Largan column: 'High Peak has shown how well it does community spirit this Christmas'

In his final column of 2020, MP Robert Largan says he's been inspired by "people pulling together to spread some extra joy" this festive period and wishes his constituents a safe and merry Christmas.

As we draw to the close of a really difficult year, we all deserve as much Christmas cheer as we can get right now. I have been doing my bit to encourage festive celebrations in High Peak.

That is why I ran my Christmas Card design competition. I want to thank all the local schools and children that took part and got into the Christmas spirit. There were lots of excellent entries and it was a really hard decision to pick a winner.

A huge congratulations to Elise, in Year 7 at Glossopdale School, for her winning design which is being sent out to over 5,000 people as my e-Christmas Card this year. I will be donating the money I usually spend on postage and cards to the excellent local charity Reuben’s Retreat.

It was also wonderful to see everyone’s submissions for my Best Decorated Street competition. High Peak is a place with a very special sense of community spirit and that is clearly shown in how well we do Christmas!

I have been inspired to see so many people pulling together to spread some extra joy with their decorations this year with lights, ornaments, and everything else they managed to come up with. Despite all that has happened in 2020, I am glad that we are still able to find ways to celebrate the holiday.

This Christmas is very different from what we have enjoyed before. The virus remains a threat to us all and everyone has a responsibility to continue following the rules, protecting the NHS and saving lives.

We are far from having a perfect Christmas, but I know that everyone in High Peak is making the best of it, supporting one another to have the best possible Christmas.

The vaccine is now being rolled out to thousands of people across the UK. I am doing everything I can to help get the vaccine out to High Peak as fast as possible and I will keep on fighting for our local area.

When this year finally ends and we start a new year, we will have reached the beginning of the end of this crisis. But until then, be safe and have a very Merry Christmas!