Horsham can recreate bits of Italy in Carfax but sadly it can’t guarantee Italian weather…. On Good Friday many were however out enjoying Piazza Italia whatever rain was thrown at them (and there was a lot of it)!
“Maundy Thursday” marks the start of Easter, the day for me started with Parliamentary questions – flagging concerns raised with me by Horsham’s Creative Assembly.
Constituency issues come in all forms and I met a Minister on Wednesday to raise three different issues on behalf of constituents. The law is not perfect and sadly neither are Government departments! Constituents raising issues and MPs highlighting practical concerns is one of the best ways to get these addressed.
Wednesday also included our cross-party group on Southern Rail quizzing COO Nick Brown. We are never short of “issues” but the atmosphere is certainly better than a year ago. The main focus is on Southern’s new timetable which I will cover more fully before its May introduction. The same day I was introduced to “Wings for Warriors” a charity (recently helped by the Government’s LIBOR fund) which does an amazing job helping injured veterans become pilots. This was one of a number of charity-related meetings this week – on Monday I discussed with a bright delegation from Tanbridge (assisted by Save the Children) how we can help alleviate and resolve the tragic but fearsomely complex civil war in Yemen.
I got back to Horsham in time on Thursday to meet Caroline Snowling. Caroline has been through the most awful ordeal of losing her mother in dreadful circumstances. She has set out to turn this tragedy into something positive for others. Her campaign is covered elsewhere in today’s County Times. On a happier note my last visit on Thursday (prior to the Conservative Association’s AGM!) was to Collyers. After their huge success in Washington last year the Robotics team have a new base (modelled on Bletchley Park’s Hut 8) and three teams all with designed and working robots and all off to different national competitions – before Collyers again represents the country this summer – this time in China. A great success and a positive note on which to start Easter!
Photo caption: Tanbridge students in Westminster last week to present a petition to the Foreign Office and discuss the desperate situation in Yemen.