Christmas greeting from Mayor of Rochdale, Councillor Billy Sheerin

Mayor of Rochdale, Councillor Billy Sheerin

A Christmas message from Mayor of Rochdale, Councillor Billy Sheerin.

In what has possibly been the most difficult year that many of us have ever endured, in that we have all been at war with Covid-19, I send you greetings this Christmas.

Our armed forces who have in the past served, and some of those now serving, will have experienced times of great anxiety and fear. These experiences could not have prepared anyone, including ordinary civilians, for the unexpected, especially when you are fighting an enemy you cannot sense or see, no one is prepared enough.

Thankfully, with the development of the vaccine, we have the possibility of defeating this dreadful foe. Even trying to stay positive is difficult, as we seem to take one step forward and then two steps backwards, but we must look to the future with renewed hope and optimism.

Very soon (please God) it will be possible for us all to get back together but in the meantime, I would like to use this opportunity to celebrate Rochdale, its diversity and strength of purpose.

I am proud to be a Rochdalian, and when asked where I come from, I proudly say ‘Rochdale a mill town nestling in the foothills of the Pennines, in Greater Manchester in the county of Lancashire’.

That is a lot to be proud of and we should never forget it.

Now it is Christmas and time to be merry, so let’s try to put behind us the trials and tribulations - put on the party hats, pull a few crackers, get stuck into the turkey and down a few drinks. I know this is what the Mayoress and I will be doing, but without our extended family joining us. This will be for the very first time ever. We shall, just the two of us together, be raising our glasses to you all.

We wish you a very Merry Christmas and a much better New Year.

We hope to see you all very soon.

God bless and keep you all safe.