ONE of the privileges of being an MP is the many invites you receive to events, and this summer was no exception.

I have had a wonderful time getting out and about and my diary for the coming months is already filling up.  

At the last General Election, boundaries changed and Lymm was brought into the Tatton constituency, so recently I enjoyed my first invite to Lymm Rushbearing Festival, where I received a lovely welcome from St Mary’s Church.

It is an old English ecclesiastical festival where rushes are collected and carried to be strewn on the floor of the church.

Tatton Flower Show is also always a highlight, and this year was no different, with Mobberley resident Callum Corrie winning Young Designer of the Year.

There were more beautiful floral displays during the bank holiday weekend at Alderley Edge Village Sshow, with sweet peas and gladioli, along with pumpkins the size of moon hoppers, onions the size of footballs and all manner of fruit and vegetables.

It was incredible, as was Bulls Head Mobberley Village Fete, which along with a BBQ, live music and general family fun, saw some adorable dogs compete to be crowned Best in Show Ultimate Champion’, as well as the fantastic category of ‘sausage catching competition’ all overseen by Vic Barlow the Dogfather.

Delicious food has been a running theme this summer. I even sneaked in lunch at Ice Cream Farm in Great Budworth in between surgeries, and I also went for afternoon tea at Alice Chilton In-Home Care in Handforth as it celebrated its 10th anniversary, where as well as enjoying the food, we discussed wider social care issues.

This was followed up by a visit to see residents living in sheltered accommodation.

As an MP, my job is to stand up for the residents of Tatton, and these social events are important.

So often, people tell me they do not think their issue is worthy of a surgery appointment, so I am pleased when people come over to see me at these community events and share their concerns with me.

That is what I am here for.

I hope you all had a good summer and thank you once again for all the amazing invites, and I look forward to seeing more of you soon.

ESTHER MCVEY

MP for Tatton