WITH my own Christmas cards posted, it seemed appropriate to pop into one of the local Royal Mail delivery offices to wish the team a very Happy Christmas.

This year I visited the Tidworth office, where all were flat out at 8am and I think I spoke for us all, when I emphasised just how much we all appreciate the human touch with our postal delivery.

It was then back Devizes for my final advice surgery of the year and then a short walk to the newly refurbished Three Crowns pub in Maryport Street, Devizes – the latest in the Wadworth family to be bought up to date, and to celebrate the fabulous new space that has been created.

I sneaked a sip of 6X as it was Christmas, and felt very under-dressed as it was Christmas jumper day and the pub was full of Santas, elves, reindeers and general good cheer.

I then headed back to London for the last days of the 2016 Parliament and to review the welcome announcement that the Government has finally committed to address the historic school funding anomalies that have meant Wiltshire school children receive less money per head than others in many other parts of the country.

Wiltshire Council is working through the detail of the funding formula proposal and there is more work to be done before the final consultation closes on in March to understand the real impact, but it is a clear step in the right direction.

I then hoped to be able to look forward to the next few days but sadly our festivities will be overshadowed by the awful news from Germany where once again a twisted individual or group has succeeded in inflicting mayhem on people enjoying their leisure time and in this case preparing for their own Christmas holidays.

It is too soon as I write to rush to condemn or even identify the perpetrators but evil is abroad as we approach a time of the year when peace should prevail, it is so terribly sad.

I have no doubt there will be plenty of people who seek to make political capital out of this event by spouting all sorts of extremist rhetoric and although I have never quite understood why some politicians think it helpful to fight intolerance and hatred with more of the same, sadly I am sure the airwaves will be full of it over the next few days.

Despite this, I hope that all of the people I am so proud to represent have a wonderfully happy and calm Christmas.