Visiting Barry Island during these glorious summer days has reminded me of how far we’ve come over recent years in terms of regeneration. The place is bustling with people enjoying the sunshine and the Island is open for business. 

I recently met with an excellent group of local volunteers at Barry Coastguard, who carry out some vital work protecting people along our coastline, at one of their recruitment events. It was a real pleasure to learn more about their work and ongoing issues that they are striving to tackle.

Earlier this week, I was on the first Qatar Airways flight making its way from Doha to Rhoose – the first ever direct daily flight from the Gulf State to Wales.

In the weeks following the EU referendum I arranged public meetings in the Vale to set out the Government’s response to the vote and to take questions from local people. The response was overwhelming.

News that unemployment has fallen by 11% in the Vale of Glamorgan over the past year should not just be viewed as the reporting of a dry economic statistic.

On Monday I will be holding a meeting in the Bear Hotel, Cowbridge, for small business owners affected by the ongoing issue of changing business rates.

The Vale of Glamorgan is a fantastic place to live, partly because of the landscape that surrounds us, but primarily because it is a place filled with strong local communities.

Small businesses form the economic and social backbone of towns across Wales, and the Vale of Glamorgan is no exception. They provide employment, enhance community networks and give our High Streets, and thus our towns, their unique character.

This year, for the first time in over a decade, I will not be with local veterans on Remembrance Sunday at services in the Vale of Glamorgan. As Secretary of State for Wales, I have been asked to place a wreath on behalf of the Welsh people at the national remembrance ceremony in Whitehall.

Next week, Wales will remember the anniversary of one of the most horrific tragedies ever to befall any community in the UK. Many readers will remember the events of October 21st 1966 as some of the most harrowing ever reported in their lifetime.