Wanstead Community showing true meaning of Christmas

It has been great this year to see the Christmas season return to something like normal, after the locked down version of 2020. In Wanstead, there was the lighting up of the Christmas tree on George Green. Milkman Steve did the honours, once again, as people flocked around the tree. Carols were sung and ice queens came amongst us. Then there was the Mayors Christmas event on Christchurch Green. The weather was a bit wet at times but that didn't stop people coming out. At one point people were queuing out of the green to visit Santas Grotto. The monthly market had a seasonal spin on the day, and there is an additional market coming in on 18th. The generosity of people in the area has once again been on display, with a number of charitable causes being supported. The past couple of years have been testing times, with the full repercussions only now beginning to really emerge. The lockdown of society was a severe step to take and has had many far reaching consequences, not least on people's mental health. Let us hope this does not happen again. At present, though there are the dangers of the new Omicron variant. Hopefully, the effectiveness of the vaccines will see the world emerging out of the pandemic period. This will only happen, though, when the whole world is immunised, so countries like the UK have to be generous in getting that vaccine out to poorer countries as well as vaccinating our own population. It is an important gift we can make to the world at Christmas and beyond. The biggest positive to come out of this period has been the way people have come together in community. Nowhere more so than in Wanstead, where people have been looking out for each other and well beyond our geographical borders - surely that has to be the true meaning of Christmas. A reminder to end that the last litter pick of the year will take place at 10am on Saturday 18th. Usual meeting place at Woodbine Place (by the buses) - mince pies will be provided, courtesy of Petty Son & Prestwich. Happy Christmas.