The weeks leading to Christmas are a time of general celebration and joy. But as the nights grow colder it is vital not to forget the most vulnerable people in society, and especially homeless people and rough sleepers.

Local MP Jesse Norman has been promoted to Minister of State at the Department of Transport.

Last Sunday, alongside the Lord Lieutenant, the Mayor of Hereford, civic dignitaries and thousands of local people, I stood in St Peter's Square to lay a wreath and pay my respects to the fallen on Remembrance Sunday.

Last Friday I was honoured to speak at the service for the inauguration of NMITE, our new university project, in Hereford Cathedral. This was my address.

Last Saturday I was delighted to open the official launch of the new Herefordshire Centre for Community-Led Housing (HCCLH).

The past few days have yielded two examples of the very best of Herefordshire, big and small, urban and rural, from two very different parts of my constituency.

Alas, summer is drawing to a close. Truly, this has been a year of extraordinary weather, from the succession of freezes we endured this winter to the tropic sunshine of the recent summer months.

Being an avid cyclist, I am delighted to celebrate Cycling UK’s 140th anniversary this month. Founded as the Bicycle Touring Club on August 5th 1878, it has grown into a national charity and campaigning organisation. 

Hello again! This column dropped out briefly from the pages of the Gazette, but it's a pleasure now to be able to bring it back.