Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year to all Gazette readers! 

For people of every faith or of none, this is a time of celebration, and a chance to be with friends and family. But it is also a moment to show our friendship and love for others, and to give thanks to them for their support throughout the year. 

More widely, it is a time to pay tribute to those who give us safety and security: our armed forces, our emergency services, our doctors and nurses, our carers, the neighbours who look out for us, the charitable and voluntary organisations that make Herefordshire such a special place to live in. 

For me, I feel very keenly the honour of being re-elected once more this month as your Member of Parliament. For me, this county has always stood for the best of our national values:  kindness, tolerance, courtesy, community spirit, and so much else. 

As we look forward to 2020, I will do my utmost to keep these values alive in Parliament, and to represent your interests and your needs at the highest level, with energy, persistence and determination. 

Thank you very much, and have a wonderful 2020.