I try to take opportunities to reach out to people who move to the village, to welcome them, let them know who I am and how I can support them. It’s important to reach out to new residents. My latest one over this weekend was, I have to admit, challenging.

I introduced myself to a new resident at a local event and after hearing comments which were undeniably homophobic, I felt it important to reinforce the values that I believe underline the community this person has chosen to become part of.

Ribchester is an open, tolerant and supportive place where respect rules. Our community is diverse and welcomes all. We will continue to do so, always. We may disagree, sometimes quite strongly, but ultimately our shared values will always reflect and support the diversity we hold dear.

I hope that in my conversation with this individual, I conveyed the point that different sections within our society have, over the years, had to fight for rights that others take for granted. I went on to say that as a community we must support the need to protect those hard-won rights and every now and again we need to restate that commitment even if only in very simple ways. I hope they took this on board.

As a straight, white, middle class (arguably) person, the least I can do is support the endeavours of members of all sections of society, show them support, respect and solidarity. We should never forget the rights of minority groups may easily be taken away by politicians with ill intent if they are not protected and continue to be fought for. With this in mind, to respond to some of the comments I heard, when public buildings choose to fly a flag such as the rainbow flag, it is simply an act of solidarity with the people it represents, not a personal attack on people who don’t identity as such. Flying a flag for a cause does not make us any less British, it celebrates our modern British values, and does not prevent us from flying the Union Flag, St Georges Flag, Lancashire flag or other flags on any other day of the year. There are 365 of them usually.

What I have always seen in Ribchester is a progressive and supportive community that understands this, I believe this approach over many years has fostered a safe space for all people to live, thrive and take a full role in our community. I hope our new resident soon comes to understand this and long may that continue.

“And please remember people, that no matter who you are
And what you do to live, thrive and survive
There are still some things that make us all the same
You, me, them, everybody, everybody.“
(Blues Brothers 1980)