Page 24 - br-mar-2021 (1)

March 2021 March 2021
NEWS FROM WESTMINSTER who had braved the open sea
made the entrance to Stair Hole
Over the last year we have all had to get used to and the sanctuary of the water
new ways of working, and Parliament is no behind it. A few thought it might
exception. Before the pandemic I went to London be better to scale the craggy cliff
every week on Monday mornings, returning to and walk back to the cove rather
Dorset on Thursday or Friday evenings. Over the last than brave the raging sea again
few months this has changed – I have still been but were persuaded to return via
going to London, but not every week. Parliament is our outward route.
operating as a hybrid and most MPs are Swimming back through the
contributing remotely, but there still have to be entrance was a truly awe inspiring
some MPs in the Chamber itself.
sight but I was reminded that
Further, instead of face to face meetings, I have virtual meetings. For example, in Sergeant Troy in Hardy's tragic tale
the last week I have met with fellow Dorset MPs and Dorset Council, discussing "Far from the Madding Crowd" was supposed to have come to grief feared to
the response to the pandemic. I have also met with the chairs or clerks of all our have drowned here in the current at Lulworth Cove only to reappear a year later.
parish councils to talk about their work during Covid and the Dorset Local Plan Poet John Keats spent his last night on English soil at Lulworth in September 1820.
consultation. You can find more details about the consultation on my website Back on dry land, Annie one of our very experienced open water swimmers
https://www.michaeltomlinson.org.uk/dorset-local-plan-have-your-say – please (channel and many other longs swims) reflected "God, that was scary but great
do contribute your views.
fun!"
I also have regular updates from the CCG about the situation in our local We were now off up the hill for
hospitals, and also about the vaccinations. If you are over 70, or clinically the descent into Durdle Door,
extremely vulnerable, and you have not yet had the vaccine, please do book a the grand finale for our
vaccine. You can do this through the national booking service which can be swimming odyssey. Having
accessed at www.nhs.uk/covid-vaccination. Anyone unable to book online parked our cars at the top of
can call 119 free of charge, anytime between 7am and 11pm seven days a the hill, we made our way
week. This will gradually be rolled out for more people – please do keep an eye down the gravel track. The
out for updates from the NHS.
sea sparkled in the evening
As I write, more than 90% of over 75s have received their first injection in Dorset, light and a grey cloudy sky
and the number is rising daily. This could not have been possible without the was by this time trying to
incredible hard work of our local reveal glimpses of the fading
health service – in particular the sunlight. Before us was the
primary care trusts leading the Door in all its majesty. This
GP vaccination centres, the magnificent limestone arch
help from the military, and the was created millions of years
hundreds of volunteers. I want to ago when the sea eroded the
express my thanks to everyone weaker rocks behind it and
who has been involved in this formed a landmark of perfect form and beauty.
fantastic effort.
It was now past 8pm but around twenty hardy souls were left for our last swim of
For those of you who have the day. Gerry had made it (good lad!) and we all set out through the Door. In the
received the vaccine, it is really fading evening light with the Isle of Portland winking in the background, it was one
important that you continue to of life's unforgettable swimming experiences. As we swam through the Door itself,
follow current social distancing we kept going, turning left and swimming around the headland in the choppy sea
until we found the shelter of Man of War Bay snuggling around the corner. A

24 57