It was National Pub Week last week and Iain took the opportunity to present The Rat Race Ale House, at Hartlepool Railway Station, with the first-ever All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group award for a pub in Hartlepool. Iain made the presentation in a packed pub to the Landlord Peter Morgan who opened the micro pub a year ago this month.

Iain said

"I think Hartlepool is very fortunate that we have some absolutely excellent pubs and I think this one is quirky.

"It's what you want – you get a good craic in here and you get a fantastic beer. And it's real ale, it's not that lager stuff.

"I actually think the pub is an essential part of British tradition and should be celebrated so I am pleased to present this award."

"I think we should appreciate good pubs that really contribute to the community and the award is open to all other Hartlepool pubs."

This year’s Tesco for Schools & Clubs scheme has been a great success with local schools and clubs set to receive lots of fantastic new equipment this term. To celebrate, the store in Hartlepool welcomed Iain and four local schools to the store. Iain was on hand to present children from St Aidan’s, St Cuthbert’s, St Joseph’s and Holy Trinity with their equipment.

From the 1st March to the 9th May, shoppers in the local area received vouchers which they donated to a school or club of their choice. These schools and clubs were then able to choose what equipment they wanted from the catalogue – from paints and canvases to cricket bats, digital cameras, computer software and recycling bins.

Iain said,

“Tesco for Schools and Clubs scheme is a fantastic initiative which enables the whole community in Hartlepool to get involved helping local schools and clubs gain much needed equipment.

“It has been a pleasure today to be able to present the equipment to the school pupils and I have thoroughly enjoyed talking with them about what they want to be when they grow up.

“Long may this scheme continue and I thank Tesco for inviting me along today.”

Iain was impressed to see a new sculpture this week based on Hartlepool's history and legend.

The sculpture entitled The Hartlepool Tale is a bronze sculpture of a stag with a monkey on its back that is holding a cod.

The sculpture is currently on diplay at Hartlepool Art Gallery, in Church Street and creator Julia Wager is hoping that a larger life size version could be built and installed at a location somewhere in the town.

Iain is supporting the idea and said

"I think the sculpture is great and it is an interesting take on what is our civic symbol.

"We have to appreciate in the current climate, there will be no public money available for this sort of thing, but I hope private and corporate sponsors may be able to assist."