THIS is a reflective time of year and as we move into December I recall with deep gratitude the support that I have had personally from our NHS staff.

My GP, who saved my life and referred me to the splendid medical assessment team at the Vale of Leven Hospital, who tholed (endured) me for a number of hours before transferring me to the RAH in Paisley.

During my time in the Vale I was the 'patient in the corridor' for much of the time and that is not stated as a complaint but as an indication of how busy this terrific team is; they had nowhere else to put me.

As soon as I was diagnosed I was transferred to the coronary care unit in the RAH and again the care afforded there was second to none.

Our NHS is a service to be cherished and protected and I am now doubly grateful for the fact that we have it.

Let's ensure that we always cherish and protect it from those who seek to diminish it.

As the result of the excellent care which I have received since my heart attack in July, I was able to march again this year in memory of John McLean MA, socialist, thinker and teacher, who died on the 30th November 1923 at the young age of 44.

McLean is internationally renowned and revered throughout the world and was made Consul in Glasgow by the leaders of the October revolution in Russia.

He is regarded as a working class hero often linked with James Connolly, but McLean knew little of the Irish Republican Rebellion in 1916 as he was in jail at the time for sedition, this courageous man had the temerity to speak out against war when it was not really an acceptable point of view to do so.

He learned more about the Irish Republican struggle when he was again incarcerated for his political views in 1918, this broke his health according to many and Great John died in 1923.

Another great man was remembered at the rally yesterday, Fidel Castro, who allegedly survived 638 assassination attempts by the CIA and died aged 90.

Castro's rallying cry was "socialism or death" and he completed his journey last Friday.

On the local front we are still locked out of information regarding the 'Grittergate' enquiry, we await the comments of our external auditors on the 'Fencegate' enquiry and we are still denied access to the information which Exxon mobile have stated "cannot be shared with elected councillors."

This may be how they do things in Trump's ewe, ess, of A but it is not the preferred method in WDC.