We’re almost at the end of 2016 and it is always good to reflect on the year that is behind us.

As you get older, there will be more people who have been part of your life who sadly will no longer be with us, but their memories will make us smile and we will cherish what they gave us.

A list of people in the public eye who we have lost, but to whom I will be forever grateful, include Muhammad Ali, Caroline Aherne, Sir Terry Wogan, Ronnie Corbett, David Bowie, Victoria Wood, Sir George Martin, Gene Wilder and Andrew Sachs. There are many more, but this list may well say more about me and who I am.

There are more personal losses that will have hit most of us this year. The year has also had some momentous events that will have touched most of us, both worldwide and locally.

These include: continuing terrorist problems in the Middle East and across the world; the ever-changing weather patterns that we are having; the EU referendum; an unexpected change of Prime Minister for the UK; the US elections; the Olympics, the new bus station in Hexham; the town’s parking problems; the problems our schools are having with academisation and Ofsted, the reduction of banks on our high streets ... the list could go on.

However, it has not been all doom and gloom. Every year has good and bad events, but for some reason the bad things seem to stand out.

For those of us in estate agency, things have been steadily improving. At Keith Pattinson we have not had too many reasons to be negative in 2016.

We have listed more properties than last year, sold more properties than last year and also placed more tenants into rented accommodation than last year.

Pattinson’s has been nationally recognised as a leading estate agent, with awards for their auction team (gold award – nationally), estate agency (bronze award – North-East) and lettings department (bronze award – nationally).

We have every reason to believe that 2017 will continue in the same way, and we are looking forward to another successful year.

We are able offer a full service throughout the Christmas period and will be open on all trading days through the Christmas and New Year period.

All of us at Pattinson’s wish you a very Merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous New Year and hope that we can help you to find the home of your dreams.