NEGATIVE CRITICISM

WE can only wonder where A P Moxham (Observer letter December 7) finds the motivation to get out of bed in the mornings, with his doom and gloom prognostications about humanity and his negative criticism of positive thinkers like Joan West.

If Mr Moxham can only recommend keeping on piling up increasingly nasty weaponry until there’s nothing left except for a big, radioactive, hole in the ground, shouldn’t he leave the rest of us to get on with it?

Yours for Socialism. Brian Livesey Accrington

GOING ROUND IN CIRCLES

I AM inclined to believe that Great Britain won’t get a better deal from Europe than the Theresa May Brexit.

The country will, I feel, go round and round in circles if it does not let Theresa May do the Brexit she has worked so hard on.

I hope Mrs May is able to get her Brexit through the Commons.

An end to free movement of people and to gain control of our borders is important. Theresa May will do exactly that.

I feel more needs to be done now to protect British jobs.

I remember from my own experience of bad Thatcher years, how difficult it was to get back into work after 1980.

Britain will still be friends with Europe, but not have European laws dominating our every move.

I was born in Accrington, aged 70 now. I suppose that makes me English – a British citizen.

I believe Britain voted Brexit in 2016 because we want our country back. Adrian Grady Accrington THE Christmas season is here and the Mayoress and I have loved attending lots of festive events around the borough.

The Christmas light switch-on events around Hyndburn have all been well attended, the cold and damp weather certainly hasn’t dampened the festive or community spirit of the thousands of people who came along to them.

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, seeing friends and neighbours to wish them all the best for Christmas.

My Magical Mayoral Market at the Accrington Switch-on event was a big success too, with lots of local charities taking the opportunity to have a free stall to raise funds or awareness of their own group.

I want to say a big thank you to my hardworking Mayoral charity committee who organised it so well and to all the people who came and supported it.

The festive season is a time for bringing people together and we’ve been along to a number of events where different community groups and organisations have joined together to spread the Christmas cheer. For example the churches and schools of Altham and Clayton-le-Moors, who put on a beautiful joint carol service at St Mary’s Church and the Belvedere Care Home in Accrington who had a joint carol service with children from Marshmallows nursery, bringing children to the care home to sing carols with the residents. What a fantastic way to bring people together, it’s an honour and a privilege to be invited along, and thoroughly enjoyed by all.

Last month I was proud to represent Hyndburn at a number of events to celebrate Lancashire Day on November 27, celebrating the day in 1295 when the first representatives from Lancashire were invited to the Model Parliament of King Edward I. 2018 has been a wonderful year as mayor and it’s fabulous to see how many people give their time and energy for free to make where they live a better place.

This was highlighted just recently when we attended Accrington and Rossendale College to present certificates to the Accrington and Rossendale College Princes Trust team, and to hear about what they have achieved during the 12-week personal development programme with Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service, which develops and encourages young people to do something positive for themselves and their community.

Another example of volunteers doing wonderful work for the community was brought home to us when we attended the Lancashire Luncheon at the annual fundraising event for Accrington & District Blind Society, and also when we attended Accrington Swimming Club’s presentation – the club is run by volunteers, founded in 1911 and serving the borough ever since, with everyone at the club giving their time freely. These are just a few examples of the fantastic community work that goes on in the borough and we’ve felt extremely blessed to see so many examples of this over the year. We’re sure we’ll see many more in 2019 too.

The Mayoress, my wife Noreen, and I, would like to say thank you for all your kind invitations over the year, to wish you and yours a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.