Busy fortnight for MP Russell

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 17th Apr 2008

Bob Russell MP

Although the House of Commons has been on Easter Recess for the past two weeks, it has still been a busy time for Colchester MP Bob Russell who has had a full diary of events in the constituency and further afield - ranging from chairing a major road safety conference in London to holding three Advice Bureaux for residents, and from visiting the Essex Police Safer Roads Bureau based in Billericay to visiting the Stroke Unit at Colchester General Hospital.

Mr Russell also attended the official re-opening of the Colchester Division of St John Ambulance Brigade's headquarters in Greenstead Road, visited the Highwoods Sports Centre to see a new after-school scheme for youngsters and made an early morning call at the Sorting Office at East Gates where he met Post Office management and employees.

Other visits have included those to the Colchester office of Essex Chamber of Commerce, the Cambridge-based offices of the East of England Development Agency, the studio of a local artist who has painted a portrait of Mr Russell, to Norwich to take part in a live broadcast last Sunday of "The Politics Show", and to the Garrison to discuss housing issues.

Mr Russell's packed diary this week has also involved visiting Colchester North Station to inspect facilities for passengers with disabilities, meeting

local film-maker Mr Ray Hollingsworth who is making a documentary about people's memories of Colchester United at Layer Road, and going to the East Anglian Film Archive in Norwich where he donated four videos recording major civic events in the year he was Mayor of Colchester in 1986-87.

Thursday's diary includes morning appointments with residents and in the afternoon firstly a visit to the Stroke Unit at Colchester General Hospital followed by the Annual Meeting of the Court of the University of Essex.

The diary for Friday includes a meeting in the morning at the Colchester Institute with the Principal followed by an NSPCC event at a local pre-school. In the afternoon he will be visiting the Ormiston Centre at Monkwick, and in the evening he he will be at the Castle Park Cricket Ground for the official launch of a book to commemorate 100 years of cricket at the Castle Park.

Saturday's diary has Mr Russell listed to attend the official unveiling of the Lexden "village sign" followed by a lunch-time visit to the SD School of Martial Arts. In the afternoon he will be at Colchester United's penultimate game at Layer Road with a half-time interview with Hospital Radio Colchester.

In addition to all this, Mr Russell has also been involved in dealing with a huge amount of correspondence and casework on behalf of constituents.

He observed: "Just because the House of Commons is not sitting this does not mean that I have been idle. Far from it. I have had a packed diary every day!"

Mr Russell added: "I have also been out canvassing for the Borough Council elections on behalf of Liberal Democrat candidates, going out several evenings over the past fortnight in different parts of the town. I am grateful for the friendly and encouraging response I got wherever I went."