Out & About

Well, I had a great time out and about in Pinhoe yesterday. I hope you've started receiving your Pinhoe Ward News from us. If not, you'll be receiving a copy very soon.


It's fantastic to be part of a team working so hard for a local area, and I have some great support this weekend. Yesterday I was joined by Ben Bradshaw MP, Cllr Ian Martin and Hon. Alderman Val Dixon, and today I shall be out in the Monkerton area with Cllr Moira Macdonald.

Ben deserves his great local reputation as a hard-working constituency MP who really connects with his community, and demonstrates his care and concern. I saw first-hand the time he took with people whenever he was stopped - which was often! He is clearly well-known and well-liked. It was a pleasure to have him working with us and great to see in these days a politician held in high regard.


Cllr Ian Martin needs no introduction, of course. A veteran (hope he doesn't mind me calling him that!) campaigner and an experienced local politician. Ian is a local councillor for Mincinglake, and also portfolio holder for Business Transformation at the council - doing an excellent job of navigating the council and its valued staff through major restructure against a backdrop of aggressive cuts to local authorities' services by Tory central government.


Honorary Alderman Val Dixon deserves a special mention. Val is a local Labour stalwart and was a councillor for Pinhoe from 1996, and was Exeter's first Lord Mayor in 2002. That year she raised over £25,000 for the Force Cancer Support Centre. Val was honoured by the city in 2010 with Alderman status, and has remained a high-profile citizen in the city, and was very much in charge yesterday as no one know Pinhoe and its people like Val! It was Val who led me from house to house, usually enthusing "there's someone here I want you to meet...!" 


Val lost her husband only this summer - himself a Labour activist, and as an Alderman she has every right to take a back seat and class herself as "politically retired". No chance! Val remains an active and dynamic worker for the ward, the city and the party - it was incredible to see her at work and to draw on her considerable knowledge and experience. 


So, back out today - ready to meet more of you and to listen to what concerns YOU in our ward. If you see us out, please do say hello!