I WROTE last week about the atrocities in Tunisia, and this week we have seen two important anniversaries, which have reinforced the message that we must learn lessons of the past, remain vigilant and never become complacent.

Tuesday was of course the 10th anniversary of the 7/7 bombings, when 52 people were murdered on the tube and bus in central London.

The horror of that day, which affected so many people not only from London but from across the UK, including Penarth, and worldwide, will never be forgotten.

But what was apparent that day and since, is that when faced with the worst of human nature and its potential for evil, the very best of humanity can shine through.

On that day, strangers helped strangers and the resilience and strength of people caught up in events was truly remarkable.

The victims of this atrocity, the lives lost and those changed forever, were the focus of services on Tuesday, as people paused to remember events that had such far-reaching consequences - but of course they are never far from our thoughts.

On Monday, July 6, I attended a service at Westminster Abbey to mark Srebrenica Memorial Day and the 20th anniversary of the genocide, when Bosnian Serb forces massacred 8,372 men and boys, in the greatest atrocity on European soil since the Second World War.

The service included powerful testimony from, among others, the President of the Mothers of Srebrenica Association.

It was a deeply moving service which I was proud to attend, having visited Bosnia with a cross-party delegation and the charity Remembering Srebrenica last year.

There are incredibly important lessons to be learned from events there - not only so that such an atrocity is never allowed to happen again; but also as a reminder of the need to tackle intolerance and hatred here in the UK.

I was back at Westminster Abbey on Tuesday evening for a memorial service of a different kind.

This was the dedication of a memorial stone to Jim Callaghan, who of course served Penarth as MP and was one of the most remarkable political figures of the 20th century – remaining the only MP to hold all four great offices of state.

He is remembered by many in Penarth and Cardiff with deep and abiding affection, and I have my own childhood memory of him.

As a 10-year-old I toured Parliament with my family, having been invited by then Vale MP John Smith, and we were introduced to ‘Gentleman Jim’ in one of the lobbies.

He told me it was vital that politicians listen to the views of children and young people – a lesson as true then as it is today.