November is here, and with it, darker tea times, more than our fair share of rain, and the annual debate on whether it’s too soon to start feeling festive. My answer to the latter is always the same… not until after Remembrance Day. November for me is always about remembering those who’ve paid the ultimate sacrifice to keep us safe, and as we all continue digest news from the Middle East in horror and sadness, I know that we are all more grateful than ever for the relative security and peace it is all too easy to take fro granted here.

I was especially moved this month to attend the official unveiling of Kgn Sean Dawson Way in Stalybridge. Kingsman Sean Dawson was killed in Helmand Province, Afghanistan in February 2010, aged just 19. It was an absolute honour to stand alongside his brave dad Sean Snr, along with other family members and councillors, to name this lovely road off Ridge Hill in his memory. Sean studied at Buckton Vale and Copley schools who also joined us to honour his name. A boxer, a cadet then a cadet sergeant before he joined the regular army, Sean was determined to serve his country. It is a tragic loss he was taken from his family, community and country so young. Stalybridge, and the United Kingdom, will remember him.

Meanwhile, in Parliament it was an honour to lay a poppy cross in the Speaker’s garden of remembrance on behalf of the people of Stalybridge, Hyde, Mossley, Longdendale and Dukinfield. The garden feels quite moving when populated with crosses representing all 650 corners of the UK. Every constituency has families with stories to tell and loss to mourn.

It was also a privilege to take part in the annual Poppy Ride in Parliament to raise money for the Royal British Legion. This was the seventh annual Industry and Parliament Trust Poppy Ride to support the Poppy Appeal in Parliament. MPs and Peers take part in the 10-hour static bike ride, each cycling as far as we can on an exercise bike in 5 minutes. I’m not sure whether my cycling was league table topping, but it was a welcome break from chamber debates and meetings to have a few minutes physical challenge to concentrate the mind on the act of remembrance and be able to draw national attention to the RBL.

As we gather across all Tameside’s towns and villages on Sunday for acts of annual remembrance, at the going down of the sun, and in the morning, we will remember them.