He started his day with a meeting with Councillor Gordon Marples, Leader of MSDC, and officials from Mid Sussex District Council to discuss the whole question of housing development in the light of the present financial crisis and its continuing impact.

Nicholas then visited High Weald Dairy in Horsted Keynes to meet Mark and Sarah Hardy who run this remarkable operation. The High Weald Dairy won six prizes at the British Cheese Awards.

Nicholas Soames said; “I was delighted to meet Mark and Sarah Hardy and some of their excellent staff. Their dairy supplies cheese to Sainsbury’s and Waitrose and also markets its products across Sussex, Kent and Surrey. The Hardys are magnificent examples of rural enterprise and we are very lucky to have them in Mid Sussex.”

Nicholas then went on to address a meeting of the Mid Sussex Older People’s Council at the Sydney West Centre in Burgess Hill.

Nicholas commented; “I am very impressed with the work of the MSOPC and all that they do and it was very useful for me to attend one of their quarterly meetings.”

In the early evening Nicholas visited the re-launch party at the Fresh Fish Shop in Haywards Heath and congratulated Sebastian Candelon on his excellent facilities and his wonderful fish.

Nicholas then had a very busy surgery in Haywards Heath.

Nicholas said; “This was a full and very rewarding day and I much enjoyed it.”