The life of an active local councillor is a varied one, and council leaders should be no different.

One minute you can be meeting with ministers to talk about key strategies, the next minute you’ll have a litter picker or paintbrush in hand helping out a community group.

It’s certainly not nine to five, but I love the variety and the opportunity to get stuck in and make a difference.

My weekend started off with a fundraising event on Friday night at the Comrades Club in Pontypool, and continued on Saturday morning taking my son to play for Fairfield AFC against Cwmbran Celtic. Thank you to the coaches and well done both sides for a great game.

As a coach myself, I know that a parent’s job when they’re not coaching is to clap, encourage and not offer unwanted advice! I’ve got huge respect for anyone who helps with junior sport and other activities for our young people.

Saturday afternoon brought the welcome return of club rugby for me, with the first Pooler game at the park for 20 months.

It was fantastic to see more than 1,000 fans filling the park for the visit of Maesteg Quins. We enjoyed a 42-3 win for Pooler in great weather, remembered those we’ve lost during the pandemic and marvelled at the refurbished Ray Prosser Stand.

Thank you to everyone who has kept the club going through the pandemic, but especially to Ben and Peter Jeffreys for their determined and unwavering backing for the club. Maybe I’m biased, but I’ve never known a more beautiful rugby ground, and now Pooler have the facilities to match the quality of the team on the pitch.

After walking back along the canal, I then joined Blaenavon Mayor Liam Cowles at another great rugby institution of our valley, Forgeside RFC club. This was a chance for me to say thank you to Liam for the work he is doing for Blaenavon as a bright, active and forceful Mayor. Our mutual friend and Blaenavon legend Phyllis Roberts would have been proud of him.

Lastly and most importantly, I attended the Remembrance Sunday service at St Hilda’s Church, followed by the parade and service at the Memorial Gates in Pontypool. The parade was as well-attended as ever. Thank you to the council staff and town and community councils who made the extra effort to make sure the parades could take place across the Borough again this year.

I’d also like to thank the RBL and all the Veterans Groups involved, and give a special mention to Pontypool veteran Darren Jones, whose hand-made copper poppy I wore at the parade, alongside the RAF Regiment tie I wore on behalf of my Grandad and those who served with him. We will remember them.