Congratulations to Torfaen Council for the recent unveiling of their Armed Forces Covenant.

I was pleased to be able to sign up to the covenant, along with the Leader of the Council Bob Wellington, our AM Lynne Neagle and our ‘Armed Forces Champions’, Cllr Giles Davies and Sarah Adams. The covenant is part of work being done by the Council, Health Board and other public bodies to ensure that those who have served our country get the best possible service in return.

Sarah Adams, Private James Prosser’s mother, deserves a special mention. I first met Sarah shortly after her son paid the ultimate price fighting for his country. I was immediately struck not only by her love for her son, but also by her determination to fight for a better deal for those who serve in our Forces. That’s why I know she will make an excellent community champion for them. I’ve also heard regularly about Sarah’s efforts to raise money for Forces Charities, from packing bags in Asda to zip lining off Newport’s Transporter Bridge – rather her than me on that one!

Congratulations also to James’ sister Emma Betts and to Tora Fell, who ran the London marathon this weekend in memory of James, raising money for ABF The Soldier’s Charity. Donations are welcome at www.justgiving.com/emma-tora.

Of course, our area has a proud history of contributing to our Armed Forces. Just this Saturday, I paid tribute to another local hero at the John Williams (Fielding) VC Annual Parade at St. Michael’s Church in Llantarnam. This year marks the 134th anniversary of the 1879 Battle at Rorke's Drift, where Private Williams, who lived at Ty Coch in Cwmbran, received the Victoria Cross.

I was recently announced as the Welsh Government’s new ‘Oxbridge Ambassador’, after I delivered a report to the Education Minister on the lack of young people from our area going to Oxford or Cambridge. As a working class boy from the valleys who was given the enormous opportunity to study at Oxford, this concerns me greatly.