Carols and Carers: Chairman's Diary December 2025

December is routinely "festive" and 2025 was no exception. West Berkshire residents and institutions that, as Chairman of Council I was invited to share festivities with, were one and all in good spirits.

Vice Chairman Stephanie Steevenson represented me at the first Christmas party, in Purley in aid of the motor neurone disease (MND) charity, because it clashed with the now monthly first Tuesday's citizenship ceremony. She also attended Thatcham's Christmas Lights switch-on, which clashed with a family funeral for me that first Friday.

On Saturday 6 I was at Aldermaston church to experience their "York Nativity" play: a mediaeval masque performed by local people telling the Christmas story. Established as an annual event over several evenings since 1957, I recommend it to anyone who hasn't yet seen it.

Carols

The first event in my diary as a carol concert was a novel one, performed by Mary Hare School for the deaf in Arlington Arts theatre in front of Lord Lieutenant of Berkshire Andrew Try. It was one of the Princess of Wales's 15 "Together at Christmas" events around the UK, in addition to the one she herself hosted at Westminster Abbey. Martha and I were very impressed by the confident manner in which quite young, profoundly hearing impaired pupils at the school sang, danced and played their instruments. Afterwards we spoke to staff who explained how the school achieves remarkably good academic results despite children often arriving with no language skills.

Nearing Christmas, Martha and I attended two traditional annual carol services in Thatcham and Newbury at the invitation of their mayors. These were very well supported by the local communities and hosted by the parish church clergy. I've never heard so much joyful noise in Newbury's St Nic's church, where a large ad hoc choir of professional standard led the singing. Every space in the church was packed.

Carers

The Council's Adult Social Care service arranged for the Chairman to attend Christmas parties at all three of our care homes in the last week before Christmas. These were all different but Stephanie and I agree that this should become an annual feature of the Chairman's Diary, so that we can show corporate appreciation for the work our professional carer staff do for some of our most vulnerable citizens.

At Birchwood we joined residents and staff in dancing after we toured the three floors with manager Liam to judge which section deserved a prize as the best decorated. At NoTrees in Kintbury, which is much smaller but has a larger communal room than Birchwood, family members of residents were present which made it a very different kind of 'homely' atmosphere. Martha and I helped draw many of the raffle prizes, which were extremely numerous and generous: it seemed everyone was a winner!

Stephanie represented me at The Willows because I had been invited to attend a ceremony at the Japanese Embassy in London that day. Back in August I sponsored a local event hosted by Newbury British Legion Club during VJ80 week, to reflect on the subject of reconciliation between Japanese & UK peoples. One of the invitees was the Chair of the Burma Campaign Society, a Japanese lady married to a British businessman. She was being presented with a Commemorative Award by the Japanese Foreign Minister for her work over many years organising exchange visits for the veterans (on both sides in WWII) and their families or those of the fallen.

Wartime death featured in my diary earlier in the month because every year on the 12 of December at 12 noon the US Forces locally (at RAF Welford) remember those who died in two air accidents at their WWII base on Greenham Common. This year there was a record attendance at the Greenham Control Tower where the memorial stones were moved to from New Greenham Park several years ago.

Faith in 2026

As we begin another year I'd like to underline the importance of Faith in our local communities as a source of resilience for us all. By caring for one another - where necessary with support from professionals and statutory services - we make it easier to share the good health, safety and prosperity that everyone aspires to.

I was also struck by the King's Christmas message on Harmony with Nature. Of all the threats to society that we face the greatest is the belief of some in power (who must be nameless!) that we are apart from and in control of the natural world. Instead we should think of ourselves as Nature's custodians or stewards and care for the environment that we all depend on just as much as caring for one another. I'm confident that a silent majority agrees with me but perhaps we need to focus on this more in 2026. Lets share this Faith in Our Future for West Berkshire.