This weekend was all about five Cs- Coronation, Charles, celebration, community and… cake. On behalf of the people of Stalybridge, Hyde, Mossley, Longdendale and Dukinfield, my hearty congratulations go to King Charles III on his Coronation. It will doubtless have generated memories for years to come from family to family.

Like much of the population, it was the first Coronation of my lifetime. I was excited and intrigued, and keen to see how the balance of tradition and modernity the King is said to be keen on plays out. Nobody does pageantry quite like Britain, but it’s right that in 2023 the service and weekend of celebrations have had elements that appeal meaningfully to the whole country.

A number of Tameside residents were invited to attend the service thanks to their various roles in the community, alongside my Parliamentary neighbour Andrew Gwynne who lucked out in the MPs’ draw for tickets – I hope you all had a wonderful day! My daughter Bess was over the moon to have been successful in a Girl Guiding lottery to become one of 400 young people representing different youth organisations invited to watch the service from the overflow church next door to Westminster Abbey.

Of course, it’s a bittersweet occasion as the loss of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II feels so recent, not least one imagines to the King himself. I was fortunate to join his welcome to Parliament in the immediate aftermath of her death, and also to have a lovely chat with him a few months previously, at a reception at his State Apartments. We had a good exchange about the role of green energy industries in tackling climate change, something we are both passionate about. After 74 years preparing for this role, the country will all have their views on King Charles, and my experience was of a hardworking and passionate public servant who takes his duties seriously.

King Charles is of course no stranger to Tameside, having visited a Princes’ Trust project in Hattersley in 1989, and previously tried his hand at welding and croissant baking in Tameside College in 1977.

We’ve had the flags up at home in Stalybridge for the weekend, and I would like to thank Betty, Muhammad and David for decorating Hyde Town Hall including my office frontage beautifully with bunting.

Whether you’re among the Coronation celebrators or the Coronation cynics, I hope you had a fabulous bank holiday with family and friends. Cheers!