As Christmas approaches, I want to take a moment to wish each and every one of you a safe, peaceful and joy filled festive season.

For many people, Christmas is a time of reflection and thinking about the year that has passed and looking forward to the year ahead. This marks the halfway point of my year as Mayor. There have been many highlights that I have been honoured to be part of as Mayor of the Royal Town – Presenting local school children with the Junior Duke Award, celebrating Royal Sutton Coldfield Orchestra’s 50^th anniversary, Remembrance Day, attending a charity hockey match at Bishop Vesey Grammar School and opening the new Medial Assessment Unit at Good Hope Hospital.  

At each event and engagement, I have been so amazed by the generosity and acts of kindness I have seen in our community. My personal thanks goes to all of these wonderful people, many of them volunteers, who give of their time freely to help others and ensure that the most in need are looked after.

I wish to extend a special thanks to every hospitality and emergency service worker for all your hard work over Christmas. We must remember the significant personal and family sacrifices made by personnel during the festive season.

Christmas is the season of goodwill and a time for us to look outwards and do something for others. I believe our community in the Royal Town does that all year round and especially in difficult times. So, offer whatever you can, time, friendship, kindness and it is that sense of togetherness that will take us forward into next year.

May your homes be filled with warmth, your hearts with hope and your days with grace.

I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a healthy and peaceful New Year.

Cllr Cindy Yip, Mayor of the Royal Town of Sutton Coldfield.