Diary - a poignant farewell Thursday, 13 June, 2024 A break from politics to attend the poignant funeral of Michael Wheller. A charming and courteous man, I met him frequently with his devoted wife Kate when she was Mayor. I attended to pay my respects to him and Kate and to represent my colleagues who could not attend. The Service was taken in Michael's church, All Saints in Wyke, by the new Rector John Mackenzie. Along with many mourners, I heard... Diary
Diary - £100 to fill up the average car 9th June 2022 Prices continued to rise, not least petrol and diesel. It is now costing about £100 to fill up the average car. I have called for further cuts in fuel duty and... Diary
Diary - rail strike later this month 8th June 2022 In addition to travel chaos in the air, we now face a three-day strike later this month by railway workers. The aim, according to union boss, is to "shut down... Diary
Diary - Remainers showed their hand 7th June 2022 The morning after the evening before began with a run in the park. Always a good way to clear the head. Throughout the day, the reason for last night's... Diary
Diary - what a day! 6th June 2022 The 6th June, 1944, a momentous day in our island's history, a day when troops from the free world stormed the Normandy beaches to free the world from the Nazi... Diary
Diary - partying in Weymouth 5th June 2022 The last day of celebrations to commemorate the Queen's Platinum Jubilee. While the action focused on the Mall, several streets in S Dorset were having their... Diary
Diary - a Dorset Service to celebrate the Queen's Platinum Jubilee 3rd June 2022 The Jubilee celebrations were well under way and today a Service was held at St Paul's Cathedral, but sadly without the Queen. She's clearly only doing what she... Diary
W2W - 70 glorious years on the throne 3rd June 2022 AS this article went to print, I was attending Trooping the Colour, a heart-stirring parade I know well. I have had the honour to participate in three of them... Articles
Diary - Trooping the Colour 2nd June 2022 What a day. My wife and I had accepted a generous invitation from an old friend of mine to attend Trooping the Colour. The former general, Sir James Bucknall... Diary
Diary - holiday chaos as flights cancelled 31st May 2022 Plenty of constituency work to get on with. The partygate saga rumbles on, with the PM's standards' adviser saying there was a "legitimate question" over... Diary