I ENJOYED every minute of the Whitsun/Jubilee recess.

It started with the honour of laying the foundation stone of the new Kidderminster College, with Ken Stokes, our new mayor.

The annual meeting of the Hospitals League of Friends was well attended. It is continuing its activities but guarding its money carefully, so it will be available when needed to help restore any services to our hospital.

Peter Forrester, chief executive of Wyre Forest Primary Care Trust, spoke about the new arrangements in the NHS for PCTs to hold the purse strings and have power to make changes in local service provision.

It was good to see at the meeting David Priestnall and Mike O'Riordan, chairmen of the PCT and Acute Hospitals Trusts respectively.

The latter's presence demonstrated a welcome interest in our area.

They would have left the meeting in no doubt about the needs of local people for better hospital services.

Next I went to a presentation to staff and governors of Harry Cheshire Community High School, of the plans to help the school improve its performance following its recent inspection.

These are exciting and realistic, backed by extra money and in the words of the chairman of governors, aim to make the school the one parents and their children wish to attend.

I am confident that, given time, we will all see improvements in performance and image taking place.

After a fact-finding visit to Dura Automotive Systems I visited Areley Common First School to watch Don Giles, Mayor of Stourport, open the superb outdoor classroom and play area, a product of local ideas, fund-raising and construction.

At the weekend the Hits from the Blitz concert was loudly appreciated by a packed audience.

The Mayor's Sunday parade and service were traditional and inspiring.

Perhaps there was less interruption to traffic, as most people were glued to their televisions for the World Cup match.

"Songs of Praise" outside the town hall was a fitting close to Sunday.

Holiday Monday saw people enjoy themselves despite the weather. I relished an enormous beefburger while watching family groups set up picnic tables in Kidderminster town centre.

The duck race was a focus of much excitement, not least seeing the organisers retrieve the ducks by almost total immersion while fully clothed.

The rain stopped for me to unveil a plaque at Blakedown to mark the opening of their lovely Millennium Green, and for the magnificent firework display after dark.

A truly memorable weekend.