We remember: Jo didn’t do despair
MY sister Jo believed every hurdle could be overcome. No matter how bad things looked, she always said there was a way forward. She didn’t have time for despair.
Since her murder, whenever we were tempted to give in to our sadness and despair we’ve done our best to remember that.
For our parents, Gordon and Jean, and for me, the second Christmas without Jo has meant having to be without her physical presence but never forgetting her spirit.
We have to be content with memories of her laughter even though we would give anything to be able to hear it again.
Last year I think we were numb with pain but we did our best to stay positive. This year we redoubled our efforts. It’s what she would have wanted.
So much has happened since she was killed, it’s difficult to take in. In June, on the first anniversary of her murder, we were amazed and delighted as millions of people joined in with The Great Get Together.
All over the country people reflected on her words that we all have “more in common than that which divides us” and decided that they agreed.
The outpouring of love and the way communities came together was so overwhelming that Jo’s husband, Brendan, thought it would be a great idea to have a Christmas Get Together. Why not ask people to do something really simple like share a mince pie with somebody who might otherwise be lonely?
Once again the response was amazing.
Here in Batley – where Jo and I grew up and the place she represented as an MP – we really went to town.
Together with our brilliant team of volunteers in the local More In Common group, we created dozens of what we called “mince pie moments”. On Christmas Eve we got together with the local Methodist church to provide hot drinks, mince pies (of course!) and other festive treats for anybody who wanted to drop in.
Local businesses donated food, we played Christmas music, and the place was buzzing for more than four hours. Some familiar faces from TV dropped in, happy to give up their valuable time to make Christmas a whole lot more cheerful for people who might otherwise have been alone.
Even if you’re not on your own, Christmas can be a stressful time. Whoever we are, we have that in common. Getting the food ready, making sure we’ve bought the right presents, keeping the kids entertained, and in the back of our minds knowing that the bills still have to be paid.
And why is it that for so many, just when you get the chance to have a bit of fun you come down with a cold or the flu?
Poor Brendan had his first break for months while we spent precious time with the children and he was laid up in bed.
Fortunately we were finally able to get together down at the cottage he and Jo loved so much and it felt like a family Christmas at last.
We created dozens of what we called ‘mince pie moments’