Between Christmas and New Year Romsey Young Farmers did their annual tractor run from Michelmersh, up through Broughton, along Stockbridge High Street, then back down to Romsey. In total there were nearly 200 agricultural vehicles, many of which were brilliantly decorated, with lights, tinsel, flags and banners. They were raising money for the Hants and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance, currently based at Thruxton, but soon to be moving to Southampton Airport. It is a great charity which flew 1,108 missions in 2024, saving countless lives and making sure an advanced critical care team gets to the most critically injured and seriously ill patients as swiftly as possible.
The Tractor Run is an incredible event and in every village and town crowds gathered by the roads to cheer them on. I saw them on Stockbridge High Street where the pavements were absolutely rammed with people, but the pictures from everywhere else show equally crowded scenes. It is well worth a visit to the RYFC Facebook page to see them.
In 2025 Boots and MacMillan are rolling out a new scheme for Pharmacy Technicians, who will be trained to advise and support customers and their families living with cancer. Boots does great work on women’s health and already has 2,500 Boots MacMillan Information Pharmacists. So I am very much looking forward to a New Year visit to see the work they are doing in the Romsey store.
Just before Christmas the Defence Select Committee published their report into Service Accommodation, which I had submitted evidence to back in 2023 at the request of a number of service families living in this constituency. The report makes a significant number of hard hitting recommendations, which the Government must respond to. I am pleased the new Committee took up the mantle of its predecessor and the service families’ voices have been listened to.
Rt Hon Caroline Nokes MP
Member of Parliament for Romsey and Southampton North
Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons