There are moments in public life that remind you why local community matters so much. Last week’s Santa Tours around Battle were exactly that kind of moment. I had the pleasure of being out supporting Santa, driving one of the support vehicles, helping keep things running smoothly, and most importantly meeting residents face to face in their own streets.
From the moment the sleigh set off, the atmosphere was something special. Children wrapped up against the cold, parents and grandparents standing together on pavements, and neighbours stopping to chat as Santa waved his way through the town. It was festive, joyful, and unmistakably Battle.
As I went around the town, I was struck by how many families came out together. It was not rushed, not commercial, and not impersonal. This was a community event in the truest sense, organised locally and supported by local people. It reminded me that Christmas is not about grand gestures from distant authorities but about shared experiences close to home.
This is one of those simple but magical parts of Christmas in Battle. Seeing children’s faces light up when Santa arrives never gets old, and it was fantastic to see so many families out enjoying the evening together.
What really stood out was how many people stopped to talk. These events are about more than Christmas cheer. They bring people together, strengthen friendships, and remind us that we still have strong, caring communities here.
As a councillor, you often hear residents’ concerns when things are not working. That is important and necessary. But it is equally important to celebrate what does work. Events like this help build trust, connection, and a shared sense of belonging. They also show our children that community is something you take part in, not something you watch from a distance.
For Reform UK, values like family, community, and responsibility are not abstract ideas. They are practical and lived. Strong families create strong communities, and strong communities make towns like Battle better places to live. When councils support events that bring people together across generations, they are doing something genuinely valuable.
Too often, modern politics feels disconnected from everyday life. Decisions are taken far away, and local identity can feel diluted or ignored. What I saw doing the Santa Tours was the opposite of that. It was local people supporting a local tradition, rooted in the character of the town and supported by volunteers and councillors who care deeply about the place they serve.
One resident said to me, “It’s lovely to see everyone out like this. You forget how many people you know until you’re all stood together on the same street.” That comment stayed with me because it captures something important. Community does not disappear. It just needs opportunities to come together.
Christmas is a time when those opportunities matter more than ever. Not everyone finds the season easy. That makes moments of shared warmth and joy even more important. When children laugh, neighbours talk, and families stand together in the cold waving at Santa, it reinforces the idea that we look out for one another.
Reform UK believes in rebuilding that sense of connection across the country, starting at the most local level. We believe councils should support families, encourage community life, and respect the traditions that make towns and villages distinctive. I’m proud to have been part of this year’s events and grateful to everyone involved in making them such a success. Thank you to the council team, the volunteers, and of course Santa himself! Most of all, thank you to the families and residents who came out and made it such a memorable and uplifting experience.
As we head into the rest of the festive season, I hope we can carry that same spirit forward. Community is not something we inherit by accident. It is something we build together.
Cllr Pete Morley
December 2025
