Volunteers have always responded to the needs of the times. In 1990, a church collecting food for needy people over Christmas found that those in difficulties needed help throughout the year, and started a "Food Bank".

The script for the film McClintock has Chief Puma ensuring that widows and orphans had meat in their lodges, and the same is written throughout the Bible and many other teachings.

The old midwinter festival of Yuletide celebrated the start of longer days, with feasting from delicacies designed for storing food without refrigeration. Christmas cake and puddings started in that way; mince pies were meats preserved with fruit for flavouring, much as we have apple sauce with pork today, but now without any meat at all! Today, commercial Christmas puddings may last for a year, but mince pies less than a month!

Christmas brings memories both sad and uplifting! Years ago a young grandson pushed past me three times in the kitchen doorway when I was carrying food. I reacted as his school chums might have done, he tripped and went howling into the sitting room. The inquiry was chaired by his mother, with grandmother and two aunties as jury - I was found guilty!

It was beautiful sunny and crisp December afternoon. My long walk took me past houses with the remains of festivities visible, gatherings with paper hats and no doubt a few drinks. Thoughts wandered into what was really happening in these family gatherings. Our own son and daughter-in-law had been killed some years before, so it was natural to think of the great many people missing from parties for one reason or another.

My walk took me past the war memorial in the nearby village, at which I stopped for a period of reflection. Human values matter more than eating, drinking and receiving gifts - or giving gifts, which is more fulfilling than receiving. Christmas is a time to take stock, to be thankful for all the good things we have, but also to take care of others, including inviting friends who might otherwise be on their own for Christmas.

Today, 27th December, was both the birthday of my first wife, the grandmother in the story above, and also the anniversary of her death. Christmas was a major project for her, trifles and a yule log to be made, a ham to be boiled, and an early start Christmas morning to roast the turkey. This was preceded by complex negotiation as to which married children would come "home" and who would go to their in-laws, and after Christmas several weeks trying to make acceptable meals with left overs, "orts pie" in Devon dialect!

The Christmas message is for all of us to be kind, thoughtful and supportive, bringing peace and goodwill to everyone we can reach. The surge of jollity and caring before Christmas should continue, especially donations to charities supporting the more needy in our mostly affluent area. Many people have problems all year round. Christmas cheer and mince pies make a wonderful break, but some people rely on the Food Bank and other charities into spring, particularly during the cold weather.

Friendly and helpful human contact is important, even without paper hats! From Citizens Advice providing help, to ordinary folk smiling and chatting in the street or in shops, any of us picking up the phone to otherwise lonely people.