Councillor June Harrison

IT’S certainly beginning to look a lot like Christmas, the lights are twinkling across Hyndburn and the big day is almost here.

It’s a time of year I love and the Mayoress and I have been delighted to attend lots of festive events around the borough.

As we all know Christmas is a time for the little ones and don’t we have some wonderful school children here in Hyndburn!

Children from local schools have been spreading the Christmas cheer across the borough, singing carols at the community light switch ons, in Accrington Market Hall and at Blessing of the Crib ceremonies.

Thanks to them and their teachers and parents, they’ve been terrific and really added to the festive atmosphere.

Despite the sometimes cold and damp

Lancashire weather, the Christmas light switch on events around the borough have all been well attended and got us all into the festive spirit.

From the big switch on and fireworks display in Accrington, to the community switch ons in the townships, we all enjoyed singing

Christmas carols around the tree, all kinds of traditional seasonal food and entertainment and, of course, meeting up with friends and neighbours to wish them all the best for Christmas.

The Big Christmas weekend in Accrington, where the Mayoress and I got our skates on for a spot of ice skating, and browsed around the wonderful festive goodies on offer at the Dickensian Evening Market, was another fabulous festive event enjoyed by all.

Christmas is a time of giving and being thankful and I want to say a big thanks to all the generous Hyndburn folk who have donated money for my Mayoral Charities over the year.

Also a big thank you to my hardworking Mayoral charity committee who have worked tirelessly throughout the year organising all the fundraising events and who are all now busily working on preparations for my Mayor’s Ball in the New Year.

We’ve also been invited along to a number of seasonal events organised by local community groups and other organisations, including the Trinity Community Church Christmas Fair, Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service Family Carol Service, Derian House Lights of Love Service, the Crossroads Salvation Army Annual

Carol Service and St Oswald’s RC Primary and Nursery School Nativity Performance, to name a few.

It’s an honour and a privilege to be invited along, and we have thoroughly enjoyed each and every one.

2019 has been an amazing year, and the Mayoress and I have been blown away, seeing first hand on so many occasions throughout the year just how many incredible people, groups and organisations give their precious time to help make life better for their community.

They are the backbone of this wonderful borough of Hyndburn and are yet another reason why I’m so proud to serve this borough as Mayor.

Finally Joyce, my Mayoress, and I, would like to say a sincere thank you for all your kind invitations and warm welcomes throughout 2019 and we look forward to many more in 2020.

Wishing you all the best for a very Merry

Christmas and Happy and Peaceful New Year. PRINTED AND DISTRIBUTED BY PRESSREADER