I was pleased to attend the Switch On To Swindon Ambassador’s Breakfast at the National Self Build and Renovation Centre last Thursday.

As mentioned in my column in February, when I attended the Switch On To Swindon launch event, I am offering my full support to this campaign, which highlights Swindon as a great place to live, work, invest in and visit.

It also emphasises our town’s successful history and raises awareness of its potential to ensure it continues to prosper and grow.

I am delighted that 200 people turned up to the first ambassador event, which will see local people and businesses promote our town.

To have this level of support from businesses across our town at this early stage in the campaign is very encouraging and I am confident that they will help attract new investment and firms into Swindon.

I would like to thank all of those who have become involved with the campaign so far. If you are a local business who would like to become involved in the Switch on to Swindon campaign, please visit switchontoswindon.com.

There was also good news for staff at the Prospect Hospice last week as they became the first independent hospice in the UK to be awarded the prestigious Skills For Health Quality Mark.

The hospice received this award for its education services, which support local healthcare professionals, working both for the hospice and other local organisations.

I would like to thank all at the hospice for their hard-work and dedication, which makes such a difference to so many of us here in Swindon.

This week, as the Easter recess continues, I am carrying on meeting with residents and local businesses. I have also been busy organising a local meeting about Swindon’s heritage, which will take place on Thursday.

I am pleased that like me, there are so many people interested in the future of our town and in positive ways of highlighting our social and industrial history.

The aim of this meeting is to bring together key figures to discuss the plans to find a positive way forward.

As the national news has been focused upon the appalling chemical weapon attack in Syria last week, which is estimated to have killed more than 80 people, we hope that the proportionate strike by the US will ensure that, as our United Nations Ambassador, Matthew Rycroft rightly said, “such acts never happen again.”

These events will only increase the international community’s calls for a peaceful settlement to the conflict in Syria, which began in 2011.

Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to wish fellow Swindon residents a happy and peaceful Easter.