2003 press release archive
MP visits Royal Mail
18 December 2003
Barbara Follett MP visited the Royal Mail’s delivery office in Stevenage on Thursday 18th December to see how local postmen and women deal with the huge avolume of mailat this time of year. Over Christmas, the Royal Mail delivers about 110 million pieces of post a day...
Community challenge gives local residents new garden
10 November 2003
Barbara Follett MP attended the official opening of a newly refurbished garden at the St Nicholas Community Centre. The garden was refurbished by a team of 27 employees from GlaxoSmithKline in Stevenage, using the services of Kaboura Training, a locally based training company that specialises in “community challenge” type projects and team building activities.
Groceries = computers!
10 November 2003
Stevenage MP Barbara Follett visited Tesco’s store in The Forum, Stevenage on Friday 7th November 2003 to present pupils and staff from local schools with computer equipment as part of Tesco’s “Computers for Schools” scheme.
October
One, only One….
28 October 2003
… ..was the title of an exhibition of art by Knebworth-based artist Rosie Harper that Barbara Follett MP opened at the Village Hall on Sunday 26th October. Rosie exhibited over 50 of her unique, original and one-off paintings which covered subjects from moods to fame, abstracts to landscapes.
£50k grant for housing charity
28 October 2003
Barbara Follett MP was delighted to present Aldwyck Housing Charity with a cheque for £50,338 from the Community Fund on Friday 24th October. The Charity will use the money to fund a Living Skills Development Worker for two years.
Caring for the Carers
22 October 2003
Stevenage MP Barbara Follett met a group of Stevenage Carers at the Oval Community Centre on Friday 17th October to discuss ways of improving care services in Stevenage. A carer is someone who cares, unpaid, for a relative or friend who is unable to manage on their own because of illness, disability or frailty.
MP visits new Round Diamond School
14 October 2002
Barbara Follett MP paid a visit to Round Diamond Primary School 's spanking new premises on Wednesday 8th October 2003. The state-of-the-art school has recently relocated from Pin Green to Great Ashby.
Shopworkers deserve respect
1 October 2003
Barbara Follett MP is backing Usdaw, the shopworkers’ union, in their campaign to protect shopworkers from violence and abuse at work. The latest British Retail Consortium Crime Survey indicated an alarming 75% increase in violence against retail staff since 1999.
September
MP attends World's Biggest Coffee Morning
29 September 2003
Stevenage MP Barbara Follett pledged her support for Macmillan Cancer Relief when she attended a coffee morning at LA Fitness on Friday 26th September.
Celebrate!
29 September 2003
Barbara Follett MP formally opened “Celebrate 2003” at the Gordon Craig Theatre in Stevenage on Friday 26th September. Organised by Stevenage World Forum and the Borough Council, the event explored the ways in which different cultures celebrate.
Re-dedication of Walkern War Memorial
23 September 2003
Barbara Follett was proud to be amongst those invited to the service to celebrate the Re-dedication of the Walkern War Memorial on Sunday 21st September.
Are you thinking about Christmas yet?
23 September 2003
No? Well, the children at Lodge Farm School have been since June, when Barbara Follett MP launched her annual “Design a Christmas Card” competition.
Day of Fun for those who care
9 September 2003
Stevenage MP Barbara Follett attended the Stevenage Young Carers Annual Fun Day on Saturday 6th September at The Crown Pub, Aston End.
July
MP gives support to newly opened Post Office
25 July 2003
Stevenage MP Barbara Follett visited the newly-opened Benington Post Office on Friday 18 July to see how staff are reviving services in the village after a gap of eight years.
New Environment Minister visits Stevenage
16 July 2003
The newly-appointed Environment Minister, Elliot Morley MP, made one of his first stops in Stevenage on Thursday 10th July. He was the main speaker at a Business Breakfast hosted by local MP Barbara Follett at the Novotel in Stevenage, and discussed the role of the environment in the economy.
Fight to save local Post Office
14 July 2003
Royal Mail Group Plc have sent an open letter (available from the Post Office) to the people of Chells telling them about the proposed closure of the Chells Post Office at the Glebe shops. As a Stevenage resident, please help avert this closure by signing a petition against it.
Double Act for St Nick’s
10 July 2003
Stevenage MP Barbara Follett teamed up with mayor Lillian Strange on Saturday 5th July to get the annual St Nicholas Day off to a rousing start.
Helping Woolenwick School celebrate success
9 July 2003
Barbara Follett visited Woolenwick Junior School on Friday 4th July to officially present them with the Basic Skills Chartermark Award. This recognizes the significant improvements the school has made in the teaching and learning of English and Maths over the last two years.
Minister and MP attend Home-Start Stevenage AGM
9 July 2003
The Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Early Years and School Standards, Baroness Ashton of Upholland, and Stevenage MP Barbara Follett joined Mayor Lilian Strange, Mayor Elect David Royall, and Patron Ken Follett at Home-Start Stevenage’s Annual General Meeting on Friday 4th July at Bandley Hill Play Centre.
Minister for the Environment to visit Stevenage
1 July 2003
Elliot Morley MP, Minister of State for the Environment, will visit Stevenage on Thursday 10th July. He is the main speaker at a Business Breakfast being held by local MP Barbara Follett at the Novotel at 7:30am.
June
Twenty-four hours for Trade Justice
30 June 2003
Stevenage MP Barbara Follett was one of hundreds of British MPs lobbied on behalf of the Trade Justice movement on Friday 27th June. Representatives from Christian Aid and Oxfam met with Mrs Follett as part of the largest single lobbying of MPs in history.
Re-duce, Re-use, Re-cycle
27 June 2003
... .so says the motto of Aston St Maryís Church of England Primary School as Stevenage MP Barbara found out when she visited this eco-friendly school in Aston on Friday 20th June.
Helping to give children a SureStart in life
24 June 2003
Stevenage MP Barbara Follett visited Southgate Childminders on Friday 20th June as part of National SureStart Month. SureStart is a new Government unit specifically dedicated to making life better for children, parents and communities.
It's nearly Christmas
17 June 2003
... well not quite, but the subject of Christmas was discussed at Lodge Farm Primary School in Stevenage on Friday 13th June when Barbara Follett MP launched her annual "Design a Christmas Card" competition.
Run for the children
17 June 2003
On your marks, get set, go! So said Stevenage MP Barbara Follett when she started the "Run for the children" at Fairlands Valley Park on Saturday 14th June.
A pet project
13 June 2003
Barbara Follett MP visited the PDSA (People's Dispensary for Sick Animals) shop on 6th June. The PDSA, Britain's leading veterinary charity, cares for the pets of needy people by providing free veterinary services..
May
St Michael's School children 'astute and challenging'
21 May 2003
Children at St Michaelís School in Woolmer Green were given a chance to question Stevenage MP Barbara Follett on Friday 16th May. Mrs Follett spoke to about 40 children about her seven years as an MP, and the children asked about the work she does in Parliament and the Constituency.
New training and Sixth Form facilities for Nobel School
3 May 2003
Barbara Follett MP visited Nobel School in Stevenage on 2nd May, where she opened a new Training School and Sixth Form area.
April
Iraqi exiles say 'thank you' to Britain for liberation
16 April 2003
Stevenage MP Barbara Follett was delighted to receive a bouquet of flowers and a heartfelt 'thank you' from Iraqi exiles living in Stevenage on Friday. The bouquet was brought by Mr Aram Hadad, who was exiled from Iraq twenty-four years ago.
Heathcote School Presentation Evening
16 April 2003
Stevenage MP Barbara Follett was proud to be invited to Heathcote School on Thursday 10 April to attend their 2003 Presentation Evening. Pupils from Years 7 to 13 were awarded prizes for achievement and effort in each subject from the curriculum.
The important of tolerance
8 April 2003
Stevenage MP Barbara Follett joined members and guests of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association at Marriotts School on Sunday 6 April at their annual Holy Founders Day.
Greenside School launches website
2 April 2003
Stevenage MP Barbara Follett visited Greenside School in Shephall Green on Friday 28th March to help them launch their new website.
March
Anti-social Behaviour in the spotlight
20 March 2003
Stevenage Neighbourhood Watch Forum teamed up with Thomas Alleyne School, Hertfordshire Constabulary and Stevenage Borough Council to organise a Community Safety evening which was attended by Barbara Follett MP on Friday 14 March.
Supporting victims
20 March 2003
Stevenage MP Barbara Follett gave her support to a one-day Conference organised by the National Association of Victim Support Schemes at the University of Hertfordshire on Saturday 15 March.
The theme of the Conference was "Difference Matters". Delegates attended workshops on subjects such as homophobia, racial harassment, domestic violence and disability.
MP attends school council
12 March 2002
Almond Hill JMI Schoolís Council Meeting had an extra member on Friday 7th March – local MP, Barbara Follett. The twelve children who form the School Council questioned Mrs Follett on a wide range of issues.
Local youth project drastically reduces "youth nuisance"
12 March 2002
Stevenage MP Barbara Follett visited the Education and Youth Service Project in Bell Lane on Friday 7th March to see the work it is doing with young people from the Emperorís Head area of the town.
Resourcing the Women's Centre
12 March 2002
A campaign to raise £20,000 a year over the next three years for the Stevenage and North Herts Womenís Resource Centre was launched by Barbara Follett MP on Saturday 8th March.
Launch of The Stevenage Compact
4 March 2003
Stevenage MP Barbara Follett attended the launch of The Stevenage Compact on Friday 28th February. The Stevenage Compact is an agreement between local government, the voluntary and community sector and other local public bodies to improve their relationship for mutual advantage.
February
Vote on Iraq
27 February 2003
Yesterday (26 February) I voted with the Government because I support their efforts to disarm Iraq through the United Nations.
MP supports Proof of Age scheme
26 February 2003
Barbara Follett MP has shown her support for local retailers and licensees in backing a new scheme that will become the standard for accepting proof of age cards across Britain.
All you need is love!
18 February 2003
Barbara Follett MP visited St Vincent de Paul RC Primary School in Stevenage on Friday 14th February 2003, where a group of children gave a presentation on love.
MP visits re-vamped Stevenage store
14 February 2003
Barbara Follett MP visited Sainsbury’s store in Magpie Crescent on Friday 14th February 2003. The store, refurbished last year, currently employ 67 full-time and 247 part-time employees.
Residents petition MP to try to save Common
11 February 2003
Barbara Follett MP met about fifty concerned residents of Wisden Road on Saturday 8th February. They are trying to prevent four houses being built on the only recreational space in the area.
MP visits local primary school
11 February 2003
Barbara Follett MP visited Round Diamond Primary School on Friday 7th February 2003. The school had a very good OFSTED inspection in May 2002 and has gained the Basic Skills Agency "Quality Mark" for Literacy and Numeracy, as well as two awards for ICT.
January
Stevenage remembers the victims of the Holocaust
29 January 2003
Stevenage MP Barbara Follett joined Mayor Pam Stuart, Stevenage Borough Councillors and a group of local people in remembering the victims of the Holocaust and Nazi persecution on Monday 27th January.
fitness@the leisure centre
28 January 2003
Stevenage MP Barbara Follett attended the opening ceremony of the newly refurbished health and fitness suite at Stevenage Arts and Leisure Centre on Friday 24th January.
Head 2 Toe
22 January 2003
Stevenage MP Barbara Follett learned about the benefits of holistic therapies on Friday 17th January when she visited "Head 2 Toe" at the Emperorís Head Community Centre in Chells.
Further information
Please contact Anthony Miller via the 'Contact' page, or by fax on 020 7219 1158.
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