2020 has been a really challenging year for so many people in our immediate Whitehill and Bordon and surrounding communities.

So many have tragically lost friends and loved ones, or seen the wider impacts on their homes, finances or employment and continue to do so.

But I am so proud to have seen our community response, whether it be the generous support and activities from some of our local business, or the smaller acts often behind the scenes to support our fellow neighbours, check in on them and simply make sure they are okay.

One of the first entries in our Festive Photo competition this week (pictured right) really summed this year up for me as we take our last steps towards Christmas. If you haven’t had an opportunity to enter as yet, please do so. A bit of free festive fun for all ages.

We can never thank enough all those who have done their best to keep us safe and secure – all the key workers, emergency workers, along with so many amazing volunteer groups and individuals including Bordon Buddies and those unsung heroes who aren’t in the more visible categories and contribute to our community in their own special ways.

Remembrance Day and Armistice Day were particularly poignant for me and so many others this year and in spite of the many challenges to make sure they took place safely, those events were truly special and will remain with me always.

So many things in the town have started to take shape this year – later than planned, and not out of the woods in terms of challenges, but take shape nonetheless.

As we look forward together optimistically into 2021 as the news of the first vaccines hitting Bordon and Whitehill have now been announced, we can be hopeful to be able to see what the new year will bring for us all and start to think of community events for the future.

As a parish town council, my deputy mayor James Fryer, fellow council colleagues and officers and so many others give their time and energy as volunteers and I would again pass my thanks to them for their hard work this year and their continued quest to ensure everyone’s voices are heard and reflected in the new council’s strategic plan – and all the work that is done to support our area moving forwards, whether it be in relation to actively protecting our remaining green space environments, trees and wildlife, or promoting important local issues from transport, to medical provision, to education.

It is my very proud pleasure to continue to serve you and from myself personally and on behalf of the whole council team wish you all a very safe and merry Christmas and happy new year.

We do know everyone will want to be holding their loved ones near even more than usual in this year that has brought so many things into perspective and caused many of us to re-evaluate what is important to us all.

I do have to make a personal appeal, though, to ask you all to do what you can to keep each other safe and not take undue risks over the festive period. Please be sensible, please stay safe.

By Cllr Katie Anscomb, Whitehill & Bordon town mayor