The new building has a ten-table snooker room, while the main bar area has four English and two American pool tables.

Members can enjoy comfortable seating, use of a darts board and there is table tennis on offer as well. Not surprisingly, visiting snooker and pool teams are full of admiration for the new facilities.

Manager Richard Pacy designed the whole set up himself, employing a number of local businesses in Diss who helped him turn his drawings into reality.

I enjoyed trying my hand at American pool though I think I need to practise!

HEALTH FUNDING

Following the charity cycle ride to Westminster by James Blackett and his friends on behalf of kidney cancer sufferers such as his father David, I forwarded David Blackett's letter about the postcode lottery system for beneficial drugs including Sutent to the Prime Minister.

The eventual response from the Department of Health was as unhelpful as I feared.

Many drugs such as Sutent are licensed as safe by the Government but they still need to be approved by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence before NHS Norfolk is obliged to fund them. This can take up to four years.

It is high time the Government kept its promise to ensure there is more rapid appraisal of drugs. I shall continue to press the Government on this issue.

BRIGHT SPARKS

Many of you will have attended the public meeting which I held with EDF Energy. This enabled you to air your views on the spate of power cuts which affected Diss and many surrounding villages last year.

EDF Energy is now looking for comments on their latest ideas so they can create a better electricity distribution network for their customers. The full consultation can be viewed online at www.edfenergy.com/dpcr5

Here is your chance to have your say. Do have a look and also let me know what you think at richardbaconmp@ parliament.uk

My own view is that EDF would do well to start by offering a bit of help to Hempnall Football Club.

The club is doing a fantastic job for 150 local children from across South Norfolk, but at the moment it has no link to the electricity grid.