BASINGSTOKE's MP will be the guest speaker at a prestigious annual charity dinner.

Maria Miller will deliver the lecture at the 2019 Ark Medical Trust Annual Dinner, and she will be focusing on a theme that is close to her heart – A History of Women in Parliament.

Invitations are now going out for the Annual Dinner, which will be held at the Ark Centre, in Basingstoke, on Friday, 18 January next year.

Dr Carl Brookes, chairman of The Ark Medical Trust charity, said: “We are delighted, and honoured, to welcome Basingstoke MP Maria Miller as our guest speaker.

“Maria, who is proud to be a patron of The Ark Medical Trust, has been at the forefront of the campaign to get more women MPs in Parliament.

“As one of the 208 women MPs in Parliament, Maria – who has represented the Basingstoke constituency since 2005 – now has a key role as chair of the influential Women and Equalities Select Committee, and she is very much looking forward to giving our audience a fascinating insight into the history of women in Parliament.”

Dr Brookes added: “As always, the proceeds from this very special evening will go towards our community sponsorship programme, which enables us to support a wide range of health and community-support groups who can then use the Ark Centre’s facilities free of charge.”

Tickets for the £70-a-head black-tie three-course dinner event, which starts at 7pm with a welcome drink and canapes reception, are available either online at eventbrite.com or by contacting Michele Urry at michele.urry@hhft.nhs.uk by December 1.