Christmas Message from the Governor
[Written by Governor Sir Richard Gozney] From Government House my wife, Diana, and I, and our sons, James and Alexander who are out here for the Christmas holiday, wish you a very Happy Christmas.
At this time of year we look to share the joys, and the sorrows, with those who have seen either during the year. The joys, for example, of the sportsmen and women who competed hard for Bermuda abroad, or indeed who competed hard for trophies on Island. (My wife and I try not to let our new status of life long honorary members of North Village sway us too much.) And the joy of the Bermuda Regiment in receiving new Colours from Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Gloucester. We share the sorrows of those who have lost family or friends this year, either naturally, or through Bermuda’s continuing scourge of bike accidents, or through Bermuda’s latest affliction, the ghastly shootings linked to illegal drugs. Our hearts go out to all those who have lost close family or friends in 2010.
We salute Bermuda’s corps of volunteers. Sometimes I’m left wondering who is not a volunteer for one charitable cause or another, such are the number of charities and the huge number of selfless people who give up their time to help those who need some support. It’s a double billing which is a feature of Bermuda: low taxes and a strong ethos of private and corporate giving. Long may that double act continue.
We also listen to our religious leaders who remind us, if we need reminding, of the historical reason for Christmas, a basis which is far more than just history for thousands and thousands of Bermudians. Nowhere else in the world have we been to as many carol services, and certainly nowhere else have we come to expect as normal the wonderfully high standard of singing, as here in Bermuda.
We join Bermudians in celebrating and encouraging the next generation. In November, when handing out, with the new Premier, over 200 certificates for the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, or seeing this December school age volunteers for charities, reminded me of the spirit and strong motivation of many of your teenagers. And of those even younger: a ten year old came to interview me for a school project. He’d compete with David Dimbleby or David Letterman.
So far we have spent 3 excellent years in Bermuda and we look forward to next year. That is because of the atmosphere of warmth, friendliness and courtesy which the Island shows to visitors, whether tourists or those of us here for longer. It underpins a high standard of living and your stability, the present sharp recession notwithstanding. I am proud to be here to represent Britain in such a fine Island country.
I wish you a very good Christmas and everyone in Bermuda an excellent 2011.
Sir Richard Gozney, KCMG, CVO
