What a brilliant year 2012 has been for Gloucestershire.
The backdrop was the Queen's Diamond Jubilee and this county took those celebrations to heart with a real sense of loyalty and enthusiasm.
The Citizen was proud to produce newspapers reflecting those happy Jubilee celebrations.
We were, therefore, delighted that The Queen herself recognised our efforts with a special letter of thanks.
And then, against that Jubilee backdrop, we staged the greatest show on earth - the London Olympics.
Despite the foreboding stories, the organisation went like clockwork. And it is today fitting that some of our county's Olympians are feted in the Queen's New Year Honours list.
What we must now seek to do in Gloucestershire during 2013 is to develop that Olympic Legacy and actually keep it alive.
That is why The Citizen will continue to support the plans to make the new Blackbridge athletics track at Podsmead the breeding ground for our young would-be Olympians.
And we will also be supporting the building of a new headquarters for the Gloucester Rowing Club. Interest in the sport following the success of our county's Olympic rowers continues to grow.
But the government must also play its part in this Olympic legacy by encouraging more sport in schools. That will mean more cash and more effort.
The Olympic torch, often derided before it started its journey throughout Britain, had an incredible welcome here in Gloucestershire.
It was a beacon of positivity that took us through an absolutely glorious year.
This year was a proud one for The Citizen too. We were voted Daily Newspaper of the Year in the EDF Energy South West Media Awards.
At the end of the year, we launched a Christmas campaign for Gloucester Foodbank to give people with little money to put food on the table a helping hand.
Thanks to our readers for caring at Christmas and contributing over £3 000 and four tonnes of food to the project.
We need to take that selfless attitude forward into 2013.
Times will not get easier in the economy so we must try to care for those less fortunate.
The backdrop was the Queen's Diamond Jubilee and this county took those celebrations to heart with a real sense of loyalty and enthusiasm.
The Citizen was proud to produce newspapers reflecting those happy Jubilee celebrations.
We were, therefore, delighted that The Queen herself recognised our efforts with a special letter of thanks.
And then, against that Jubilee backdrop, we staged the greatest show on earth - the London Olympics.
Despite the foreboding stories, the organisation went like clockwork. And it is today fitting that some of our county's Olympians are feted in the Queen's New Year Honours list.
What we must now seek to do in Gloucestershire during 2013 is to develop that Olympic Legacy and actually keep it alive.
That is why The Citizen will continue to support the plans to make the new Blackbridge athletics track at Podsmead the breeding ground for our young would-be Olympians.
And we will also be supporting the building of a new headquarters for the Gloucester Rowing Club. Interest in the sport following the success of our county's Olympic rowers continues to grow.
But the government must also play its part in this Olympic legacy by encouraging more sport in schools. That will mean more cash and more effort.
The Olympic torch, often derided before it started its journey throughout Britain, had an incredible welcome here in Gloucestershire.
It was a beacon of positivity that took us through an absolutely glorious year.
This year was a proud one for The Citizen too. We were voted Daily Newspaper of the Year in the EDF Energy South West Media Awards.
At the end of the year, we launched a Christmas campaign for Gloucester Foodbank to give people with little money to put food on the table a helping hand.
Thanks to our readers for caring at Christmas and contributing over £3 000 and four tonnes of food to the project.
We need to take that selfless attitude forward into 2013.
Times will not get easier in the economy so we must try to care for those less fortunate.