AFTER the excitement of the last few weeks, it was great to start the Parliamentary Recess and catch up on my Constituency visits and engagements. It is such a relief to head off to work locally and then come home again to the beautiful Pewsey Vale after the endless to-ing and fro-ing of a normal Parliamentary week, and I am looking forward to a summer spent in Britain making full use of Alice, the camper van, for family holidays.

This week’s agenda began with a meeting with the Wiltshire and Swindon Local Economic Partnership – the partnership between Wiltshire Council and local businesses that is tasked with setting local economic priorities and leading economic growth and job creation in our area – to discuss their latest plans and proposals for funding bids in the next round of local growth funding, followed by one of my advice surgeries in Devizes.

I then donned a hard hat and fetching site boots for a visit to Browfort in Devizes to see the progress being made in renovating the building that will house the new Wiltshire Julia’s House children’s hospice.

It is the most wonderful project and all of the generous local support is being put to excellent use in constructing the centre and planning the outreach services for local families.

It was especially heart-warming to talk to some of the builders and hear how they thought it was the most valuable thing they had ever done. With the centre due for completion by Christmas, it will soon be up and running.

I also visited Bromham this week for a celebration lunch at the Coconut Indian restaurant which has just been awarded South West regional runner up in the national Tiffin Cup competition for the best South Asian food in Britain. The team has worked so hard to create a really lovely space and excellent high-quality food, and it was a pleasure to sample a tasting menu as well as present the award – I will be heading back with my curry-loving family in tow soon!

Also this week, I made the short trip to Pewsey to join the parish council and local families in officially opening more play park equipment, in this case especially designed for children of all abilities. A particular highlight was the raceway for little ones on bikes and scooters and with the park located next to the thriving bowls club and also the football pitch, it was once again yet more evidence that Pewsey offers something for all ages and interests.