IT WAS a pleasure to attend two evenings of events at this year’s Chalke Valley History Festival as well, of course, as welcoming Princess Anne to both Armed Forces Day and then, on Monday morning, to the long-awaited opening of the Stonehenge School extension

This improved educational provision in a growing part of the constituency is extremely welcome and will equip Stonehenge to meet the demand for places, particularly as the army rebasing project continues to the north.

Following an engaging conversation with Salisbury climate change activists at last week’s lobby (despite the noise and the crowds), I have spent much of this week delivering on long-planned action to place the City of London at the heart of cutting our greenhouse gas emissions to net zero.

I have been launching the brand new Green Finance Strategy, which aims to create new opportunities for investors and boost the UK’s reputation as a global hub for green finance.

The City has a vital role to play in securing a greener future. By investing more in sustainable projects, it can not only protect our environment, but also accelerate the development of green technology.

New initiatives will boost funding for green ventures and ensure the environment is at the centre of all financial decision-making.

On a more individual level, the strategy also includes a range of measures such as a green home finance fund to pilot innovative financial products such as green mortgages to encourage people to upgrade the energy efficiency of their homes.

On Friday, I am looking forward to a return visit to Salisbury District Hospital’s highly respected Duke of Cornwall Spinal Centre.

I also look forward with great interest to the town hall event at the Guildhall at which the work on Salisbury branding is to be presented and discussed.

It is always challenging to bring multiple stakeholders together, but it is vital for different organisations to contribute and ultimately to take ownership of a project whose only purpose is to promote Salisbury, to the benefit of all its shops, restaurants and businesses.

As Jane Scott reaches the end of her tenure as leader - first of Wiltshire County Council and then of the Unitary Authority - I thank her for her 16 years of service and her steadfast support for investment in Salisbury’s infrastructure.