Oliver Letwin MP

Have you ever reflected on the remarkable differences of character between one part of West Dorset and another? As someone who often has to travel across the terrain more than once in a day, I am continually struck by the rich variety this little corner of England has to offer.

Take, for example, the contrast between [...]

Here we are in October.   And the autumn weather makes it feel a long way yet to Christmas. 

But the truth is that the end of the year – with all its potential for snow and ice – is only about 10 weeks off. 

Remembering the problems that many of us had last year and the year [...]

One of the consequences of the rather busy lives led by those involved in politics is that we seldom actually write anything. 

Some of what comes out above the signature of any given politician is, of course, written by others – whether speech writers or civil servants.  But even when – as in the case of [...]

Good news!

Sherborne is set to be one of the few towns and parishes across England that will lead the whole country towards neighbourhood planning.

For several decades, we have had what is called a planning system.  But, over the years, it has become less and less like a planning system and more and more like a [...]

What is it that makes Sherborne so special? 

The town is, of course, an educational metropolis – with a multitude of fine schools, both taxpayer funded and privately funded.  The town is also a quite considerable cultural centre, with the remarkable artistic jewels of Sherborne House, thriving drama and music, and now the prospect of a [...]