PEACE AND GOODWILL - "To think of Peace and Goodwill at this present moment in history may seem to some ironical. Millions of men, armed with the most ingenious weapons of destruction the world has ever seen, are engaged in an orgy of killing, maiming and burning.

"Behind them stand more millions, sweating at the furnaces to produce yet more weapons or toiling long hours in the fields to grow food to nourish the fighting men and munitions makers and their families. By night, many thousands go down and sleep in holes beneath the earth. A nice sort of Christmas, many would say.

"Yet it may be that all the horrors and loss are no more than the inevitable pain and labour when anything good is born. For are we not fighting this war that peace and goodwill may come to the earth in greater measure for more people, and permanently?

"We fight not only for our own freedom and security but for the right of the ordinary people of other nations in these things, and to enable them to throw off the yoke a handful of tyrants have fastened upon their necks.

"We fight not for such aims as the acquisition of more territory, more power or more prestige but that men in other countries may once more call their souls their own, and that they be no longer persecuted because they are of a different race or colour or creed from their fellows. Our strong right arm grows stronger every day, but only that it may win for mankind more peace and goodwill!"

KISSES TO BE RATIONED - NOT ENOUGH MISTLETOE

"Most of our mistletoe supplies normally come from abroad, especially northern France, but this year Britain has to rely on its own very limited quantities.

"We hear too that the public doesn't appear to want Christmas trees this year. We can only suppose that people don't wish to waste time and money on decorations for the trees."

SOLDIERS ENTERTAINED

"On Christmas evening, 250 soldiers from Norton Barracks were entertained at the Co-op Hall by the Worcester Co-operative Society. The men were seated at small tables and were soon happily engaged at cards followed by hearty community singing. A concert party added further enjoyment, and refreshments were served. Each man received a packet of cigarettes, and the evening reached a very fitting conclusion when the men rose and, standing to attention, sang 'There'll always be an England' and the National Anthem."

DANCING AT THE CO-OP HALL

"There will be a Christmas Eve Special Prize Night and a Grand Carnival Dance on Boxing Night - All to Fenn's Nine Star Players. Admission for H.M Forces, one shilling."

AT THE THEATRE ROYAL

"Frank Fortescue and his Players present a popular Christmas pantomime, Babes in the Wood with Frank Monckton as Simple Simon, Jessie James as Jack, and the Reid Twins in comedy roles.

"Last year, some 50 pantomimes were born in this country but this year they are fewer for reasons we know of only too well, and those that, true to the great theatrical tradition, are 'carrying on,' are contending with great difficulties.

"But pantomime is still bright, gay, unreal and as wholly delightful as it always was, and never more so than at Worcester Theatre Royal where Christmas would not be Christmas without a Bo-Peep or a Robin Hood or a Demon King treading the boards."

ONLOOKER WRITING IN CHIMES

"Those who have been able to afford poultry this year must have been rather astonished at the very high prises as Christmas approached. Why, oh why was not a limit set by the Government on the price of chickens, ducks, geese and turkeys?

"It was so difficult getting anything to supplement the rationed joint when people, rushing to buy poultry, seemed willing to pay almost any price that was asked for it."

IN THE MARKET

"One or two stall-holders in the Market Hall on Saturday were heard to exclaim that they would not attend again.

"It was probably a rash statement, not a deliberate resolve, but they were clearly upset by the almost riotous behaviour of some customers or would-be customers in pursuit of desired commodities.

"There was a rush for poultry, and eager buyers almost rushed some of the market women off their feet in their desire to purchase a bird. Some wanted to earmark this or that chicken or goose and there were remarkable price bids from customers.

"Even so, it appeared that most of the poultry had already been sold, having been ordered by long-standing customers, and however wishful a vendor may have been to oblige a potential customer, there could be little doubt in which direction the vendor's interest lay on such occasions. This may be hard on the newcomer but there seems to be no other rule to obey in these difficult times."

AT THE INFIRMARY AND ORPHANAGE

"Children of the Royal Albert Orphanage again spent a merry and thoroughly enjoyable Christmas despite the difficulties of the times.

"Christmas at the Royal Infirmary was celebrated in the usual happy fashion though not as elaborately as in former years. A concert was given around the wards by E.N.S.A artistes."

PRAYER FOR PEACE WITH VICTORY: "The whole season of Christmas in wartime cannot but be affected in innumerable ways. None of us can feel quite the same about Christmas 1940 as in peace time.

"Nor, perhaps, would it be right and proper even to try to make it a normal Christmas yet, on the other hand, it would be even more wrong if we all attempted to spend this season like Mr Scrooge!

"After all, it is a festival of hope as well as of peace, and it is especially the children's festival. So let us fill their stockings with such sweets and other delights as are allowed by the rationing system.

"And let us pray for ourselves and for as early a peace with victory as may be."