Christmas and New Year message from Councillor John Whittle, chairman of East Riding of Yorkshire Council

As the festive season is nearly upon us I would like to take this opportunity to extend my best wishes,  to all residents of East Riding of Yorkshire, for Christmas and for a peaceful and healthy happy New Year.

The build up to Christmas is usually marked by anticipation, excitement and preparation for the festivities.

In addition, during the last unprecedented couple of years, the changes to our routines have brought a new recognition of the importance of family, friends, neighbours and community.

In the spirit of Christmas, I hope we all take the time to stop, to rest, to reflect, and to pay attention to what is most important in our lives. I hope we will all find opportunities to feel gratitude even for the smallest of blessings.

Over the Christmas period, we should not forget to care for those who are less fortunate than ourselves, including the elderly, the infirm and all those vulnerable people within our communities, of whom some will struggle to feed or heat themselves this Christmas.

Can we also take the opportunity to think about those who will continue to work throughout the festive period: the emergency services, our hospital staff, care providers, and those involved in many other essential public services; and, as we’ve done throughout this year, let’s look to help those less fortunate than ourselves and consider what we can do to support our neighbours and the wider community.

Despite the challenges we’ve all faced, there are so many reasons to find hope and take inspiration. We have been brought closer to our communities and we share a renewed appreciation for the fantastic work of our public services and the voluntary sector.

Let us take on board the Christmas message of hope and work towards making our lives worthwhile and our community a better place. The East Riding has such strength and depth of community togetherness; may we focus this positive force on creating a prosperous, happy and contented future for all the residents of our county.

Christmas is a very special time for us all. A time to reflect on a year passed and plan for the New Year ahead. A time to recharge our batteries and ready ourselves for the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead in 2023.

Councillor John Whittle

Chairman of East Riding of Yorkshire Council