Burnham-On-Sea and Highbridge’s Mayor, Peter Burridge-Clayton, has issued the following Christmas message to residents of the two towns…
“2008 has been a very special year for me in many ways. To be elected as the Town Mayor again after a gap of 15 years was a great honour and I am very proud to serve you all once again.
In my last message all those years ago, I talked about the difficulties we faced in getting out of a recession and here we are once again.
The speed of this recent economic downturn has been quite astonishing and has caused a great worry for so many. It is at times like this when we really must spare a thought for all those who are worse off than ourselves and do everything we can to help.
This celebration we are about to have should also be about what we can offer others. It is a time for reflection where we can think about kindness, generosity, togetherness and peace, and we can only do that if our communities engage with each other.
We are very lucky here in Burnham & Highbridge in that we already have a very strong foundation of community spirit, and with a little more work I am sure we can have that foundation of rock that is often talked about in the bible.
The church has played an important part in my life this year and my Confirmation in early November was a special time indeed. To be part of that community has brought me great comfort and I would like to think my faith will help me on my journey through life.
I am sure it could also help others, the Christmas message may be hundreds of years old but it is still relevant today. We must always have faith and hope for the future, and we must all build our lives on that foundation of rock and the world will be a better place.
There are some within our community where Christmas may never be the same again, such as the recently bereaved, the terminally ill, people who have lost their homes and people without family with whom to celebrate. All these people will need our support and prayers.
I give my sincere thanks to all those people who will be supporting others and particularly throughout the Christmas period the doctors and hospital workers, all our emergency services, our carers, and indeed all those that work within our churches. I am sure there are many more and their work is greatly appreciated.
Recently, I read something used by King George 6th in his Christmas day address in 1939 which read… “And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year – “Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown” and he replied “go out into the darkness and put your hand into the hand of God, that shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way.”
In some way that is about trust and I feel now is a time when we have to put trust in those around us, even when we journey in to the unknown. On a practical note, we need to trust all those at all levels of government, both in ours and other countries around the world. We need them to work together and see us through more difficult times.
My wife Joanna, whom I married in August this year, has been a great support to me and has helped enormously in my role. She would like to join me in wishing you the warmest Christmas greetings and hope that you will have a peaceful and prosperous new year. Merry Christmas.”
Cllr Peter Burridge-Clayton
