Column in the Barry & District News by Alun Cairns MP:
This month, Barry welcomed its first ever Pride event which it was a pleasure to attend and show my support for, along with my friend and colleague Cllr Leighton Rowlands.
In the aftermath of the event, many have raised the way I voted on the Same-Sex Marriage legislation which came before Parliament in 2013. I have previously stated that I regret my vote, as I have since seen the positive difference that it has made to the lives of many.
I recognise the significant role of Pride events to the LGBT community and it was fantastic to see the level of support shown by the people of Barry. The success of these events is a reflection of a wider picture in recent years and I am pleased that our communities engage and respond so positively.
After running the London Marathon in April, in which I raised over £4000 for Guide Dogs, I have been given the privilege of naming a guide dog puppy.
To help with my decision, I took to social media to put the question the public and as with all public votes, I believe in respecting the result. Therefore, if the puppy is a Boy, he’ll be called Smithy and if she’s a Girl, she’ll be called Nessa. Quite clearly, we can see the popularity of Gavin & Stacey is as strong as ever in Barry!
I’m looking forward to meeting the Guide Dogs team and the puppy this week. They are a fantastic charity, doing amazing work in our community and it has been a huge pleasure to support them.
Finally, it’s been a pleasure to attend Macmillan Coffee Mornings, in Barry and across the Vale, in support of a fantastic charity that does so much to support people with cancer in our communities. It’s a cause that is close to my heart and in 2015 I ran the London Marathon to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support because I know how many people have been helped through a cancer diagnosis and subsequent treatment. I want to pay tribute to the individuals and businesses that have dedicated their time and effort to making these coffee mornings a success.
