Page 12 - Phonebox Magazine September 2016

Out and About with Mark Lancaster MP
Willen Surgery
I am delighted that after a long campaign we have nally achieved the outcome we all hoped for, the re-opening of Willen surgery. Of cially opened last month, the surgery will provide GP and practice nursing services, plus a physiotherapy service.
Thankfully the immense strain placed upon neighbouring surgeries is now being alleviated.
MK Job Show Returns
Confidence amongst local businesses is continuing to grow and that couldn’t be more evident by the sheer numbers who have already signed up for the 2016 MK Job Show. The likes of Santander, MK University Hospital, Elite Hotels, Champneys and the Armed Forces are amongst those showcasing their recruitment opportunities at the FREE event in CMK shopping centre on 16th and 17th September.
Thanks to MK’s continuing record of economic growth the event will attract over 100,000 people.
Out & About
You never know who you might meet in a bus shelter!
My summer mobile surgeries are always three days well spent and this year was no exception. The rst two stops just happened to be hostelries, The Chester Arms in Chicheley and the Old Swan in Astwood. Having stopped in 21 rural locations in the constituency I was able to listen to a variety of concerns and hopefully offer some sound advice where it was needed.
Who’s Felix?
During my 28 years of military service, I have commanded a Royal Engineer Bomb Disposal Squadron and seen operational service in Kosovo, Bosnia and Afghanistan. So to become Patron of the Felix Fund who support personnel involved in bomb disposal, is a tremendous honour.
The Felix Fund provide vital support in terms of welfare and nancial assistance for those affected by the trauma of search and disposal. The charity is totally self-funding and achieves this through donations, grants and volunteer fundraising events.
For more information about the Felix Fund visit www.felixfund.org.uk.
Enzo’s Fish Bar – Get Their “Skates” On
Sometimes it can be extremely frustrating trying to help constituents who have issues with large scale businesses, but I was delighted with the response from British Gas to a recent parliamentary email.
Enzo’s Fish Bar in Olney High Street
were having some work done on their gas meter when complications arose. As a consequence, British Gas advised that the new work would not be starting for a further six to eight weeks! Obviously this would have a serious impact on the business and they had already faced many weeks of closure.
I am very grateful for the wonderful response from British Gas to my request to bring the work forward by some weeks. I do hope that many of my fellow Olney residents have enjoyed their return to Enzo’s much earlier than was originally planned.
Leo’s Almost Got the Cream
Milton Keynes Hospital Charity is urging the public to support Leo’s Appeal, transforming the hospital experience for thousands of local children, as it gets even closer to its £200,000 target.
Since launching in 2013, Leo’s Appeal, named after the charity’s mascot Leo the Lion, has raised an incredible £145,000 through big-hearted individuals, events and local company support.
The appeal has funded new chair beds to help parents get a good night’s sleep, artwork for ward areas, a revamp of the playroom, fun oor projectors and sensory machines to keep children distracted and entertained. The remaining £55,000 will fund a much needed redecoration of both the Milton Mouse unit and isolation rooms, where children highly susceptible to infection will stay.
Head of Fundraising Vanessa Holmes said: “The transformation already made to the wards is incredible.”
The next event is a curry night at Calcutta Brasserie on Wednesday 14th September. For more details visit www.facebook.com/ mkhcharity.
12 Phonebox Magazine | September 2016