July 2010 - Dancing on Parliament

As Secretary of the All Party Parliamentary Dance Group, I attended Dancing on Parliament on Horse Guards Parade (where the annual Trooping of the Colour takes place).

Dancing on Parliament was produced by English National Ballet,  the West London Hub for Big Dance, the T-mobile Big Dance Bus, Dance UK, Westminster City Council and supported by Harlequin.

See the photo over taken with the Stella Mann College and Saints Crew.

The All Party Parliamentary Dance Group is based in Westminster and works to promote dance as an art form and as an important element of healthy living and the fight against obesity,

June 2010 - Subsea Reception in the House of Commons

I hosted this Subsea reception again this year.  We welcomed Michael Moore, the Secretary of State for Scotland and Charles Hendry, the Energy Minister.   With some 40,000 employees, over £4 billion worth of services and products and over 800 companies, the UK subsea industry sector leads the world in experience, innovation and technology.                                                                                 

February 2010 - Opening of the Langstane Housing Development

Langstane Housing Development is at School Walk/School Road in Seaton.  Lewis McDonald MSP and I attended with residents when Mark McGhee, Manager of Aberdeen Football Club, performed the official opening ceremony. 

February 2010 - The Future of Union Terrace Gardens:

There are currently two proposals for the future development of the Union Terrace Gardens area of Aberdeen City Centre.
The first proposed by Peacock Visual Arts Limited (PVA) and the second proposed by Sir Ian Wood and the Aberdeen City and Shire Economic Forum (ACSEF).
I recently arranged a public meeting to ensure that the public get a fair and balanced view of both proposals.  The meeting was held at The Citadel, 28 Castle Street Aberdeen on Thursday 18th February 2010.

I like to visit as many of my sheltered housing complexes as possible, as it is always very good for me to meet directly with my constituents. I was accompanied by Lewis Macdonald MSP and Cllr George Adam for this visit.

Sep 2009 - Trade Union Officers Meeting
Jim Murphy MP, Secretary of State for Scotland, joined me at a meeting of trade union officers in Aberdeen.

Jobsfair
I attended a Jobsfair organised by Jobcentre Plus on 16 September 09.  A wide range of employers attended plus additional organisations such as Careers Advice, Skills Development Scotland and Jobcentre Plus to give specialised help and advice to jobseekers.

Student President
I met with the Aberdeen University Student Association President Robin Parker to discuss current issues and campaigns.

One of the most important was the successful campaign to have the Student concession reintroduced on First Buses.

Reading Bus
I was recently interviewed by some of my youngest constituents from Kittybrewster School in support of a joint project between the Reading Bus and Station House Media Unit to improve literacy skills and encourage the primary school children to take advantage of the skills and benefits working in the community can bring.