I got to meet tennis ace and much-loved TV presenter Sue Barker at a parliamentary event this very cold week.
Warm, funny and smart, her life stories were inspiring to hear. She relived the high drama of rising up the tennis ranks.
Most movingly, she paid tribute to her coach who, unbeknown to her, all those years long, had quietly invested all he had been paid into a trust fund for her. What a wonderful man and legacy.
So, marking International Women’s Day this week, I’d like to pay tribute to all those women out there quietly investing in their families and communities and workplaces and, in tribute to Sue’s coach, the men who support them too.
This same parliamentary event offered up the opportunity to talk to the Lawn Tennis Association about our Eastbourne international tennis tournament. This puts us on the global map like no other event. I’m looking forward to meeting the new Tour Director to talk about the plans ahead.
With more than one in four jobs in Eastbourne dependent on tourism, our reputation as a visitor destination is of serious importance to local people’s lives and livelihoods.
Towner hosting the Turner Prize this year and Eastbourne being named THE place to visit in 2023 by Timeout has offered us a golden opportunity to recover, renew and reach for more prosperous years ahead.
Eastbourne has a simply beautiful natural environment that amazes first time visitors. Heritage Minister Lord Parkinson was no exception when he came to see Towner. I took him on to the seafront to see the Bandstand in all its sadly silent and shrouded glory.
And the sea is undeniably our most precious asset and our bathing water quality must improve. I have had several meetings already this month on how we will achieve that with the Blue Heart project and Southern Water.
This week also saw the PM’s plans to stop the small boat crossings. It is mission critical on many levels, not least to protect the capacity we have as a country and town to provide sanctuary for the most vulnerable.
