Double time

Well it has certainly been a scorcher this past week in St Austell and Newquay, and with the schools breaking up and the annual surge of visitors, this has really kicked the annual summer holiday season off with a bang!

With some of my team at Par on a blazing hot Saturday morning

While some of you may be gearing up to get away from it all, my own schedule is getting busier and busier. I have taken advantage of the glorious weather and spent most of my time getting out and about across the constituency, meeting people and finding out what I can do to help sort out the issues that are important to you. From job opportunities for young people in Newquay to changes to local bus services in Par, via wind turbines in Gorran and St Ewe and the increased parking charges in Fowey, this past week you have shown me a number of local issues specific to particular areas, as well as some (with the initials ‘WT’) that seem to have universal unpopularity wherever I go.

Looming wind turbine at Gorran

As well as the important business of meeting local people, with the end of summer term as Chair of the Carclaze School Governors I attended the final meeting of the Governors for the 2013-14 school year and was then privileged to join the Carclaze School Leavers Assembly, to congratulate and send on their way another fine class of young people ready for the next stage of their lives. 

As well as these educational activities, amongst other things I also went along to the opening of the new Lloyds Bank premises in St Austell and met with many local businesses at one of the regular St Austell Chamber of Commerce Networking events.

Finally, with it being summer I have been lucky enough to go to several great evening events, the highlight being my presentation of half of the total £6,780 raised during my Walk to Westminster to the Cornwall Air Ambulance at their Summer Ball, which is fast becoming one of the charity occasion highlights of the year. I also participated in a very interesting auction at the Sea Cadets Summer Ball (check my Facebook for more), and finally ended the week on a high at the always exhilarating Charlestown Regatta. 

In Charlestown for the Regatta 

Hopefully this lovely weather will be with us for some time now, so if you see me out and about, whether it be in one of the towns and villages or on the beach, please do stop and say hello, I am always keen to hear from you as my journey to get elected in May 2015 continues!

Rowing at the Double

On Sunday I got to spend the afternoon out on the water. We entered a team from the local Conservative Party in the 15th annual Children’s Hospice SW Charity Gig Race at Newquay Harbour.

This was the second year we had entered a team and it was once again a great time. Our team this year was made up of myself, Richard Pears - my campaign manager, Adam Harris and Jack Berry (our cox) who are part of my campaign team. We were joined in the gig by three regular rowers from Newquay Rowing Club.

Newquay Rowing Club is one of the largest and most historic clubs in Cornwall (and probably the planet). They do a great job of putting on this annual event which is well run and fun to participate in. The conditions this year were almost perfect; calm seas and sunny but not too hot.

This year we came in a credible 4th out of 7 in our heat. This is, in my view, the best place to finish as the top three go through to the final which means you have to row again!

The event is a great way of raising the profile of the hospice and raising much need funds for the charity. I am delighted to do my little bit again and can highly recommend the event for anyone who  fancies entering next year.   

On the Double - Blog for 5th July 2014

Well our first week back following our Walk to Westminster has certainly been busy. After all the unpacking and catching up with the mountain of post and emails we threw ourselves into a diary full of community events.

We are certainly in the feast week/carnival week season. This past week we have spent time joining in with the events in Mevagissey, St Austell and St Dennis and there is more of the same in the next few weeks.

At the St Dennis 'It's a Knockout'

I am always amazed at just how good Cornwall is at putting on these weeks of community fun and entertainment. Many of them have been going on for many years and the traditions have been passed down from generation to generation. Each one is unique and has its own particular style and flavour. But at the heart of each of them is a group of dedicated people who work tirelessly to organise the events and a small army of volunteers who give their time to make sure everything runs well.

At the St Andrew's Church hymn singing on Mevagissey harbour

As we have been out and about we have continued to be overwhelmed by the number of people who have come and congratulated us on our walk. Everywhere we have been people have come and spoken to us about it. We really appreciate all the support and we are now at £6500 raised for the Cornwall Air Ambluance and Children’s Hospice SW which is just amazing.

This coming week we will be getting back out on the doors delivering literature and speaking to residents about my campaign. It’s going to be a busy summer with lots to do. If you would like to help with my campaign to be the next MP for St Austell and Newquay, by delivering some literature in your area please do get in touch. We really do need all the help we can get. You can email me on office@stevedouble.org.uk