On 3rd July I welcomed St Mary Magdalen's Primary School Council to Parliament. 

I took the group on a tour of Parliament and then held a question and answer session so that they could find out more about my 25 years as an MP.

On Saturday 14th July I joined Lewisham History Society and Hither Green Community Association in celebrating the unveiling of a plaque dedicated to local actress Dame Gladys Cooper.  I was joined by Deputy Mayor Councillor Alan Smith and Dame Gladys' daughter Sally (pictured left)  

Dame Gladys was born in a house on Ennersdale Road in Hither Green in 1888.  After appearing in numerous stage productions she went on to have a successful career in film, picking up three Academy Award nominations for Best Supporting Actress.  

Today in Westminster I attended the launch of the 'NHS Pledge', a five point practical plan to limit the damage of NHS reorganisation.

I was joined by Labour councillors who will act as patient champions and the last line of defence for the NHS, calling on local leaders to:

• Protect the NHS's founding values
• Prevent postcode lotteries
• Guard against longer waits
• Promote collaboration over competition
• Put patients before profits

Yesterday I attended a reception for the Summer Reading Challenge, a campaign run by The Reading Agency to encourage primary school children to join their local library.

The challenge, which begins on July 14th, is for every child aged 4-11 to read six books from their local library over the summer holidays.  Participants earn stickers along the way and will be awarded a certificate or medal when they complete the challenge.  This year's theme is 'Story Lab': www.story-lab.org.uk

Yesterday I attended an Arthritis Research UK event to encourage people who are living with osteoarthritis to find a form of physical activity they enjoy to help keep their joints healthy.

8 million people in the UK live with the pain and disability caused by osteoarthritis.  The condition affects the joints, causing pain and stiffness,  At present there is no cure; treatments include pain killers, physiotherapy and in some more severe cases joint replacement.  Self-help measures such as maintaining a healthy body weight and regular physical activity play an important role in relieving joint pain and stiffness.

I am delighted to announce that Babur in Honor Oak Park has been named Best South Asian Restaurant in South London in the Tiffin Cup Grand Final, a competition to find the best South Asian restaurant in the country.

The final of this annual competition took place in Parliament on 27th June and involved a competitive cook-off.  Babur's signature dish of crusted canon of lamb received very high marks from the judges.