It was heartrending to read the horrific events that took place in Hainault earlier this week, when fourteen-year-old Daniel Anjorin was killed in a sword attack.
The schoolboy has been acclaimed as a: “true scholar,” with a “positive nature and gentle character.”
Certainly, an unbending painful loss to his family and friends, it also appears the young man is a loss to his entire community.
Four other people were seriously injured in the same attack. This included two police officers, who arrived at the scene amidst the carnage. Their actions certainly prevented further deaths, to the detriment of their own safety. The outcomes for the officers are shocking. Both will need long-term treatment for the severe arm and hand injuries they sustained. The psychological harm is unfathomable. Nevertheless, knowing full well the dangers they faced when confronting a man with a sword, these officers acted in the best interests of the general public. The general public owe them a debt of gratitude. The bravery these officers exhibited in the name of the communities they serve, gives us all hope of living a peaceful life.
Recently a thirteen-year-old took a bladed weapon into a school in Ammanford and wounded a number of people. A teacher prevented further injury or worse from taking place.
NHS workers are being physically assaulted and verbally abused on a daily basis. Firefighters are coming under crude projectile attacks, when dealing with call-outs. All very dangerous. It is a world apart from what so many of us, once knew.
Despite these obscene events becoming all too common, it gives our society great hope, when people of the necessary high calibre, still want to undertake fulfilling roles in the spheres of Public Service.
A part of the High Sheriff’s role is to support the Police Youth Volunteers (PYV). The PYV is a youth organisation, which promotes good citizenship, especially in those regarded as vulnerable groups. Having already met two representatives of the ‘Volunteers’ who have already shown a desire to forge a better society at my inauguration, I look forward to discovering in greater detail what participating in the group entails. Nevertheless, thankfully there is a progressive route for these young people to associate themselves.
On that note, congratulations to all four Police and Crime Commissioners in Wales who, this very week, were elected or re-elected into their roles.
Emma Wools is the new Commissioner for the South Wales Constabulary. I wish them all every success and look forward to meeting Commissioner Wools sometime in the future.
Saturday May 4th I will be at the Tesco’s store in Maesteg from 1pm in an official capacity and in something of a more personal level.
An employee at the Maesteg store has had a cancer diagnosis. Their colleagues have arranged the event which includes a singer in order to support their co-worker. How many times have we seen this type of action among us, particularly in the vibrant valleys of Mid-Glamorgan? Even in a dark hour, we are surrounded by the light of the kind-hearted, caring and committed. They don’t have to be, but they are and will do anything they can to help. I salute these remarkable, selfless people.
I write not as a High Sheriff or doctor, but as someone who has gone through cancer treatment. Every little act of kindness has a remarkable effect. From caring comments, to the conversations which ignore the illness and deflect to the normality of life, to the act of a former work-mate who had gone through the same treatment and arrived at the hospital unannounced; with a sandwich and a coffee, and announced: “It will be a long day. You’ll need these.” He was right and having experienced the process, who was I to argue?
Such individual and collective actions really do make me proud to be a High Sheriff and the High Sheriff of Mid-Glamorgan at that! They also prove that Hope, really is, a community activity.