Assembly business was cancelled as a mark of respect for Carl Sargeant AM.
Carl has been part of my political life for two decades and news of his death was a great shock. The thoughts of both myself and my wife, Hilary, are with his wife, Bernie, and their family at this time of terrible loss.
The previous day I had Chaired a table at the External Affairs Committee’s 'Inquiry into resilience and preparedness: the Welsh Government’s administrative and financial response to Brexit' session with Aneurin Bevan Health Board in Caerleon.
I had also attended events to mark one year since the publication of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation’s and Bevan Foundation’s ‘Prosperity without Poverty: a framework for action for Wales’.
I was to have sponsored and spoken at the Bevan Foundation Assembly Event 'Prevention & inclusion: lessons for tackling poverty', but this was postponed in view of Carl’s tragic death. However, I was able to attend the Annual General Meeting of the Bevan Foundation, an independent, non-political think tank which develops ideas to make Wales fair, prosperous and sustainable.
It was good to meet one of the Rural Housing Enablers from North West Wales at the CLA Cymru Rural Housing Seminar. It is regrettable that we do not have Rural Housing Enablers in North East Wales.
It was a pleasure to join members of the Flemish Parliament at an event commemorating the 'Flanders-Wales Hedd Wyn Centenary’. Hedd Wyn was a Welsh-language poet who was killed on the first day of the Battle of Passchendaele during World War I. He was posthumously awarded the bard's chair at the 1917 National Eisteddfod held in Birkenhead.
I attended Saturday’s Remembrance Day Act of Remembrance in Mold’s Daniel Owen Square, and joined the Mayor of Mold, Councillor Bob Gaffey, representatives of uniformed organisations and members of Mold Town Council, for the Remembrance Sunday Parade through the High Street and Service at St Mary's Church, after which I laid a wreath during the Act of Remembrance at the Cenotaph.
I also popped into Mold’s ‘Novemberfest’ festival of Real Ale, Food and Entertainment, with all proceeds going towards events and good causes in the town.
During a meeting with the new Jobcentre Plus District Manager for North and Mid Wales District at Mold Jobcentre, discussion focused on the Universal Credit Full Service roll-out and the personal support they provide.
As an Honorary Member, I attended the Wrexham-Bidston Rail Users' Association AGM in Gladstone’s Library, Hawarden.
On Saturday night I also visited the British Red Cross welfare support service in Wrexham town centre, providing support to people who are vulnerable or in crisis during a night out.
If you need my help, please email mark.isherwood@assembly.wales or ring 0300 200 7217.