The joy of the Easter message and the renewal of the Seasons came under pressure with the announcements of deaths recently.

I will not add unnecessarily to comment upon the Duke’s death save to say that his devotion to duty, service and the subjection of the self to another were hallmarks of character that stand out and which we should all seek to replicate. A chapter has closed but our Island Story continues.

May the Duke rest in peace and the Queen’s faith sustain her at this desperately sad time. I know both will be in the thoughts and prayers of all of us in North Dorset.

The terrible murder of Sir Richard Sutton caused shock and anxiety in and around Gillingham. Why we think North Dorset should be exempt from such crimes of evil I don’t know but we do, don’t we? Our local Dorset Police have responded magnificently and if I have one message of assurance to give it is that this was an isolated crime and that there is no need for anxiety for the local community. Justice must run its course so I will comment no further on this desperately sad event.

My late father was (unlike me) a keen DIYer. Whenever, as a boy I was enlisted to help with some home decoration project I was very much the junior apprentice – able to pass a nail, hold a ladder etc but not actually to ‘get my hands dirty’. Unsurprisingly, I used to get bored – why can’t we just get the paint/paper on rather than all this tedious prep work that no one will see? My dear father would repeat his mantra: it’s 80% preparation, 10% perspiration and 10% decoration.

In a few weeks’ time Dorset will go to the Polls to elect our new Police & Crime Commissioner. Dorset’s current Commissioner, Martyn Underhill, is stepping down and I want to place on record, on your behalf, my thanks to him for all that he has done and for being so accessible to me as your MP. The role of Commissioner is important: it is not a day to day operational role (that is the Chief Constable’s job) but it is a role whereby an elected person can set goals, strategies and priorities that meet the needs of the area. Politicians have always been involved with policing as the old police authorities demonstrate. There are a number of candidates standing and I would urge you to vote for David Sidwick.

He is standing as a Conservative but that is not the reason I recommend him to you and ask you to support him. It is because he is the ONLY candidate who has spoken to me regularly over the last two years, as your MP, to find out the issues and needs my constituents and communities have of the police. He has done the same with business leaders, farmers, community groups, charities and councillors over the same timeframe. He has a very clear understanding of the needs of policing our rural area.

My father always had excellent results from his handiwork. I don’t think David Sidwick knew my father, but he has followed his mantra of concentrating on the preparation for a job. He will hit the ground running, having done his homework and he will deliver for North Dorset. So please vote for him – he will serve us all well.

Support Us

Thank you all so, so much for the love and appreciation you’ve shown us since we launched the New Blackmore Vale.

Please show your support and add a review on our Facebook page or on Google.