Column in the Barry & District News by Rt Hon Alun Cairns MP:
It was fantastic to see so much activity in Barry over the weekend and I was pleased to support the 66th annual Scout & Guide Fete at Romilly Park and also the Mount Pleasant Baptist Church Family Fun Day at Victoria Park.
I am always so impressed with the incredible turn out for the Scout & Guide Fete. It’s brilliant to see the huge support from the community and how many children locally benefit from the active Scout and Guide movement that we have in Barry. The volunteers who put so much time and effort into organising the day deserve full credit for hosting another fantastic community event. Thanks also to all who participated in the world record attempt for the largest human fleur-de-lis! It was a pleasure to play a role in this and, with over 800 people getting involved, I hope that the record now belongs to Barry’s Scouts, Guides and members of the public.
It was also a pleasure to open the Family Fun Day at Victoria Park again this year. The event really brings together the community in Cadoxton and I pay tribute to Mount Pleasant Church for all they do to organise. It was also great to speak to their visiting support from Texas and I hope they have an enjoyable stay in Barry.
Visitors to Barry Island on Saturday evening may have bumped into an unexpected guest, as it was my pleasure for me to welcome my friend and colleague Rt Hon Boris Johnson MP. Readers will be aware that I am supporting Boris in the forthcoming election of a new Prime Minister, as I believe he is the candidate to deliver Brexit, unite the country and defeat Jeremy Corbyn.
With Boris visiting Wales at the weekend, he could not pass on the chance to visit the Island for an ice cream. I’m delighted that he was keen to visit Barry to see our ongoing regeneration and to champion our great community. Ensuring that places like Barry prosper economically and remain a thriving community is what matters in a strong United Kingdom. Delivering for every corner of the country is vital for the next Government and I am pleased that Boris shares my ambition and passion for communities like Barry. He outlined his commitment by pledging that Wales will continue to receive money through a new funding model, once we have left the EU.
Finally, it was fantastic to see Barry Town United playing European football again. I would like to pay tribute to people like David Cole and Gavin Chesterfield who have been there through thick and thin, guiding the club back after we were thrown out of the league 8 years ago. This was a major success for them and for everyone involved with the club. Although the European journey has now ended, I’m looking forward to Barry competing again very soon.
