News

Howard's Way.... a weekly column from the Rt. Hon. Michael Howard QC. MP. 

5 February 2009

Last Friday began with one of my regular meetings with the Chief Superintendent of Police who is responsible for our area. On this occasion it was my first meeting in this capacity with the new Chief Superintendent, Chris Hogben.

I raised a number of concerns and was much reassured by Mr Hogben’s no-nonsense approach. I hope his appointment will mark a new phase in the maintenance of law and order in our area.

My next stop was at Mundella School where I was meeting Headteacher Lynn Seal to discuss the possibility of changing the name of the school to Walter Tull School.

Walter Tull, who attended the school as a boy, was both the first black officer in the British Army and the first black outfield professional footballer in England, playing for Tottenham Hotspur and Northampton Town. He was about to be transferred to Glasgow Rangers when the First World War broke out and Walter joined up and was subsequently killed in action.

Any change would, of course, have to have the support of the local community, including the large number of people who attended Mundella and still live locally. The school intends to carry out an extensive consultation exercise to test local opinion.

I then went to Pent Valley Technology College to open the new Young People’s Clinic.

The clinic will be headed by an outreach nurse, specialising in sexual health, and will be open to all young people in Cheriton. A trained mentor will also be available to discuss concerns of domestic abuse. This will be a signposting service to students, parents and the community who have any worries about violence in the home.

Another recent development, hailed by Headteacher, Mario Citro, is that Pent Valley has been awarded Healthy School Status. To promote its commitment to this, free lunches will be provided to all Year 7 students joining the school in September 2009.

Much is happening in Shepway’s schools. I shall try to keep you posted.