Nick Thomas-Symonds

I know times are hard for many retailers, but I was sad to hear the recent news about House of Fraser. Their Cwmbran store has been an iconic part of the town centre and will be missed. However, my thoughts are mostly with the loyal workforce at the store, who are the ones most affected by the announcement.

As I was keen to press the case of those staff, I attended a meeting in London, to make sure the Executive Chairman of House of Fraser was aware of the strong feelings of local people. The local Council, Lynne Neagle AM and I will continue to do all we can to help.

I was pleased to support a recent event to learn more about the role military service dogs play in our society, and about their role in military history. It was certainly fascinating to meet Dennis, the explosive detection dog! The work of service animals and their handlers is vital and it deserves to be recognised more widely. That’s why I am backing the National Military Working Dogs Memorial in north Wales, to pay a fitting tribute to their work and the countless lives they’ve saved.

I was also delighted to be re-elected Vice-Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Pancreatic Cancer this month. I have campaigned on pancreatic cancer since I was first elected to Parliament and will continue to do so, both nationally and locally. In my time as an MP, I have been inspired by local campaigners like Linda Reardon, who are really making a difference. They have helped raise awareness, improve support for patients and their families, improve access to treatment and raise funds for vital research to help combat the disease.

Locally, I was extremely impressed by my recent visit to the British Hearth Foundation’s home and furniture shop in Cwmbran. The range of quality, value-for-money furniture they have in their modern store is amazing. As well as raising money for a great cause, they also do fantastic work with volunteers by building up their working skills and confidence. In these times of tight budgets and increased indebtedness, they also help give customers an alternative to high-interest goods stores. When you’re next in Cwmbran, I’d highly recommend a visit.

Lastly, congratulations to the Garndiffaith Gleemen Male Voice Choir on their 70th Anniversary this month. I enjoyed a great evening of entertainment at their anniversary concert and look forward to many more years of song, from the Gleemen and the other fantastic choirs and groups we are lucky to have in our valley!