Happy New Year!

January was named after the Roman god Janus who governed beginnings, endings and transitions, so it's appropriate that this is my last column for the Salisbury Journal.

I'm finishing a very happy and interesting year writing for the paper of my home town while I worked as a freelance writer, but often as a new door opens another needs to close, and I have recently become deputy editor of Wedding magazine - which means a move to Colchester.

After two years freelancing it's an exciting new challenge, but I'm sad to leave Salisbury for the second time in my life, and I will always return as I have friends and family here.

Over the past year I have appreciated Salisbury more than I did when I was growing up, and have realised the importance of local community.

I lived in London for 15 years and I didn't know my neighbours.

The nature of living somewhere so vast means the pace is fast, the variety of choice is dizzying, and rush-hour is crazed.

Moving back to Salisbury has been an eye-opener, and as I gradually reacquainted myself I discovered the importance of city identity.

Every city has its own personality created by its independent shops, restaurants, pubs and other local businesses, and in Salisbury they are sadly closing all the time.

In the past year Brian Leonard, The Strawberry Fox, La Mollina, Snip and The Salisbury Chocolate Bar and Patisserie have been among the many.

I feel that at the moment Salisbury is at a crossroads, and I hope this decline does not continue.

This year is going to be a special one as we're celebrating the 800th anniversary of Magna Carta and the best-preserved of the last four copies is housed in the cathedral.

So while 2015 will be about celebrating the historic document which has shaped the rights of everyone in this country, there will be increased interest in our city.

I hope that Salisbury thrives off the back of the interest, and that as this door opens for it, that others don't close.