhill School, where the students and staff once again did themselves proud in remembering the sacrifices made by our fallen heroes.

I also joined other volunteers in Kingswinford, Kinver, Wombourne and Perton to help raise funds for this year’s Poppy Appeal. The generosity of local people was overwhelming – not just with their donations, but also their willingness to share family stories of loved ones who lost their lives fighting for our country and our way of life.

Yet again, we also saw what seem to be increased turnouts at Remembrance parades and services. This was the first Remembrance weekend since the parliamentary boundaries changed and I laid a wreath in Codsall and a cross in Kinver, while my wife Laura laid a wreath in Kingswinford on my behalf for this year.

Enormous thanks are owed to our local Royal British Legion branches, and the volunteers who spend so much of their own time to bring these events together each year.

Back in Westminster, I was pleased to speak in the Westminster Hall Debate on support for Pubs and Hospitality, as well as presenting the 'Heritage Public Houses Bill' in Parliament to better protect our heritage pubs and never let the likes of what took place at the Crooked House happen again.

I also spoke in the debate immediately after the Budget, where I highlighted the negative impact that the Chancellor’s changes will have on workers on modest wages, farmers, community pubs and other small businesses.

Prior to the budget, I was proud to present a petition with 130,000 signatures calling on the new Government not to hike Fuel Duty. If the Government had gone ahead with the hike, it would have hit workers, pensioners, businesses, and our economy even harder than they have already been hit by other measures in the budget – so I was pleased that we managed to stop what would have been a disastrous measure had it been implemented.

I also worked with Conservative colleagues calling on the Chancellor to listen to the deep concerns of organisations such as Age UK, and pensioners themselves, about the suffering that will be caused through the blunt withdrawal of the Winter Fuel Payment from so many pensioners who rely on it. Sadly, the Chancellor was unwilling to change her mind, and we must all therefore do all we can to lookout for those who may now struggle this winter. Back at home, I have had the pleasure of visiting more local schools and businesses, and held my first Jobs & Skills Fair in the new constituency.

It was the tenth annual Jobs & Skills Fair I have organised since first being elected in 2015, and I hope the opportunity to meet face-to-face with employers and training providers was helpful for those who attended. Finally, I am also pleased to confirm Friday November 29 as the date for my 2024 Older People’s Information Fair which will take place at the Richardson Hall in Wordsley from 10am till 1pm.

The event is about helping older people to connect with organisations, services and groups that offer advice, activities or just companionship. As always, the event is completely free to attend and there is no need to book.