I KNOW I sound a bit like a broken record but I do love my job as Provost.

When I think of my role one word always springs to mind – diversity – and I don’t mean the energetic and multi-talented dance group who won Britain’s Got Talent in 2009!

Quite simply put, every working day is different and every day I have the honour and privilege of meeting new people, and attending very special occasions and the past few weeks have been no exception.

Last month I once again attended the annual schools gala concert in Greenock Town Hall. Every year I am amazed and delighted to see exceptional performances with the standard set even higher.

I would like to say a huge thank you and well done to all of the young people involved, as well as the staff and parents who give so much of their time to support them.

The talented youngster theme continued at All Saints Primary for the annual Burns Club Primary Schools competition, where once again the standard was exceptionally high.

Congratulations to everyone who took part and to the winners who will join teams from Renfrewshire to represent the county.

You will have read stories in these pages of our efforts to renew and regenerate in Inverclyde. I had the pleasure of attending a Charette – a term used to describe a session involving designers, planners and members of the public – in Port Glasgow to discuss ideas for the regeneration of the town centre. Some interesting ideas were put forward and I think everyone involved got a lot out of the event.

Education and community are among the cornerstones of life in Inverclyde. Last Sunday saw the annual Boys’ Brigade Battalion Service which this year had special significance with the organisation celebrating its 130th anniversary. For once the weather was fine and all enjoyed the march past in Cathcart Square.

Last weekend I joined council leader Councillor Stephen McCabe at the official opening of the Craigmarloch Additional Support Needs School, pictured, at the new Port Glasgow Community Campus.

This is simply an incredible facility we have in Inverclyde where the children and young people receive all of the benefits of a first-class education in a wonderful environment.

Finally I would like to say a special thank-you to P6 pupils at Whinhill Primary school who performed some of their own songs at the wonderful ‘Absent Voices’ art and music exhibition at the Beacon Arts Centre last week.

The event was another fine example of community involvement and showed perfectly what a wonderful – and diverse – place we are fortunate enough to live in.