Just to confirm my retirement from full contact rugby is nearly complete. Whilst I still ran out for the House of Commons rugby team against the Welsh Senedd at The Lensbury at the weekend it was 90% running touch and 10 minutes to be on the pitch to be at the end of the game for the photos!!
A wet and windy but brilliant evening at Welford Road on Friday supporting Active Together as Chair — celebrating the incredible work of our Let’s Get Moving Champions and Advocates, and enjoying a Leicester Tigers win to top it off! 🏉
I stopped writing my weekly blogs in February 2024 as I was so tied up in the General Election campaign. It has been the craziest two years of politics NOT to be writing so I am back for 2026 (although I have kicked off with a couple of blogs this week)
It would be great if you could subscribe.
Another fantastic awards evening organised by UK Coaching Mark Gannon MBA in Leeds last night.As always I am truly humbled by the years of dedicated coaching volunteering on display amongst the winners. I am reminded I should thank the countless hours of coaching I’ve had over the years in my sport (not just rugby 🏉) and perhaps I didn’t say thank you often enough. That’s why evenings like this are important - a chance to recognise unsung heroes.
A really special evening to be at Loughborough University showcasing the newly refurbished and improved facilities on campus. Well done to Nick Jennings CB FRS FREng with Joanne Jennings for continuing to support the ongoing journey to keep Loughborough at the top for sports excellence and research.
Highlight of the year on the Business Dinner Circuit - the Chamber of Commerce Christmas Dinner in Leicester. It’s an excellent chance to catch up with so many business leaders from across the region
How can MPs and Lords and community - sports organisations work more closely together? That was the question at the RT I attended on behalf of the SFDC and organised by the Labour Society for Sport.
We live in interesting times in so many ways. But I am really enjoying being the Chair of the Leicester and Leicestershire Business and Skills Partnership because of the people I get to work with in my voluntary role.
📢 I know there is never a settled period and change is a constant in our lives, but it does feel as though we are able to get back to doing the day job at the Business and Skills Partnership Board - and that is being the central partnership of our local government, business, Education and Skills and voluntary community.
Congratulations to everyone who was nominated
For the Charnwood Borough Council Active Charnwood Awards at Loughborough University .
I am always humbled at these awards by the community champions and volunteers who dedicate so much of their time and lives for others to enjoy and participate in sport and physical activity.
Well done to everyone involved in the event but more importantly in working to make Charnwood an active place to live and work.
Enjoybale event organised by Scott Knowles Richard Blackmore at East Midlands Chamber (Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire) at Leicester City Football Club to discuss the impact of the Budget on our region.
Hopefully I was able to provide some overview of the Budget process and how this might deliver for the region. Still lots of challenges for Businesses locally there was a cautious welcome at the prospect of some stability for the rest of this decade - despite tough headwinds!









