THIS is the second year for Arlene and me to be Mayor and Mayoress. We are enjoying it even more than our first year, being wellversed in the various routines.

Seeing at close hand all the community activities, the groups of volunteers helping others, the festivities organised for us all, has taught me to love our coastal town, as every activity contributes to the social fabric of our society, making this a better place to live and bonding us all together.

The invitations I receive are varied and can be anything from opening a shop, celebrating a 100th birthday party or welcoming royalty!

During 2014, Ian Jefferies and Les Barber set up a ‘Team Coach’ to encourage coaches into our town for longer than just a quick stopover.

They met coach companies to tell them where they can find good food and value for money and later Burnham received the coveted flag for ‘Coach Friendly Status.’ As a result, hundreds more coaches have visited us this year; resulting in an estimated substantial extra income for local businesses.

In March I opened a swimming pool at Burnham Holiday Village. I was pleased Haven homes had the confidence in our local tourism to invest £2million pounds in a lovely new swimming pool complex.

In May I took a card and flowers to Gladys Morse for her 100th birthday. She had received a lovely card from the Queen and I am told the Queen actually signs each card herself !

Gladys was an amazingly sprightly lady.

On Monday, June 9, my wife and I were at The Marine Rescue Centre on the seafront, together with other dignitaries and members of BARB, ‘The Rescue Hovercraft’, to welcome Prince Edward.

In August, I was proud to be invited to the launch of a new website, ‘Capture Burnham’, and a new Heritage trail. These had been established by John Strickland’s history group with the aid of a Lottery grant. John has put the history of our area on to this website but there are still many gaps in our knowledge.

By inviting people to add information and pictures, we will gradually build up a comprehensive library that we can all read and enjoy.

In November, I was with the welcoming group when Lord-Lieutenant of Somerset, Lady Gass, visited BARB Search & Rescue headquarters to present them with ‘The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service 2014 in recognition of outstanding flood relief work across Somerset, over the past two winters.

This is a much-coveted national honour for outstanding achievements by groups of volunteers who help others in their community.

Christmas is a time for family and I’m personally looking forward to spending some quality time relaxing with my wife and my family.

Christmas can also be a difficult time for people. It can be a painful and sad time for many families, particularly for people who have suffered bereavement over the past year.

I would encourage people to rally around these families, friends and neighbours and provide them with the help and support that they need.

Christmas is a time for sharing and for caring for each other. It’s a time for reaching out the hand of friendship and reconciliation.

I want to wish all the citizens of Burnham and Highbridge a very Happy Christmas and a peaceful and prosperous New Year.

Mayor Martin Cox