Sunday brief round-up

Harlow Alzheimer's Society: Friday morning was an important visit to HAS as part of National Dementia Week. I was there to meet local members and hear a range of questions ranging from respite care to parking difficulties. I have promised members that I will deal with these and report back at the next meeting.

KICKZ. This is nothing short of inspirational. A remarkable youth group, set up by youth workers and a former copper. With the help of Spurs community work, and support from a range of sources, KICKZ converted a disused hut into a minis youth centre with gym, boxing ring, tuck shop and pool table. The great thing about Kickz is that the kids love it and it is pretty packed, particulalry on Friday evenings. Most importantly of all, it gets these youngsters off the streets and instead in the gym and on the surrounding playing fields.

St Lukes and Water Lanes School: I was really pleased to attend Water Lane School Barbecue and ST Lukes as well. These summer fetes were packed and it is such a lovely way to spend a summer evening or afternoon.

Harlow Football Club: I have regular meetings with the new owner of Harlow F.C., this time to discuss development plans for the Club. It is good to see Harlow F.C. back on track after years of difficulties. The new management team have some exciting plans, which I am sure will mean a great season.

Surgery: A long surgery on Friday afternoon and evening, meeting a number of individuals with a range of problems. As MP, you really get to learn about the difficulties faced by constituents - often through no fault of their own. I will do all I can to help them.

by Robert Halfon - www.roberthalfon.blogspot.com

Harlow Football Club must stay

I have great respect for Simon Morgan as Chairman of the Club and I am sure he and his Directors will be doing all they can to save Harlow Football Club from the Inland Revenue. Simon has involved the Club in every aspect of the Community and supports many local charitable
endeavours. The Club, - with it's spectacular new Ground - is something we should be proud of. I certainly will be supporting the HFC in anyway I can.

For further details, see HERE.

An Outrageous Decision by the F.A.

I have always felt that Football Association (F.A.) is a flawed organisation. Look at the millions spent on Sven Goran Eriksson's contract and the failure of Steve McClaren - let alone the shenanigans that went on at F.A. HQ between various senior employees.

My view about the F.A. was confirmed when I read in The Herald that the F.A. is to dock points from Harlow Town F.C. for fielding an ineligible player in their match against Wealdstone earlier in the year.

This was an innocent mistake by the Club, as they had been told by an official that the player was in fact eligible to play. This stupid judgement will cost Harlow F.C. much needed points as the Club is battling hard not to be relegated.

Instead of hammering smaller clubs for minor errors, how about the F.A. reforming themselves for a change, stop wasting money and ensuring that England reaches the finals of the major tournaments?

The picture shows Simon Morgan (Chairman of Harlow F.C),and Eric Pickles (Brentwood and Ongar MP and Tory national Chairman) and myself, on a recent visit to the Club. See HERE & HERE.

Eric Pickles at Harlow Football Club

After my blog earlier, I thought you might like to see this picture of Eric Pickles at Harlow Football Club with Chairman Simon Morgan and myself. As you can see, Eric is fully kitted out!

Small Business Football and Table Tennis

Its a strange life being a Prospective MP. My day started meeting Colleen Morrison who runs a recruitment business in Bush Fair. Over poached eggs on toast we discussed local issues including the complex parking issue. I also chatted to the local butchers about the issue. Independent butchers are rare these days and I was sad to see Dewhurst shut down in Broad walk not so long ago - particularly since I was a great fan of their Roasted Lamb on a spit!

I then rushed off to Starbucks to meet a wonderful lady, June, Editor of the North Weald Village Life and the website of the same name. She has set up the magazine from nothing and it is now a profitable venture. I was meeting her to discuss Hastingwood issues as Hastingwood is new part of the Harlow Constituency for the next election.

After, loads of casework and correspondence, helped by my hard-working volunteer Assistant Ann Russell Day.

Then it was time for Pickles- of the Eric variety. The neighbouring MP for Brentwood and Conservative Party Chairman, was in Harlow visiting Harlow Football Club and the Norman Booth Centre.

Simon Morgan, HFC Chairman, is making the Club even better and is doing loads of work in the community. I was pleased that Eric could see the club. Later at the Norman Booth Centre, Eric and I played some young lads table tennis, and we lost 11-3!!!!!!

Eric then did a great dinner to Harlow Conservatives and spoke about love bombing- what he meant was that we should treat our opponents with respect and not rise to the bait if they do underhand tactics and try to provoke. He was right.

Today I am off to Harlow Writers Workshop and then its free time until Monday, Its my 40th birthday tomorrow! I am lucky to be celebrating it with my beloved girlfriend Vanda.