As I walked up Epping High Street this evening – after some last-minute Christmas card delivery and Carols on the Green – there was a real sense of the town winding down for Christmas. Shops were shutting or had shut and families were drifting home or to the Crib Service at St John’s Church. I took a moment to enjoy once again the Christmas lights decorating either side of the High Street. Even the traffic seemed slightly less congested.

Despite the occasional frustrations of life we are fortunate to live in such an attractive and characterful place – and I am sure it is worth putting in the effort to try and keep it that way. We are fortunate too that we have so many active voluntary organisations which make Epping not just an attractive place but a strong community. Writing the above paragraph I was struck that the Carols on the Green and the  Christmas lights only happen because of the sterling efforts of Epping Rotary, supported by St John’s School and Epping Town Council respectively.

I’ve written before about the success of The Box in Epping, and there are literally dozens of other examples of  dedicated service, which often goes unnoticed. This article is one way of saying thanks.

Even tomorrow a dedicated band of volunteers will be serving Christmas Day lunch for other residents who would otherwise spend the day alone.

I wouldn’t want to ignore the efforts of those who work in public service over Christmas either, whether caring for people, gritting our roads (they need it!) or, at the extreme, overseas and in harm’s way. Like I say, I feel fortunate tonight.

However you are spending the festive season, have a Merry Christmas, and a peaceful and successful New Year.