Happy Christmas
Christmas is a time for family and community and I have thoroughly enjoyed being out and about meeting people at a number of Christmas events. For many people, this year has not been the easiest and there have been tough financial decisions. However, I hope the festive season will be a time when everyone can enjoy the holidays with friends and family.
I particularly pay tribute to those who work over Christmas - not only in our hospitals, fire, ambulance and police stations - but also in the many other organisations that we depend on to make our Christmas holidays safe and enjoyable.
We also remember those who are serving us far away from their homes and families - particularly in Afghanistan. Christmas is a difficult time to be a long way from your family - especially if you have small children. Christmas Card Competition  At the beginning of the month I visited The Collett School to present a prize to Harry Bass, winner of my annual Christmas card competition. It is always a real joy to visit The Collett School and I do so as often as I can. This must be about the seventh year we have been running this competition and I know the children enjoy it as much as I do. My wife, Angie, and I find it very difficult to select just one winner, but Harry’s card was delightful and I am very pleased with the result. I send a large number of Christmas cards so Harry’s picture will have been seen by a lot of people! 
Pupils at The Collett School have been assessed as having a range of learning difficulties from moderate to complex, including autism and the Head, Stephen Hoult-Allen, and his staff do an incredible job and the school is a very happy place. Thanks to Piccadilly Greetings Cards who kindly arranged for the printing of the cards. Treats for our Troops I've sent the first batch of parcels off to Afghanistan and thank you to everyone who has put together a parcel for our servicemen and women on the front line. We will continue to send out parcels into next year, so if you haven’t yet made up a shoebox but would like to do so, that is not a problem. If you can’t make up a full shoebox that is fine just leave your donated items at the drop-off and the Hemel Lions do an excellent job of making up shoeboxes from the individual items donated. More details
Santa Dash On Sunday 4th December, I was delighted to join the Santa Dash to raise money for the incredible Hospice of St Francis. The weather was perfect and the atmosphere wonderful. What a great way to start the build-up to Christmas!
On that theme, it is a good opportunity for me to wish everybody a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2012!
www.penning4hemel.com
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