Obviously the referendum of last Thursday has proved a momentous event and whilst we achieved the result I personally campaigned for and the majority of my constituents voted for, I appreciate that there are many who will be concerned about the implications. I have set out my thought in more detail on my website but suffice it to say that if you believe in democracy then the call for a second referendum from some is a non-starter.
Before the storm I was delighted to welcome such a large crowd of students to Davison School for the 9th Annual Eco Summit. I set up the EYE (Eco, Young & Engaged) Project in 2008 to help spread some of the great environmental best practice I saw in my visits round local schools. This year was the biggest and best yet with 17 local schools involved and a record range of environment workshops to take part in. It was a particular pleasure to welcome back regular Lewis Crathern with his kite surfing and back to full health after his accident.
The project is now being extended across West Sussex with the first Eco Summit for Chichester schools in September. It is a measure of its success that I am often harangued by parents complaining that their children nag them into turning the lights off and conserving water because of what they learned at the EYE Project- a small price to pay if it helps our planet.
I also held a summit of Shoreham primary school heads following the pressure on Swiss Gardens Primary earlier in the year to take on another class due to pressure of numbers. We had a good discussion and I will report on the progress in this week’s constituency e-newsletter. The week ended on an emotional and serious note which brought everyone down to earth after the Referendum with the traditional Drumhead Service at Steyne Gardens. It was particularly uplifting as French veterans joined the commemorations and the French Consul presented a Legion d’Honneur to a Worthing veteran of D Day. It was just a little unfortunate after some spirited singing of Jerusalem and God Save the Queen we were rather less well versed in the Marseillaise!