A few reasons to be cheerful this winter

LAST week’s good news about the Army moving into Kinloss is still being seen as a positive news story for Forres, especially with the possibility that there may be some spin off jobs for civilians if the Army choose to employ staff for contracts such as catering and stores, which has also been raising hopes.

A few reasons to be cheerful this winter

There is also news this week that the local call centre is now recruiting staff for a new contract. This may not be earth shattering, but in the run-up to Christmas, and in what has been a very bleak year, both these announcements are very welcome and will make a difference as a small sign that things are on the up.

On the subject of merriment and oncoming festives, The Forres Christmas Lights Committee members have been out in recent weeks stringing up the displays in the town centre, in readiness for this Saturday’s big switch-on.

A group of volunteers are also helping to organise a short Festive Forres event to make the event last a little longer, with al the fun starting from 2pm, with some festive stalls, Christmas music and good old fashioned fun, culminating in a childrens fancy dress parade, with the winner flicking the switch on the lights.

So why not go along and celebrate the town’s success and support some of the local shops and businesses and put your pennies in the buckets to help the lights committee provide even better displays in the years to come.

Talking about putting money in a bucket, local people were very generous when they saw Pudsey Bear in the town on Friday, helping him to raise more than £8000 for Children in Need and local charities.

If you needed any proof about the spirit of the folk living in Forres, then read about two pensioners who have been making the headlines in Forres this week: May Taylor and Maurice Dufficy have both proven that age and aches and pains are no barrier to getting things done. One has been honoured for helping to raise cash to build a much neede facility in the town, while the other has found a new exhilirating way to raise cash, by being sponsored to jumping out of an aircraft, despite being nearly 80 years of age.

If there was every any doubts about the fighting spirit, these two demonstrate that you can do anything if you put your mind to it.