One of the highlights of being a constituency MP is being invited to community events across the Vale of Glamorgan and meeting the people who play an active role in bringing local residents together through voluntary organisations. The annual Barry Scout and Guide Fete in Romilly Park is one of my favourites, and I was delighted to be able to attend last Saturday.
This is the 63rd time that the fete has been held since it started in 1933 and it is great to see children and leaders not only keeping this great tradition going, but building ever more enthusiasm for Scouting and Girlguiding. The Scout movement, founded at the start of the 20th Century to help develop young people physically and mentally has provided strong personal foundations for its members to play a constructive role in society. It has been an unremittingly positive force in our communities. I was a Scout in my younger days and remember well how dedicated leaders, through the fun of outdoor Scouting, provided me and my fellow Scouts with important life skills and values.
In that context, I was especially pleased to see the success of the fete demonstrate the strength that the movement still has here. Over 5,000 people were in Romilly Park last Saturday, including a legion of over 1,000 Scouts, Sea Scouts and Guides. They were joined by organisations such as the Barry Community Water Centre, Guide Dogs for the blind and the Air Cadets who did sterling work acting as stewards for the event. The mood on that sunny Saturday was upbeat and enjoyment was universal.
It is to the credit of the organisers, who make this well-attended event possible, that it remains fun and fresh on its 63rd occasion. A huge amount of work goes into organising an event with 5,000 attendees and I must express my thanks to all those who did their bit as part of this success. Most importantly, I want to convey gratitude to all those volunteer leaders who give up their time week in week out to make a difference to the young individuals and the community as a whole. Well done!