Last week’s St George’s Day parade and service at the Abbey was absolutely beautiful, and all the various sections of Scouting and Guiding certainly put on a great display of teamwork, smartness and of the values that they represent. I well remember my time as a Brownie in the Second West Wellow pack, how much I enjoyed it and what I got out of it. Although I will confess it did not give me a lifelong love of orienteering.
It was also wonderful to celebrate local hairdresser Rachel Cardy’s 50 years of hairdressing at Luc’s in Romsey on Saturday afternoon, after a quick visit to the renovated Orangery at Broadlands beforehand. I am always struck by the beauty of the Broadlands Estate, perhaps especially so in the Spring, with the trees just coming into leaf.
This week we have again been considering the passage of the Illegal Migration Bill in Parliament, with some striking interventions by the Children’s Commissioner, who shares my concerns about the detention of children.
I have taken part in conferences this week with the Institute for Government and Public Policy on women’s health, with Deloittes, and also the Women Political Leaders with Julia Gillard, former Prime Minister of Australia. I also attended the Get Lippy event with the Eve Appeal, launching this year’s awareness campaign of the five gynae cancers.
