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Belated thank you
Like many involved with community voluntary organisations I have spent time over the past few weeks finalising the end of year accounts.
As I did so I was mindful that I had not publicly acknowledged the enormous contribution that so many people made to the event held in Mayfield Leisure Centre for the celebration of the 'singing-on' of the Christmas lights. Well, you know what they say about 'better late than never'.
Thanks to everyone who gave their time, talents, effort and sponsorship this was a truly successful community gathering. Thank you to the 900+ of you who turned out to support this event and the many children who came to see Santa and his elves in the Grotto.
To the parents, staff and pupils of all three primary schools – Lawfield and nursery, Mayfield and nursery, and St Luke's – together with pre-school groups including Little Seedlings, ably assisted by Newbattle High School, not least by its Rhythm and Blues Orchestra, with backup from St David's High School I can only say "Wow! Well done!"
To the pupils who took part in the competition to design the poster and programme cover – your work was so good it was quite a task for the staff at Mayfield Library who were brave enough to be judges.
To staff from the Leisure Centre and Midlothian Council, who gave us their time and help above and beyond their job descriptions – a big THANK YOU.
Special gratitude must go to all the voluntary groups and the local churches who took part but I must single out the young people of Y2K for their dedication and commitment.
They provided the refreshments, the stewardship and quite a large part of the entertainment. They even built the Grotto for Santa and provided all the presents for the children. Thank you to Tracey Nicol for donating so much of your time to this.
When the Living Well group volunteered their singing ensemble they insisted that they weren't a choir but were just 'singing for the health of it'. They were unduly modest; they provided some wonderful traditional Christmas songs. Everyone who knows Isi knows that she won't want to be named in full but she really made magic for the younger children with her rhyme time and storytelling.
As the event was sponsored there was no charge to get in to the Leisure Centre or to see Santa so I am personally indebted to the many organisations that supported us financially.
Special thanks in no particular order go to MECA, McSence for such a variety of support, the Community Council of Mayfield and Easthouses, Mayfield Community Club, Basically Tool Hire, Neil Williams Haulage, Itihaas Restaurant, Melville Housing, Scotmid and MAEDT for organising the Community Raffle with a number of other local organisations. Thanks to the editor of the Advertiser too for giving the event some advance publicity.
Finally I must mention how many of you told me that the highlight was the procession led by the Mayfield Pipe Band who then played for us in the Square round the Christmas Tree before the children 'sang on the lights' with the community in spite of the weather.
I am certain that we all appreciated the participation of the Community Beat Team of Lothian and Borders Police.
Preparations are already under way for this year's Christmas celebration and, as the chair of the organising group, I hope you will accept my deep gratitude for your past efforts, however belated, and my request for your support again this year. I look forward to hearing from any individual or local organisation who would like to become involved this December.
You really are a tremendous community!
Councillor Lisa Beattie
Ward 5, Midlothian East
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Weather for Dalkeith
Thursday 09 February 2012
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 3 C to 6 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: West
Tomorrow
Light rain
Temperature: 1 C to 5 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: South
