Sir Menzies Campbell MP talks to members of Elgar Scotties FC.

COMMUNITY projects in the Malvern ward of Pickersleigh won the praise of Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell when he visited the town in the run-up to council elections on Thursday, May 2.

Sir Menzies, accompanied by local Lib Dem parliamentary candidate Richard Burt, was shown the Pickersleigh Community Centre where he met police officers, community, and youth workers who have been involved in projects to improve quality of life locally.

He then met the Elgar Scotties football team, which was recently founded by residents as their latest project, in memory of Scott Rice who died tragically aged 14, in 2005.

Sir Menzies, a former athlete who held the British 100 metres sprint record from 1967 to 1974, watched with interest as the young footballers showed off some of their training routines.

And he was clearly a hit with the youngsters, who, after demonstrating their skills, crowded round him for his autograph. As he signed, he answered questions from them about his life in sport and politics He said: "What I've seen today is a tribute to the determined people who want to make life better for all those who live here.

It's genuine people power."

He said one of the most important aspects of the whole project was that it was led by what local people wanted, and was not imposed on them from above.

"By getting involved in sport, young people gain confidence, respect and self-discipline. All of these qualities can help to stop the downward spiral towards a life of crime," he said.

After his Malvern visit, Sir Menzies went to Alfrick where he visited the post office and discussed the problems faced by rural post offices with the sub-postmaster.

It is a subject close to the heart of Sir Menzies, as both his mother and grandmother were sub-post mistresses in Dumbarton, near to his St Andrews constituency in Scotland.

He said village post offices were an integral part of rural life and his message to Alfrick residents was to continue to use their local store or face it closing.

"Villages will soon become the domain of people with cars and the internet who can find other ways of accessing services, but for the elderly it is a vital commodity," he added.

10:53am Monday 23rd April 2007

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