MS shares touching personal story following VE Day
As I mentioned in my previous column, there were nationwide celebrations to mark the anniversary of VE Day last week and I was privileged to attend the Holywell VE Day event on Thursday.
VE Day marks the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe – on May 8, 1945, communities across our area and throughout the UK celebrated the end of a long and devastating conflict in Europe.
My own lovely and much-missed nana, then aged just 17, was part of a VE Day celebration in Primrose Street in Connah's Quay – you can see her in the photo I've published on my Facebook page at www.facebook.com/HannahBlythyn.
Many of us took part in events during the week and at the weekend to reflect on the sacrifices made and the peace secured eight decades ago, but at the same time we must collectively commit to learn from the past and strive together towards peace – and let us remember the courage of those who served and the resilience of those who rebuilt.
From Skills Competition Wales to WorldSkills Shanghai 2026, learners across Wales are proving their talent, drive and ambition, including three from Grŵp Llandrillo Menai, with one representing Renewable Energy from Coleg Llandrillo's Rhyl campus.
Also our very own Coleg Cambria has a finalist in the EuroSkills Herning 2025 competition for Team UK, which will be held in Denmark in September.
These competitions don't just showcase skills they build on them, inspiring the next generation to reach higher and meet the demands of future industries like net zero tech.
In the Senedd last week, I asked the Welsh Government what discussions have taken place about encouraging colleges across Wales to participate in the WorldSkills competition to help meet the needs of industry.
It's important for young apprentices in Wales to have the opportunity to test themselves against their peers – and it's great for our tech industries too.
On a similar note, I'd like to wish pob lwc to all those taking their exams this summer.
May is the start of the GCSE and A-level exam period and I want to wish everyone taking part in these assessments the best of luck.
I know students across the country will be revising for their exams and this can be a time of great stress and anxiety for young minds – exams can be a challenging time and the pressure to do well can feel overwhelming.
It's perfectly normal to feel worried about exams, but it's important that you find ways to manage your worries.
If you're a student about to start exams or a parent or guardian concerned about the exams, you might find these tips useful from Place2Be – the children's mental health charity – go to www.place2be.org.uk/exams for help and advice.
I recently had the chance to meet with Holywell Town Council alongside my parliamentary colleague Becky Gittins MP to discuss the March announcement by Santander Bank that it's planning to close their Holywell branch in August, leaving the town with no high street banking facilities at all.
Bank closures are challenging for people who don't use computers or smartphones to do their banking and especially for the older generations who rely more on high street facilities.
It's vital that we don't simply cut these people off and so I support the introduction of 'banking hubs' like the one recently opened by the Post Office in Flint, in which you can pay in cheques and cash and pay bills.
Holywell needs something similar, as do many other areas affected by bank closures.
Finally, I had the chance at the weekend to pop in to Mold's newest high street addition – Cracked Coffee – on its opening day.
Cracked Coffee has been operating online for a while and the company's ethical approach to trading and work to support our local communities has been a success story here in North Wales and it was great to see the company open its first town centre coffee shop – and taste their delicious coffee!
It's important that we support our local high street shops and the Welsh Government's £100m Transforming Towns initiative goes some way to help our towns to develop the kind of local businesses that provide for visitors and residents alike.
As always, if you would like advice and/or support, please don't hesitate to get in touch on any of the following contact details – 52 High Street, Mold, Flintshire, on 01352 753464 or by email hannah.blythyn@senedd.wales.
You can also keep up to date via my Facebook page – www.facebook.com/HannahBlythyn.
Constituents are, of course, welcome to contact my office to arrange an appointment to see me, you don't need to wait for an advice surgery.
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