Dai Havard

Labour Party | Merthyr Tydfil & Rhymney

‘Care and Concern Returned’ 

“I write to give you all my good wishes for Christmas and the New Year and to share in your hopes that the year ahead will be a peaceful and productive one. For me Christmas will be very different this year. It has always centred round my Mam and she will not be with us. Edited out of my letter to the ‘Express’, last week, thanking all those who gave such care to my Mam before she died, was a line which said; my Mam and I had “experienced the care and concern my Mam gave to others returned”. That is at the heart of the message of Christmas and whilst it will not be evident in the troubled and politically unstable lands of the birth of Christ, it will be there in many individuals, as it was two millenniums ago. For us it will be expressed in the commitment of those who will be working for us in the holiday period. Our Police, Health workers and ‘Posties’ who deliver our cards and presents and all those who protect, care and minister to those less fortunate. We should also remember those who work for us far from home, both Military and civilian - defending us and helping others in far less fortunate and peaceful places - and who can not be home at Christmas. All these individuals, along with good neighbours, show us why the messages of goodwill and collective care and concern are at the Well-spring of making the progress we all wish. So as we enjoy our celebrations and hope for a more peaceful and prosperous New Year; let’s remember, celebrate and thank all those who give care and concern - not just at Christmas - and return it to them. I hope your wishes for the New Year serve you well. Seasons Greetings - Cyfarchion y Tymor - to you all.”