As Christmas approaches, the Lady Mayoress and I would like to extend to you all our very sincere good wishes and greetings for Christmas and the New Year. We are very proud and, indeed, honoured to carry out the duties and responsibilities of the role of Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress, and also very proud of our great City which has undergone many changes over the last few years. There is a real sense of revitalisation and we have been able to welcome many new businesses to our City which will form the basis for growth and prosperity in the years to come.

We can look forward to 1999 with a sense of enthusiasm and anticipation as we approach the millennium. In the final half of our civic year we can reflect on what a wonderful experience it has been for us. We have been fortunate and privileged to meet many people from all walks of life who are involved in such interesting and rewarding activities in our district.

We do, of course, live in a multi-cultural district, combining many faiths and beliefs, and the Christmas season will mean different things to us all. But to you all, whatever your faith, we sincerely hope that you will have an enjoyable time and wish you health and happiness for 1999.

As families and friends gather together to celebrate Christmas we pray that you will have a happy and enjoyable time, and that you will remember those for whom, for whatever reason, Christmas will not be a happy time: those in hardship, those who are alone, those who have lost loved ones, those in hospital, those who are homeless, those who are suffering as a result of conflict and those who are starving in the world. We hope that you will share our concerns at this special time of year and throughout the coming months. Christmas greetings to each and every one.

Cllr TONY MILLER,

Lord Mayor

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