Page 63 - feb2024

February 2024 February 2024
NEWS FROM WESTMINSTER
Left – Black and white image of
hawks weathering, Blaine (right) and
If you are a regular reader of my column you will Best, his falconer. From Country Life
know that I very much enjoy visiting schools, or Illustrated (April 21st, 1900). More
speaking to pupils when they visit Parliament recent colour photo shows very little
(perhaps it’s in my genes as my family are all has changed. Incredible what
teachers!). There are grants available for transport for information one can discover from
schools to visit Parliament – please get in touch with an old black and white image.
my office if you want more information. I have always
been passionate about education, and making sure After months of researching, I finally
that children in Mid Dorset and North Poole get the found this location where Blaine
very best start in life. Since being elected, I have weathered his hawks (1899). The
visited over 30 nurseries, schools and colleges across hawk lawn is the back garden of ‘The
Dorset and Poole. Cedars’, hence a cedar tree can be
seen behind Best in the black and
We are expanding free government-funded childcare, so that eligible working white image. I took a slightly wider
parents will be entitled to 30 hours of free childcare for children from age 9 angle as more foliage present today.
months. There’s a gradual rollout starting from April, for children over 2. Nurseries, Ironically, a wild sparrowhawk had
like Bizzybeez in Lytchett Minster that I visited in the autumn, will be able to offer plumed a kill marking the spot where
government-funded quality childcare, making it more affordable for people with the hawks once weathered!
young children to return to work.
The reason why Blaine weathered his
At the other end of the scale hawks at ‘The Cedars’, is due to
are our senior schools and
allotments being present in the
colleges. A senior school visit grounds of ‘The Cottage’, around
Q&A is very different from a that time. ‘The Cedars’ also had extensive outbuildings – accommodation, stables
nursery visit for an MP, and and was probably where he had his mews.
students often ask the most
challenging questions! I think Blaine rented ‘The Cottage’ (photo below) in 1899, this was the pet name that the
it is important that our Guest family gave to the house they built in c.1873 and was called ‘The Retreat'.
children understand the That building is now ‘The
political process, and I’m Vicarage'. It is mentioned as
always keen to encourage ‘The Cottage’ or ‘Bere
them to get involved. As part Cottage’ in Lady Layard's
of that, I host work Journal between 1875 and
experience students every 1898 when she visited the
year – to give young people a taste of what it is like to work in politics – either as family. Montague Guest (1839-
an MP, councillor, or in an MP’s office. Sometimes this is in the summer, but this 1909) built the house.
coming year I will also be running a work experience program for anyone in year As a falconer who is
12 or above during the Easter holidays. I ask the students to write a diary of their passionate about falconry
time in my office – you can read these on my website. There are also details of
how to apply for the Easter week – please do encourage any young people history, I thought this snippet of
who might be interested to apply. www.michaeltomlinson.org.uk/work- information would make an
experience interesting record for Bere
Regis. I hope it goes
As well as our maintained schools, I also visit our independent schools, and have s o m e w h e r e t o w a r d s
recently heard about some of the excellent work of Canford School in its

14 63