PETERSFIELD Mayor and town councillor Lesley?Farrow says in 2015 she discovered that volunteers and generosity were the life blood of Petersfield.

In the first half of her year as mayor, she has met people from all walks of life and a wide range of volunteer groups, who look after those in trouble, or help raise money that will help.

She said: “I have had the privilege of meeting the ladies who form the Rosemary Foundation – one of my charities this year. They spend their time supporting patients with terminal conditions and their families.

“Their working life is dedicated to alleviating suffering and they do so with grace and compassion.

“At the end of November, with help from the Petersfield Post, we launched our appeal for sleeping bags and wellies to send to the refugee camps in northern France.

“Thanks to your generosity we now have a large van load. No matter what the politics, these refugees are cold and living in very basic conditions, which you have helped to alleviate.

“I have to mention Britannia Reeves, who have for some time been helping the Petersfield branch of Save the Children and without whom we would have had storage problems.

“I have asked for their help many times and have met nothing but generosity from Mr Shotbolt and his staff.

“It was to them we turned as we had nowhere to put the donations destined for the refugees in?France.

“I asked for a container for a week, and they gave us a month and have opened it whenever asked.

“I would like to say thanks for all that they have done to help others.

“This is just one example of the generosity I have seen, and shows the Christmas spirit is alive and well here.

“May you all have a wonderful Christmas and let us hope that there will be peace on earth in the new year.”