THE Mayoress and I would like to wish every citizen of Wigan Borough every happiness this Christmas. At the end of this particular year everyone is conscious that it is not only the end of a century but of a whole Millennium.

Because of that I shall be wanting to make fresh starts, Millennium resolutions if you like, and I hope you will too.

There is one thought which has been in my mind recently. The papers have reported that an amazing 14 per cent of people claim not to know who Jesus is, 22 per cent thought he was just a fictional story. I don't think that matters when in truth everyone, except the most Scroogelike, think of Christmas as the season of goodwill, and so it is.

But the complete phrase used in the Bible is "goodwill to all men" - not just people who are easily liked, or people whose faces are the same colour as ours, or people who behave as we think everyone should. The season of goodwill to all men means that we should be trying to be kind and tolerant to that man who never buys a round, those gypsies who leave rubbish on our playing field, those rowdy youths who terrorise the street corner, and even strange foreign asylum seekers who have invaded our estate.

As part of my Mayoral duties I have met many wonderful people. They used to be called saints, and happily there are lots of them in Wigan. They are the ones who help and support other people whoever they are and whatever they may have done.

So my hope for a fresh start in the Millennium is that I will be able to offer goodwill to all men and hope you will too.

Just think what a difference to life that would make for all of us.

Merry Christmas and a Happy and Peaceful New Year.

Evelyne Smith - Mayor.

Elaine Stevenson - Mayoress.

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