WE have the back to school feeling in the Perry household this week with children revising furiously for A-levels, various projects to be completed around the house before we scatter next week and me eyeing up my 'signature' bright jacket wardrobe for the House of Commons without much enthusiasm, having worn jeans almost every day during the break.

We are also a bit short on personal Perry New Year’s resolutions, having learnt from bitter experience that they can be hard to keep, and that it can be very disheartening to give up on a pledge. But some that appear to be sticking are the family resolution to become a bee-keeping household in 2017 (with the support and help of the superb Kennet Beekeepers Association), the now annual ritual for me of sticking out a dry January and my end-of year-pledge to focus more on the good news and acts of inspiration that surround us and less on the doom and gloom, shock horror reporting that seems to bedevil the national media.

There is plenty of the former all around us locally and every week since becoming your MP I have written letters or cards to many local people who deserve a cheer or message of support: for opening a new business; being recognised for an act of charity or kindness or simply for being a local community stalwart, for example. Many, but not all, of their stories are covered in our excellent local paper in which this column appears, so I have decided to include in every column a Thank You of the Week to someone who really deserves a mention.

This week, to set the trend, I am starting off with a double helping of local thanks. First on the list are the Gazette & Herald local team, headed by editor, Gary Lawrence, whose appeal has raised more than £100,000 to support the new Julia’s House Children’s Hospice in Devizes which will open this year – an incredible achievement.

Second, I wanted to record my heartfelt thanks for so many years of dedicated community work to John Powell of Burbage who sadly passed away before Christmas and who headed Burbage Parish Council for more than 30 years. I had the honour of presenting John and his wife Mary with the award of first honorary freeman of Burbage back in 2011 to commemorate his community work over decades. He will be so sadly missed but his work and commitment to the village he loved will be an inspiration for many of us for years to come.