We enjoyed a lot of social and religious activities around the festive season with our local church. My wife, at that time my young lady, self and a number of friends were in the choir and now we miss those far off days. Before the big day, the choir would spend a couple of weeks carolling around the streets, knocking on doors and collecting for the NSPCC. I every recall one year 1952 perhaps? when for a change we collected for the RSPCA. The oldest of us who was over eighteen entered a local pub and when announced he was collecting for the RSPCA, an Irish imbiber therin, averred loudly and emphatically "Young man, how dare you. I have never subscribed to the IRA in my life!" We hope to attend the Christmas Eucharist this year and we think of all those relatives and friends of former days who are sadly no longer with us to celebrate Christ's birth.