PETER MAY, VICE-CHAIRMAN OF CANVEY BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB

“WHEN you look around, businesses will always make things commercial. At the same time, I was at St Nicholas Church the other day and the pupils from William Read Primary School were singing carols and it was lovely. You also have the Rotary clubs collecting for charity. When you see the Rotary Santa it marks the start of Christmas.

“For me, it is the people who make Christmas.”

MIKE BROMFIELD, YOUTH WORKER AT SOUTHEND YMCA

“THE meaning of Christmas may have been diluted a little, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Christmas can means lots of different things to different people. For some of the people we help it could just be another reminder that mum and dad aren’t there for you, so it is not always positive. But even as a Christian association we embrace people of all faiths and a portion of our staff will give up their one real day off to share their Christmas spirit and make a meal for those in our accommodation.”

THE REV JON STANNARD, WEST LEIGH BAPTIST CHURCH

“THE Christ has undoubtedly been taken out of Christmas.

For many people they like the season and look forward to it because it is a bit of time off work to spend with the family, but they do not necessarily think of the reality of the Christmas story and what it means. We still see huge numbers come to us at Christmas though and we put on two Christingle services so there are still lots of people valuing the Christmas story.”

TONY PRIOR, ACTIVITIES CHAIRMAN FOR LEIGH LIONS

“THE traditional Christian meaning of Christmas has been lost and everything seems to be about buying presents now. It’s fantastic that you can buy something on Amazon and it will be there the next day, but it’s a bit removed from the story of Christmas. All is not lost though. We held an evening carol concert on Strand Wharf recently and that was very well supported. People still like to be together and sing at this time of year.”

DANNY LOVEY, FORMER PRESIDENT OF BASILDON CONCORD ROTARY CLUB

“IT has become too commercialised, but that has been the case for some years.

Many shops are starting selling Christmas stuff in September rather than mid-November.

“I think the true spirit of Christmas does get lost along the way, I believe Christmas is a time when people should be thinking about others.

“We have the Christmas collections which will go to those in need, because that is what we do.”

THE REV MARION WALFORD FROM THE CANVEY PARISH

REV Walford has been visiting all the schools on the island with a travelling Mary and Joseph and their donkey who take refuge in each of the schools to symbolise the journey.

She said: “The schools I have gone into have been absolutely amazing.

“It has almost amazed me how well they know the story and certainly here on Canvey, we will have in excess of 1,200 people coming to the Christingle services.

“There can be a big rush for the shops and it can be stressful, but I find children and young people actually remind us of the specialness of Christmas.

“The real meaning of Christmas is still alive and well.

CAROL DUTTON, 67, OF THORPE ROAD, HAWKWELL

“CHRISTMAS is totally commercialised now. I have 11 grandchildren now and I spend the run up to Christmas thinking about what to buy them rather than what Christmas should be about, and it’s sad. I used to take them all to a carol service when they were young and it was lovely, but they’re all grown up now and they’re not interested. I went to a Christmas play last year and it was a Rock and Roll Nativity. It was funny and everyone clapped, but it wasn’t really about Christmas.”

PHIL NORTON OF THE BILLERICAY STREET PASTORS

“I DON’T think the message has been completely lost if I am honest.

“I think it is good that people have the choice, but what I do think has been apparent this year, just from us doing what we are doing and what we have been really excited about, is the really good community spirit that still exists.

“I think there is still an underlying desire to see the good in people and the best in people and think that is from people having an underlying faith in something that is bigger than themselves, but it doesn’t necessarily mean they go to church.”