This Christmas message from London in 2014 is a thank-you to everyone who watched, supported and subscribed to Roberts London. Originally published on 25 December 2014, the short film brings together Christmas wishes, a few thoughts about gratitude and glimpses of the city after dark.
The festive lights provide the backdrop, but the people watching are the reason for the message. Whether you followed the recent Christmas films or had been watching for longer, I wanted to say how much that support meant.
Christmas wishes from London
Christmas means different things to different people. In the film, I wish viewers a happy day whether they were observing a traditional holy day or enjoying a relaxing holiday with family. There is room for favourite television, presents and a light-hearted hope that Santa had been kind.
The greeting also includes people who did not celebrate Christmas, and those who could not be in London. I hoped the films from the preceding weeks had given them a chance to see the city and some of its celebrations from wherever they were watching.
A thank-you to the people watching
A number of new subscribers had arrived during the festive period. I hoped they would stay for the rest of the year too, even after the Christmas decorations and seasonal films had finished.
The channel was small compared with many others, and I joked that a dedicated Christmas thank-you might seem a little over the top. Yet that was part of the point: it mattered to be grateful for the support already there, instead of worrying that somebody else had more.
Receiving messages thanking me for posting the videos was humbling. My feeling was that the thanks should go the other way. Everyone who took the time to watch, support the channel or subscribe helped make sharing these London moments worthwhile.
The Trafalgar Square Christmas tree in 2014
After the spoken message, the film lingers on a gathering beside the illuminated Christmas tree in Trafalgar Square. The original description invites viewers to sing along to God Save the Queen, as the anthem was then known. A closing card sends Christmas wishes and looks ahead to the new year.
This is a small Christmas Day record of London in 2014, with a simple message at its centre: thank you for watching, and best wishes for the year ahead.
