CRANKING UP TO CHRISTMAS

Looking at the columns of this week’s Newton News, it is delightful to see the Christmas season starting to get into swing. The first thing we noticed were the Santa hats in the photos! And then we read about the Christmas events which will be taking place.

Aycliffe Radio, in partnership with the Town Centre Management, is proud to be kicking off the Christmas season in Newton Aycliffe on Saturday 1 December … with a free Celebration event in the town centre 1-5pm, and a ticketed Xmas Live event at the Xcel Centre, 6-9pm – playing our part in the community’s festivities.

It doesn’t matter how old you are – it’s very difficult not to get excited.

THE SPIRIT OF GIVING

Many families open their presents together, where the joy is as much – if not more – about watching others receive their gifts, as it is about opening one’s own presents.

If you read this week’s articles, you will find many examples of people who have collected for Children in Need, or are collecting for Christmas charities, or giving up their Christmas to run events and meals for others etc. Without these selfless, generous people, our town’s Christmas would be infinitely the poorer, and they are much appreciated. Thank you.

SELF-IDENTIFYING SANTA

The Santa Tours are in the national news again, we see, as our community discusses vigorously whether Santa might be a woman. It is sad that the debate has been misrepresented as it has by the national press, because both sides are genuinely fighting for an important principle – gender equality is one of the foundations of our society, and yet the traditions of our town’s Santa Tours are equally precious to us all.

The Newton News will not offer an opinion on what has become a heated debate. But we will remind everyone that Christmas is about Peace and Goodwill to all People. And if the birth of the Christ-child could make the guns of World War One fall silent, surely – once the Town Council has made its decision – it can settle the dust on this controversy too.

The Newton News wishes all its readers every success as they prepare for Christmas.