Laura Trott is the Conservative Member of Parliament for Sevenoaks & Swanley and was first elected in December 2019. She is here to help the community, regardless of how you voted, so please don’t hesitate to get in touch with her at laura.trott.mp@parliament.uk.
“I cannot start my column any other way than saying a huge congratulations of the Lionesses, who made us immensely proud by being crowned champions of Euro 2022.
“Women and girls’ football has blossomed locally (in my house alone my daughter plays in a team and my husband is starting to coach one!), and there are lots of amazing clubs flying the flag; Sevenoaks Town FC, Otford United FC, New Ash Green FC, Westerham FC, Chipstead FC and Ide Hill FC to name just a few. Sevenoaks Sport and Wellbeing have also done so much to support them.
“If you have been inspired, do not hesitate to get in touch with your nearest club. The Lionesses have taught us that perseverance pays off, and that everyone should follow their passions and keep fighting for what they believe in.
“Also, as part of one of my recent visits, alongside local councillors Roddy Hogarth and Julia Thornton, I had the pleasure of meeting with Ollie Ireland of Live Biking. Ollie provides mountain biking lessons to children and young people, and Live Biking have built and maintains several trails for Sevenoaks area schools, as well as delivering biking tuition at five primaries.
“On the site I met Ed and Sarah Rogers and their son Freddy. Ed and Sarah kindly provided land adjacent to the magnificent Riverhill Himalayan Gardens to Ollie to create a bike trail – and the trail is being continually added to by Freddy and his fellow band of mountain bikers – making it ever more challenging.
“Ollie had the misfortune of having to give me my first mountain biking lesson, which I loved. I was a long way off some of the skills of the amazing young people that ride there, including Freddy, who did a jump which I watched with my heart in my mouth (as you can see from the photo!). If you would like to find out more information on Live Biking do visit livebiking.co.uk/saturday-bike-club.
“And finally, it is important to remember that sport is for all ages. This week I had the pleasure of joining Sue of Pop-Up Health & Wellbeing (or Pop-Up Sue as she’s known by everyone!), for her first Age UK Sevenoaks & Tonbridge exercise class in Crockenhill. Sue is doing some fantastic work locally to help prevent isolation and loneliness and reduce falls amongst the over 50’s with strength, mobility, and balance classes. It was wonderful to see the class in action. She runs a range of classes across our community, so do check out her Facebook page if you, or someone you know, might be interested.
“It fills me with pride to see the vital role local sport clubs play in our community, and it is brilliant to see so many thriving – with members of all ages. Long may it continue.”
