Our market towns and villages are the backbone of our rural way of life, and the various clubs and societies within them play a vital part in fostering the great sense of community that we all know and love here in Mid Norfolk.

That’s why I was concerned to learn, last year, that St Nicholas’ Bowls Club, right in the centre of Dereham, was facing an uncertain future – with its lease coming up for renewal with Breckland.

I was pleased to work with the Chairman of the Bowls Club, Raymond Worby, and his team to encourage Breckland to give them the certainty they needed – and I am delighted to have been informed that the Club have now signed a new lease which gives them exactly that.

The Club has one of the best greens around, as well as a thriving membership and ambitions to improve even further. I very much look forward to visiting the Club again in the New Year.