Mayor: Christmas Message 2014

I was asked - in my capacity as Mayor - to write a Christmas message to go in "Inside Morpeth" magazine(Dec 14 #31) which has just been published - and I thought I'd post it here too:

I wish Morpeth and all its residents a happy Christmas and a healthy and prosperous 2015, and hope that the Christmas festivities give you the hope and energy you need to see you through the dark days of the rest of winter, but if not:

If you are stressed by a family Christmas or by money worries or lonely because you are spending the holidays alone for the first time, you aren’t the only one. The Samaritans – my mayoral charity – are at their busiest at this time of year providing someone to talk to 24/7. They deserve our support

If you aren’t really into a commercial Christmas, charities like Crisis and Wansbeck Food Bank can really use volunteers now and throughout the year. Why not get in touch? They deserve our support.

If the cost of Christmas is going to leave you skint with credit card bills looming you aren’t alone. The CAB debt advisors and the credit unions are going to be very busy and they deserve our support.

Are you did doing your Christmas shopping locally? Many retailers depend on the run-up to Christmas for 25% and more of their annual turnover. If we want to keep the independent shops that give the town so much of its special character, we need to support them. Shop local!

So maybe a few ideas for New Year’s Resolutions there… but above all, whatever 2015 has to offer, we need to work together, support each other and feel able to rely on each other - because it doesn’t look as though we are going to be able to rely on the Government or the County Council for much - whoever gets elected in May.