Brooks honours volunteer hero

On Tuesday Braintree MP Brooks Newmark attended the Heroes Tea Party at the House of Commons to celebrate and recognise older volunteer heroes.On Tuesday Braintree MP Brooks Newmark attended the 'Heroes Tea Party' at the House of Commons to celebrate and recognise older volunteer heroes.

The event was sponsored by national charity The Experience Corps, which has been set up to encourage those aged 50 and over to donate their skills and experience for the benefit of their local community. These skills could prove invaluable to local community groups, charities and countless other organisations.

Brooks nominated Braintree resident Phyllis Webb for a 'Contribution to the Community Award' in recognition of her work with the Braintree Pensioners' Action Group.

He said, "I was delighted to nominate Phyllis for this award. It recognises her contribution to our community, for all her work with the Pensioners' Action Group as a strong advocate of some of the more vulnerable people in our society.

Speaking later during a debate on the Government's proposed pension reforms he said,
"It is not just important to encourage people to save; pensioners must also be freed from the indignity of means-tested benefits."

Earlier today, I met two of my constituents, Phyllis Webb and Barbara Shillabeer, who are members of the Braintree Pensioners' Action Group.

I want to be able to go back to Braintree to tell them unequivocally that the basic state pension will, in future, provide them with an income. Just as importantly, I do not want to have to tell my constituents that there is no point in saving because it will not leave them any better off when they come to retire.

Photo:Brooks Presents Phyllis Webb with the award certificate.