MP for Wrexham Andrew Ranger stood up in Parliament last week and made sure to mention a few of Wrexham’s outstanding community and business organisations in a very moving maiden speech.
Wrexham AFC and Wrexham Lager
He talked about the recent investments made into Wrexham AFC and also Wrexham Lager, adding, “Dare I say the world’s best lager and the UK’s oldest lager brewery?”.
Andrew briefly explained Wrexham’s recent electoral changes. He also explained to the house how important its strategic location near the northwest of England was.
“Wrexham has a long history of coal mining and iron and steel making,” he went on to say. He also pointed out how a circle of villages had sprung up around those industries to serve them. Andrew also found time to talk about the 90th anniversary of the Gresford Colliery disaster and its devastating effect on the community.
Wrexham Miners’ Project
He picked out the Wrexham Miners’ Project as an example of one of the many fantastic community projects that have sprung up in the area. “Community is at the heart of Wrexham, and it is its strength,” he said, highlighting other important local groups such as Wrexham Litter Pickers and Lle Hapus.
The Portuguese and Polish immigrant communities, which form such an essential part of the fabric of Wrexham’s diverse and inclusive local culture, also had a mention.
Andrew named Wrexham Lager, JCB and Kellogg as examples of the more prominent international brands present in our county. He then also pointed out that hundreds of smaller businesses, like the Magic Dragon brewery, formed the “backbone of our economy”.
Focus Wales and the International Eisteddfod were two examples he gave of the festivals Wrexham is organising this year, and he also referenced our strong military links when mentioning the army barracks at Hightown.
A Cheeky Aside
Andrew continued by discussing our local football team and how it has grown over recent years into a world-famous powerhouse that is on the up and up. He also found time to delve into their history, saying they were the world’s third-oldest professional association football club and that the stadium is the oldest international football stadium in the world still hosting international matches. In a cheeky aside, Andrew couldn’t help but bring up the famous FA Cup tie against Arsenal in which Wrexham knocked out the then League Division One champions.
As a final note, Andrew paid tribute to former Wrexham MPs Sarah Atherton, Simon Baines and Ian Lucas. Lucas was an MP for 18 years. He once notably suggested in a debate that the Welsh dragon be added to the Union Jack.
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