The Committee of the Eaton Village Residents’ Association wishes you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

We are now out of lockdown but currently in Tier 2 which places various restrictions on our community. We are edging towards a better future with vaccines promising to deliver protection from Covid but requiring some changes to how we go about our daily lives. It seems that we will have to be patient for a little longer while these things work their way through but we want to come out of this with minimal impact on our community. Our local businesses have had a tough time and need our support to get through this. They have supported us by adapting their services during these difficult times and we need to continue our support to help them.

The hospitality industry has had a particularly hard time this year and our two pubs, which are at the heart of our community, have kept going offering take-away meals when forced to close but are now open again but under Tier 2 rules. We want them to continue to be part of our community so our support is essential – it is just a matter of complying with a few rules when visiting which are really quite simple and in place for good reason.

We might not be able to get together to celebrate as we have done in previous years. The carol sing-alongs at the Cellar House were a highlight of the season and will be missed. However, many residents have decorated their houses with great Christmas light displays and these can be enjoyed during a (socially distanced) walk around the Village in the evenings.

Many residents plan to spread some festive cheer through ringing of bells for two minutes on their doorsteps at 6pm on Christmas Eve. So why not find a bell or similar jangly instrument and join in? This is a worldwide movement so communities across the globe will be taking part.

However you celebrate – stay safe.

Chris Stebbing – EVRA Chair

December 2020