The 80^th Anniversary of VE Day is a very important occasion for us all across our Borough.  I’ve been fortunate enough to attend a range of events organised across Trafford, each commemorating the 80^th anniversary in different ways.  The first event I attended was held earlier in the week at the Imperial War Museum North.  The museum had partnered with the National Theatre and turned the main exhibition hall into a performance space.  I was there to watch Letters to Loved Ones, where several actors read from letters written during the Second World War.  It was an evening full of poignancy as the letters covered the themes of love, separation and loss.

The following day I visited Local Studies in Sale to see an exhibition the team there had curated that focused on Trafford during the Second World War.  I saw some fascinating documents and photographs full of our social history.  This theme carried into Friday where I attended an exhibition in Stretford organised by Trafford Veterans.  Again, this carefully curated display brought Stretford’s wartime history to life, with so many first-hand contributions provided by local residents.

On Saturday I joined the Mayor and our Armed Forces Champion, Judith Lloyd, at an event organised by the Trafford Centre and supported by the Council.  There were plenty people from the Armed Forces there, two pipers and plenty of items on display.  The Trafford Centre was, as ever, very busy and it was good to see so many visitors engage.

Earlier today (Sunday), I joined colleagues from Trafford Council, representatives from the Armed Forces, Veterans, Cadets and local residents for our church service in Sale.  The Mayor and other participants in the service gave some very moving readings and it felt like a fitting end to the week.

Elsewhere this week I’ve been on the doorstep in Stretford and Carrington and joined my ward colleagues, Jane and Steve, and colleagues from L&Q Housing on a walkabout around the Stretford House and Trees area of our patch.  We picked up on several issues, including road safety, fly tipping and loose paving- all of which I have now followed up with officers.

I was also in Sale at our Waterside Arts Centre earlier in the week, where I joined Cllr Eve Parker at a gathering of leaders and representatives from our arts, culture and creative sector.  It was a good networking event and a chance to catch up with Richard Brown from Arts Council England.  I’m so proud of our strong arts and culture scene in Trafford and welcome any chance to support it.

I’m also incredibly proud of the work carried out by Altrincham BID to keep the town thriving.  The BID (Business Improvement District) is now ten years old and is currently preparing for a ballot for its third term.  I joined my colleague, Cllr Liz Patel, at the launch of the BID’s Business Plan for its third term and it was good to be reminded of everything the BID has achieved since 2015.  We want to see Altrincham continue to Thrive and Altrincham BID is a very important partner to us at Trafford Council.

Finally, from a Greater Manchester perspective I attended a meeting of the Liverpool to Manchester Railway Board as we plan to engage with ministers about this ambitious project that could deliver huge benefits to people living across the North West- including in Trafford.  I then spent Friday at the GM Renew Hub in Trafford Park where I joined colleagues hosting Deidre Costigan MP, who came up from London to see how fantastic the Renew Hub is- from promoting a circular economy to supporting people back into the workplace.