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Last weekend I attended so many events that I am probably not going to be able to do much more than mention them in this piece.

On Friday morning I spoke to, and answered questions from the A Level politics students at Brockhill Performing Arts College. The questions were very perceptive and interesting and left me encouraged about the calibre of the next (or perhaps I should say next but one!) generation.

That was followed by a meeting at Shepway District Council to see whether the Council can help one of Shepway’s biggest employers.

Next stop was the Guildhall Pub in The Bayle – part of Proud of Pubs Week where I met the Gresswells who run the pub and are hoping to buy it. It is doing well despite the recession and I hope their ambition is realised.

From there I went to Eversley College in Coolinge Lane to meet the Shepway Overseas Liaison Group. They work to make sure that the large numbers of overseas students who come to Shepway each year enjoy their stay. These students make a valuable contribution to our local economy and we must do all we can to encourage the growth of this activity.

I then went to Hawkinge for the 20th Anniversary Celebration of Kent Community Recycling, the brainchild of Mark Wyatt, which has been so important for the environment of our community over the last two decades. Sadly Mark himself wasn’t well enough to be there but a good time was had by all and no doubt Mark will be in action again very soon.

After my surgeries on Saturday I paid a brief visit to the Maize in the Marsh at Haguelands Farm in Dymchurch before going to Folkestone for the 25th Anniversary of Operation Sunshine. This charity, masterminded by the indefatigable Sheila Lloyd, does wonderful work helping the poor in Africa. Its patron is Lady Carey, wife of former Archbishop of Canterbury and both she and her husband spoke at the service, which was very well attended.

Last, but by now means least, was the Annual Memorial Day of the Battle of Britain Memorial Trust at Capel. This event gets bigger and better every year. It is crucial that we remember the sacrifices made in the sky above us, just under 70 years ago. The Memorial Day certainly helps to achieve that. It was, as ever, a privilege to be there.