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

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.

“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.”

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.

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.

Support The Yorkshire Post and become a subscriber today. Your subscription will help us to continue to bring quality news to the people of Yorkshire. In return, you’ll see fewer ads on site, get free access to our app and receive exclusive members-only offers. Click here to subscribe.