It was a very great pleasure to be at the first birthday party of the enhanced TransWilts train service at Westbury station at the weekend. Dr Beeching wasn’t invited!

I’ve had an affection for trains ever since I worked for three summers in a row for Sealink, which then was a wholly owned British Rail subsidiary. So I can claim to have been a BR employee, sort of, close, at a push, to every child’s dream of being a train driver.

The towns of Wiltshire are growing in size and it’s important if our road infrastructure is not to be overburdened for public transport capacity to increase to cope.

First Great Western tells me that passenger numbers for the service have been great so I’m hopeful that it will be included in the next franchise.

It’s Christmas so some good news is always welcome including a letter from Wessex Water telling me that water charges for my constituents will come down in real terms by 8.5 per cent over the next five years.

Petrol prices are falling as OPEC decides to maintain production. This is very bad news for sanction-hit Russia, whose economy is so closely linked with oil and gas. The ghastly Vladimir Putin must be feeling the pinch. No sympathy given the outrage in Ukraine and Russia’s continuing hostility towards the Baltic states and Georgia.

I’ve also had a letter this week from The Department of Work and Pensions telling me that Universal Credit will be rolled out to all job centres from February. Wiltshire is in the first tranche. I welcome UC as it will simplify the benefits system and ensure that nobody is worse off by virtue of taking up a job.

I’ve had fewer Christmas cards this year. Either I’m worryingly less popular or people and organisations are economising, stamps being the price they are. I prefer to believe the latter especially since I too have been pruning my Christmas card list.

Notwithsanding the spirit of austerity, can I wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a peaceful and prosperous New Year.