As Christmas approaches I’ve been looking back at Trafford throughout this past year and all the amazing people we have across the borough who go above and beyond to make Trafford the wonderful place that it is.

Val and I have attended events and seen first hand the hard work and commitment that individuals and groups do to improve our area. There are also countless events that I unfortunately couldn’t attend who also delivered something special to make us all proud of being from Trafford.

So this Christmas I hope you will all join me in saying thank you to those who do so much, quite often without any recognition for doing so. I feel so lucky to be a Trafford resident as I truly believe we have the best borough in the UK. Trafford always shows up and supports whatever is going on, from a Christmas Lantern Walk in Altrincham to Summer Festivals in Urmston if an event is staged then the community here get behind it and attend.

Altrincham has recently been recognised as one of the happiest places in Britain. Stretford, with its ever growing community spirit is growing from strength to strength. Urmston with all its new independent bars and restaurants has come on leaps and bounds and continues to do so, Partington is being regenerated and the community there are really rallying together to make the town a place to be proud of. Sale has an amazing community spirit and so much work is going on there to promote all the fantastic things it has to offer. Timperley’s close knit community all support and encourage each other making the town an absolute pleasure to visit as does Hale Barns where I have had the pleasure of performing on several occasions. Trafford is really growing in each part of the borough and showing the rest of the UK what a great place it is.

But, in my opinion, it’s the people that make it so great! We have some amazing people doing amazing things in Trafford. I recently read how a local Urmston man is opening his home up on Christmas Day for those who are lonely and isolated. Another Trafford resident walks hundreds of miles to raise funds for local charity. If there is a local need or cause you can count on Trafford residents to stand up and take action.

There are countless community groups bringing people together, the young, the elderly and all those in between. If you have an interest, I can pretty much guarantee there is a group you can join here, and if there isn’t I can bet someone will start one.

Trafford residents are a family who look out for each other and I couldn’t be prouder to be born and bred here. So this Christmas I hope you will join me in saying thank you to all those who do so much to make Trafford a home that we can all feel very proud of.

From Val, myself and all my family to you and yours, Merry Christmas and may all your dreams come true for the coming New Year. Enjoy the Christmas holidays and see you in the New Year.