Rural Resilience and the Importance of Democracy - for the BV Friday, 7 February, 2025 In this edition I want to try to cover three topics. The first one was going to concern the recent announcement by Lloyds Bank of the impending closure later this year of their branch in Blandford. This story is covered elsewhere in this edition. While it is true that we are going through a period of transition when it comes to how we do our banking, the creation on ‘banking deserts’ is in... Local News
Reflecting at Christmas - for The Blackmore Vale 20th January 2025 I am writing this prior to Christmas but print timelines mean you will be reading this post the Big Day. I hope you had a very enjoyable, peaceful and safe... Media
Looking ahead to 2025 - for The BV 7th January 2025 Let me begin by wishing you, your families and loved ones, a very happy New Year. I hope you had an enjoyable and peaceful Christmas. For those with family... Media
The importance of our local economy - for The BV 28th October 2024 After the General Election, when I said that, in the interests of North Dorset and the wider country I wished the incoming Government well, I meant it. I am... Local News
Adjournment Debate: The Operation of Postal Voting at the General Election 22nd October 2024 I was delighted to secure an Adjournment Debate yesterday on the Operation of Postal Voting at the General Election. I know that this is an hugely important... Speeches in Parliament
Rights and Responsibilities - for The BV 30th September 2024 During the recent General Election campaign, I suggested that an issue that would need serious consideration over a period of time is the role of the State and... Articles
Speaking up for North Dorset - for The BV 12th July 2024 Well! Quite a lot has happened since the last edition of this fantastic magazine. As the last edition was during the Election campaign the Editor, in her... Local News
Dorset Island Discs - Interview by Laura Hitchcock, Editor, The BV 5th April 2024 ‘I was incredibly shy. I had quite bad speech defects as a child – I couldn’t say my R’s, my W’s, my th’s – that made me even shyer. It’s quite extraordinary... Articles
A 'Thank You' to our Communities - for The New Blackmore Vale 23rd March 2024 The technical seasonal weather bulletins tell us we are in Spring but, as I write this at my desk looking out over North Dorset it seems anything but. Let us... Articles
Standing the Test of Time - for The New Blackmore Vale 10th March 2024 ‘Will it stand the test of time?’ is often a question asked. In short – will something that looks or sound good today be so in the future. When it comes to... Articles
