It has been another busy summer in Islwyn. With some fantastic community events taking place highlights for me were the Blackwood carnival and the celebrations of 100 years of Markham village.

These occasions as always owe a huge amount to the hard work of local people. I always enjoy Blackwood carnival which is a superb family occasion, the carnival really does show of the town at its best and for once the weather was favourable.

I would like to take the opportunity of thanking all the individuals that worked so hard to make this year’s event so special. A particular congratulations to this year’s Carnival Queen, Hannah Watkins and her princesses Lauren Shankland and Aimee Thomas.

It of course not every day that a village turns 100 and I was delighted to attend the event to mark Markham’s centenary. We were treated to a slide show presentation showing images of village life over the years. It was remarkable to see how something’s had changed beyond recognition while other seem to have stood the test of time and stayed the same. One of these is of course the fantastic community spirit of the village.

As brilliant as a bit of nice weather was in the summer, winter will be upon us soon. We must all be prepared. In particular I am thinking of the more vulnerable in our communities, who should be looking at having flu jabs soon as possible. Even if you have previously been vaccinated you must ensure you have this year’s jab. Many older constituents will also be worrying about the cost of heating their home this winter. If this includes you, you can contact Nest, the Welsh Governments fuel poverty scheme. call 0808 808 2244 free from a landline or 0300 456 2655 from a mobile phone. Nest advisors can offer advice on: saving money, money management, making sure you're on the best fuel tariff for you and whether you are entitled to any benefits to boost your income.

Finally I am very pleased to promote National Eye Health Week (16th – 22nd September). The aim of this week is to get more people to go and have a regular sight test and to encourage people to take care of their eyes by taking care of themselves. You can find out more about National eye health week by visiting http://www.visionmatters.org.uk/.