Christmas Message from the Mayor of Hailsham

“As the festive season is upon us once again, I would like to take this opportunity to extend my best wishes for a Merry Christmas and a peaceful, healthy and prosperous New Year to all residents of Hailsham. It is with pleasure that I present my Christmas Message for 2021 and look back on the achievements – and of course, significant challenges that we have all faced over the past twelve months.

Trying to capture 2021 in words is more or less impossible and to say it’s been a tough and demanding year is an understatement. While many of us have had a second challenging year due to COVID-19, Christmas is just around the corner, which could again be very different for many of us with the potential for social distancing restrictions being introduced if we don’t act now and do our part to curb the spread of the new Covid-19 Omicron variant.

NHS England and local authorities continue to monitor the new, heavily mutated Covid-19 variant and medical experts are in agreement that by far the best things you can do to protect yourself and others from transmitting the virus is to get vaccinated if you haven’t done so already, get the booster jab as soon as possible and continue to wear face masks in indoor public spaces and on public transport.

Despite the rise in new Covid-19 variant cases, there are many positives which have come about in 2021 including the reopening of businesses with a new and more optimistic outlook for us all. But this Christmas brings with it the hope that next year will see a noticeable improvement in the number of infection cases, if as many of us as possible seek the protection needed from COVID-19 and keep up-to-date with vaccinations when they’re readily available.

I’m afraid to say, we all need to be patient a little bit longer. I have delight in saying that eventually this will all soon be behind us! Having said that, I’d like to thank all of you for persevering and doing your part to help limit the spread of the virus during the past year and protect both the NHS and others around you.

I’m have been happy to continue in my role as Mayor and Chairman over the past year, having attended many new business openings, socially distanced civic functions and various local community events.

It’s wonderful to have been asked to open the various new shops and businesses and it’s wonderful to see enterprising people continue to set up businesses in our town, despite the pandemic which has affected the local economy to such a considerable degree. It’s brilliant to see people realising their dream of operating a business!

Furthermore, I’ve still represented the town in many other ways throughout 2021. It’s been a pleasure to have visited many businesses and organisations in Hailsham and they are all working extremely hard to overcome the obstacles that have been put in their way by the virus.

Also, I have continued to be on call to residents when they needed to talk to me about Town Council services, local issues and concerns, or to discuss ways to help the vulnerable during the pandemic.

I have seen first-hand how difficult it has been for many people because of the pandemic, but it has also been delightful to see how community spirit in our wonderful town has been and continues to be strong.

As Mayor, I will continue to attend as many functions as possible – which I am permitted to take part in – and help to raise the profile of local charities, community groups, voluntary organisations, businesses and individuals.

Additionally, I’d like to take this opportunity to reassure you all that everyone at Hailsham Town Council will continue to do everything in their power to attract investment into our town and make Hailsham an even stronger and better place to live and work.

Before closing, I’d like to stress that, over the Christmas period, we should not forget to care for those who are less fortunate than ourselves, including the elderly, the infirm and the bereaved, and all the vulnerable people in our town, including those who will go hungry this Christmas. If you are able to donate food for those in need and less fortunate, please contact Hailsham Foodbank to offer your support.

Also, we should give our gratitude to those who over the Christmas period will be working, such as doctors, nurses, hospital and care personnel, all emergency services staff, retail workers and those who keep our utilities running.

On behalf of all the town councillors and staff at Hailsham Town Council, my wife and Mayoress Cllr Barbara Holbrook and myself would like to wish you all a very enjoyable and safe Christmas and hope that 2022 will be a brighter, more positive and much healthier one for us all.

Thank you and stay safe.”

Cllr Paul Holbrook

Town Mayor & Chairman, Hailsham Town Council