It is not often that you see with your own eyes the results of a policy decision which you had a hand in many years ago.

This what happened to me last Friday morning when the Big Lottery Fund invited me to look at some of the projects in Shepway which have been funded by the Lottery.

The Lottery was launched when John Major was Prime Minister. I remember being consulted by Norman Lamont, who was Chancellor of the Exchequer at the time. To be perfectly honest I can’t remember what advice I gave him! But there is no doubt that it has been a great success.

There is of course some political controversy over the way in which the proceeds have been spread very thinly as a result of the changes made by the present Government.

But notwithstanding these changes the Lottery has clearly helped many good causes. The projects which I saw on Friday were the sports hall at Pent Valley and the sports field at Mundella. They are both very well used and certainly represent excellent value for the lottery player’s money. Let’s hope there is more to come.

On Friday afternoon I was shown round some of the new facilities at the William Harvey. I was impressed by much of what I saw and there is no doubt that in many areas real progress has been made.

As regular readers will know, however, I have been unimpressed by some of the shortcomings which some of you have drawn to my attention. They should enable lessons to be learned so that these unfortunate events are not repeated.

I paid another medical visit on Monday morning. This time it was to the Primary Healthcare Centre at Shorncliffe. Here care and rehabilitation are provided for some of our servicemen and women who have been injured on duty in Afghanistan or elsewhere. The facility is sometimes described as “the jewel of Kent” so far as medical care for the military is concerned. The dedicated way in which the patients are looked after was really good to see. It is a facility we can all be proud of.

© Hawkinge Gazette and Channel Coast News 2010