It was a pleasure to attend the “Driving Change for All Deaf Children and Adults” event in Parliament this week, hosted by Mr. Speaker, The Rt. Hon. Sir Lindsay Hoyle M.P., celebrating the achievements of deaf people across the United Kingdom.
As Romford’s MP, I have always been a strong supporter of our local deaf community and will continue working to ensure they receive full access to healthcare, employment, and public services in general. I commend the Royal National Institute for the Blind (R.N.I.D.) and partner organisations for their tireless advocacy and much look forward to supporting their campaigns going forward.
As a young person, living in Romford, I would always support the Havering Association for the Deaf and would visit the “Deaf and Dumb Club”, which used to be based in Sims Close, just off of Junction Road in Romford.
I have many fond memories of helping the club and visiting them again years later, after I became the M.P. for Romford. I am sorry the club has now closed down, as it was such a happy place where deaf people from Romford could meet in a social environment, but constituents of mine who suffer from hard of hearing or who are completely deaf, will always find a friend in me, as their M.P.
My good friend, Baroness Emma Nicholson, who was once the M.P. for Torridge and West Devon is deaf, and I was her researcher in the 1980s. Working for Emma also taught me a lot about how deaf people manage their lives, whilst having to cope with such a sad disability. We all need to be aware of those who suffer from deafness and do our utmost to ensure they are included and given the support, kindness and understanding they deserve.
I am proud to be supporting Della Morton as one of my Team 23 Conservative candidates for next year’s local elections, who suffers from being deaf. Della is standing in the Havering-atte-Bower Ward, where I once served as a councillor, so I hope she will be elected and become a voice for Havering’s deaf community in the Town Hall.
Any deaf person from the Romford constituency who would like to raise any issues with me as their M.P. is welcome to get in touch at any time. My door is always open.
Andrew Rosindell M.P., Member of Parliament for Romford
