King’s speech of 1939 offers hope this Christmas – The Yorkshire Post says

IT is a reflection of Covid’s impact on all aspects of society that this Christmas will be an unprecedented one as families make unforeseen sacrifices in the pandemic’s wake.
By YP Comment
Published 24th Dec 2020, 05:50 BST
King George VI said at Christmas 1939: "We cannot tell what it will bring. If it brings peace, how thankful we shall all be. If it brings continued struggle, we shall remain undaunted." The sentiment resonates this year over Covid.King George VI said at Christmas 1939: "We cannot tell what it will bring. If it brings peace, how thankful we shall all be. If it brings continued struggle, we shall remain undaunted." The sentiment resonates this year over Covid.
King George VI said at Christmas 1939: "We cannot tell what it will bring. If it brings peace, how thankful we shall all be. If it brings continued struggle, we shall remain undaunted." The sentiment resonates this year over Covid.

The only exceptions are all those born before the cessation of the Second World War and those old enough to remember the bone-chilling winter of 1939 as the world was plunged into darkness and great depths of despair.

And as the Queen, political and religious leaders try to make sense of today’s hardships in their seasonal messages of goodwill, the words of King George VI at Christmas 1939 are just as applicable now.

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“A new year is at hand,” His Majesty said during his radio broadcast. “We cannot tell what it will bring. If it brings peace, how thankful we shall all be. If it brings continued struggle, we shall remain undaunted.”

Let there be light - York Minster chorister Martyn Sketchley prepares for Christmas. Photo: Simon Hulme.Let there be light - York Minster chorister Martyn Sketchley prepares for Christmas. Photo: Simon Hulme.
Let there be light - York Minster chorister Martyn Sketchley prepares for Christmas. Photo: Simon Hulme.

Unlike then when it took five more years of bloodshed before VE Day could be reached – and the 75th anniversary of that momentous day was one of the more joyous occasions of 2020 – an end to Covid is in sight if the country holds its nerve in the meantime.

A vaccine is being rolled out – and The Yorkshire Post salutes all those giving up their Christmas to inoculate the most vulnerable alongside the army of NHS staff, carers and key workers whose devotion to duty personifies the best of Britain in such a turbulent and uncertain year.

Now is also the day to express our collective gratitude to all those whose neighbourliness has been another light of hope – such community spirit explains why it is this county which is at the forefront of national work to combat loneliness.

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But, amid the political acrimony, this is also an occasion, as we wish readers the happiest and healthiest Christmas possible in these testing circumstances, to urge people to show common sense and human kindness, respect the rules and, to paraphrase the late King, remain undaunted. The end is now near.

York minster chorister Martyn Sketchley prepares for the festive season.York minster chorister Martyn Sketchley prepares for the festive season.
York minster chorister Martyn Sketchley prepares for the festive season.

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Related topics:Yorkshire PostQueenBritainNHSYorkshire

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