WE are getting back into the Parliamentary swing of things. Most MPs now have offices (I thankfully just moved back into mine and unpacked the boxes), postbags are starting to bulge again and have also restarted my regular advice surgeries and local meetings.

I felt particularly privileged to attend the ceremony in Ludgershall last Saturday that granted the Freedom of the town to the Perham Down-based 26 Engineer Regiment.

The band played, flags fluttered and more than 200 soldiers marched in parade, demonstrating impeccable drilling skills.

All were delighted to cement this long-standing relationship in such a glorious way and I was interested to learn more about the tradition which grew up as a means of protecting towns from attack by only granting freedoms to a particular unit of trusted armed men.

In the last few years a similar ceremony gave the Freedom of Marlborough to Bulford-based 4 Military Intelligence Battalion, while Devizes has bestowed successive freedoms on the regiments that now make up the Rifles.

These are always proud days for those attending and those parading and ceremonies that serve to remind us of the importance of military ties in this constituency.

My invitation pile is stacking up too and I am working hard trying to fit in as many local visits as possible – with the fete opening season gearing up, I expect I will see many people in tombola and ice cream queues in the next few weeks.

I am also always keen to do anything that helps to support local and national charities and so this week I found myself pulling a rope with all my might in 29th annual Parliamentary tug of war to support Macmillan, the cancer support charity.

As is usual, our team of unfit parliamentary ladies lost overall, but we did win one bout for the first time ever and with muscles still aching it was a a great substitute for the gym as well as a good way to raise funds for such a brilliant organisation.

Also there, and much more successful in the contest, were a winning team from 4th Regiment, Royal Artillery and I was delighted to hear that they were moving to Larkhill the following day.

When I told them that I will be honoured to be their MP they looked rather sceptical which may have had something to do with my post-pull dishevelled state so I promised to mention them in my column to prove my legitimacy, so a warm welcome to the Devizes constituency for the gentlemen from the winning Mighty Military team.