FOR millions of us, 2009 will be a year to forget. Twelve months of credit crunch. Lost jobs and homes, no deposit for a mortgage, punishing youth unemployment, greedy MPs and immoral bankers.

From Afghanistan this country has borne a weekly death toll which stands at 106 so far this year - and which will inevitably outstrip the tally of the Falklands War.

You would be forgiven for wishing away the final days of December.

But we shouldn't lose sight of the best moments - great triumphs of the human spirit.

At the head of this list stands the towering bravery of our servicemen and women with 322 medals awarded since January - many for supreme courage under fire as we face down the Taliban in Helmand.

Back at home, too, there was quiet heroism of families flooded in Cumbria and of PC Bill Barker who lost his life but remains in the hearts of all he helped.

And as Lord Carey writes on this page today, even a fall of snow can give rise to simple acts of human kindness.

Throughout the year, adversity has revealed the best of what we are and what we can be.

We will never forget those who died for us in 2009, but amid the gloom there is still much hope to take into 2010.

Let's at least try for a happy, prosperous and peaceful New Year.

Queue up to beat terror

WITH an airline industry on its knees and millions heading to airports for a New Year getaway, the foiled Christmas Day terror plot couldn't have come at a worse time.

Which is exactly as al Qaeda would have planned it.

We will beat this enemy only with patience and endurance - and we can all play our part, however small, at departure gates across the country.

So if you're in danger of losing your temper in a queue, just remember...

If you'd been on that Detroit flight you'd have wanted all the security in the world.

How many more tests?

SARA Payne had never been short of courage. For her own devastated family and for victims everywhere she remains a tower of strength.

Now, as she lies in a hospital bed, this woman whose endurance has been tested to the limit needs that great fortitude more than ever.

If prayers can help, Sara, you have all ours.

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• TERROR CAPITAL OF THE WEST

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