Island Life Magazine Ltd August/September 2007 | Page 15
ANDREW TURNER MP
life
Andrew Turner MP
If you would like to
contact our island MP
(Andrew Turner) then
please either write to:
24 The Mall, Caisbrooke,
Isle of Wight PO30 1BW
or call 01983 530808
email: [email protected]
As I write this, it has
actually stopped raining
and I can see blue
skies and sunshine.
Elsewhere in the country tens of
thousands of people have seen
their homes flooded and have
been without drinking water
and electricity. It is bad enough
when the lights go out for an
hour or two, what must it be like
to have no power for days and
being unable to turn on a tap
for a drink of water? My heart
goes out to those affected but
it also makes you think about
how people live in other less
developed parts of the world.
Generally over the last few
months I have been doing
what I like best, meeting and
talking to Islanders. I enjoy
going out to knock on doors,
it reminds people that their
MP is here to help them. The
issues seem to be the same,
taxes, crime and the NHS.
Events I have been lucky
enough to attend included
the ceremony, to mark the
65th anniversary of the Polish
destroyer, Blyskawica's
defence of Cowes. In May
I was privileged to attend
the homecoming of Gipsy
Moth IV after her second
circumnavigation of the globe.
This time she was crewed by
young people. What a brilliant
achievement! And in June I
went to the Royal Victoria Yacht
Club’s open day, just one of
the events I try to attend each
year. The club's public-spirited
members host around 80
disabled people giving them
the opportunity to get out on
the water in a variety of craft.
Island Life - www.islandlife.tv
But it has not been all work
and no play. Carole and I,
with Pickle, our dog, enjoyed
a holiday in Ireland. It was
wet on four out of six days,
but we enjoyed a real break
away from the phones and
e-mail. I have been made to
promise to do that again!
Before the Recess we
watched Blair's amazing exit
from the centre stage. It didn’t
seem possible, especially when
immediately before he handed
over the keys to Number 10 he
spent six weeks going round
the world on a farewell tour.
But Blair was forgotten in little
over a week and everyone
was wondering what Gordon
Brown would do. By the
time you read this we may
have more idea of what kind
of Prime Minister he will be.
A few weeks ago I spoke for
the first time in the Commons
following my stroke. The
debate was on 'Stroke Services'
so I could hardly miss the
opportunity to speak up for
everyone who looked after me
so well at St Mary's. It was
actually much more daunting
than my maiden speech.
Now we are in the recess
which is a busy time on the
Island and for me. Cowes
Week, the Garlic Festival, the
County Show and the Chale
Show I look forward to them
all, as well as the many smaller
events, run by Islanders for
Islanders. They give me a
great opportunity to talk to my
constituents and hear about
your concerns. I do hope to
see lots of you over the summer.
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