Tuesday, July 19, 2005
One of the highlights of my time as an MP so far has been attending the prize giving ceremony at my former secondary school, Ernest Bevin College on 14th July. Click here for a photo from the event.
The prize giving celebrates the achievements of the students, their academic success, persistence and behaviour – all of which have been first rate. Prizes for each subject were given out to pupils from all years. I had the opportunity to make a speech to the students and staff. I made the point during my speech that I was feeling slightly depressed on my way to the school because I felt really old having to go back to my old school and give out prizes, but having met teachers who had taught me and were now teaching a new generation of students, I realised they had more reason to be depressed and feel old than I did!
During my short speech I also reminded the students that although the qualification I obtained from Ernest Bevin were very important, there were other important things that the school taught me which have always stood me in good stead: respect, celebrating diversity, being confident, fulfilling one’s potential, working as a team player and much more…
It was great to see the school play its full part in the Olympics Bid (the school has a sports specialism), Making Poverty History and a special assembly fully respecting the two minute silence on the 14th July.
The weekend of the 16th/17th July was as hectic as ever. Friday was spent at St Georges Hospital for a regular meeting with key personnel from the hospital. Key matters I raised were my concerns about budget deficits, the recovery plan, performance against targets and the fight against MRSA. The hospital is confident that there are four areas where MRSA can be reduced. There is an award winning Nurse Consultant who is at the forefront of spreading good practice in this area. The hospital is on target to exceed the Department of Health’s target of a 60% reduction in the bacteraemia rate which is very good news indeed.
I also visited a local mosque, the Tooting Islamic Centre and performed my Friday prayers there.
The weekend also entailed my usual advice surgery. I also attended the Annual Service at the Tooting Methodist Church on Longmead Road, and read a lesson – Philippians 2 Verses 6-11. I then went on to the fundraising day organised by Balham Mosque and Tooting Islamic Centre (where the food was as mouth watering as they promised!), and also managed to fit in interviews with GMTV, the Politics show and Westminster Hour.
On Monday morning I had another advice surgery in Balham before returning to Parliament for the last week before the parliamentary recess.
Sadiq
The prize giving celebrates the achievements of the students, their academic success, persistence and behaviour – all of which have been first rate. Prizes for each subject were given out to pupils from all years. I had the opportunity to make a speech to the students and staff. I made the point during my speech that I was feeling slightly depressed on my way to the school because I felt really old having to go back to my old school and give out prizes, but having met teachers who had taught me and were now teaching a new generation of students, I realised they had more reason to be depressed and feel old than I did!
During my short speech I also reminded the students that although the qualification I obtained from Ernest Bevin were very important, there were other important things that the school taught me which have always stood me in good stead: respect, celebrating diversity, being confident, fulfilling one’s potential, working as a team player and much more…
It was great to see the school play its full part in the Olympics Bid (the school has a sports specialism), Making Poverty History and a special assembly fully respecting the two minute silence on the 14th July.
The weekend of the 16th/17th July was as hectic as ever. Friday was spent at St Georges Hospital for a regular meeting with key personnel from the hospital. Key matters I raised were my concerns about budget deficits, the recovery plan, performance against targets and the fight against MRSA. The hospital is confident that there are four areas where MRSA can be reduced. There is an award winning Nurse Consultant who is at the forefront of spreading good practice in this area. The hospital is on target to exceed the Department of Health’s target of a 60% reduction in the bacteraemia rate which is very good news indeed.
I also visited a local mosque, the Tooting Islamic Centre and performed my Friday prayers there.
The weekend also entailed my usual advice surgery. I also attended the Annual Service at the Tooting Methodist Church on Longmead Road, and read a lesson – Philippians 2 Verses 6-11. I then went on to the fundraising day organised by Balham Mosque and Tooting Islamic Centre (where the food was as mouth watering as they promised!), and also managed to fit in interviews with GMTV, the Politics show and Westminster Hour.
On Monday morning I had another advice surgery in Balham before returning to Parliament for the last week before the parliamentary recess.
Sadiq
