Wishing you all a merry Christmas and a happy New Year
Angus MacDonald - MP for Inverness, Skye and West Ross shire
What do you want for Christmas Grandfather?
I look into little Jemima’s glistening eyes, she senses the excitement of the day.
Marshmallows, a banana smoothie and shiny new shoes will be on her list to Santa. What a happy little girl she will be as we all sing carols in church on Christmas day.
Rather than receiving, for most of us, it’s giving a loved one a present that they really appreciate that gives us the most pleasure.
My wife has been dropping hints for two years about a pair of earrings, she will be more thrilled when she gets them than she was when I gave her the lovely piece of pottery which I bought her (ok, myself) last Christmas.
What I would most like to obtain for the people of the Highlands in my term in office is legislation that requires all renewable projects both onshore and offshore to pay 5% of total revenue as community benefits.
Currently we have the highest level of fuel poverty in Britain, we pay a substantial premium for our electricity and oil, our public services are sub standard and the turbines and pylons dominating our hills offer minimal benefit to locals.
Rural Scotland, with all its wind and water, is already the biggest source of electricity in Britain. If we get this right then hundreds of millions of pounds will be raised each year to fund fuel vouchers, affordable homes, investment in the care sector etc.
It will be transformational to the economy of the Highlands.
If this can be unwrapped and presented to the people of the Highlands, I’ll be happily raising a glass to St Nicholas.
Kate Forbes - MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch
Christmas reminds us of the birth of Jesus Christ, who came to give peace – peace with God, peace with each other and peace with ourselves.
You only need look across the globe to see how many long for hope and fight for peace. We take both for granted in our little corner of the world.
A year can be a long time – especially in politics. I’ve worked alongside many of you who have faced personal difficulties, as well as groups of people who’ve been fighting for better services and facilities.
This time 12 months ago, communities on the peninsula were reeling from a year without the MV Corran. This year, we’ve secured funding for a brand new ferry plus the harbour infrastructure.
Last year the Mackintosh Centre in Mallaig was closed due to staff shortages, and NHS Highland were soon to suspend all work on the new Belford hospital. Though discussions were ongoing about future ownership of Moss Park, I don’t think anyone expected September’s bombshell that HC-One intended to close the home.
Roll on to this December, and the Belford Hospital has been funded in the Scottish Government’s Budget, the Mack has reopened and Moss Park’s future is secure. All three of these initiatives are transformational for those who rely on services.
I met one of the residents and their spouse at Moss Park after the care home was saved. There are no words to describe the joy, peace and hope we felt at the news.
These results are in no small part due to the determination and resilience of community groups. But I can also assure you that I employ every waking minute in the service of my constituents and I don’t give up. None of these results were inevitable. We fought for them and we won.
Next year has enough trouble to take care of and plenty of work to do. Top of the list is tackling congestion in Fort William. I met the Transport Secretary last week, there’s a proposal and - if we can get everything lined up and everybody’s support - I hope we will start to see progress.
In the meantime, I wish everyone peace and hope over the holidays and throughout the new year.
Councillor Kate Willis - Ward: 21 Fort William and Ardnamurchan
It’s hard to believe that another year is almost over, and Christmas is here again.
I wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I hope that 2024 was good to you and that 2025 will be even better.
It has been a busy year, which finished with the launch of the Council’s Transient Visitor Levy consultation. I encourage everyone to contribute before it closes on March 31 2025.
Tourism is a key sector in Lochaber, and a Visitor Levy is not going to stop people visiting, but it is going to provide desperately needed income to support the sector and improve its sustainability with improved infrastructure and services.
As the process of implementing a Visitor Levy progresses in Highland, I will be arguing that the Levy funds are used to improve facilities in Lochaber such as carparking and sustainable travel infrastructure, public toilets and ranger services, all of which will improve the visitor experience and also benefit residents.
In the New Year, I am looking forward to working with elected members across Highland to improve local democracy as we begin to explore how we can devolve governance and more funding to Area Committees, so that we can better serve our local communities and deliver the support and services required.
Nollaig Chridheil Agus Bliadhna Mhath Ùr
Councillor Sarah Fanet - Ward: 21 Fort William and Ardnamurchan
I will remember 2024 as the year when the people in Lochaber stood together to show support towards the residents of Moss Park and their families.
That beautiful moment of solidarity has demonstrated what we can achieve as communities working together and has left a mark of hope in many of us.
I look forward to seeing that hope grow and continue through 2025.
I want to thank everyone, individuals and organisations who continue to work to help those of us who cannot find joy through the festive season as they experience adversity and loneliness.
I wish everyone a very happy Christmas and look forward to speaking to you in 2025.
Rev. David Sim - Fort William Kilmallie l/w Kilmonivaig Church of Scotland
At 11:30pm this Christmas Eve, people from all walks of life will gather at Duncansburgh Church in Fort William for the Watchnight Service, marking the transition into Christmas Day
While we love the chance to sing beloved carols, the evening holds a deeper meaning: a moment to pause, come together, and celebrate the birth of Jesus, who brings hope and peace to a troubled world.
We all long for peace: peace in our world, in our relationships, and within our hearts. Yet, for many of us, peace feels distant. The weight of life’s challenges and the state of the world can be overwhelming, leaving us weary from trying to control the uncontrollable.
Christmas reminds us we’re not alone. The birth of Jesus is a declaration that our good God not only loves us, He holds all of history in His hands. Though His work is often unseen, He is bringing everything to its rightful conclusion. One day, He will wipe away every tear, right every wrong, and establish a perfect, lasting peace.
Even now, He is bringing peace to many. The peace Jesus offers us isn’t merely the absence of conflict - it’s the presence of joy, love, and harmony. Life with Jesus is a foretaste of the day when God’s glory will cover the earth as waters cover the sea.
This Christmas, we welcome that promise anew, finding peace in the One who makes all things well.
Majors Janice and Jason Snell - Community Chaplains, Fort William Salvation Army
Since moving from South London to Fort William in July of this year we’ve quickly had to adapt to the Lochaber weather.
A very wet summer followed by colder months than we’ve been used to. Yet, one of the great things we’ve noticed during the darker nights is the number of stars in the sky.
We didn’t see as many in London with light pollution.
Thinking about this having celebrated Christmas and looking forward to a new year, I’m reminded of words from John’s Gospel; “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not defeated it.” [1v5]
The same stars that are visible here would be visible in London under different conditions. The lights that have shone for billions of years, shine regardless of whether we can see them or not.
Jesus himself said he was the ‘Light of the World.’ One who was born in a borrowed feeding trough, and at a young age was taken into Egypt by his parents to protect his life.
One who would grow to show us the love God has for us. One who would identify with the poor, the lonely, and the outcast of society. One who would die on a cross so that we might know forgiveness.
This is the light John speaks about and it has never been extinguished. As we approach this new year, we can resolve again to follow His light, and to love each other as he has called us to do.
Fort William Festive Fund
Another year and another High Street Christmas light switch on.
Local businesses did us proud again this year by donating a plethora of raffle prizes to help us raise funds.
Individuals and businesses helped us raise yet another fantastic total on our JustGiving page to help us pay for the Christmas lights and Corrour Estate were brilliant in sourcing and donating a fantastic Christmas tree for the
Parade, which was erected by Ferguson Transport.
We couldn’t organise any of this fabulous event without the support of you, our community. You pulled out all the stops again this year to donate, spread the word and turn out to welcome Santa on what was a dreadful night in the pouring rain.
We were so pleased to see so many of you attend and Santa had a great time in the West Highland Museum learning about all the boys and girls Christmas wishes.
Thank you once again, we couldn’t do it without you all.
Please try to get involved for next year, we are a small committee trying to do big things and we need help. Contact us through our Facebook or Instagram pages.
West Highland Museum
At the West Highland Museum, we have had a fabulous year with lots of new things happening.
We’ve been working hard in the community to involve people from local groups in events taking place in the
museum.
Our Education and Learning Officers pulled together a massive project with local primary schools, which culminated in showcase events at the Highland Cinema.
We have welcomed a number of new volunteers to the team who are now working with us to offer our first
- class welcome to visitors every day.
Our visitor numbers are increasing month on month and we are striving ensure this continues in 2025.
The museum board are continuing to work hard on researching, resourcing and taking forward our extensive
plans to redevelop and extend the museum to make it a larger and more accessible venue in the town.
We have a fabulous attraction to offer locals and visitors alike and we want to share that with you in many ways, so keep an eye on our social media channels and website to find out what we have planned.
Thank you to everyone who has been involved in the museum up to now and for anyone who may be interested
in joining our exciting journey please get in touch by emailing community@westhighlandmuseum.org.uk or
popping in to have a chat.
We look forward to seeing you!
Christmas reminds me of when I visited Berlin as a student at Cambridge. We went to the annual Kirchentag (Churches festival).
This is a huge celebration with music, events and a gathering together of christians from Germany and the world. There is a real carnival atmosphere as the festival lights up the city.
Back in 1989 however, we were still living with the dying embers of the cold war. The city was divided West and East by the infamous ’wall’.
We had the opportunity of visiting a Lutheran seminary in East Berlin. There was also protest going on in West Berlin, A huge street march took place at the massacre in Tian Men Square in China.
A matter of months later and history changed. The Iron Curtain largely broken and, the Berlin Wall fell. We give thanks for freedom in the world. Why does this remind me of Christmas?
Jesus Christ was born in a stable in Bethlehem. He was THE ’light of freedom’ to the world. King Herod sought to extinguish that light even before Jesus was born.
Nothing could stop the Messiah’s birth, “the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.” Jesus met a cruel fate at the hands of his people.
Christ is the Son of God. He brought life through his death.
At Christmas we receive the greatest gift of all – New Life in Christ, Freedom for the Captive and ’If the Son shall set you free , you shall be free indeed.’ (John 8.36)
With blessings of love, joy and peace at Christmastide.
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Latest News
JOBS
Business Development Manager - Highland Broadband
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