In writing this several hours after seeing another tremendous win by Wolverhampton Wanderers, at a jubilant Molineux against a lacklustre Chelsea on a mild Christmas Eve, I feel rather lucky and humbled about how 2023 has transpired.

Even if the year began being a job-seeker, I realised more than ever that resilience is a virtue of a special kind and boy, I’ve definitely needed it at some moments during these last 12 months. That period out of work, the most agonising of Election defeats, elements of family life and even those first two 10K’s I did all meant needing to go into those deeper depths.

It can’t be a bad thing to admit that, with the fact there the positives and fun bits outweighed it, not least through a visit to a Royal Garden aged 25, getting 1,550 residents of Penn to support me in seeking to serve them, as well helping on a successful nationally talked about By-Election campaign in Tamworth, as well as a big work project getting a Parliamentary shoutout in November, me doing a run nearly every week of the year (including the Birmingham and Worcester 10K’s), commencement of making my house a home, the paying off of what was my Student Overdraft and two fine visits to Silverstone in giving voluntary service to The Home of Motorsport.

And in seeing 27 football matches, including a return to Wembley for a poetic ending to Women’s Finalissima, ticking off 5 new stadiums which one was the Aviva Stadium in Dublin thanks to a fantastic one day visit at the end of July and the Wolves beating 3 of the so-called “Big 6” in 12 weeks certainly added to the mix.

It's a 12 months to look back on and see that both figuratively in my subject matter and strength that I’ve grown in my skillset, my belief and determination. Even despite unemployment at it’s start, my 5 months off between October 2022 and end of February 2023 was a nice pausing point after a near breathless couple of years on the Commonwealth Games.

Still playing a part on that and specifically it’s Legacy is a honour that I will forever share pride about, knowing the opportunity which the Commonwealth Games Legacy Enhancement Fund will much spread across the West Midlands.

I want to thank everyone, across all organisations I’m encountered with and all friends and family for there support and encouragement throughout 2023. You’ve helped make it what is became and for it I’m beyond grateful.

On a general perspective, I feel privileged that with my Mum and Younger Brother come sometime mid-afternoon on Christmas Day, that we will tuck into a Beef and Gammon roast with the usual trimmings - knowing this won’t be the case for many up and down our land. The continued Cost of Living pressures should be a source of international shame, that many in the population in the 6^th Biggest Nation on Earth can’t afford even the essentials for the place they live within.

Thus whilst I eat, I will very much think about everyone who just needs a hand and I hope you do to, so the least well off can genuinely feel that others are willing and wishing to help. Event’s like the Molineux Sleepout, which since 2019 has been transformative for many in Wolverhampton are imperative to giving such support, but shows how unjust our nation’s structures are in supposedly looking after our own.

If you are able, please do give a donation to my Molineux Sleepout fundraiser, which after proceedings in November stood at a fantastic £345. All money goes to the Wolverhampton Wanderers Foundation and The Good Shepherd and close on Sunday December 31^st.

Giving back is what I will look more towards in 2024 – whether politically, through such annual fundraising events like the Sleepout Cancer Research UK’s Race For Life and much more besides, knowing there is a hell of a lot to fight for in the coming year ahead.

I’ll no doubt say more on that in due stead and in wishing everyone who reads this a Very Merry and Peaceful Christmas and New Year, I naturally dedicate this to Kieran who we lost on Christmas Day 2021.

The two years without him have proved a rocky road at some points and seeing his life end on what should be the happiest day of every year forever feels heavy, but I am sure you will be looking at me and much of the rest of the family from above with immense pride.

His loss turned our family’s life upside down and inside out for a lot of 2022, but we are glad he is in peace and that our many memories of him are reflected on with joy.

Always be at rest, Brother, in that little waterfall in the tranquillity of Great Malvern and your humanhood, love and decency is never, ever forgotten.