The outpouring of affection and respect for my esteemed predecessor Rob Key has been heart-warming to see.
As well as serving Salisbury in Parliament with dedication and distinction for 27 years, Rob had an instinct for public service that pervaded every aspect of his life.
I fondly remember his warm welcome to me when I took over in 2010 and his support and sage advice over the years, always modestly and thoughtfully offered.
Rob not only served in government in three different ministerial roles, but also sat on the General Synod of the Church of England and was a lifelong friend of Salisbury Cathedral and The Cathedral School.
I was pleased to be able to be there in 2017 when he received the Freedom of Salisbury, a rare honour that he richly deserved.
After I took the opportunity to pay tribute to him from the despatch box this week, several parliamentary colleagues have shared their own reminiscences.
Although, in latter years, he was disillusioned with some aspects of national politics, most notably Brexit, his kindness to me personally never wavered.
He took an abiding interest in everything pertaining to Salisbury and was always one of the first to congratulate me on positive news.
I have been touched to receive, not only kind messages of condolence from constituents, but also lots of emails and messages recounting favourite memories of Rob – little vignettes ranging from the comical to the profound.
He will be much missed, and my thoughts are with Sue and the rest of the family at this difficult time.
In Westminster, preparations for the next budget are continuing in earnest and my time in The Treasury is intensely busy, meeting with colleagues and officials. My week even features a there-and-back dash to Edinburgh to meet finance ministers from the devolved administrations.
My engagements in Salisbury this week include a visit to Salisbury 6th Form College, an advice surgery, and the latest in a series of occasional visits from local Christian Aid activists.
This time they are airing their concerns around climate change. No doubt they will bring some interesting and challenging talking points with them, and I look forward to a stimulating conversation.
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