The chaplains from three of Nottinghamshire’s emergency
services are sharing a message of hope this Christmas.
Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service, Nottinghamshire
Police and East Midlands Ambulance Service normally hold an annual carol
service at Southwell Minster, but Covid-19 has meant that plans had to change
this year.
Instead, chaplains from the three services have created a
video message to spread a message of triumph over adversity during this very
different Christmas time.
The video also features a heart-warming Christmas reading by
11-year-old Arron Fullard and 8-year-old Imogen Fullard, whose father Ashley
Fullard, is a Watch Manager at West Bridgford Fire and Police Station.
Nottinghamshire Police Chaplain, the Reverend Jo Tatum,
begins with an opening message about the challenges we have all faced this
year, before highlighting the courage and compassion of emergency workers
throughout the pandemic.
The Reverend David Milner offers a prayer on behalf of the
Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service before the Reverend Kev Charles from
East Midlands Ambulance service rounds off the video with a reading and a final
blessing.
The Nottinghamshire Police band has provided the festive
music, but since they were unable to meet up to rehearse and play together they
recorded their parts separately before editing them together into one seamless
seasonal soundtrack.
Chief Fire Officer, John Buckley, said: “After such an
unprecedented time we have all had in 2020, it is nice to have this Christmas
message as a thank you and to show the public what we have all been doing.
“We want to thank all Emergency Service personnel for their
efforts this year. We have all been business as usual during the pandemic, but
we have seen our staff go above and beyond, especially for their communities.
“At Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service we have
continued to engage with our local communities but in different ways: We have
helped distribute food and medication parcels, assisted East Midlands Ambulance
Service with the driving of their ambulances’ and continuing to undertake all
our normal activities and duties.
“From all of us at Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service,
we wish you a Merry Christmas.”
Chief Constable Craig Guildford, of Nottinghamshire Police,
said: “The joint carol service is always a highlight of the year, when we come
together and celebrate the amazing work of the three services as well as the
important values of Christmas.
“This year has been a very different one for all of us and
the emergency services have really been at the forefront of that. So, it is
fantastic that the chaplains are sending this message of hope to the people of
Nottinghamshire.
“I am also glad that people will still get to hear the
wonderful sounds of the police band. Their ingenuity in managing to record
these ensemble pieces is a great example of how we have all had to adapt this
year, and of how this will be a Christmas like no other.
“Whether you are celebrating Christmas or not, I think we
can all take strength from this heart-warming message as we look forward to
what we hope will be a very welcome return to normal life as we move through
2021.
“Thank you to all the emergency workers, and indeed all the
key workers, for their incredible efforts this year. I wish them and all of you
a safe and merry Christmas.”
East Midlands Ambulance Service Chief Executive Richard
Henderson said: “Although we can’t come together for the Nottinghamshire carol
concert with fire and police services this year, this message from all our
chaplains helps to celebrate the hard work and dedication of colleagues in all
three services.
“The COVID-19 pandemic continues to bring worrying times for
so many people and huge challenges for emergency services and the NHS, which is
why this joint message of hope is so important.
“I wish you all a safe and happy Christmas and New Year and
hope you enjoy the film.”
Please note that some images in the Christmas message were
taken before March 2020.