Page 24 - br-dec-2022

December 2022 December 2022
NEWS FROM WESTMINSTER
BERE REGIS HISTORY SOCIETY

Since my last column, British politics has had more
At last some good news. We have secured the building changes, but we are now in a time of greater
which will contain our Museum. It is on a site that contains stability. I am very pleased that Rishi Sunak is our new
0.25 acres (0.1 hectares) of Bere Regis's oldest cemetery, Prime Minister. I believe that he is a talented and
and the information obtained so far indicates that there hardworking MP who has the skills and experience to
are almost 3,000 cremation burials in that small space. tackle the big issues that we face, such as a global
They date between 550-450 BC and additionally between energy crisis, the war in Ukraine, the impact of Covid
50 and 210 AD. on our economy and health service and high
inflation. He and I entered Parliament at the same
The building itself contains almost 100,000 items, many connected to village time and I will continue to support him
history, and almost all with no intrinsic value thank goodness. There will be four wholeheartedly.
rooms to the Museum, these being Reception and files, the Exhibition Area,
Records and the Library. As I write, people are preparing for Acts of Remembrance across the UK. Whilst
we remember those who died in defence of our country, I know many people
The collection is dominated by the Local Finds and Information but in addition has will also be thinking of those who are still fighting for freedom in Ukraine. I know
an associated grouping of things, which here includes World War One and WW2, our new Prime Minister will continue our support for Ukraine, including military
British Aviation, British Science Projects, General History, Archaeology both local training and arms, and support for refugees. As part of my role as Solicitor
and national and international, Astronomy and several other subjects. There will General I recently had a meeting with Ukraine’s Prosecutor General where we
be an extensive
i n d e x t o t h e discussed the UK’s ongoing support for the prosecution of war crimes in Ukraine
through the Atrocity Crimes Advisory Group and the work that the UK
collection made government is funding to train Ukrainian judges on domestic war crimes trials.
a v a i l a b l e t o
M e m b e r s a n d The Veterans All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) has just launched a short
Friends if they should nationwide survey to gather information on the individual experiences of UK
be interested or veterans when dealing with ‘Veterans UK’. If you have experience of this, please
want to look through do contribute your view. https://forms.gle/oib1BhkTFrUohSGp9
the collections. In the constituency I have been out

One other thing is and about, visiting local businesses and
certain. The BRHS has meeting residents. With business
to th an k ou r owners in Wimborne we discussed the
supporters who have challenge of rising energy bills, and I
helped to ensure am pleased that the Chancellor has
that our future has put in place more help to non-
possibilities. domestic customers with a discount on
energy use for at least 6 months. This
John Pitfield will help businesses, charities, and other
Some 2022 finds places such as schools, hospitals and
Projects Secretary
care homes. One such organisation
Opening Tops Day Nursery that will benefit is Tops Day Nursery in
Bearwood which I opened recently.

We also planted an apple tree, which seems to be a bit of a theme - I also
planted a tree with the mayor of Wimborne in memory of Her Late Majesty
Queen Elizabeth II.

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