Maidstone and the Weald Labour Party

Member of Maidstone and the Weald CLP visits Number 10

Hi friends - Just thought you would like to hear about my thrilling visit to Number 10 Downing Street WOW!

My visit came about through a close friend of mine winning a place as one of the nine winners of Tesco Mum of the Year 2009. (For more info on this please see you latest Tesco Magazine) My friend Dorothy Higgins is a tireless worker for charity who is involved in many charity events in the Faversham/Swale area. Amongst her many activities is the charity she founded – FADS (Family Activities for the Disabled in Swale) which seeks to offer family events and outing to people with disabled children in the Swale area.

Tesco treated their nine winners to a wonderful weekend which culminated with a visit to Number 10 Downing Street and a meeting with the patron of the event Sarah Brown. Mums were allowed one guest to accompany them and I was thrilled that Dorothy had invited me to attend the visit to Number 10. It was an experience that needless was of particular eager interest to any member of our Party.

The morning was bright and sunny as the nine Mums of the Year and their guests stood excitedly in Downing Street after passing through the stringent surety barriers in place at each end of the street. While assembling we were told we could take photos but that cameras and mobile phones would need to be left in a secure area in the Number 10 entrance hall before we were allowed to climb the famous stairs to the state apartments on the first floor.

It was impossible to step over that famous threshold and pass by what must be the most famous front door in the world or to climb the yellow stair case lined with portraits of the nations past Prime Ministers without recalling the photographers and news coverage of all those who have gone before. I found those thoughts breath taking in their significance to our national experience.

At the top of the stairs we were shepherded into the three adjoining state rooms which over look Horse Guards Parade; we were served coffee and juice with croissants and toast. I was amused to note that the toast offered was spread with marmalade or marmite (could it be that the P M likes marmite on his toast?)

We then enjoyed the offered refreshments while some, like myself, explored the rooms in which the event took place. The view from the windows was especially good of Horse Guards Parade, As if for our benefit one of the Cavalry Regiments was at that moment changing guard – what a wonderful view two special little boys must have when Trooping the Colour is held. And yes its true there is a wendy house and a trampline in the garden. Plus a peddle car a football! – I guess the football is waiting for two little boys and their Daddy to enjoy playing with.

A buzz of excitement went round the room when Sarah entered looking welcoming and elegant in a simple black dress and jacket with a purple butterfly brooch and necklace to add colour to her outfit. Sarah was a very gracious hostess who chatted to and listened with great interest to all her guests. She signed autographs and took part in a group photograph of the Mums of 2009.

During my meeting with Sarah in which I gave her the card featuring views of Maidstone which I had previously asked some of our members to sign we chatted about our own CLP. Sarah mentioned that she had friends in Hastings CLP who she had supported. My friend mentioned the subjects of social housing and her own interest in supporting children. Sarah  was very keen to tell us of her own beliefs in that ‘every child counts’ and also assured us as to what a very good minister we have in Margaret Beckett who is now Housing Minister.

After speaking to Sarah we had thought that our meeting for the morning was over until a lovely friendly Scots voice said ‘Hello I’m the neighbour from next door’. I don’t think any one could fail to be won over by the warmth of personality of Maggie Darling who signed herself on several autograph books as Maggie Darling No 11. We told Maggie how excited we had been to visit Number 10 and she agreed and went on to say that she and Alistair had also thought it a wonderful idea and had also opened the doors of Number 11 to people who were also delighted to attend those events as well.

I had a lovely chat with Maggie in which I told her of our own small CLP, she was very encouraging, thanking us for our support of Paul Clark (Gillingham and Rainham CLP) and also the work we do in our own constituency. We discussed the vital importance of ‘getting the vote out’ and of how important and what a vital difference campaigning can make to winning elections. I told her of my own involvement in the new Telephone Voter I D calling (if you haven’t done it yet have a go! All you need is a web site and a phone – It does make a great difference and you can do it sitting at home, in the warm with a cup of tea handy – although I must admit to preferring meeting up with other supporters and actually speaking to constituents face -2-face)

Sadly it was soon time to end our visit but one very big delight was in store. I wasn’t sure why everyone was making ahhh! sounds but soon saw the reason. I think we all need to thank Sarah very much for her kindness in introducing us to Fraser Brown who is as sweet and adorable little three year old as any dear little boy can be. Obviously a very dearly loved little person he has a strong likeness to his Daddy while favouring his Mummy’s fair colouring. Safe in his Mummy’s arms he looked with surprised interest at all the faces turned smiling towards him.

And so it was time to go, after reaching the bottom of the stair case we were asked if we would like to see the Cabinet Room. Would we like to see the Cabinet Room!! Yes we very much would!! I guess most people by now know what the room looks like but to actually be in that room is quite another thing. Standing at the end of the table around which the government of the country assemble and looking towards the chair of the Prime Minister I was filled with a sense of the tremendous duty and commitment it must take for any to take that one special chair placed centrally under the portrait of the countries  first PM Robert Walpole.

So that was it – well not quite. (No we didn’t meet Gordon) but on leaving Number 10 I saw a face I recognised. It was Nick Robinson – BBC Political Editor, I might have taken him to task for some unwelcome comments in regards to the current situation but he was so polite and friendly I thought better of it (?). Instead I asked what he was doing in Downing Street, he told me he was accompanying the P M to Washington and doing a piece to go with this coverage.

And that really was the end of our visit. I hope you have enjoyed reading the report of a visit, that even with the welcoming approach of Gordon and Sarah to inviting people into Number 10, only the privilege few are able to make. A big thank you to Sarah and Maggie for making our visit so very enjoyable