Spring 2011 avanti magazine

THE MAGAZINE FOR MEMBERS OF THE CIVIL SERVICE RETIREMENT FELLOWSHIP SPRING 2011 www.csrf.org.uk

MAGAZINE

FIRST NIGHT

140 years of the Royal Albert Hall

GORGEOUS GARDENS

The history of the National Garden Scheme

Positive FITNESS

totally

TALLINN Experience Estonia

Why it’s good to keep in shape

MY FAVOURITE THINGS

With author Gervase Phinn

PLUS: Fellowship Office News • Books • DVDS • Member News • Group Reports Supported By The Civ il S er v ice Insurance S ociet y C h a r it y Fu n d

Editor’s Letter

Welcome to the Spring issue

is published by Square7 Media Ltd, 3 More London Riverside, London SE1 2RE T: 020 3283 4055 E: enquiries@square7media.co.uk www.square7media.co.uk

Publisher: Gaynor Garton e: gaynor@square7media.co.uk t: 020 3283 4055 Advertising: Mark Toland e: mark@square7media.co.uk t: 020 3283 4056 Editor: David Tickner By mail: Use the address below Email: avanti@square7media.co.uk Tel: 020 8691 7411 Designer: Charlotte Morgan The Civil Service Retirement Fellowship Suite 2, 80A Blackheath Road, London SE10 8DA T: 020 8691 7411 F: 020 8692 2386 E: info@csrf.org.uk W: www.csrf.org.uk A charity registered in England and Wales No 255465 and in Scotland No SC039049 and a company limited by guarantee in England and Wales No 6297479

The magazine has been produced with financial support from

THE CIVIL SERVICE INSURANCE SOCIETY CHARITY FUND ©2011. avanti Magazine is published by Square7 Media Ltd on behalf of the Civil Service Retirement Fellowship (CSRF).

All rights reserved. CSRF and the publishers declare that any publication of any advertisement does not carry their endorsement or sponsorship of the advertiser or their products unless so indicated. Contributions are invited and, whether or not accepted, submissions will be returned only is accompanied by a stamped addressed envelope. No responsibility can be taken for drawings, photographs or literary contributions during transmission or while in the publisher’s hands. Proof of receipt is no guarantee of appearance. In the absence of an agreement, the copyright of all contributions, literary, photographic or artistic belongs to CSRF. This publication (or any part thereof) may not be reproduced, transmitted or stored in print or electronic format (including, but not limited to, any online service, database or part of the internet), or in any other format in any media whatsoever, without the prior written permission of Square7 Media Ltd. CSRF and Square7 Media accept no liability for the accuracy of the contents or any other opinions expressed herein. The views expressed in this magazine do not necessarily reflect the official views of CSRF.

A belated Happy New Year to you all and Happy Valentines!

I hope everybody had a wonderful Christmas break and was not too inconvenienced by the large amount of ‘white stuff’ covering the land during December and January. Some parts of the country had some pretty David with Northern Ireland Branch treacherous conditions, but I hope life is returning to normal for you all.

Chairman Lillian So how many of you made a New Year’s Resolution? And if you did Nesbitt how many of you have managed to stick to it!! I’m not a great one for resolutions but one personal promise I have made to myself is to find more time for family and friends in 2011.

Our editorial smorgasbord is full this issue as in case you hadn’t noticed – we’ve got bigger! You can graze through features on the natural world, history and travel and cherry pick delicate pieces of interiors, entertainment, fashion and books before washing it all down with a glass or two of Fellowship news, group reports and member incentives.

We’ve had great fun putting the issue together and I hope you enjoy it as much as we do! I’ll look forward to receiving your letters and stories soon!

Best wishes, David

CONTENTS 4-8

Front Desk

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City of Culture

The latest news from the Fellowship Office and Chief Executive’s message.

Tallinn in Estonia offers a wealth of interest for travellers.

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140 Years of Albert

Celebrating the 140th anniversary of the Royal Albert Hall.

34 Relaxing Moment

We explore the pampering

opportunities at spa hotel Thoresby Hall.

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Travels in India

CSRF Member Desmond Higgins recalls his time in the wake of the Raj.

16 Avoiding the Banger!

Which? Car offers advice on what to

look for when buying a second hand car.

18 In an ‘English’ Country Garden

Looking at the history of the National

Garden Scheme and some of the gardens you can enjoy this spring.

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Positive Fitness

How to keep fit at home and away.

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At Home

37

Coffee Time

Our regular mix of quizzes and teasers.

40

Postbag

Your letters and views.

43

Members’ First

Check out our special membership offer along with some promotions especially for you.

44

Member Satisfaction Survey

Help us to shape the future direction

of the CSRF and win £100 M&S vouchers.

46

A pot-pourri of interesting ideas and advice for you to use at home.

Out & About Group reports and news from around the country.

27

Grey Matters

50-61 The Planner

Going grey does not have to mean the end of the line for stylish hair.

28

Leisure Life

Culture, books and DVDs reviewed for your enjoyment.

Find out what your local group is up to.

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My Favourite Things

Author Gervase Phinn opens up about what matters to him.

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front desk News from the Fellowship Office

from the chief executive Words by Jean Cooper

STRATEGIC PLAN 2011 -2015 The Board of Directors and Fellowship Office have been in the process of finalising a strategic plan for the Fellowship that focuses on the next five years. This involves setting goals and objectives in all areas including fundraising, membership recruitment, public relations and communications. Work is already underway on a large number of these objectives with many more to go live in future months.

Dear Member It hardly seems possible that we’re already two months into the second decade of the 21st Century, doesn’t time fly by!

Since we last spoke there have been a lot of exciting developments that will positively assist us with delivering our strategic plans for the future. The most important of these is that Cabinet Office has confirmed the appointment of Alex Allan as our new Champion. Alex is the Chair of the Joint Intelligence Committee and Professional Head of Intelligence Analysis, Cabinet Office. He will ‘champion’ our work across government departments and provide a very important link with all the other Permanent Secretaries. We will be featuring a more detailed profile/interview of Alex in the next issue.

With the boost this appointment makes to our long term plans I’d like to once again make an appeal to all of you to continue to promote the work of the Fellowship. Despite the fact that our Grant In Aid is being reduced over the next five years rumours of our death have been greatly exaggerated.

The reality of the situation is this - in spite of the grant in aid reduction we are still able to function and provide you with support. But in order for us to do this we have had to make changes (reduced admin costs) and I know a few of you have been quick to register your unhappiness about this.

However by taking the course of action that we have, we are now more able to develop and grow.

Everybody, from our groups, volunteers and visitors to those beneficiaries who support us with their membership has a part to play. So I urge you all to consider the key objective – a long and healthy future for the Fellowship - so let’s all work together to achieve it. To help us shape the future direction of the organisation please fill in our member survey (on page 44) and you will be entered into our prize draw to win £100 of M&S vouchers.

This year is also a very special one for our friends at the Civil Service Benevolent Fund. Our roots can be traced back to them when our organisation was born in 1968. The Fund is celebrating their 125th anniversary throughout 2011 which is a very impressive achievement. On behalf of the CSRF I wish them a very happy 125th birthday.

Finally I’d like to send out a request for more volunteers. We have many areas that we could use some support in: administration, research and marketing are just a few. 2011 is the Year of Volunteering so why not get involved? If you are interested in helping out in any area then please make contact with Fellowship Office to find out more.

Yours in friendship and fellowship,

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THE FUND CELEBRATES 125 YEARS Congratulations to the Civil Service Benevolent Fund who are celebrating their 125th anniversary this year. They will be embarking on a series of special fundraising initiatives throughout 2011 which will include a special 125 year raffle.

For more information about events or to offer support email: fundraisinginitiatives @csbf.org.uk

BOARD OF DIRECTORS NOMINATIONS 2011-12 It’s that time of year again with nominations to the Board of Directors for 2011-12 now open. Any CSRF member is eligible to stand and would require the endorsement of their local Branch to submit an application. If you are interested in standing for election to the Board (the elections take place during the AGM & Conference in August) then please contact Fellowship Office for more information.

CIVIL AND PUBLIC SERVICE ARTISTS

A NEW CHAMPION

National Chairman John Barker CB (left) pictured with Alex Allan, recently confirmed by Cabinet Office as our new Champion. Alex is Chair, Joint Intelligence Committee and Professional Head of Intelligence Analysis, Cabinet Office.

CHINESE SERVICE

National Vice Chairman Russell Brown played host to a visiting delegation from China who were keen to find out more about the work of the Fellowship.

Pictured from left to right: Mr Tao, Deputy Director General, Department of Human Resource and Social Security of Henan Province, Russell Brown and Ms Feng, the Deputy Director of Henan Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs

CONSIDER YOUR PERSONAL SECURITY We received a letter from a member at the end of last year that prompted us to once again to reiterate the importance of personal security in your home.

Please remember to keep all your personal effects (valuables, money, official documents) in a safe and secure place. Do not under any circumstance show

We’re delighted that our National Chairman, John Barker CB will be one of the judges of this year’s Civil and Public Service Artists competition.

The standard and quality of entries for this annual event are consistently high providing the judges with a tough call to select the eventual winners.

The 2011 Exhibition will take place in the Banqueting House from 1-12 August (with a private viewing on Tuesday 2 August).

For more information about the CPSA along with details on how to join (current membership is just £12 for a year) visit their website at www.artatcpsa.org.uk

any unauthorised people where you keep them.

No visitors to your home should have any reason to request access to any official documents or money.

If somebody who is in your home officially (health visitor, cleaner) asks to borrow money we would strongly advise you to politely refuse them.

If they persist in asking you should report them to a member of your family and/or the body that sent them into your home in the first place. www.crsf.org.uk SPRING 2011

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news

CSIS TRAVEL INSURANCE TIPS

Getting travel insurance at an affordable price can be a problem for the more mature tourist but the Civil Service Insurance Society (CSIS) is able to offer a solution by providing travel cover without an age limit (except skiing 65 years and travelling within the USA/ Canada 71 years). They also offer a medical referral service to establish if cover can be given for pre-existing medical conditions with an increased excess (but without additional charge).

They will also consider providing terrorism cover unless the Foreign and Commonwealth Office do not recommend travelling to a particular region.

For more information contact CSIS on 0845 6077444 or visit www.csis.co.uk

BIG

THE QUESTIONS

In the summer issue we are debating the pros and cons of mandatory driving tests at 70 and we want to know your views. Do you agree or disagree? Send your opinions or views marked for the attention of the Editor using the Fellowship Office address at the front of the magazine or email: avanti@square7media.co.uk We are also planning a feature that follows up on our article about Board Games (Winter 2010). This will focus on childhood games – so we’d like to hear from you about your memories of games you enjoyed when you were a child. Send your letters marked for the attention of the Editor using the Fellowship Office address at the front of the magazine or email: avanti@square7media.co.uk

information technology CSRF Online Update

Our update of the CSRF website has now been completed and we hope you find the new look site more functional and useful.

You can now join, donate or support our work via the website, follow the latest news from the Fellowship Office or send us your news items for inclusion online.

We are particularly looking for news and photos from our groups, so please keep us fully up to date with what you have been up to. Send your news items and pictures to David, our Editor at the Fellowship Office

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address at the front of the magazine or email him directly on: avanti@square7media.co.uk There is a dedicated member area now on the website which all existing CSRF members can access which includes member benefits, news and avanti online. To sign in just follow these simple steps: i.

ii.

iii.

iv.

Visit the main home page at www.csrf.org.uk Click the ‘sign in’ icon on the top right hand side of the website Enter your membership number in the field marked Enter your surname in the field marked (please make sure you use a capital letter for the beginning of your surname

and spaces or apostrophes where appropriate) If you experience any problems with logging in or have mislaid your membership number, please contact the Fellowship Office for further assistance.

Twitter & Facebook Don’t forget to sign up to follow our Twitter and Facebook profiles, as your support is most welcome. We are currently following over 1,500 people on twitter and post regular ‘tweet’ updates on the CSRF website (see the home page). Twitter offers a unique and interesting way to transmit basic news and we’re very pleased to be participating in the world of social networking.

Visit our Twitter profile at http:// twitter.com/THECSRF or join our Facebook group ‘TheCSRF’ via www.facebook.com

BRITISH COUNCIL RELEASE PROPAGANDA FILMS The British Council has recently released a series of propaganda films from the 1930s and 1940s for the first time on its website. The films were part of a series funded by the British Council over 50 years ago in order to promote Britain and its values to other countries around the globe, particularly in a time when fascism was becoming prevalent across Europe. Famous filmmakers including cinematographer Jack Cardiff of Powell and Pressburger fame contributed to them.

To view the films online visit www.timeimage.org.uk

Dispose of your IT equipment responsibly

If you are looking to get rid of any old IT equipment then make contact with registered charity Computer Aid International. They help organisations and individuals throughout the UK to dispose of any IT equipment in a socially and environmentally responsible manner. They take donations of unwanted computers, monitors, laptops and peripherals for reuse in the developing world. All equipment received is data wiped before being distributed to schools, hospitals and community organisations in over 100 countries worldwide. One computer can provide access to train 50 children to a vocational level of IT literacy.

For more information visit www. computeraid.org, email enquiries@ computeraid.org or call 020 8361 5540

legacy giving Even leaving a small gift in your will can make a world of difference to our work and enable us to continue to provide the best possible support to retired Civil Servants and their partners.

SUBVERTING THE MYTH Contrary to public opinion many Civil Servants do not earn significant sums.

Almost half are in admin grades where the average pay in 2009 was £17,120 for women and £17,600 for men. Over 40% of Civil Servants (approximately 210,000 people) are paid £20,000 or less and 63% (approximately 330,000 people) earn less than £25,000 per year.

The average Civil Service pension is just £4,200 a year* which means that many people face a retirement on low income. For over 40 years we have worked hard to help retired Civil Servants through friendship and support to enjoy a better and more fulfilling retirement. *Statistics from PCS

WHY SHOULD I MAKE A WILL? Having an up to date will is the only way to ensure that your family and friends will be provided for in the way you wish after you die. It’s also important to review your will from time to time, making sure

WHY WE NEED YOUR HELP Each year we need to raise funds to maintain our services and develop new ways that we can help our members through volunteering, visiting and our network of social groups.

it reflects changes to your family, personal circumstances and legislation such as Inheritance Tax. Your Will is one of the most important documents you will ever sign, so we highly recommend you seek professional advice, either from your Bank (if they offer this service) or from a Solicitor. We can help supply you with lists of local Solicitors who deal with this kind of work if you wish.

WHY LEAVE A LEGACY? Leaving a gift in your Will can make a real difference. Legacies no matter how large or small are a very important part of our income and help us to provide the best possible range of services for retired and older Civil Servants and their partners.

Your gift would also not be subject to any inheritance tax.

AMENDING AN EXISTING WILL If you already have a will, it is important that you keep it up to date. If you want to add the CSRF to an existing will, your solicitor simply attaches a written instruction called a codicil – don’t make changes yourself as you may inadvertently invalidate your will. If there are a number of changes you want to make, it may be better to make a new will.

If you would like any help or advice on how to leave a legacy then please contact Fellowship Office on 020 8691 7411 or email info@csrf.org.uk

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news

fundraising Grant Applications There are many grants awarded to ‘community’ groups such as ours across the country. Whilst there is no guarantee of the success of your application this is nonetheless a great potential opportunity for your group to benefit from additional funding and expand numbers. Our Northern Ireland groups who have been extremely successful in their applications to the Awards for All Scheme have all seen a positive boost to their membership as a result of additional funding for activities such as days out and group holidays.

The application process can be quite daunting for grants so if you have any problems at all with the process please contact Fellowship Office with any advice or support you need.

We will during the course of 2011 be identifying potential grants that could benefit all of our groups across the country and will be making contact with Group Chairs and Treasurers with the relevant information in due course.

volunteering Our organisation is built on volunteers who give their time generously and freely. There are always a variety of volunteering opportunities that are available in your area.

For example you could lend a hand at your local group; visit retired civil servants, their widows or widowers; transport housebound or ill members to group meetings or help to organise activities and fundraising projects.

Volunteering is a highly rewarding way to provide some essential support to our activities and it’s a brilliant way to make new friends and put your professional skills and expertise to good use.

If you have recently retired and are interested in working with us as a volunteer then please contact one of our friendly Fellowship Office team on 020 8691 7411 or email: info@csrf.org.uk to register your interest.

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Fellowship Day Walk April 9 2011 As many of you will know we celebrate Fellowship Day on 9 April. This commemorates the day that we officially became a charity. To celebrate this year the team at Fellowship Office (pictured) will be donating their saturday to raise funds for the Fellowship by completing a 10 mile Thames Walk from Greenwich to Whitehall.

You can help by sponsoring us so download the form from the Members Section of the website or request one from Fellowship Office.

Alternatively if you would like to send us a donation cheques are made payable to ‘The Civil Service Retirement Fellowship’ - send using our FREEPOST address (The Civil Service Retirement Fellowship, Freepost SE4414, London SE10 8BP).

Your generosity would be greatly appreciated.

140

history

Years of Albert As one of the most iconic buildings in the country celebrates its 140th anniversary this year we look at the history of the Royal Albert Hall

T

he vision for the Hall was that of Prince Albert, consort to Queen Victoria. He had played a leading role in staging the Great Exhibition of 1851 at the purpose built Crystal Palace in Hyde Park. (It was later transferred to Sydenham Hill where it burnt down in 1936). The Great Exhibition was an enormous ‘international trade fair’ which was enjoyed by over six million visitors over a period of six months. It was also the most profitable exhibition ever, making the organisers a profit of £186,000, the equivalent today of ten million pounds.

Prince Albert wanted these profits invested in a more permanent centre to celebrate the arts, industry and science and to inform and educate the British public. To this end the Kensington Gore estate was purchased in South Kensington, almost opposite the original site of the Crystal Palace. Over the next few years a group of cultural buildings were established, including the Royal Albert Hall, the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Natural History Museum and the Imperial Institute, forerunner of Imperial College.

The Hall was intended to be the ‘finest in Europe’ for ‘seeing, hearing and convenience’, and this is still its aim today. The Royal Engineers designed an immensely strong and pioneering structure that has adapted well into the 21st century.

Henry Cole was a civil servant, a great innovator in the fields of design, commerce and education,

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history

WHAT’S ON? 24 Feb -13 March Madam Butterfly This spectacular ‘in the round’ production is staged in an enchanting Japanese water garden.

31 March Symphonic Rock by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Legendary rock anthems performed by one of the UK’s leading orchestras.

Queen Victoria enroute to the official opening of the Royal Albert Hall

in one of his early fundraising prospectuses, that the Hall would be a ‘new and beneficial attraction especially to thousands of artisans whom seek their evening amusements in and had worked with Prince Albert on several debasing pursuits and temptations.’ exhibitions, before they collaborated on the The building of memorials to Prince Albert Great Exhibition. It was Cole who oversaw the countrywide and particularly the Albert design and construction of the Royal Albert Memorial in Hyde Park, plus a series of small Hall, basing it upon the Roman Amphitheatres wars had absorbed public funds. Cole realised he had seen in Arles and Nimes, (still evident that if he wanted his Hall then he would have in the Hall today in the use of the names to finance it by other means. He hoped that Arena, Amphitheatre, and Loggia) and he his ambition to improve the poorer people of was determined that the principles of the London would also appeal to those to whom Exhibition, that it should be accessible to all, he looked to finance the building of the Hall; should be enshrined in the Hall and other the private investors who could buy seats at institutions of ‘Albertopolis’. This was outlined £100 each on a 999 year lease. Two of the first buyers were Queen Victoria and the Prince of Wales and eventually 1,300 seats were sold.

Cole chose the Royal Engineers to design the Hall, firstly Captain Francis The Royal Albert Hall offers tours for groups Fowke who was not only a designer and individuals throughout the year. On selected but also the inventor of a portable dates in 2011 we will be offering tour guests fire engine for the military, a folding the opportunity of seeing behind the scenes by camera, a collapsible bath and including access backstage as part of an extended the walking stick umbrella.

It was tour of the building. These tours will last his model of the Hall that was approximately 90 minutes and will cost £12.00 taken by Cole to Osborne House for individuals and £14.00 for groups of 10 people for an interview with the Prince or more. All groups will receive a private, guided of Wales in 1865. On the death of tour and be served tea or coffee with biscuits Fowke in December 1865, another before or after their visit.

Royal Engineer Lt Colonel Henry For more information and dates, please Young Darracot Scott was employed to email groups@royalalberthall.com complete the plans, and incorporate office or call 020 7959 0558 and function rooms within the circumference

TOURS

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14 – 16 April Mountbatten Festival of Music Annual charity event featuring the Massed Bands of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines.

22 April Messiah on Good Friday The Royal Choral Society presents its traditional Good Friday performance of Handel’s Messiah.

For more information on any of the events at the Royal Albert Hall contact the Box Office on 0845 401 5045 or visit www. royalalberthall.com of the building. Cole’s original plan for a 30,000 seat concert venue had to be reduced to 7,000, still making the Hall the largest in England. The design of the Hall was extremely innovative for the time, with its large glass domed roof which, at the time of building, was the largest in the world to stand without internal supports. Rising 135 feet from the Arena floor, the glass roof was Scott’s idea; he consulted with a team of experts including those who had built the roofs of St Pancras and Charing Cross Stations in London. The Survey of London later called it ‘Not a pure Engineer’s roof’, because for aesthetic reasons the ribs were set askew rather than sprung perpendicularly from the wall plate.

DID YOU KNOW?

The Albert Hall in numbers

To make sure the metal frame could support the weight of the glass roof, there was a trial erection carried out by the Fairbairn Engineering Company at Ardwick near the Manchester works. Back in London in May 1869, after evacuating the building, Scott and his colleague Grover knocked away the props for the 400 ton roof; incredibly the dome dropped just 5/16th of an inch before settling into position on the supporting walls.

In 1899 a temporary ‘great’ floor, covering the whole of the Arena and Stalls seating was introduced to facilitate dances, dinners, bazaars, exhibitions and in later years the Ford Motor Show. When in use, stalls seatholders would have to relinquish their seats for the duration. Most were willing, for a share of the profits from these lettings. The only exceptions were two sisters, the Misses Mirchhouses, who demanded that a hole be cut in the floor to enable them to take their seats during a ball. It has never been confirmed if they occupied their seats whilst dancers twirled around them!

One of Cole’s many claims when raising private capital declared that, ‘the experience of the Central Transept of the Crystal Palace proves that even a large number can hear well in a building which was not originally designed for hearing.’ But it became obvious very early on that the acoustics of the Hall were a problem, and Henry Cole wrote in his diary in February 1871, ‘found echo in Balcony…echoes in Hall very curious.’

Indeed, when the Prince of Wales made his opening speech it is said that his words echoed so much that in parts of the Hall they could be heard twice.

The first attempt to solve the problem was to drape an enormous calico cloth called a velarium beneath the dome to absorb the sound. Shortly after a stencilled valance was added to the periphery. This unsatisfactory solution continued until 1941 when the

Winston Churchill makes a speech inside the Royal Albert Hall

Royal Philharmonic Society took over the management of the Proms and attempted to cure the problem once and for all. The velarium was lowered, extra curtains were hung, wooden screens surrounded the orchestra, and a small area of parquet flooring was laid behind the conductor to reflect the sound. In 1949 the velarium was finally removed – it took eight large vacuum cleaners a day and a half to remove a ton of dust from the cloth. It was replaced by the present double skinned, fluted aluminum roof, with a rock wool backing to deaden the sound.

The final solution to the echo came in 1969, in the shape of 135 fibreglass rigid acoustic saucers or mushrooms filled with glass fibre wool. They were suspended from 360 points over an area of 10,000 square feet – a much cheaper solution than completely replacing the ceiling.

In 1998, as part of the development programme, the acoustics were reassessed; the outcome was a cleaning, reconfiguration and removal of several of the existing ‘saucers’. Those remaining were clustered more centrally to improve early reflection of sound, added to the roof above and behind the stage, and removed from the periphery where they were deemed to be less successful. There are now 85 in total.

Despite many modifications over the years, the Hall in the 21st century is essentially the same as that designed by Fowke and Scott.

Its original form accommodates the most challenging productions, and the incredible strength of the iron and glass roof is able to support the vast lighting and sound rigging demanded by modern orchestras and bands, to say nothing of the anchor points needed for high wire and trapeze acts.

1,000,000 tickets sold in a year Technical Stuff (during a year) 11,500 light bulbs changed (last changed August 2009) 360 chairs repaired 360 metres of carpet laid 300 litres of paint used Drink Consumed (during a year) 5,500 bottles of champagne 1,800 bottles of gin 600 bottles of whisky Inside 9,999 are the number of pipes in the organ, with a total length of 9 miles Largest pipe weighs nearly one ton and is 42ft long There are a total of 5244 seats in the building During the Last Night of the Proms, there are 900 standing in the Arena and 500 standing in the Gallery, so, including all the house seats, Queen’s box etc there is a capacity of 6,156, take away the 200-300 camera holds, giving a final capacity of 5,900.

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member feature

in the wake of the RAJ CSRF Member Desmond Higgins recalls his experiences on travelling in 1950s India and how a journey to Calcutta opened up some interesting observations about the relationship between Britain and India

T

he train starts slowly, for only when it starts do people take the Anglo-Indian guard’s whistle seriously, and then one sees the phenomenon otherwise known in India – people running to jump aboard as the train very slowly leaves the platform. It follows, as you will no doubt have guessed, that the British tradition of ensuring all doors are closed before starting is dispensed with.

Indeed, the only attempt ever made in this direction in India is met with tragedy. In Calcutta, the new electric trains were to make their inaugural run: they were resplendent with automatic doors and fast acceleration.

But in traditional manner, the latecomers almost exceeded those already behind the closed doors as the train moved off.

Hanging on to the handrails, the latecomers endeavoured, in vain, to open the doors, and as the train accelerated so rapidly it was impossible to jump off. As the train approached its first bridge, the arch swept them off like flies and many died. Now Calcutta’s suburban electric trains run with the doors open and crawl out of stations like their predecessors.

On my journey one of my travel companions, an

Economy train travel. Bengal.

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Indian army captain, Singh Dugal, introduced himself. Our conversation led to military links with Britain.

The officer’s mess is still the very traditional and stately affair it was in bygone days, with spirits flowing in the same profusion, for the forces are allocated special imports and at special prices. And the topic of drink led to a quaint story about the official daily ration of rum, to which Indian soldiers serving at stations above 7,000 feet are entitled. A delegation of MPs, who looked askance at this rule in an India that was endeavouring to become a prohibitionist country, was to visit one of these corps in the Himalayas. They arrived in the bitter cold of a 9,000 feet cantonment and undertook tours of inspection to keep them occupied for the days they were there before eventually

returning to Delhi to make their report. As the report was taking a long time in preparation, enquiries were made about it. So the story goes, it was eventually discovered that the bitter cold and boredom of the cantonment had resulted in the delegation being added to the issue list for daily rum, and so the Indian army maintains this privilege.

Then there was the Bengali gentleman, who, as we picked our feet together, went into reminiscent mood, yearning for a stable society as exists in England – an England he had never seen. He turned out to be a haulage contractor. In other words, he had a fleet of lorries which went hither and thither all over the country. His problem, apparently, was the police. He complained about the very heavy ‘levy’ he had to pay in order to get his trucks passed at the regular ‘roadworthiness’ tests of commercial vehicles.

As I was only too well aware of the lumbering wrecks that frequent Indian roads and serve as commercial transport, I understood his plight. But it was the recurrent expenditure that troubled him; he claimed that to avoid being hauled to court ad nauseum for trivial or non-existent offences, it was necessary to ‘tip’ the police in his home area. Whilst there was no regular scale laid down by law, Rs 2 per vehicle per month per constable was acceptable,

and a somewhat heavier levy was acceptable by the inspector. This, as he pointed out, was an expense that had to be passed on to the customer and thereby increased costs generally.

I should say that many of the practices that are regarded by the West as ‘corruption’ are not seen in that light. It is so much part of life that the young man, contemplating his career, sees his ‘emoluments’ in the police not as the Rs 60 or 90 (£7) per month, which he will be paid by the state. He will assess his income on the traditional ‘perks’, such as the scheme outlined by my Bengali friend, and indeed, the conception is closely akin to the young man in the West today who considers not only the salary offered, but the car provided, luncheon vouchers and expenses.

As we travel on through the day, parts of the country are revealed as being free of water and a more normal pattern of life is discernible in the fields we pass. My first glimpse of Bengal reveals hills and undulating country, a feature seldom associated with Bengal’s rice fields. There are many more trees, for we are closer to the sea and further now from the deserts of the northwest. But we are now entering the major industrial state of India.

Nearing Calcutta, the traditional Bengal scene reveals itself; a land of brilliant green and a people who are infinitely poorer than their brethren further west. And so into

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: A Rojasthani peasant on his travels; a Shikaza, the Kashmiri gondola; V.I.P. village transport, Uttar Pradesh; vegetables heading for Simla; baby transport in the hills, Mussoorie; village water carriers, Rajasthan.

Howrah Station, Calcutta, and the terminus of the railway on the west side of the Hooghly River, by the great metal Howrah Bridge, which every Indian recognises as the symbol of Calcutta.

Desmond Higgin’s book, In the Wake of the Raj: Travels in 1950s India is published by Melrose Books (ISBN: 978-1-907040-8-63) and is priced £11.99 in hardback

talk tous If you have a story or experience to share with us we’d like to hear from you. Write in to the Editor at the Fellowship Office address at the front of the magazine

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consumer advice

Avoid the Banger!

Here’s some impartial advice from the experts at consumer champion Which? to help you get the best deal on a second-hand car. You can also view a video guide on buying a used car at www.which.co.uk/cars.

Buy with the long-term in mind Research prices Before you buy a used car, get a feel for the prices of different models from used car price guides, the Internet and local papers.

Rigorous research is important as it will help you spot rip-offs – and good deals – early on.

The prices on www.which.co.uk/cars will also give you a good idea of what you should expect to pay for the car you want.

Time it right Avoid peaks in demand and you can save hundreds of pounds. If you want a convertible, you’ll get a better deal in winter than you will in spring. However, off-roaders and rugged estate cars become more popular towards wintertime. Used car stocks are healthiest in March and September, when the new-car plate change brings an influx of part-exchanges, and strong supply means keener prices.

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Take a friend to view the car

Which? can help you get the best deal on car insurance on its website. You’ll also find advice on the cost of fuel and maintenance, and the impact of car depreciation.

Ideally this should be someone with car knowledge. Always take the car for a test drive of around 20 minutes. Listen for any strange noises from the engine or suspension and check for any smoke or leaks.

What you should look for:

Bodywork damage: Rust isn’t the problem it once was, but paint repairs can be costly and metallic colours are tricky to match.

Use damage to haggle down the price.

Electrical gremlins: Check for dashboard warning lights and try out all electrical gadgets – central locking, windows, lights.

Take a CD to check the stereo, too.

Engine health: If you find mayonnaise-type gunk under the

Haggle when you buy Most used car sellers expect to drop their prices a bit. Always try your luck when you buy used cars – and haggle hard. The online Which? guide to test-drives and haggling has more tips that will help get a good deal when you buy used cars.

oil cap, it could point to expensive head gasket replacement. Check the dipstick (for oil level and condition) and look out for dirty coolant.

Wheel condition: Plastic wheel trims (for steel wheels) can be replaced, but scuffed alloys cost around £50 a wheel to touch up. Really big gouges may require replacement.

Tyre type/wear: Are the tyres in good

condition and what type are they? Lowprofile tyres can cost a lot to replace.

Don’t buy used cars without documentation Never buy a used car without a V5C vehicle registration document (logbook).

Call the DVLA to check that the engine size, colour and date of registration match those on the used car’s V5C. If they don’t, walk away.

Also ask to see MoT certificates (past and present).

Get a history check whenever you buy Get a full history check (around £10£15) on the car you decide to buy. This will show whether the car has finance outstanding, has been stolen or whether it has been in an accident.

Economical Green friendly Cars Save the environment and be economic too.

Motoring website, TheGreenCarWebsite. co.uk offers up these motors as ones to consider if you are looking to buy.

The G-Wiz i

Manufactured by the Reva Electric Car Company, The G-Wiz is the best selling electric car in the UK. It’s emission free with no exhaust emissions and uses just ¼ as much energy as a similar size small car with an internal combustion engine. Due to its zero emissions it is exempt from road tax and the London Congestion Charge.

The Toyota Prius Hybrid

Popular with politicians for the past few years this car combines the low-speed torque of an electric motor with the speed efficiency of a combustion engine reaching 0-60mph in 10.9 seconds. It also benefits Londoners as because it is ‘an alternative fuel vehicle’ it is exempt from the London Congestion Charge.

Which? thinks Experian AutoCheck and HPI are worth the price for the cover they offer. But if you buy a car for up to £10,000 on eBay, the site’s own £6.99 version, the RAC/HPI check, is good value.

Also look at the used car’s service history.

Check that the mileage tallies with the record, and that servicing has been carried out at appropriate times.

Which? Car magazine, priced at £4.99, is on sale at Sainsbury’s, Tesco, WHSmith, Martin McColl and other leading independent newsagents.

just for you Which? are offering you the chance to get three issues of Which? for just £3.

Call 0800 389 88 55 and quote code: MONEY286F to take advantage of this special offer.

Volkswagen Polo Hatchback (1.4 BlueMotion 1 TDI 80 -3 dr)

Winner of the 2010 Supermini of the Year (WhatCar?) award, what the Polo lacks in fun it more than makes up for in space, affordability and running costs. It also holds its value well for resale purposes too!

Volvo C30 Hatchback (1.6D Drive S- 3dr {Start Stop}

Stylish in design with the well built interior that you’d expect from a Volvo, it is affordable to run and it’s not going to cost you an arm or a leg! The Clean DRIVe model with start/stop system has proved particularly popular with car reviewers.

A further source of interest for anybody considering purchasing a car is Parker’s (for both new and used vehicles) who offer a whole host of useful advice and information – they can be found online at www.parkers.co.uk

www.crsf.org.uk SPRING 2011

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the natural world

In An ‘English’ Country Garden…

Over 3,700 gardens across England and Wales open on behalf of the National Garden Scheme every year. As spring approaches we take a closer look at the Scheme and some of the gardens that you will be able to enjoy around the country…

T

he National Gardens Scheme was founded in 1927 to raise money for the nurses of the Queen’s Nursing Institute (QNI) by opening gardens of quality and interest to the public.

The simple, but radical idea was to ask individuals to open up private gardens for ‘a shilling a head’. At that time garden visiting was already a well-established pastime (as seen in Pride and Prejudice), but only for a privileged few.

In that first year 609 gardens raised over £8,000. A network of volunteer County Organisers was set up and by 1931 over 1,000 private gardens were open and Country Life magazine produced a

Member Offer

The National Gardens Scheme is kindly offering CSRF Members the chance to purchase a copy of the Yellow Book 2011 at the offer price of just £7 (full RRP £9.99, price includes p&p to UK postal addresses). You can order either via the website www.ngs.org. uk or by phoning 01483 211535 – use the promotional code CSYB11.

Please allow 14 days for delivery. Offer valid until July 2011.

handbook listing the gardens and their opening dates and times. Over time that book became known as the “The Yellow Book” because of its bright cover. The book was only titled as such 5 years ago; it’s official title being ‘The gardens of England and Wales open for charity’ until then!

After the Second World War, the National Health Service took on the District Nursing Service, but money was still needed for the well being of retired nurses and to invest in training so the NGS continued as before. In 1948 the NGS joined forces with the National Trust to restore and preserve important gardens.

In return, the National Trust opened many of its most prestigious gardens on behalf of the NGS. Despite massive inflation in the post-war years, the entrance fee was held at one shilling (5p). After a great deal of persuasion, more realistic entrance fees were introduced in the 1970’s and the gardens began to raise significant donations.

In 1980 The National Gardens Scheme Charitable Trust was established as an independent charity, with Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother as Patron and Her Royal Highness Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester as President.

In 1984 Macmillan Cancer Relief joined the list of beneficiary charities. The NGS is Macmillan’s single biggest donor having contributed £13m since 1984. In the years that followed other charities joined

Eden Project celebrates 10th anniversary Top garden, eco project and educational charity the Eden Project celebrates its tenth anniversary this year. The project took 2 ½ years to create and opened its doors to the public on 17 March 2001. It houses plants from all over the world and is home to the world’s largest greenhouse.

For ticket information, events or opening times visit www. edenproject.com or call 01726 811911 (see the special member offer available to you throughout 2011 on page 45)

‘It is the sense of community, sharing and fun which makes the gardens which open for the NGS so special.’

– NGS President Joe Swift

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5

of the Best

We asked Chris Morley from the National Garden Scheme to select five gardens that will be open to you this year

including Marie Curie Cancer Care, Help the Hospices and Crossroads Caring for Carers. In the last ten years the NGS has raised over £26m and has raised in excess of £50m since its inception nearly 85 years ago, an amazing amount from the very simple idea of opening and sharing your garden with others.

Over the years the gardens have changed in size and style and NGS now has thousands of smaller gardens. However several ‘Pioneer’ gardens still open for us and each year some rejoin under new ownership.

Every year, 750,000 visitors experience the beauty of the gardens that are opened up to the public.

NGS Gardens welcome group visits

Wood View, Great Totham, Near Maldon, Essex, CM9 8DA

Admission: £3, children free Highlights: Garden of professional botanist with plants of note Cyathea medullaris and other ferns, Arisamaea, Cardiocrinum giganteum, Sequoiadendron giganteum (Son of General Sherman), Embothrium coccineum ‘Inca Flame’ and other species, Metasequoia glyptostroboides ‘Goldrush’,collection of 120 Iris germanica cultivars

Opening dates and times: Suns 27 Mar; 24 Apr; Sats, Suns 11, 12 June; 30, 31 July (1-5). Visitors also welcome by appointment, between March & July Admission: £3, children free. Highlights: Contemporary plantsmans garden containing unusual species. Pergolas and terraces create seating areas in this haven for wildlife. In spring, bulbs and primroses. Summer has herbaceous perennials and shrubs. Display of dahlias and grape covered walkway for autumn

Thrive’s Trunkwell Garden Project, Reading, Berkshire, RG7 2AT

The Old Corn Mill, Aston Crews.

Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire, HR9 7LW

Many gardens that open for the NGS welcome group visits and provide the ideal opportunity for your group to visit a garden at a time that is convenient to you.

The Yellow Book The Yellow Book is the essential listing of gardens to visit on the scheme. It includes a county-by-county guide to the gardens in England & Wales, many of which are not normally open to the public. Each garden is described and includes directions, opening dates and times.

talk tous If your garden is a part of the scheme, write to us about your experiences and send us some photos. Send for the attention of the Editor to the Fellowship Office address at the front of the magazine.

Opening dates and times: Sat 30 Apr; Suns 10, 17 July; Sat 17 Sept (2-4.30).

Admission: £3.50, children £1 Highlights: includes a conservation area, sensory garden, nature trail, Japanese garden, vegetable production area, fruit gardens compost area, and large glasshouse (home to exotic fruit and veg).

10 Chestnut Way, Repton, Derbyshire, DE65 6FQ

Opening dates and times: Sun 3, Fri 22, Mon 25 Apr; Mons 2, 30 May (11-5).

Visitors also welcome by appointment all year for individuals & small groups, coaches permitted, photographers & artists most welcome Admission: £2.50, children free Highlights: In Spring, native daffodils drift into the fields and orchids seed themselves among the grass. Winding paths lead through the meadows, woodland glades and orchards. Banks are thickly planted with grasses, shrubs and groundcover and primulas thrive by the water 90 St Peters Park, Northop, North East Wales, CH7 6YU Opening dates and times: Saturday 16 Apr; 28 May; 8 Oct (2-5.30). Visitors also welcome by appointment.

Opening dates and times: Suns 17 Apr; 17 July; 14 Aug (1-6). Visitors also welcome by appointment, Groups 10+.

Coaches welcome Admission: £2.50, children free Highlights: Meander through an acre of sweeping mixed borders, spring bulbs, mature trees to a stunning butterfly bed, young arboretum and new prairie style garden

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health

Positive Fitness Home or away there are plenty of ways to keep fit

W

hether it was one of your New Year’s resolutions or part of your daily lifestyle already, health and fitness is an important and essential way of maintaining your mobility and improving your well-being.

To emphasise the importance of fitness, gym chain Fitness First is promoting International Fitness Week, which will run from March 14-20. The global campaign is fronted by former Spice Girl Mel B (pictured) and is intended to get everyone exercising and doing something they enjoy.

The message for this year’s campaign is ‘Get Moving’ and is very much focused on the idea that by making small changes to your lifestyle and becoming more active you will not only become fitter but also boast a healthier body both inside and out. During the week itself Fitness First will be opening its doors at all of its clubs and inviting both members and non-members to get involved with people of all ages being able to take advantage of free health checks and training taster sessions.

If you are interested in getting fitter there are several things you may like to consider:

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Safe Exercise

It is a fact that we are now all living longer and to preserve and improve our health and activity we are being more proactive in preserving and improving our health and activity. Exercise is a vital tool that can provide tremendous benefits to both the body and soul but it is extremely important to make sure it is done properly and does not cause any injury. So if you have been suffering from arthritis, heart or circulatory disease, kidney or lung disease or osteoporosis or have just not been physically active for more than a year it is highly advisable that you seek approval and advice from your doctor before beginning any fitness programme.

Fluids

Physical activity will increase your basic fluid needs and risk of dehydration, particularly in conditions of heat. So it is important to keep in mind that as you get older thirst is only a late sign of poor hydration and as your skin is aging it tends to thin thereby allowing for basic fluid loss due to perspiration. So make sure you have a regular source of fluid to drink during your exercise routine.

Basic Equipment

You’ve decided to embrace a more active fitness regime so what should you wear? Comfortable dress that

...by making small changes to your lifestyle and becoming more active you will not only become fitter but also boast a healthier body... is appropriate to the weather is key to you being able to maintain a safe body temperature. Keep in mind that as you get older your sensitivity to both cold and heat will increase. Getting the right footwear is also important to avoid any muscle strains or bone fractures, so a proper pair of trainers offering support is essential. Most mainstream gyms will offer advice and tips as to where you can purchase the correct attire (and in some cases you can buy some items on site).

Recommended activities

An optimal fitness programme for the older person should include exercises that focus on restoring your strength, flexibility and endurance – all the elements that tend to be lost with aging or age-related inactivity. If you plan to visit your local gym it is highly advisable to seek the guidance of a professional fitness instructor to begin with to make sure you have the proper technique and safety.

Once you are confident on your technique an alterative ‘home-based’ option would be the hugely popular Wii Fit Plus (as seen on television promoted by Helen Mirren). This offers a whole raft of exercises dedicated to aerobics, balance, yoga and muscle workout, which are easy to follow.

Exercising against resistance or gravity helps you to strengthen your muscles; these include floor exercises, weight training or water sports such as swimming and water aerobics. Most floor exercises are also considered great for improving flexibility so you should consider trying yoga, pilates or callisthenics to name but a few.

Aerobics is one of the most popular exercise forms and it requires a minimum of 20 minutes each session with regular, easy breathing throughout. Walking and swimming are particularly good for the

older person as they create less of a burden on joints and tendons compared with higher-impact activities.

Please make sure though that all activities are done with slow and controlled movements so you avoid the risk of muscle strain or bone fractures.

Warm Up/Cool Down

Wherever you decide to exercise it is imperative that you warm up and cool down at the beginning and end of your session. Warming up prepares your muscles and joints for exercise and is key to maximising the benefits and preventing injury. A 5-10 minute warm up before your routine would be recommended.

If you abruptly finish your physical activity this can stress the heart. So to

Useful Information International Fitness Week, www.internationalfitnessweek. com Many gyms offer special concession memberships for the over 55s (usually at off-peak times). Consult your local paper or the Internet for the most up to date information Virgin Active Gyms – offers the Club 55 membership, which provides off-peak access to your home club and all the facilities (www. virginactive.co.uk)

reduce these associated risks make sure you finish off with a 5-10 minute cooling down period.

Whatever form of fitness you choose to do at home or away, enjoy it, as it’s a great way to make new friends (if you join your gym) and have a longer and healthier lifestyle.

or call 0844 412 2664) Why not join CSSC Sports & Leisure? For just £3.50 per month (10% discount for those receiving a civil service pension), you can take part in hundreds of different activities ranging from walking, cycling and swimming to painting, theatre trips and pudding clubs!

Have a look at: www.cssc.co.uk or call Customer Services on: 01494 888444 for further information

Fitness First – offers an over 55 membership, which offers you use of home club only (no reciprocal rights) and unlimited use of all the facilities at restricted times of the day (www.fitnessfirst.co.uk

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home & lifestyle itable A ver rri of ou pot-p g ideas stin intere vice for d and a use at you to e hom

At Home

Making a Home Office Now you’ve retired how about creating an office at home? This could be achieved by utilising even the smallest spaces and would not cost you a princely sum either Working from home is becoming increasingly more popular particularly now with the development of IT possibilities to link workers to their offices. A desire for an improved work-life balance and the increasing cost of travel has meant a rethink to our working space at home. If you’ve just retired the requirements are the same as you now have even more work possibilities open to you – some form of home office, (rather than using the kitchen table) would be ideal.

If you have one, a spare room is the perfect place for your office but almost any space in the home can be used, as long as it’s quiet and away from household distractions. The usual broadband connection, sockets and space for equipment are important but so too are factors like storage, organisation, lighting and getting the best out of the space you have.

Fitted office furniture will always be designed to get the most out of awkward spaces and provide storage and working space that is made with all your needs in mind.

You may have to share your working space with partners so having the flexibility to design something with all family members in mind is definitely a plus.

Images are courtesy of home office specialists Inhouse Interiors – for more information on the range of interior options they provide visit www.inhouseinteriors.com or call 0870 7011112

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There was an Old Person of Fife, Who was greatly disgusted with life; They sang him a ballad, And fed him on salad, Which cured that Old Person of Fife Edward Lear

The month of March is Veggie Month throughout the UK. This is designed to highlight the health, nutritional and animal welfare benefits of becoming a vegetarian.

There are a range of activities taking place all over the country including events, cookery classes and talks.

Find out more about Veggie Month online at www.veggiemonth.com or call 01732 364546

Food Bite

Foodies who would rather cook up a storm in the kitchen than dig a hole in the garden can be left green with envy as celebrity chefs extol the virtues of homegrown ingredients from their bountiful gardens. A new range of ‘Grow’ planters which simply ‘Can’t Grow Wrong’ promise that even the most short on space and time can be harvesting home grown salads, chillies, herbs and veg in as little as six weeks.

The ‘Grow’ planters are sets of pots that only need watering every few days. They can be used indoors or outdoors in a space as small as a windowsill. Just add seeds or young plants, fill with compost and add water to the planter’s hidden reservoir, then relax whilst the SmartMats in each pot pull the water up when plants need it. The clever design prevents over and under-watering – the two biggest causes of disappointing harvests and plant demise!

Herbs and salad are ready to be cut and used in as little as six weeks. A space the size of a windowsill is sufficient for growing lettuce, radish, spring onions, herbs, beetroot and even dwarf tomatoes and dwarf chillies.

About Grow Products –use indoors or outdoors. Pictured is the Chilligrow (3 pot planter specifically designed for growing chillies), priced £26.90, available from Greenhouse Sensation (for more information call 0845 602 3774 or visit www.greenhousesensation.co.uk)

To celebrate Vegetarianism the organisers of the event have kindly sent us in a top recipe for cooking vegetarian Shepherd’s Pie, which we hope you enjoy. Of course if you aren’t entertained by the idea of a meat-free Shepherd’s Pie, the recipe can easily be adapted for you carnivores out there.

We think you will enjoy the animal friendly version though so do give it a go! Bon appetite!

SHEPHERD’S PIE Serves 4 Ingredients • • • • • • • • • •

1 onion - peeled and finely chopped 2 cloves garlic - peeled and crushed 400g frozen soya or Quorn mince 400g tin of chopped tomatoes Mixed herbs Salt and freshly ground black pepper Vegetable stock cube 50g peas 1 carrot - peeled and finely chopped 6 medium potatoes - peeled and diced quartered

Method 1. Pre-heat oven to 220 C/430 F/Gas 7.

2. Fry the onion and garlic in a little oil until softened.

3.

Add the mince, vegetable stock, tomatoes, carrots, peas, herbs and salt and pepper.

Simmer for about 20-30 minutes.

4.

Peel the potatoes and quarter them.

Boil them in a separate pan for about 15 minutes until soft. Mash the potatoes.

5.

Pour soya mixture into an ovenproof dish, and place mashed potato on top.

Smooth down with a fork.

6.

Cook in the oven for about 20 minutes until the top has browned.

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home & lifestyle

top10 Celebrating Pets From 2 April to 2 May is National Pet Month 2011 which this year is following the theme ‘Happiness is…time with your pet’.

to raise awareness of how pets make people’s lives happier and healthier and also how we can repay the pets we love by looking after them responsibly.

During the month people will be encouraged to get happy and healthy by spending time with their pets.

Hundreds of events are taking place up and down the country

You can find out what’s happening in your area by visiting the official website, wwwnationalpetmonth.org.uk

Tips for Responsible Pet Ownership 1. Think carefully before getting a pet and learn about its special requirements.

2. Ensure your pet is sociable and well trained.

3. Provide a nutritious and well balanced diet.

4. Provide suitable housing and bedding.

5. Clean up after your pet and worm it regularly.

6. Protect against disease. Your vet can provide you with advice.

7. Prevent unwanted litters and neuter your pet when appropriate.

8. Groom your pet regularly.

DEALING WITH DIY We received a letter in from Mr Wiles in Sheffield last year offering up a very useful household hint:

How to fix a loose screw with blu tack If you have a screw which is forever working loose or the wooden hole has enlarged so you can’t tighten it take a small piece of blu tack and rub it into a tiny sausage shape. Stick the sausage into the screw hole, insert the screw and tighten. Don’t fill the screw hole with blu tack – use just enough to fill the space around the screw.

If you’ve got a handy hint for the home to share with us, send it in to the Editor at the Fellowship Office address at the front of the magazine.

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9. Control your pet and ensure it is properly identified.

10. Take out pet insurance for dogs, cats, rabbits and horses to cover against unexpected veterinary fees and third party liability.

talk tous These are just some of the tips we’d recommend to ensure your pet has a long and healthy lifestyle. But if you’ve got any ideas or advice you’d like to share with other readers please write in and tell us. Or maybe you’ve got a pet that means a lot to you, write in tell us about them (don’t forget to send us a picture).

Send in for the attention of the Editor at the Fellowship Office at the usual address at the front of the magazine

LOOKING AFTER THE BIRDIES… With some of the most extreme winter weather we’ve had in over 100 years, there’s a lot we can do to look after the birds in our garden. This handy survival guide was produced by the BBC on their website: •

Put out feed regularly, especially in severe weather. Set up a bird table and use high- calorie seed mixes. This can also be used to put out kitchen scraps such as animal fats, grated cheese and porridge oats.

• Put out hanging feeders for black sunflower seeds, sunflower hearts, sunflower-rich mixes or unsalted peanuts.

• Ensure a supply of fresh water every day.

If it is very cold use tepid water, but do not use any antifreeze products.

• Put out fruit such as apples and pears for blackbirds, song thrushes and other members of the thrush family.

•

Food bars or fat hung up or rubbed into the bark of trees is a great help for tree creepers, gold crests and many other species.

• Put up nest boxes to provide roost sites for the smaller birds. They will then be used for breeding later in the year.

•

If you are feeding ducks or any Wildfowl don’t feed them bread to prevent them succumbing to Angel Wing, opt for duck food instead!

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fashion & style

Veni Vidi Vici Cufflinks

These easy to wear everyday solid silver cufflinks will add a bit of character to his shirt cuffs. I came, I saw, I conquered.

Carved in Latin in classic Roman capitals.

Priced £75, available from Dominic Walmsley, for more information call 020 7384 3355 or visit www. dominicwalmsley.com

Wrap Mum in Cashmere!

This luxury cashmere poncho is the ultimate accessory for all mums young and old and perfect for a Mother’s Day pressie on 3 April.

Soft and stylish, it’s perfect to pop in your handbag – whatever the weather.

Available in Ocean Grey, Warm Beige, Midnight Black, Vibrant Purple and Leopard Print. For more information call 07775 739809 or visit www.casha.co.uk

Panama Colonial Folder

The perfect accomplice for a holiday getaway the ingenious Colonial Panama leaves all others in the shade. Conjured from high grade Paja Toquilla straw this genuine Panama hat comes all the way from Ecuador. Its very clever hand made weave means you can pack it (or fold it) and it will pop back into shape.

Priced £45, available from Peter Christian, for more information call 01273 495723 or visit www.peterchristian.co.uk

White/Grey hair suits cool skin tones and a sleek cut will keep you looking up to date. For the ladies, if you have good bone structure try a cute crop, like actress Jamie Lee Curtis or if you only have a flash of grey how about designing your hairstyle around the signature slice of grey (like television presenter Caryn Franklin). Men seem to be more comfortable with going grey (is this really true?), but do remember to keep your silver fox mane in check and don’t let stray hairs or grey whiskers let your appearance falter.

Whichever hairstyle you choose, be confident and enjoy it!!

Grey Matters

Going grey does not have to mean the end of the line for stylish hair cuts Whether you like it or not in the minds of many grey hair places you past your 50s in age immaterial of how young your face is. But being grey does not mean an end to looking great and feeling fabulous as it can look both elegant and steely (think Meryl Streep in the hit film The Devil Wears Prada).

There are a number of products that will help you make the most of grey hair and we’ve listed some of the more popular choices below: 1. L’Oréal Professionnel Série Expert Age Supreme Shampoo (200ml) Perfect for renewing tired mature hair.

Enriched with replenishing omega 6 it enhances hair to get it looking thicker and nourished. £8.45 2. Philip Kingsley Pure Silver Shampoo (250ml) With violet hues and optical brightener this is formulated specifically for grey hair giving it a gorgeous shine. £11.90 3. Kérastase Age Premium Bain Substantif (250ml) This revitalises hair and improves resilience giving it a light touch. £12.40

talk tous

4. Alterna Caviar Anti-aging Seasilk Volume Shampoo (250ml) A pricier option but one that adds fullness and youthful radiance to your hair once again. £25.55 5. Redken Lifetex Resist Shampoo (300ml) This shampoo provides corrective care and cleanses the skin to remove impurities while also smoothing the cuticle to help porous, age weakened hair. £9.85 All prices shown are from online store www. lookfantastic.com and are correct at time of going to press. Prices may vary from other retailers.

Share your beauty and fashion tips with other members. Write in and tell us what’s worked for you. Send your advice and comments to the Editor at the Fellowship Office address found at the front of the magazine.

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entertainment

Leisure Life BOOKS Reviewed by Janet Tester

I Could Go On Edited by Iain Hollingshead (Aurum) Iain Hollingshead’s first collection of unpublished letters to The Daily Telegraph was a Christmas bestseller in 2009. This is just the sort of book to have when travelling in the quiet carriage of a train or any other place where involuntary chortles will have maximum effect.

Letts Rip!

By Quentin Letts (Constable) Sketch writers have a unique position among journalists – they can be subjective, biased or rude – they can state their own points of view and, in spite of many attempts to gag them, can command a loyal readership. Quentin Letts has gathered ten years of his best parliamentary sketches with a few non-political articles to lighten the load. The resulting collection is highly amusing but the observant reader cannot fail to sigh as the sad sagas of the lives of many of those who rule our country unroll beneath the mirth.

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Enjoy our new regular round up of books, DVDS and entertainment

Out of the Woods but not Over the Hill

By Gervase Phinn (Hodder & Stoughton) Described as an ‘oldie with attitude’ Gervase Phinn looks back over more than sixty years of family life, the result being a ‘laugh out loud’ book, reassuringly filled with his very amusing opinions!

His busy life of teacher, freelance lecturer, author, poet, school inspector, educational consultant and visiting professor of education

MI6 The History of the Secret Intelligence Service 1909 – 1949

By Keith Jeffery (Bloomsbury) This definitive history of the first forty years of the Secret Intelligence Service is a scholarly work by Professor Keith Jeffery who was granted an unprecedented full and unrestricted access to the closed archives of the Service.

This massive book is packed with fascinating facts, never before made available

Hell’s Corner

By David Baldacci (Macmillan) Oliver Stone has been bidden by the President of the United States to serve his country once more on a high risk covert mission. Even before he begins his task, a bomb is detonated outside the White House while the British Prime Minister is at dinner with the President.

MI6 agent Mary Chapman becomes Stone’s

has provided him with a wealth of experience which he shares with his readers in his inimitable warm and witty style.

Chapters on ‘God’s Own County’ (Yorkshire to the uninitiated), the origin of unusual place names and peculiar words, being famous with the many resulting pitfalls, and assorted thoughts on health, life and death are woven into his life history to produce a charming tapestry shot through with loving humour and gentle wisdom, producing a book that draws together the life of this remarkable man. to the public. The SIS does not disclose the names of its agents and only in exceptional circumstances does it waive the anonymity of the deceased, usually if these names are already in the public domain.

Nevertheless the breadth and depth of the facts contained in this book is stunning, and the beautiful presentation and style of writing makes the information very accessible.

This is a hugely impressive study of a previously untapped part of history, a fascinating read and a chance to glimpse just a little of the beginnings of a secret organisation that has played a constant role in the security of our country.

partner in the search for the unknown attackers and their investigations turn up more questions than answers. Stone enlists the help of the Camel Club, a shadowy band of agents who have helped him in the past.

Fast moving, tightly plotted and gripping to the very end, David Baldacci’s many fans will not be disappointed.

Nella Last in the 1950s Edited by Patricia and Robert Malcolmson (Profile Books) Nella Last’s childhood dream was to become a published writer, sadly not fulfilled in her lifetime.

The Mass Observation Archive at the University of Sussex holds the papers of the British social research organisation Mass Observation. Nella Last was one of the contributors to this rich historical resource on civilian life during the Second World War. In this book, Nella is in her sixties, and provides an insight into the lives of ordinary people in a modernising Britain in the early 1950s.

It’s hard to put one’s finger on exactly why these diaries are so moving and fascinating – much of what she writes about are mundane facts such as cooking, shopping, family matters and her thoughts on the changing society around her and yet she seems to bring her world effortlessly to life.

The Virginia Monologues

By Virginia Ironside (Penguin) How gratifying to read such a positive slant on getting old!

The top twenty reasons why getting old is good for you makes consoling reading and, in a time when we oldies shall soon outnumber the very young, adds confidence to those of us who are determined, with a fair wind and lots of luck, to travel on with zest and anticipation into this next stage of our lives.

The easy writing style and perceptive wit, familiar to avanti readers, makes this a ‘must read’ for the silver generation.

Dilly The Man Who Broke Enigmas

By Mavis Batey (Biteback) Bishop’s son Alfred Dillwyn Knox (Dilly) was one of the leading figures in British code breaking successes in two World Wars.

The triumphant culmination of his life’s work was the solving of the Enigma codes used by the German Secret Service and, by using captured German spies to feed back false information, his work enabled MI5 and MI6 to ensure the success of the D-Day landings.

Mavis Batey was one of ‘Dilly’s girls’, one of a very few female code breakers at Bletchley Park during the Second World War.

Nourishment

By Gerard Woodward (Picador) This new novel from the Man Booker Prize and Whitbread Prize shortlisted author tells the tale of a prisoner of war’s bizarre request to his wife for ‘a dirty letter’, her response and their subsequent life together after he comes back home.

The playing out of family relationships, entangled with deceits and clouded with misplaced loyalties is set in the austerity years following the Second World War and the story is elegantly constructed.

The First English Dictionary of Slang 1699 (Bodleian Library) The original dictionary was published for the education of polite London classes in ‘canting’ the language of thieves and ruffians, should they be so unlucky as to fall into the company of these desperados. B.E.Gent was the anonymous compiler exploring themes of roguery and deceit and providing the reader with a tiny glimpse into some of the seedier aspects of seventeenth century life in England.

Once Upon a Wartime: Classic War Stories for Children Imperial War Museum, London This family friendly exhibition takes an engaging look at five of the bestloved books written for children about conflict - War Horse by Michael Morpurgo, Carrie’s War by Nina Bawden, The Silver Sword by Ian Serraillier, The Machine Gunners

by Robert Westall and Little Soldier by Bernard Ashley.

To mark this celebration of children’s war literature, the Imperial War Museum has commissioned a new short story by author Michael Morpurgo to be illustrated by Michael Foreman.

In addition, there will be a children’s war literature festival at Imperial War Museum London during August 2011 where kids and grown-ups can really get under the covers of their favourite books during a series of author led lectures, discussions and workshops.

Bookworms will also enjoy the array of gifts and souvenirs available from the Imperial War Museum shop throughout the exhibition’s run.

Imperial War Museum London admission: adults £5.95, children £3.95, concessions and groups (10+ booking together) £4.95, family tickets from £12.50. For more information visit www. iwm.org. uk/wartime.

Exhibition closes 30 October 2011

MUST SEE

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entertainment

DVDs AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION You could be an audience member on some of the funniest shows on television. SRO Audiences provides audience tickets for shows such as The Graham Norton Show, Alan Carr: Chatty Man, Ant & Dec’s Push the Button, Dancing on Ice, Would I Lie to You?, All Star Family Fortunes.

To apply for tickets (which are free) you should visit SRO Audiences website, www.sroaudiences.com

We have three sets of all the DVDs reviewed in this issue to give away. To enter is simple – send your name, address and telephone number on a postcard to: DVD Giveaway, CSRF, Suite 2, 80A Blackheath Road, London SE10 8DA. The judges’ decision is final. Winners will be notified by post.

Closing date: 31 March 2011

WIN

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Murder She Wrote Season 12 By the time Season 12 came about, Murder, She Wrote was acknowledging the changes TV viewers had demanded, with the ever-present Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury, Beauty and the Beast, Nanny McPhee) embracing all manner of new fangled aids to sleuthing, including the replacement of her beloved typewriter with a computer in the famous opening sequence! Season 12 sees Jessica tackling mysterious deaths at home and abroad, including places as far from Cabot Cove as Ireland, Rome and Mexico. Once again packed with familiar faces from American TV and film, Season 12 is the perfect swansong for fans of the series and an enduring memory of one of televisions most fondly remembered shows.

RRP £34.99 from Universal Playback

Poirot Collection 8 Join Hercule Poirot and delve into a world of mystery and crime-solving, where curiosity meets intelligence and diligence and one man’s ‘little grey cells’ are a force to be reckoned with. With David Suchet in the iconic title role, Collection 8 features four new Agatha Christie adaptations starring Martin Shaw, Zoë Wanamaker, Eileen Atkins, Hugh Bonneville, Barbara Hershey, David Morrisey, Jaime Winstone, Lesley Sharp, Julian Rhind-Tutt, Toby Jones, Art Malik, Jane Asher, Timothy West and Eric Sykes.

RRP £24.99 from ITV Studios Home Entertainment

Dan Cruickshank’s Great Railway Adventures The history of Great Britain is inextricably tied to the history of the steam engine and this relationship forms the basis of Dan Cruickshank’s Great Railway Adventures.

In National Geographic’s three programme series, Dan explores a world of history and technology, while unravelling some of the remarkable stories that have shaped Great Britain as we know it today.

RRP £19.99 from Fremantle Media Enterprises

Last of the Summer Wine Series 17 - 20 Join Compo, Clegg, Foggy and Truly as they embark on a whole new set of (mis) adventures in the heart of Yorkshire. Series 17 sees Nora Batty get stuck in a cupboard with another man, much to the shock of Compo; Series 18 includes a visit from an extremely unlucky chimney sweep, and a serious mishap happens at the local jumble sale in Series 19 and in Series 20 Compo decides to take up horseriding to impress Nora Batty! Series 18 also sees the last appearance of series favourite, Foggy.

RRP £24.99 (for Series 17&18 and 19&20) by Universal Playback

talk tous Have you read a book you’ve enjoyed recently? Or perhaps seen something on DVD? Write in and tell us what you’d like to see more of in this section. Send your letters to the Editor at the Fellowship Office address found at the front of the magazine or email avanti@square7media.co.uk

travel

Cities of Culture

FROM TOP: Panoramic view of Old Town; Saiakang Street; Kadriorg Palace.

As one of this year’s European Capitals of Culture, Tallinn (Estonia) offers visitors a plethora of attractions to enjoy…

Estonia’s capital was one of Medieval Europe’s best-fortified cities (its town wall had 66 defence towers) and occupied a strategic position as a major crossroads for trade between Western and Northern Europe and Russia. This meant that Estonia has attracted the attention of many foreign

powers in its history (Denmark, Sweden, Russia and Poland have all fought for dominance here).

After being liberated from the former Soviet Union and establishing its independence on August 20 1991, the country joined the EU in 2004.

The theme the city has chosen for its 2011 programme is ‘Stories of the Seashore’, highlighting the legends and inspiration that the sea has given to countless generations of Estonians and there are activities taking place throughout the year for visitors to enjoy.

Must See

There is a lot to enjoy in Tallinn as you will see from the official tourist board website.

But whatever you plan to do make sure you find time to visit a few of these ‘must-see’ attractions:

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The Tallinn Card This all-in-one ticket is accepted in 100 locations throughout Tallinn (museums, galleries and attractions) and provides the user with unlimited travel throughout the city’s public transport network.

It’s available in 6, 24, 48 and 72hour denominations.

Costs – 6 hour (€12), 24 (€24), 48 (€28) and 72 (€32) – buy via the Tallinn tourism website or at Tourist Information centres in the city.

PHOTOS: Toomas Volmer, Tavi Grepp.

T

allinn

Kadriorg Palace (housing the Kadriorg Art Museum) A. Weizenbergi 37 Peter the Great built this magnificent northern baroque palace for his wife, Catherine I, in 1718. Designed by Italian architect Niccolo Michetti, the grandiose palace and surrounding manicured gardens are a humbling example of Tsarist extravagance.

Rotermann Quarter Roseni 3 This former factory complex used to be a collection of dilapidated buildings and is now home to the city’s bustling commercial and cultural centre (with lots of avant-garde architecture).

St. Catherine’s Passage Vene 12 This is the city’s most picturesque lane, home to the St Catherine’s Guild, a collection of craft workshops that create and sell items such as glassware, hats and quilts.

St. Olav’s Church and Tower Lai 50 From 1549 to 1625 this 13th century church was the tallest building in the world.

Its 159-metre spire was a signpost for approaching ships as well as proving to be an effective lightning rod.

Town Wall Gümnaasiumi 3 Uniquely the city has nearly 2km of its original city wall still standing and is recognised as having one of Europe’s bestpreserved Medieval fortifications.

Must Do

One great way to experience Tallinn on arrival is to head to one of the city’s excellent view spots. The most popular is the view platform on Toompea hill, in particular the Kohtuotsa View and the Patkuli View.

Both offer superb views of Old Town’s tiled rooftops and towers, with the passenger harbour and modern city centre as a backdrop.

Another option is to get a feel for the city’s medieval history by climbing the steps of the Town Hall Tower. Open from June to August it offers a bird’s eye view of the Old Town’s main square.

There are regular direct flights from the UK to Estonia operated by Estonia Air (for ticket information call 01293 596611 or visit www.estonian-air.ee) and Easyjet (for ticket information call 0871 244 2366 or visit www.easyjet.com).

Connect to the city: on arrival at Lennart Meri Tallinn airport take the No.2 bus (that runs to the city centre and port every 30 mins). It operates from 7am to midnight. Tickets can be bought from the driver (25 EEK/1,6€) or in advance from kiosk (15 EEK/0,96€). The airport bus stop can be found in front of the departure hall. The downtown bus stop is located

on Laikmaa Street, between the Tallink Hotel and the large Viru Centre, attached to the Sokos Hotel Viru. Alternatively you could take a taxi; the stand is just outside the departure hall. The fare from the airport to the city centre is about 120 EEK/7,6€.

PHOTOS: Toomas Volmer, Kristjan Mändmaa, Sheila Barry, Norman Orro.

Useful Information

Estonia entered the Eurozone at the beginning of 2011.

For advice on hotel accommodation refer to the Tallinn Tourism website, www. tourism.tallinn.ee

For a view from just outside the city centre, climb the 42m Fire Tower at the Tallinn Song Festival Grounds.

Taste Estonia

Tallinn offers some splendid culinary flavours for foodies with a huge selection of restaurants.

For exotic Medieval dishes try Olde Hansa or if you prefer something a bit more modern then the menus at Museum, Ö, Vertigo, Ribe and MEKK maybe more up your street.

Estonian cuisine features dishes such as jellied pork, marinated eel, Baltic sprats, stewed sauerkraut, pea soup and blood sausage.

There are a number of restaurants (Vanaema Juures and Kuldse Notsu Kõrts) where the more adventurous diner can try these.

For those with a sweeter tooth you can enjoy the taste of Estonia in most food shops.

The classic Estonian marzipan (and other sweets) made by the world-famous Kalev confectioner is on sale throughout Tallinn. In the Kalev Marzipan Room in Old Town and the Kalev Chocolate Shop in the Rotermann Quarter, you can watch artists paint marzipan figurines by hand.

Visitors with something more potent in mind can also order a pint of one of the nation’s biggest-selling beers, Saku and A. Le Coq, try a shot of Viru Valge or Saaremaa vodka, or sip some of the nation’s signature liqueur, Vana Tallinn in any of the bars throughout the city.

FROM TOP: Aerial view of Town Hall Square; St. Catherine’s Passage; Town Hall Square; St. Olav Church; Pühavaimu Street; Medieval Town Wall and St. Olav´s Church.

talk tous Where have you been recently? Where are you planning on travelling to? Tell us about your recent or upcoming travel plans. We would love to hear from you and share your stories and tips with other readers. Write into the Fellowship Office marked for the attention of the Editor using the address found at the front of the magazine

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travel

Relax at Thoresby HALL HOTEL

W

hat do you look for when considering a UK break? If it’s a place with varied leisure and entertainment programme, a choice of restaurants and dining, set in luscious parkland, and a hotel which is steeped in history then Thoresby Hall Hotel may be the place for you.

Nestled in the Nottinghamshire countryside, not far from the market town of Worksop and easily accessible by road, rail and bus, Thoresby Hall Hotel is set in beautiful countryside close to Sherwood Forest and situated not far from some lovely attractions. The house which exists today dates from 1874 and was sold to the National Coal Board in 1979 as it was threatened by subsidence caused by prolific coal mining in the area. The house was then sold on the open market and after several failed ventures, Warners stepped in and saved the day, added a new bedroom wing and opened Thorseby Hall as a hotel in 2000.

On arrival you receive an itinerary of activities and excursions throughout your stay, you can do as much as you wish, or simply relax in the main hall, library or nooks. During our visit there was a multitude of activities ranging from sequence dancing, to live bands playing sixties tunes, wine tasting, rifle shooting, ghost walks and even a Segway experience.

The hotel also boasts a spa, swimming pool and other leisure facilities. The hotel guests age ranged from fifty plus and if you enjoy socializing with more mature people then there are plenty of opportunities to make new friends.

Rooms are divided into three levels and accommodation quality ranges from standard, to signature and at the top end, the historic rooms. Some of the historic rooms have four poster beds with sweeping views across the grounds, a wonderful treat for a special occasion.

There are three restaurants giving you a choice of dining experiences and some packages will include all three within the price of stay. The Blue Room is the one to dress up for as its situated in elegant surroundings and the food is award winning having earned two AA Rosettes, so be sure to reserve in advance.

Fenocchi’s is a lovely rustic Italian situated in the former wine cellar and the Pierrepoint is an exceptional buffet style restaurant

serving a wide range of popular cuisines. The breakfast menu is extensive ranging from cereals to a cooked breakfast. All the staff are friendly, courteous and efficient. Don’t forget to visit the stables where there is a lovely art gallery, shops including a traditional sweetie shop and tea shop for you to enjoy a snack. The bar in the hotel also serves lunch time snacks too. In all a great opportunity to experience somewhere new.

Don’t forget to look for the piano without a pianist, or is it the ghost of Thoresby Hall playing? It’s a place you will want to visit again and again.

CSRF member offer

With seven country hotels, including Five AA 4 star properties, and six coastal hotels and villages. Warner Leisure Hotels can offer you everything you need for a fabulous UK break, including comfortable accommodation, mouth watering breakfasts, delicious evening meals and great entertainment in the price paid.

With beautiful grounds for you to wander around and a host of indoor and outdoor leisure facilities; a break at Warner will be the perfect choice for you. And when the night draws in you can relax in the warm, comfy surroundings and enjoy live entertainment each evening of your stay.

Save up to 25%* on all Warner Leisure Hotel 2011 breaks To book, just call the Privilege Holiday Club team on Free phone 0800 1 388 399 7 days a week 9.00 am – 9.00 pm, quoting HC890 or visit www.warnerleisurehotels.co.uk/phc

The Blue Room

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SPRING 2011 www.crsf.org.uk

*Save up to 25% offer excludes Bank Holidays, Christmas and New Year, Special Themed Breaks, Strictly Come Dancing Experiences, VIP concert breaks, Spa breaks and 2 night midweek breaks, Offers are from current Warner Leisure Hotels 2011 brochure prices and cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer and apply to new bookings only. Offers do not apply to supplements, Experiences or upgrades.

All bookings are subject to availability and terms and conditions in the current Warner Leisure Hotels 2011 brochure.

Bourne Holidays (trading as Warner Leisure Hotels) is a company registered in England and Wales with company number 01854900 whose registered office is 1, Park Lane, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire HP2 4YL.

coffee time

coffee break PALINDROMES

The word Palindrome derives from the Greek word ‘palindromos’ which means running back again and refers to a word or phrase that reads the same either way you read it. They date back to at least 79AD as a palindromic Latin word square was found in Herculaneum, which reads, Sator Arepo Tenet Opera Rotas.

SUDOKU

KRISS KROSS

A recent letter to the Times revealed what is said to be the longest known palindrome,

Doc, note. I dissent. A fast never prevents a fatness.

I diet on cod.

WIN!

£25 of High Street vouchers!

Can you create a longer or better palindrome? We’re challenging you to try and the winner will get £25 of High Street vouchers. To enter is simple – send your palindrome along with your name, address and telephone number on a postcard to: Palindromes Competition, CSRF, Suite 2, 80A Blackheath Road, London SE10 8DA. The judges’ decision is final. Winner will be notified by post. Closing date: 31 March 2011.

3 letters Buy Eau Eve Ion Rub

4 letters Gain Hang Itch Lens

5 letters Angry Blind Salvo Spilt

6 letters Decant Lustre Miming

7 letters Ceiling Cunning Overtly

8 letters Delaying Milliner Toughens Viperish

www.crsf.org.uk SPRING 2011

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coffee time

WORDSEARCH

Can you find the listed herbs hidden in the grid? Words run backwards or forwards, up or down or diagonally, but always in a straight line.

ANISE BASIL BORAGE CARAWAY CHERVIL CLARY SAGE COSTMARY DILL FENNEL

FEVERFEW GERMANDER HYSSOP LAVENDER LEMON BALM LOVAGE MARJORAM NASTURTIUM OREGANO

PARSLEY PERILLA ROSEMARY RUE SANTOLINA SPEARMINT TARRAGON THYME VALERIAN

FILM FUN With the 2011 Oscars taking place at the end of this month, enjoy a spot of film trivia. Did you know for example that…

For the movie the Wizard of Oz, Judy Garland was paid $35 a week while Toto received $125 a week.

The producers of the movie Gone With The Wind were fined 5,000 dollars for allowing the word “damn“ to be heard within the movie‘s dialog.

Brooke Shields spent a lot of time during the filming of Blue Lagoon standing/walking in a trench beside Chris Atkins so that she wouldn’t be taller than him in the scenes that they had together.

Bogart Orson Welles was only 21 years old when here starred in & directed in the movie Citizen Kane.

The Godfather was the first movie in over twenty years in which Marlon Brando was required to audition.

MUM’S THE WORD!

Mothering Sunday is on 3 April this year but do you know what the origin of this special day is?

There were a number of traditions in Europe where a specific Sunday was set aside to honour motherhood and mothers – the Anglican denomination refers to Mothering Sunday whilst the Catholic calendar marks the day as ‘Laetare Sunday’ (which honours the Virgin Mary and ‘mother’ church).

Young people who were servants were also given a day off on this day so they could visit their families and would pick wild flowers on their

way home to give to their mothers as gifts.

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never said “Play it again Sam” in the movie Casablanca.

What Bogart did say was “Play it Sam”.

The mechanical shark used in the movie Jaws was nicknamed Bruce, named after Spielberg’s lawyer.

Over 1,400 actresses were interviewed to play the part of Scarlett O’Hara for the movie Gone with the Wind.

Midnight Cowboy was the first non-pornographic movie to receive an X rating.

All 3 lead actors from the film Rebel Without a Cause died under tragic circumstances. Natalie wood drowned, James Dean died in a car crash and Sal Mineo was stabbed to death by a stranger.

Liverpool is the most filmed British city.

The first toilet being flushed in a motion picture was in Alfred Hitchcock’s movie Psycho.

CALLING ALL PUZZLE FANS

The top-selling Puzzler Collection is a unique blend of around 120 brand new and classic puzzles. The 100-page magazine includes all the Puzzler favourites including arrowords, keywords (codecrackers) and crosswords.

Published 13 times a year priced £2.40 (available from all good newsagents)

have a chuckle …SENIOR MOMENTS The Best of Friends?

Weather or not

Two well-bred Englishwomen of a certain age had been Three retired gentlemen, each with bad hearing, are friends for many years and used to meet once a week in playing golf on a blustery afternoon. One remarks to the Oxford to go shopping after which they would other, ‘Windy, isn’t it?’ treat themselves to tea at Fullers.

‘No,’ the second man replies, ‘it’s Thursday.’ And On one occasion, they were enjoying ‘The Secret of the third man chimes in, ‘So am I. There’s a Fullers famous walnut cake when a look staying young is pub just round the corner.’ of horror passed across the face of one to live honestly, of the ladies. “We have been friends for eat slowly, and lie such a long time but suddenly I have forgotten your name. I am sure it will about your age’ – A man was telling his neighbour, “I just come to me, but could you possibly tell Lucille Ball, bought a new hearing aid. It cost me four me what it is?”

Actress thousand pounds, but it’s state of the art.

Her friend stared at her in silence, frowning It’s perfect.” and obviously thinking very hard. The pause “Really,” answered the neighbour. “What kind is lengthened, as she gave all her attention to what it?” her companion had just said. Finally she replied: “When do you need to know by?”

“Twelve thirty.”

New Hearing Aid

WONDERFUL WORLD OF

WORDS How many of these do you know the meaning of?

N is for Nelipot O is for Onychophagy P is for Pogonotomy Q is for Quidnunc R is for Runcation S is for Scacchic Check your answers on page 39

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE

Have a go at our general knowledge quiz and send in your answers. You could win £25 of High Street Vouchers…

WIN! £25 of High Street vouchers!

1. What is the most common Element on Earth?

2. How high is Mount Everest?

3. What does HTML stand for?

To enter is simple – send 4. Which is the odd word out - queen, king, pawn, your answers along with your name, address and bishop, cardinal, castle? telephone number on 5. How long did Queen Victoria reign for? a postcard to: General 6. Which US Presidents are featured on Mount Knowledge Competition, Rushmore?

CSRF, Suite 2, 80A 7. Which are the world’s three most spoken languages?

Blackheath Road, London 8. What decade did the London Underground SE10 8DA. The judges’ open? decision is final. Winner 9. Who commanded the Nautilus in Jules will be notified by post.

Verne’s classic novel?

Closing date: 10. What is a beaver’s home called?

31 March 2011.

Meanings: Nelipot is someone who walks without shoes; Onychophagy is the habit of biting one’s fingernails; Pogonotomy is the act of cutting a beard; Quidnunc is one who always wants to know what is going on; Runcation is the act of weeding; Scacchic is pertaining to the game of Chess, or to Chess Pieces; www.crsf.org.uk SPRING 2011

39

readers’ letters

POSTBAG Your letters and views STAR LETTER

WARTIME MEMORIES Dear Postbag,

FROM TOP: Mrs Knight and her husband in South Africa, 1942; MV Myrmidon as she heads on her voyage

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I thought you might find this story of my Second World War experience interesting.

My husband was not allowed to join the Army as he was in a ‘reserved occupation’ and in 1942 he volunteered to go to India to help set up factories.

As we were newly married (in 1941) he insisted that I be allowed to go with him.

After receiving our inoculations we had to go to Glasgow to join our ship, the MV Myrmidon.

We sailed in convoy as far as Freetown and then we had to sail ahead with only one destroyer,

HMS Brilliant to protect us. As there was a danger of U-boats we had to carry our lifebelts all the time. Three days out of Freetown I was woken in the middle of the night by a big bang which was then followed by a siren asking us to abandon ship. I reached the deck in my nightie and met my husband, there were bangs going off, nobody was in charge and it was very frightening. As nobody was in charge of evacuating the ship properly the lifeboat jammed causing the crew to panic. My husband slid down the ropes of the lifeboat to help lower the lifeboat (in the pitch black aided only by a torch).

Thankfully everybody got away and we learnt that we had been torpedoed by a U-boat. As HMS Brilliant knew there were women and children on board they came to pick us up and we had to clamber up the nets to get on board. They dropped us at Point Noire (then part of French West Africa) where we had to wait for a few weeks (with no clothes or money) before continuing our journey to India.

We stayed in India until 1945 before returning to the UK and my husband went back to work at the Royal Arsenal in Woolwich and then the Ministry of Defence until his retirement. We kept in touch with a few of the survivors of the MV Myrmidon but I think I’m one of only a few left alive.

Yours truly, Mrs A.S.Knight, Bournemouth Ed’s Note: What an amazing story Mrs Knight – thank you very much for sharing that with all of us!

GENERATIONS Dear Postbag, It was very enlightening to read your ‘History of Games’ article (Win,2010).

They were however all indoor games played at a table, the playstation for today’s children. The games that I and my mates played were in the street. No one owned a car in our street. The only vehicles that traversed the tarmac were milk floats, ice cream bikes and rag-andbone men with a horse and cart.

One game we played was called ‘High Jimmy Knacker’. It required two teams of not more than 5 in each team. One team would be nominated as ‘In’ and one player would place himself back against a wall. The remaining four would be the ‘Horses’ lined up in leap frog stance as a train against their standing companion.

The opposing team, the ‘Jockeys’ would be required to leap up on the backs of the horses. They would try to sing ‘High Jimmy Knacker 1-2-3’ twice while remaining mounted. Easy you may think.

The horses would make every effort to shake off the jockey. If too many jockeys landed on one ‘horse’ he would be liable to collapse – something greeted by the sound of ‘weak horse-weak horses’ by the jockey. A great rough and tumble for boys!

I am wondering if any other members of the old brigade have street games they remember?

Yours faithfully, Mr F.J.Ayres, Upton, Dorset Ed’s Note: You’ll be pleased to know Mr Ayres that we are looking at childhood games in the next issue

From left to right: Charlie, (Jan married to Charlie), (Mary (married to Bernard), John, Bernard, George, (Ivy married to Jim) and Jim

Dear Postbag, This is my contribution to the ‘Generations challenge’ (Winter 2010).

You will see from below some of the career histories of members of the Whittaker family. We were known to many in the Naval Store and Victualling Departments. The family consisted of father, mother, eight sons and a daughter. Of these, Dad and 7 sons all commenced their civilian employment on Royal Victoria Yard, Deptford.

Dad He started it all off, a peacetime regular soldier he left the army in 1913 and start as a labourer in the Victualling Yard. At the outbreak of the war he was called up and served in Europe right through to the armistice. In 1919 on return to civvy street he became a messenger in the main office, moving to the Cash Office in 1923 and remained until his retirement in 1949.

John Henry Jack started as a Yard Boy in 1925.

A territorial, he was called up just before the outbreak of War. He

returned to RVY in 1945 and served until 1950. In 1955 he joined the G.P.O and later returned to Deptford until he retired in 1977.

Bernard Walter I started with NSO in 1943 and was posted to the Admiralty Pattern Rooms in 1971. I returned to Deptford in 1976 and was there until its closure in 1985. I then was posted to the Royal Army Education Corp based at Eltham Palace until my retirement in 1992.

The family always played a large part in sporting activities at Deptford and many members of the family were present at many of the historic events during the war – Dunkirk, Sicily, D-Day, Russia and Malta Convoys.

The Whittaker family have notched up approximately 315 years in the Civil Service from 1913-1992.

Yours sincerely Bernard Whittaker, Treasurer, Catford/Lewisham Group Ed’s Note – Well done Bernard, a most impressive total – can anybody trump Bernard’s total of 315 years? Write to me and let me know!

www.crsf.org.uk SPRING 2011

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readers’ letters

POETRY CORNER Dear Postbag, I thought you might be interested in the enclosed poem, written by a dear friend aged 85 years. As you can see it is written by someone ‘young in spirit’ and I feel your readers may well empathise with her views, as I do.

To My Old Friend My Renault 19 (Uno Hugh) The time has come to say goodbye To an old and faithful friend No doubt that you will wonder why This friendship has to end Like you old friend I’m getting old I’m past my ‘sell by’ date My engine’s had it so I’m told And my speedo’s running late You’ve carried me from here to there With pleasure and with ease A friendship lasting all these years You’re always there to please Of course you’ve had your moments When you have refused to start I’ve pressed your bloody button And not even had a spark It seems that parts are wearing out For both yourself and me So my friend without a doubt We are past our M.O.T So dear Renault it’s now Adieu I’ll never drive again No-one will ever replace you As life begins to wane Yours faithfully, J.D.Knight, Wyberton, Boston

Dear Postbag, I have been engaged in family history research for many years now so I am interested to note that you are considering an article on genealogy and touching on the subject of adoption. I have not traced any cases of adoption amongst my ancestors but I was rather amused some years ago to see the following anonymous ode...

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SPRING 2011 www.crsf.org.uk

A Family Historian’s Lament (Author Unknown) I’ve been doing family for nigh on 30 years Diligently tracing my illustrious forebears From Pigeon Lake to Peterborough, Penrith to Penzance My merry band of ancestors has led me quite a dance There’s cooks from Kent and guards from Gwent and chimney sweeps from Chester There’s even one daft fisherman who lived all his life in Leicester There’s no one rich or famous, no, not even well-to-do Though a second cousin twice removed once played in goal for Crewe I’ve haunted record offices from Gillingham to Jarrow The little grey cells of my mind would humble Hercule Poirot I’ve deciphered bad handwriting that would shame a three year old And brought the black sheep of the family back into the fold Yours sincerely, Eric Middleton, Nottingham Ed’s Note: What a super ode - we’re covering genealogy in the Summer 2011 issue

Dear Postbag, I enjoy avanti, particularly since I moved to Yorkshire 9 years ago. Recently it was good to read a poem by an old friend from Normoss.

Regarding ‘Working after Work’ I thought you may be interested in some of us giving ideas. My first ‘job’ after retirement was driving patients to and from hospital for the ambulance service.

In my case I joined in the Preston area which covers all of Lancashire. For 3 ½ years I did three days a week. After office work it was lovely to meet and befriend people at an anxious time and be free to arrange my work according to the times and addresses I had been given.

After moving and settling here, I joined the CSV (Community Service Volunteers) and listen to children read in school. Also I visit ladies who knit for them (CSV) and collect bags of beautiful clothes and toys for children in Northern Europe.

Being useful and helping those who need transport for various reasons helps me keep active.

Yours sincerely, Mrs S.A.Shippey, Horsforth, Leeds

talk tous If you have a story, view or opinion to share, write to the Editor using the contact information at the front of the magazine If you want an audio copy of avanti then contact the Fellowship Office for more information on how one can be sent to you

members

Member Giveaway

MEMBERS’

Our friends at Pepperfit have kindly donated some of their lovely products to giveaway to you.

W

First Prize - The Relax Kit (RRP £49.95) contains relax Bath & Shower Oil 50ml, relax Body Lotion 250ml, zest Multibalm 30g.

Second Prize - the Relax Bath and Shower Gel (50ml) Third Prize - the Instant Relax blend (15ml)

AREA

e’re working hard to constantly improve and adapt the range of services and support we can provide you with as members of the CSRF. So share your thoughts and views with us, as we want to hear from you!

Please take some time to fill out our survey on the following page and send it back to us and you will enter our prize draw to win £100 of M&S vouchers.

Thank you in advance for your feedback.

Offers & Incentives Take advantage of these offers and incentives that are available exclusively for all members of the CSRF.

Pepperfit is a natural 100% active sports body product range - combining the healing properties of essential oils with modern scientific sports knowledge to maintain health, optimise physical and mental performance, prevent injury and support recovery. For more information visit their website, www.pepperfit.com To enter is simple – send your name, address and telephone number on a postcard to: Pepperfit Giveaway, CSRF, Suite 2, 80A Blackheath Road, London SE10 8DA. The judges’ decision is final. Winners will be notified by post.

Closing date: 31 March 2011

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member satisfaction survey Your feedback is VERY important to us.

Please help us by completing this survey which will help to shape the future of the Fellowship. Please detach and return it before 31 March 2011 to our freepost address (below), no stamp required

Please fill in your details to be included in the prize draw for ÂŁ100 M & S vouchers The draw will take place on 4 April 2011 and the winner notified by post Name: Membership No(if known): Address: Email: Tel: Q1

Have you attended any meetings or social events at your local Group over the past 12 months (or since you have joined if you have been a member less than one year)?

Yes

No (If no, please tell us why)

Q2

If you have attended meetings or social events, how would you rate them?

Level of Satisfaction How important is it to you

1=Poor 2 3 4 5=Excellent) 1=Not Imp 2 3 4 5=Important)

Level of enjoyment

Friendly atmosphere

Time of day

Location of venue

Standard of facilities

Overall impression

Q3

How would you rate the services provided by us?

Level of Satisfaction

1=Poor 2 3 4 5=Excellent)

Visiting Service

Avanti Magazine

Volunteering Scheme

How important is it to you 1=Not Imp

2

3

4

5=Important)

Information Provider

Q4

What additional services would you like to see us provide – please tick your preferences from the list below:-

Member Offers Will Writing Service Computer Advice

Other (please specify)

Q5

Holiday Club Book Club Legal Advice Financial Advice Specialist Groups (e.g. theatre, lunch, walking etc)

Is there anything else we could do to improve our service?

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR TAKING TIME TO COMPLETE THIS SURVEY Please detach and return it before 31 March 2011 to our freepost address, no stamp required: Research, The Civil Retirement Fellowship, FREEPOST SE4414, London, SE10 8BP 44

SPRING 2011 www.crsf.org.uk

Special Offer Focus: The Civil Service Club Two fantastic member offers for you to join and stay at the Civil Service Club OFFER 1: The Club is offering a four-day stay for two people sharing a room with two course evening meal for just £365. The four-day stay can be booked from Thursday to Sunday night and when booking the Club will offer a free year’s membership for one person.

Please quote avanti when booking the offer can be booked either by email at reservations@civilserviceclub.org.uk or telephone 020 7930 4881

OFFER 2: For CSRF members based in London who would like to take advantage of the Club’s other facilities. The Club is offering a threecourse meal for two in our dining room for every avanti reader who joins the Club (membership is £53 each or £68 for a couple).

When joining quote avanti to take advantage of this offer contact the Club on 020 7930 4881 or membership@civilserviceclub.org.uk.

IN THE NEXT ISSUE HISTORY

How the 1951 Festival of Britain shaped the Modern Age

OPINION Should we have to retake our driving test to renew our licenses at 70?

TECHNOLOGY

FREE Guest Membership for a Fitness First Gym Fitness First has teamed up with avanti magazine to offer you a fantastic 2-day free guest membership, available at a Fitness First Gym. Simply visit www.fitnessfirst.co.uk/avanti today and download your pass and take it into your nearest club to redeem! For your nearest Fitness First club visit www.fitnessfirst.co.uk The Fitness First offer includes the following: • FREE use of all fitness facilities • FREE studio classes (subject to availability) • FREE soft drinks • FREE toiletries • FREE fitness advice Terms & Conditions: Please call the club to activate your FREE guest membership – for your nearest club contact 0844 571 8080. The offer is for a 2-day guest membership. The 2 days must be consecutive. Claimants must be 16 years or over. Does not include use of paid-for facilities such as sunbeds, Beauty Rooms and Crèche facilities and some studio classes.

Facilities vary from club to club, please see fitnessfirst.co.uk for details. Offer subject to availability. Offer expires 30 November 2011.

Overcoming the Fear - why using the Internet is a positive experience

THE NATURAL WORLD Some of the wonderful Royal Gardens open for you to enjoy

LEISURE

How to make the most of Heritage Open Days 2011

PLUS...Food, Drink,

Property, Interiors, Motoring and much more

OUT ON 24 MAY www.crsf.org.uk SPRING 2011

45

group news

Out&ABOUT The latest news from around the group network, reporting by David Tickner (DT)

Just an Illusion?

A visit to the Tadley Group 26 October 2010 I take something positive away from every group visit I make: tips for a top speaker, an entertaining game or a new way of organising a meeting are just a few of the good things that I have learnt. But I’d long wanted to be able to go along to the Tadley Group and see them in action.

Tadley meets in the heart of the town in the impressive community centre. The hall spreads out wide to give them flexibility to provide a range of activities and points of interest for visiting group members. On arrival in the hall the member pays a token for entry and then moves along to acquire their raffle ticket. On the far side of the hall there was a bring and buy area offering clothes, books and bric-a-brac. All of

this before any formal meeting even began.

Proceedings were started by Group Chairman Doug Horsley who introduced various pieces of business (Secretary Blanche Horsley read through the minutes and Vice Chairman Douglas Maclean updated the group about the 2011 holiday) before welcoming the speaker, Hugh Gibbons, who gave a most entertaining talk about ‘Illusions’. A popular speaker for the group, this talk focused particularly on how the mind can play tricks with the eye in terms of what you see when you look at a visual.

A tea break followed the talk and while the tea volunteers masterfully served over 90 members in lightning speed I had a chance to chat to a number of the regular attendees about why they enjoyed Tadley so much. Many had been coming for over 10 years and saw it as their local social club. It is a testimony to the hugely energetic work of the committee of this group, ably headed up by Doug and Blanche Horsley that this group has maintained both its numbers (consistently between 75-90 go every month) and its focus. (DT)

Members of the Tadley Group enjoying their meeting

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SPRING 2011 www.crsf.org.uk

GROUP SURVEY Many thanks to all those groups who participated in our 2010 Group survey, the feedback we received from you will be extremely helpful for us to shape and adapt the level of services we continue to provide for you. Congratulations to the Bridlington Group (pictured) who were winners of the Survey prize draw and received a £30 M&S voucher for their group which they put to very good use creating a Christmas lunch for some of their members.

Group Grant Awards Congratulations to the Arun Group in Littlehampton. In October they were awarded £380 by the Joint Eastern Area Committee Funding Scheme.

Also, congratulations to the Bolton Group who have received £500 for trips in 2011!

If your group has won a grant award recently then please tell us about it – send your news to the Fellowship Office at the usual address or email: avanti@square7media.co.uk

Northern Ireland Branch AGM 29 October 2010 Chief Executive Jean Cooper and I joined over 90 members of the Northern Ireland groups at the AGM of the Northern Ireland Branch, held in the stunning location of Holywood Golf Club just outside the city.

Representatives from all of the Northern Ireland groups (Antrim, Bangor, Banbridge, Belfast, Craigavon and Lisburn) were in attendance for the business of the AGM, which was followed by a superb lunch, and live musical entertainment, excellently organised by Branch Secretary Rita McNulty.

Branch Chair Lillian Nesbitt ensured that events ran smoothly and led a number of tributes to our outgoing Northern Ireland Co-ordinator Beverley Allen (who stepped down last year).

Main Pic: Chief Executive Jean Cooper with Beverley Allen; Bottom Left: Chief Executive Jean Cooper with Northern Ireland branch officers; Bottom Right: Northern Ireland Branch Chair Lillian Nesbitt (centre) with members

Jean was the guest speaker and spoke of her great affection for the Northern Ireland groups and of the exciting work ahead for the Fellowship to regenerate the membership and raise funds.

The formal part of the event was concluded by a number of presentations made to Beverley from the Board of Directors, Fellowship Office and the

Festive Fun with the Lincoln Group 25 November 2010

Lincoln Group members enjoying their Christmas lunch

Ever since making the heinous ‘faux pas’ in one of my earlier avanti pieces that Lincolnshire was flat it has been the mission of Branch Chairman Mike Smith to confound my assertion by showing me around many parts of this beautiful county.

As my train pulled into Lincoln station it was clear that the city was far from flat. In fact, after having walked up the appropriately named ‘Steep Hill’ to the cathedral as part of my lightning walking tour of the city, I can, hand on heart, state that Lincolnshire is most certainly NOT flat at all.

I was up in the city at the kind invitation of Cliff Hopkins whose title of Group Secretary somewhat under-emphasises the hard work he puts into the running of this friendly group.

They usually meet at St Mary Le

Northern Ireland Branch.

Although it was raining from our arrival to departure, the warmth from the friendship and fellowship inside the room more than made up for the water soaked golf course outside! (DT)

Wigford church noted for being the city’s oldest but for my visit they were celebrating their Christmas lunch in a hotel next to Lincoln Cathedral.

After having spent a few hours exploring the city with Mike taking in some of the city’s sights, I was definitely ready for lunch. The food and service was splendid and the hotel’s organisation of this event was first class. So I, along with over thirty other members donned our party hats to enjoy a spot of festive cheer.

Once again I was able to have time to chat to a number of members, all of whom very much enjoyed receiving avanti and were keen to give their input into areas we could cover in the magazine which was most welcome.

I very much look forward to returning to the city as a tourist in the future to enjoy more fully its history and beauty and to have time to look around the Cathedral.

(DT)

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group news

‘Working as an Editor’ ‘Putting the World to Rights’ A visit to the Evesham Group 11 January 2011 This beautiful market town in the heart of Worcestershire is steeped in history (the Battle of Evesham in 1265 resulted in the defeat of Simon de Montfort by Prince Edward (later Edward I)). The Evesham group meet informally in the foyer of the Methodist Church, just off the High Street next to the River Avon for a coffee/ tea and a chance to put the world to rights.

Although depleted in numbers (they are down to a core group of stalwarts) they have lost none of their commitment or enthusiasm to the principles of Fellowship. I was pleased to have had a chance to meet all of them and talk about everything from town planners to visiting China. I look forward to having a chance to revisit the scenic county of Worcestershire again in the future.

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SPRING 2011 www.crsf.org.uk

Colchester Group 17 January 2011 A sign on the platform at Colchester’s main station reads ‘welcome to Britain’s oldest town’ which set me to wondering in jest, as I walked to the Colchester group’s venue, whether the streets were to be lined with older people. I was visiting Colchester as a speaker, following an invitation from Barbara Williamson at last year’s AGM & Conference and I was delighted to meet such a friendly group.

NEWS IN bRIEF

Taunton Group Were full of the festive spirit in December as Chairman Mick Grigg in Santa Claus Hat (pictured) entertained members with a Christmas sing-a-long, this was followed by a Grand Prize Draw (everyone was a winner!) and a buffet lunch.

After talking about my work as an Editor and some of the future plans for the Fellowship we had a question and answer session that provided many members with the chance to ask about any part of the publishing process. It was also very pleasing to hear that a number of the subject areas we are now including from this issue were of particular interest to Colchester group members.

As usual the visit also offered plenty of food for thought – How can we work to improve membership numbers? How can provide effective and useful support to groups around the country? Hearing the views of group members is very useful feedback that we can take on board to help shape our future plans. (DT)

Newbury Group Laid on a Pantomime before the start of their Christmas Tea Party.

The Panto this year was “Snow White and the 2 Dwarfs”. The fact that there were only 2 dwarfs was entirely due to government cuts, but an allowance was made for possible inflation and the VAT increase by making them the tallest members of the cast. The rumour that Prince Charming needed a note from his mum before he could take part is just not true.

Liskeard & Pensilva Group Report by Sylvia Atkins November: November 15th marked the start of our 2010 Turkey and Tinsel holiday in Sidmouth. It was attended by 36 friends and members and we found time on the way to stop at Buckfast Abbey (pictured above) and very much enjoyed a guided tour of

the church given by one of the monks.

After settling into the Royal York and Faulkner hotel in Sidmouth we had plenty of time over the next three days to enjoy Sidmouth’s shops, boutiques and cafes as well as some serious retail therapy at the town’s famous department store, Fields.

Sidmouth also boasts some spectacular coastal walks and magnificent gardens and the group enjoyed a trip on the Colyton Tramway, a visit to Forde Abbey and a river excursion on the mighty River Exe. The weather was not entirely in our favour and our Wednesday mystery trip had to be cancelled because of pouring rain and gale force winds.

The views of the sea were spectacular although we were all pleased to hear that the Liskeard area had escaped

flooding. Instead, members enjoyed a quiz on confectionery that was run by Shirley Waye and won by Sue Trundell, Sylvia Isbell and Marion Baughan.

We returned home on Friday 19th November stopping at the Elmsleigh garden centre for lunch.

December: George Tanner, Chair of the group, and his wife Doris celebrated their Diamond Wedding Anniversary on 16 December 2010.

Liskeard Councillor, Ann Pardon, presented Doris with a bouquet of flowers at their home in Liskeard.

(Pictured from l-r are: Doris Tanner, Ann Pardon and George Tanner).

Hertford Group Enjoyed an excellent Turkey & Tinsel event that was held at the Queens Hotel in Eastbourne. Vice Chairman, Jim Murphy kept up the Group’s tradition and dressed as Nelson’s Rum Bosun, piped ‘Up Spirits’.

Whitchurch Group Held a special group meeting in November to celebrate the hard work and 86th birthday of Secretary, Mary Minty. To mark the many years she has spent as Group and Branch Secretary the Branch Chairman, John Lloyd, presented her with a Certificate of Merit.

Sutton Group Had plenty of festive spirit at their Christmas lunch which was held at Carshalton College. Members enjoyed a hearty fare resplendent in their Christmas hats.

Bedford Group Members enjoyed a ‘Turkey and Tinsel’ five day break on the Isle of Wight in October.

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group info

SCOTLAND

SPRING PLANNER There are over 300 groups operating throughout the United Kingdom so it is very likely there is one near you. So why not go along and find out more about what your local group gets up to - there are many very rewarding ways that you can get involved and they are always pleased to welcome new members

SCOTLAND Dumfries & Kirkcudbright John Walker Chairman 01387 261889 john.amuri@dsl.pipex.com We do not hold regular meetings but if you would like further details about coach outings and lunches, please contact John Walker.

02/03/11 AGM and Lunch, Moreig Hotel,

Annan Road, Dumfries (assemble 11.30am) 06/04/11 Coach trip to Stirling and Alloa

Tower. Meet at Brooms Road car

park. Contact Pat Greig on 01387

770526 for more details.

Dundee Charles Paterson Secretary 01382 858862 The Queen’s Hotel, 160 Nethergate, Dundee Second Tuesday of each month at 10.40am

Edinburgh (Corstorphine) Mr V Burchell Secretary 0131 334 5781 Martin Shields Hall, St. Ninian’s Church, Corstorphine, Edinburgh Third Thursday of each month October-April at 10.30-11.45am

Edinburgh (Craiglockhart) Liz Beedie Secretary 0131 229 7422 Craiglockhart Parish Church Hall, Craiglockhart Drive North, Edinburgh Second Wednesday of each month October-April at 2pm 09/03/11 Musical Event 13/04/11 Bring & Buy Sale, AGM and general chat

Glasgow Mr A McAdam Chairman 0141 882 1804 Adelaide Place Baptist Church, 209 Bath Street, Glasgow (corner of Bath Street and Pitt Street) Third Tuesday of Feb, Mar, Apr, Sept, Oct and Nov at 1.30pm 15/03/11 TBA 19/04/11 Fiona Sinclair 17/05/11 Bus Outing

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SPRING 2011 www.crsf.org.uk

N. IRELAND & NW ENGLAND NORTH EAST ENGLAND WALES AND WELSH BORDERS MIDDLE ENGLAND E. ENGLAND & EAST ANGLIA SOUTHERN ENGLAND SOUTH WEST ENGLAND LONDON & SE ENGLAND

Highland (Scotland)

Mrs C Thompson Local Contact 01463 221532 MacDougall Clansman Hotel, 103 Church Street, Inverness First Wednesday of each month at 2pm & third Wednesday of each month at 11am. Walk and Lunch on the Friday 9 days after monthly meeting.

Rosneath Mrs Coleen Titcomb Secretary 01436 842456 The Howie Pavillion, Rosneath First Monday of the month at 1.30pm 07/03/11 Australian Aborigines - Irene Mackenzie 04/04/11 Trains - Stuart Noble 02/05/11 Sheena and Lord Nelson - Sheena Edwards

NORTHERN IRELAND & NORTH WEST ENGLAND Antrim Brian Shields Chairperson 028 9443 2615 Crown Buildings, 20 Castle Street, Antrim Second Wednesday of each month at 2.30pm

Banbridge Margaret Stevenson Chairperson 028 4062 2950 1st Floor, Old Tech Building, Downshire Road First Wednesday of each month at 2pm

Bangor Miss Pat McNally Secretary 028 9146 1398 Hamilton House Community Centre, Town Hall, The Castle First Wednesday of the month at 2.30pm

Belfast George Glenholmes Secretary 028 9048 0339 McElhinney Room, The Pavillion, Stormont Estate, Upper Newtownards Road First Monday of each month at 2.30pm

Blackpool & Poulton Leonora Sanderson Chairman/Secretary 01253 358435 Council Chamber, Blackpool Town Hall, Talbot Square, Blackpool Second Monday of the month at 1.30-3.30pm

Bolton Eileen Nelson Secretary 01204 595246 eileen. nelson@ntlworld.com St. Andrews & St. Georges Church, St. Georges Road, Bolton First Tuesday of each month at 2pm 22/03/11 Outing to Bashall Barn and Clitheroe 26/04/11 Outing to Ilkley 24/05/11 Outing to Ness Gardens, Wirral

Bury Gerald Beadling Chairman 01706 633674 The Mosses Community Centre, Cecil Street Each Wednesday at 2.15pm

Chester Mrs C F Hanratty Chair 01244 520929 Christian Aid Centre, Queen Street, Chester Third Tuesday of each month at 2.15pm

Craigavon George McConnell Secretary 028 8676 4395 Portadown Library, 24-26 Church Street, Portadown, Craigavon First Tuesday of the month at 2.30pm

Crewe Miss Grace Harding Chairman 01270 250677 Wells Green Methodist Church Hall, Brooklands Avenue, Wistaston First Tuesday of each month at 2pm 01/03/11 Beautiful Switzerland - Peter Kirk

from Bollington (illustrated talk) 05/04/11 The Magic of Toys - Robert

MacGregor, speaker and magician 03/05/11 Wild Swans and Suffragettes - Pat

Louth (illustrated talk)

Birkenhead/Wirral

Lancaster & Morecambe

Miss Cynthia Morgan Secretary 0151 678 6266 Mayer Hall, The Village, Bebington, Wirral First Tuesday of the month at 2.00pm

Derek Hollinrake Correspondent 01524 419220 ollhllnrk@sky.com Torrisholme Methodist Church, Longton Drive, Torrisholme, Morecambe

Second Tuesday of the month at 2.15pm 08/03/11 Life as a tourist guide – Mrs K A Willen 12/04/11 Queen Victoria & John Brown Mrs M Dodd 10/05/11 Flower Arranging – Derek Morgan

Lisburn Helen Fletcher Secretary 028 9261 1604 Bridge Community Centre, 50 Railway Street, Lisburn Second Monday of each month at 2.30pm 14/03/11 Outing to Bangor/Donaghadee (12

noon - 6.00pm) 28/03/11 Outing to Portrush area (10.00am -

9.00pm approx) 11/04/11 My Experiences during the Second

World War - talk by member 09/05/11 Outing to County Tyrone district -

main Summer outing (10.00am -

9.00pm approx)

Penrith

Boston Spa/Wetherby Mrs Janet Walker Records Secretary 01937 842216 Deepdale Community Centre, Deepdale Lane, Boston Spa, Wetherby Second Tuesday of the month at 2.00pm 08/03/11 Group AGM and Buffet Lunch (pre-

booking essential) 12/04/11 Osteopathy - a talk by Mr Adam Bridger 10/05/11 Sisters in Harmony and Branch AGM

Bradford Mr N Griffiths Secretary 01274 586410 Conference Room, Centenary Court, St Blaise Way Third Tuesday of each month at 2pm 15/03/11 War Graves Commission Mr & Mrs Thorndyke 19/04/11 Summer of 1934 - Stanley King 17/05/11 U-Boats and the Battle of the

Atlantic, Part II - Harry Jackson

Richard Roscoe Chairman 01697 472383 Different local hostelries each quarter First Tuesday of the quarter (March, June, September, December) at 12.30pm

Bridlington

Runcorn

Chester-Le-Street

Mr A Stobbie Chairman 0151 424 0340 Department of Education & Skills, Castle View House First and Third Thursday of each month at 1pm

Southport

Mr J Hughes Chairman 01262 850916 North Bridlington Library, Martongate, Bridlington Third Friday of the month at 10.30am

Brian Dawson Secretary 0191 388 8608 St Mary & St Cuthbert Parish Centre, Church Chare, Chester-Le-Street First Monday of each month at 2-4pm

Mrs E Milne Chairperson 01704 560850 Conservative Club, Bath Street, Southport Third Thursday of each month at 2pm onwards 17/03/11 Monthly Get Together 21/04/11 Monthly Get Together 19/05/11 Monthly Get Together

Driffield

Stockport/Grove Park

Derick Neale Chairman 0191 389 2543 Newton Hall Community Centre, Ryelands Way First Thursday of each month at 2pm

Joan Broadbent Social Secretary 01625 873740 Brookdale Club, Bridge Lane, Bramhall First Thursday of each month at 2.15pm 03/03/11 Memoirs of a Methodist Minister -

Rev Derek Davidson 07/04/11 Handbell Ringers - Bravuro Bells 05/05/11 Bring & Buy Sale

Waterloo (Merseyside) Mrs Joyce Nicholls Secretary 0151 924 1433 nichollsjoyce@yahoo.com Blundellsands Methodist Church, Mersey Road, Crosby, Liverpool Second Tuesday of each month at 10.30am 08/03/11 Bring & Buy and Raffle 12/04/11 Coffee Morning and Bingo

John Lydamore Chairman 01377 254086 RC Church Hall, Westgate, Driffield Last Friday of the month at 10.30am

Durham

Gateshead Mrs J Scott Social Secretary 0191 268 7935

Harrogate & Ripon Margaret Terry Secretary 01423 885297 Wesley Chapel (Lower Hall), Oxford Street Third Thursday of each month at 2.15pm 17/03/11 Group Meeting 28/04/11 Lunch and Cabaret at Millstones,

Skipton Road (11.30am) 10/05/11 Branch AGM at Boston Spa at 2.00pm 19/05/11 Group Meeting

Horsforth, Rawdon & District

NORTH EAST ENGLAND

Mrs M J Taylor 0113 267 8110 Venue varies. We meet in local hostelries for lunch. Please contact Mrs Taylor for more details.

Last Tuesday of each month at 12.30pm

Blaydon

Hull

Elizabeth Pearson Secretary 0191 488 0840 Ridley Room, Blaydon Library, Wesley District Precinct, Blaydon Second Tuesday of each month at 10.30am

Colin Bielby Secretary 01482 782930 Age Concern Healthy Living Centre, Porter Street, Hull Third Tuesday of the month at 2.15pm

15/03/11 12/04/11 19/04/11 11/05/11

17/05/11

History of Hull Prisons - Tony Baker Fish & Chip Lunch at Hornsea Dr Lee and his Houses - Alan Kerr Open Meeting at the Central Methodist Mission Hall, King Edward Street, Hull - 2.00pm start Talk on a Stage of Film Star Terry Richards

Killingworth (North Tyneside) Catherine Hankin Chairman 0191 268 1992 Sedgefield Court, West Mount, Killingworth NE12 6GF First Monday of month (except Bank Holidays) at 10.30am.

07/03/11 Financial Matters - talk by Mr Waddleton 04/04/11 Backworth Village - talk (with slides)

by Mr Mitchelson 09/05/11 Northumbria Water - Charity Aid -

talk (with photos) by Ms S Nuttall

Leeds Mrs Sheila Huggins Speaker & Outings Arranger 0113 277 7956 The Victoria Hotel, 28 Great George Street, Leeds LS1 3DL Second Tuesday of the month at 2pm 08/03/11 Scotland - the Future of the Borders

- Mr P Johnston 12/04/11 My Life in Crime - as a Novelist Mr S L Horton 10/05/11 U-Boats in the Atlantic Mr H Jackson

Middlesbrough Lilian Lloyd Secretary 01642 315439 St. Marys Centre, 82-90 Corporation Road, Middlesbrough Last Tuesday of the month at 2pm 29/03/11 AGM and Bring & Buy

Newcastle West Mrs Violet Cook Secretary 01661 871119 Holy Cross Church Hall, Lanecost Drive, Fenham, Newcastle Second Wednesday of each month at 10am 09/03/11 Tynemouth Volunteer Life Brigade -

Alex Hastie 13/04/11 Cake Stall and Quiz 11/05/11 Bingo

MEMBER RECRUITMENT

i

Is your group struggling to recruit new members?

Applications are currently open for groups to apply for support for a recruitment event/drive.

If you’d like to find out more about what this involves then please contact Yvonne Kutzer at Fellowship Office or email: Yvonne.kutzer@csrf.org.uk

www.crsf.org.uk SPRING 2011

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group info Redcar & Cleveland

Herefordshire

Cliff Allman Secretary 01287 623415 Meeting Room 1, Ground Floor, Redcar Youth Centre, Coatham Road Third Thursday of each month at 2pm 13/04/11 Coach Trip to Keswick and to the

Theatre by the Lake, matinee of A

View from the Bridge by Arthur Miller

Leonard Sainsbury Chairman 01432 840422 sainza@waitrose.com Eignbrook Church Hall, Opposite the former Victoria Eye Hospital, next to the Horse & Groom Pub, Hereford Last Tuesday every other month at 2.15pm

Scarborough Mrs P Mawson Secretary 01723 512778 Small Room, 1st Floor, Scarborough Library, Vernon Road, Scarborough First Tuesday of the month at 10.00am

Sunderland & Washington

Llandudno Mrs H Davis Chairman 01492 545436 Queen’s Hotel, The Promenade, Llandudno First Tuesday of each month at 10.30am 01/03/11 AGM 15/03/11 Group Lunch and Walk 19/04/11 Group Lunch and Walk 17/05/11 Group Spring Lunch at Queens Hotel

Llanishen (Cardiff)

Ivan Bell Secretary 0191 549 4130 Age Concern, Bradbury House, Stockton Road, Sunderland (1st Floor Room) First Monday of each month 2.00-3.30pm (except May)

Bernard Pearce Chairperson 029 2075 1493 Park End Presbyterian Church Hall, Rhyd-y-Penau Road, Cardiff CF14 0NZ First Tuesday of each month at 10.00am 01/03/11 Special Stones - Duncan Ballantyne 06/04/11 British Empire - David James

Whitley Bay

Ludlow

Peter Harris MBE Chairman 0191 252 7873 Age Concern Centre, Park Avenue, Whitley Bay Second Thursday of the month 10.30am - 12 noon

Peter Waite Liaison 01584 872639 peter.waite@ dsl.pipex.com Local Public Houses, various venues, in and around Ludlow Third Tuesday of each month at 12.30pm

York & District David Ingham Secretary 01759 372211 The Folk Hall, Hawthorn Terrace, New Earswick, York First Tuesday of each month at 2pm

WALES AND WELSH BORDERS Aberaeron / Lampeter Bill Allen Treasurer 01559 362008 British Legion Hall, Oxford Street, Aberaeron Third Monday of each month at 2.15pm

Caerphilly Mr Gwion Lewis Treasurer 029 2086 8643 robertgwion@talktalk.net Windsor Road Church Hall, Windsor Street, Caerphilly Second Tuesday of the month at 10.15am 08/03/11 Station Officer Logan - talk on The

Fire Brigade 12/04/11 Sargeant Gareth Jones - talk on

Community Policing

Church Stretton John Brewer Secretary 01694 722965 Mayfair Community Centre, Easthope Road First Tuesday of the month at 2.30pm (unless otherwise stated) 04/03/11 Walking from Lands End to John O’

Groats - Peter Richmond (illustrated talk) 01/04/11 AGM and Tea Party 03/05/11 Visit the Land of Lost Content

Museum at Craven Arms (10.15am)

followed by a pub lunch at The Sun

at Corfton (1.00pm)

52

SPRING 2011 www.crsf.org.uk

Neath/Port Talbot Mrs E Northcott Chairman 01639 887851 Moose Hall, Castle Street, Neath Last Wednesday of each month at 2pm 30/03/11 Swansea City Horologist - David Mitchell 27/04/11 What the Papers Say - Alan Underhill 25/05/11 Welsh Connections with the Titanic

- Tony Waters

Oswestry Anne Wilson Chairman 01691 650419 The Wynnstay Hotel, Church Street, Oswestry First Tuesday of each month at 10.30am 01/03/11 Safety in the Home - Community

Fire Service 05/04/11 In Front of the TV Camera Heather Game 03/05/11 A Day in the Life of a Paramedic -

Terry Foster 11/05/11 Branch AGM 11.00am at Radbrook

College, Shrewsbury, followed by lunch

in Descartes Restaurant at the college

Penylan (Cardiff) Alfred Ford Chairman 029 2073 2942 St. Andrews United Reformed Church Hall (corner of Penylan and Marlborough Road) Last Tuesday of each month at 2.00pm

Shrewsbury Irene Williams Chairman 01743 447279 Roy Fletcher Centre, 12-17 Cross Hill, Shrewsbury Second Wednesday of each month at 2pm 09/03/11 Tour of Mont Blanc - Charles Simmonds 13/04/11 Teddy Bear Artist - Mrs E Thornton 11/05/11 Beekeeping and the Plight of the

Bee - Brian Goodwin

GROUP NEWS AND PICTURES

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Tell us what you’ve been up to. Send in your group news and reports at any time to the Fellowship Office. Please mark for the attention of the Editor (all photos will be returned if requested) or you can email: avanti@square7media.co.uk. All digital images will need to be high-resolution (300dpi). If you have any questions about picture formatting then please contact Belinda Stalker at Fellowship Office or email: Belinda.stalker@ csrf.org.uk

Swansea Mrs Sylvia Edgell Chairman 01792 851125 The Vestry Hall, St Mary’s Church, Swansea Last Friday of each month at 2pm 01/03/11 St. David’s Day Lunch (TBA) 25/03/11 Investments/Taxation - talk by

Richard Williams 15/04/11 History Llandarcy BP - talk by Viven

Griffiths 27/05/11 Behind the Veil - talk by Mrs

Gwyneth Davies

Whitchurch (Cardiff) Mrs Mary Minty Secretary 029 2061 4445 Ararat Baptist Church, Plas Treoda, Whitchurch, Cardiff Second Wednesday of the month at 10am

Ynys Mon (Anglesey) Mr Eric Maynard Chairman 01407 720146 The Valley Hotel, Valley, Anglesey Second Tuesday of each month at 12.30pm for lunch

MIDDLE ENGLAND Amersham Lavinia Syson Secretary 01753 884992 michlav. syson@btopenworld.com The Community Centre, Chiltern Avenue, Amersham First Wednesday of each month at 2.30pm 02/03/11 Georgia on my Mind Michael Welling 06/04/11 Winner of Gardeners World - Edwin Rye 04/05/11 Branch AGM followed by a Quiz

Banbury

Coventry

Louth

Anne Garton Secretary 01295 750151 agarton@btinternet.com Hanwell Fields Community Centre, Rotary Way, Banbury Second Tuesday of each month at 2.15 - 4.15pm 08/03/11 Oxfordshire Country Houses and

their History - Alastair Lack. Raffle 12/04/11 AGM but first meet for lunch at

12.30pm in Hanwell Arms. Raffle 10/05/11 My Royal Weekend - Gillian Cane

Muriel Ariss Vice Chairman/Secretary 024 76 599397 Room 2, Gilbert Richard Centre, Broadway, Earlsdon Third Tuesday of each month at 2pm 15/03/11 Alzheimers - Debbi McIlhone 19/04/11 Desert Island Discs - bring your

own favourite piece of music (tape

or CD) 17/05/11 AGM and Quiz

Mrs Margaret Bradley Secretary 01472 388928 Elizabeth Court, Church Street, Louth First and third Thursday of the month at 10.30am

Bedford Patricia Waters Secretary 01234 347443 Bunyan Meeting, Mill Street, Bedford First Tuesday of each month at 10am 01/03/11 Coffee Morning and Talk by Mrs

Paynter - Mayflower Girl 05/04/11 Coffee Morning and Talk or Quiz –

Sales Table 03/05/11 Coffee Morning and Speaker or

Quiz – Sales Table

Birmingham June Oakley Chairman 01952 604922 Five Ways House, Islington Road, Five Ways, Edgbaston Third Wednesday of each month at 10.30am

Boston Mrs Jean Pyne Secretary 01205 364446

Bromsgrove Mrs Catherine Kealy Local Contact 01527 876166 Bromsgrove Golf Club, Stratford Road, Bromsgrove First Wednesday of each month at 11.30am for coffee. Bar snacks and lunches also available.

Cheadle (Staffs) Maurice Prime Chairman 01538 360621 maurice.prime@ukonline.co.uk Cheadle Conservative Club, 39a Tape Street, Cheadle First Thursday of each month at 2.30pm

Cheltenham John Kennett Chairman 01242 529757 St. Luke’s Church Hall, St. Lukes Place, Cheltenham Third Wednesday of the month at 2.30pm

Chesterfield Mrs Ursula Fry Chair 01246 251631 denniscfry@ msn.com The Golden Fleece, 9 High Street, Town Centre, Chesterfield First Thursday of each month at 11.45am (Lunch at The Golden Fleece). These are informal meetings for lunch only.

Coalville & Ashby Terry Watson Chairman 01530 835373 Thringstone Community Centre, The Green, Thringstone Third Wednesday each month 2.00-4.00pm

Donnington June Oakley Chairman 01952 604922 Turreff Hall, Turreff Avenue, Donnington Every Monday at 1pm (except Bank Holidays)

Dunstable & Leighton Buzzard Mrs Janet Bliss Secretary 01582 661795 Scout HQ, Grovebury Road, Leighton Buzzard First Wednesday of the month at 2pm 02/03/11 Bee Keeping 06/04/11 The History of the RAF Halton 04/05/11 Britain in the Forties

Evesham Eric Marsh Branch Liaison 01386 421460 ericbrenda@btinternet.com Foyer of the Methodist Chapel, Bridge Street, Evesham Second Tuesday of each month at 10.30am 08/03/11 Sort out the problems of the world

over a cup of tea or coffee 12/04/11 Thoughts on current affairs with

tea, coffee and biscuits 10/05/11 More tea and coffee and a good

natter

Grantham Maurice Whincup Chairman 01476 572425 mewhincup@gmail.com Christchurch Hall, St. Peters Hill, Castlegate, Grantham First Wednesday every month at 10.00am - noon

Hucclecote Mrs B Arnold Secretary 01452 618009 Evangelical Church, Colwell Avenue, Hucclecote, Gloucester First Thursday of the month at 2.00pm

Luton John Barrett Secretary 01582 519886 barrettjb@ntlworld.com The Chaul End Centre, 515 Dunstable Road, Luton First Monday of every month at 2.00pm (unless a Bank Holiday, when it is second Monday) 07/03/11 The Red Cross - talk by

Gill Hutchinson 04/04/11 The St. Albans Organ Museum - talk 09/05/11 Fire Safety by Terry Daniels

Lutterworth Mrs J Law Chairwoman 01455 552141 Cricket Pavillion, Coventry Road, Lutterworth Third Monday of each month at 10.00am

Melton Mowbray Mr M Johnson Chairman 01664 566821 School Room, United Reform Church, Chapel Street, Melton Mowbray First Tuesday of each month at 1.45pm (SepApril). Coach Outings are arranged between May and August.

Milton Keynes Jim Ford Secretary 01908 368410 james296ford@btinternet.com Centrecom, 602 North Row, Secklow Gate West First Monday of each month at 1pm (second Monday if first is a Bank Holiday) 07/03/11 The Holy Land - Ray Rowlson (talk

with film show) 04/04/11 Swiss Surprises - Michael Welling

(film show) 09/05/11 Kenya - Ray Rowlson (talk and film show)

Northampton Mrs Betna Bradley Vice Chairman 01604 454501

Kidderminster Pam Hussey Liaison Officer 01562 755632 The Three Shires, Lower Mill Street Third Wednesday of each month at 11am 16/03/11 Lunch at The Granary 20/04/11 Coffee Morning 18/05/11 Coffee Morning

Lincoln City Cliff Hopkins Secretary 01522 824703 tomcliff2000@yahoo.com St. Mary le Wigford’s Church Hall, St. Mary Street, Lincoln First Wednesday of the month at 10.30am 02/03/11 Coffee Morning and Bingo 06/04/11 Coffee Morning and Bring & Buy 04/05/11 Coffee Morning and Talk 25/05/11 A Spring Event

COMMUNITY GRANTS

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Many of you know the positive benefits of applying for community grants and have been successful in applying for funds. If you’d like any assistance with filling out grant application forms or are seeking some help or advice then please contact the Fellowship Office for more information.

www.crsf.org.uk SPRING 2011

53

group info Sleaford & Ancaster

CAN WE HELP YOU?

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We are available to help and support if we can – so if you would like to put a request in for a visit by our Editor David or another Fellowship representative then please contact hannah at the Fellowship Office or email: hannah.evans@ csrf.org.uk. We will endeavour to do our best to fulfil as many of your requests as we can for visits so please submit them as soon as you can.

Nuneaton Rachel Homer Secretary 02476 385845 rachel. homer@tesco.net The Sycamore Tree, 2 Chapel Street, Nuneaton (next to the Ropewalk) First Tuesday of each month at 11.00am

Royal Forest Val Collett Chairman 01594 562442 Baptist School Rooms, Parkend, Lydney Second Wednesday of the month at 2.00pm

Rutland Mrs Joan Lewis Chairman 01476 550078 Various locations for pub lunches Third Wednesday of each month

Shefford Eileen Devereux Chairman 01462 814765 Community Hall, Ampthill Road, Shefford Third Tuesday of the month at 10am - 12 noon (except May 12 noon - 2pm)

Skegness Ray Morris Secretary 01754 762060 ray@ bermond.co.uk Phillip Grove Community Rooms, Church Road South, Skegness First Thursday of each month from 10.00am - 12 noon 03/03/11 Refreshments, Story, Quiz, Free

Raffle and Free Bingo games with prizes 10/03/11 Group Luncheon at Poppies

Restaurant, Burch Road, Skegness

(meet 12.30pm) 07/04/11 Refreshments, Story, Quiz, Free

Raffle and Free Bingo games with prizes 14/04/11 Group Luncheon (TBA) 05/05/11 Refreshments, Story, Quiz, Free

Raffle and Free Bingo games with prizes 12/05/11 Group Luncheon (TBA)

54

SPRING 2011 www.crsf.org.uk

Mike Smith Group PR/Organizer 01526 833273 mjs_consultation@hotmail.com Sleaford: Bristol Bowls Club, Boston Road, Sleaford. Ancaster: Angel Court, Ancaster Sleaford: First Thursday of the month 10.15am - Noon. Ancaster: Second Wednesday of the month 10.15am - Noon 20/04/11 Nostell Prior, a National Trust

property near Wakefield 17/05/11 Visit to Cromer and Sheringham in

Norfolk

Solihull Margaret Smith Secretary 0121 744 6150 me.smith@talktalk.net John Palmer Hall, Union Road, Solihull Second Monday of each month at 10am

Stamford Mrs B Smith Chairman/Secretary 01780 755437 Tenter Court, Wharf Road, Stamford Last Thursday of the month at 2.15pm

Wellesbourne Mrs Iris Herwin Secretary 01789 840745 Warwick H.R.I., Warwick Road, Wellesbourne Third Thursday of each month at 2.30pm 17/03/11 Hampton Lucy - Kath Clarke 21/04/11 Victim Support - Judith Payne 19/05/11 The Art of Coarse Fishing - Maureen Sutherland

EASTERN ENGLAND & EAST ANGLIA Attleborough Mrs D Parker Secretary 01953 456958 deepea2@uwclub.net Methodist Church Hall, London Road Third Thursday of the month from 10am - 12 noon

Aylsham & District Peter Haslem Chairman 01603 782357 phaslem@keme.co.uk Friends Meeting House, Peggs Yard, Red Lion Street, Aylsham Second Monday of each month at 10am (unless it’s a Bank Holiday) 14/03/11 Holiday Memories 11/04/11 The Cat’s Whisker 09/05/11 Scotland Yard

Billericay Mr J R Smith Local Contact 01277 622156 Various venues for lunches at 12.30pm 24/03/11 Informal lunch at the Blue Boar, High Street 19/05/11 Informal lunch at the Blue Boar, High Street

Brentwood

Emrys Jones Chairman 01952 254252 e30jones@btinternet.com Belmont Community Hall, Wellington First Thursday of each month at 9.30am - 12 noon 03/03/11 Group and Branch AGMs and

Coffee Morning 07/04/11 Coffee Morning

Mrs Dorothy Dale Secretary 01277 372585 St.Peter’s Church Hall, Claughton Way, Hutton, Brentwood Second Thursday of each month at 10am - 12 noon 10/03/11 AGM and Bring & Buy 14/04/11 Down Memory Lane - Gary Baugh 12/05/11 Beauties of Britain, why go abroad?

- Margaret Rogers

Wigston

Bury St Edmunds

Wellington & Telford

Mrs J Collins Vice Chairman 0116 288 7802 Wigston Liberal Club, 82 Bull Head Street, Wigston Second and fourth Mondays of each month from 1.30 - 4.00pm (Bank Holidays permitting) 14/03/11 Bring & Buy 28/03/11 Magistracy and the work of the

Magistrate Courts - Caroline Roberts 11/04/11 AGM and Fellowship Party Day 09/05/11 National Trust Coastline Barbara Hewitt 23/05/11 History of the Royal Leicester

Regiment - Robert Gregory

Wolverhampton Bryan Morey Secretary/Treasurer 01902 753439 The Electric Club, St Marks Road, Wolverhampton Every Tuesday at 10.30am to 12 noon (lunch available if required)

Worcester Leigh Watkins Secretary 01905 774034 Perdiswell Young Peoples Leisure Centre, (A38) Droitwich Road (opp. Checketts Lane) Second Wednesday of each month at 1pm 09/03/11 TBA

Mrs Doreen Ginn Chairman 01284 755256 West End Home Guard Club, Abbot Road, Bury St. Edmunds Second Wednesday of each month at 10am 09/03/11 TBA 13/04/11 Financial Matters - Brian Copping 11/05/11 Working with Prisoners Miss Emma Denton

Chelmsford Pat Frankland Secretary 01245 259194 pat. frankland131@btinternet.com Room 3, Christ Church, New London Road Second Tuesday of each month 10.00am 12.30pm 08/03/11 AGM and Fish & Chips 12/04/11 Talk by Trading Standards 10/05/11 Talk by Age Concern

Colchester Bert Dawson Secretary 01206 522870 dawson. oaklea@ntlworld.com St Margaret’s Anglican Church Hall, Stansted Road, Colchester Third Monday of each month at 2pm 21/03/11 Life after Spinal Injury -

18/04/11

16/05/11

Barry O’Connell From Cotton Mills to Candis - Denise Hammond Webb More Wicked Words David Heather

Croxley Green Frank Brown Chairman 01923 779070 fctbrown@btinternet.com Red Cross Centre, 1 Community Way (off Barton Way), Croxley Green Second Thursday of alternate months (eg January, March, May etc)

Dereham Robert Jackson Chairman 01362 693977 bobabs@jack747.fsnet.co.uk Toftwood Village Hall, 47 Shipdham Road, Toftwood, Dereham Second Friday of each month at 10.00am 11/03/11 Tudors at Home - talk by

Simon Partridge 08/04/11 Drawing Demonstration - Eve Brazier 13/05/11 Bring & Buy and Quiz

Drayton - Norfolk June Langham Chairman 01603 745277 St Margaret’s Church Room, Drayton Second Tuesday of each month at 2.15pm 08/03/11 AGM with Pancakes and Wine 12/04/11 TBA 10/05/11 TBA

Harlow Mrs Edna McNaughton Secretary 01279 865102 edian.mcnaughton@tesco.net Toby Carvery, Harlow First Friday of the month at 12 noon

Harpenden Mr Tony Thomson Group Representative 01582 713250

Hemel Hempstead Miss Joan Ibbett Secretary 01442 259674 Methodist Church Hall, The Marlowes, Hemel Hempstead Second Wednesday of each month at 10.30am

Hertford Mrs Olive Smith Chairman 01992 550753 Methodist Church Hall, Ware Road, Hertford First Monday of each month at 2-4pm (except Bank Holidays) 07/03/11 Entertainer - Mrs Pam Murphy 23/03/11 Luncheon - Clavering

(Jamie Oliver’s parents) 04/04/11 North Scotland and Orkney Island - David Atterill MBE 09/05/11 Ms Julia Philpot, Osteopath

Huntingdon Mrs Gillian Greville Secretary 01480 458098 Little Stukeley Village Hall, Low Road (off Mill Road), Little Stukeley, Huntingdon Last Thursday of the month at 2.30pm 31/03/11 Flag Fen to Denver Complex, the

History of the Fens from the Ice

28/04/11 26/05/11

Age to the Present Day - talk by Gary & Sheila Frisby AGM followed by Bring & Buy Sale Eel Trapping on the Fens - talk by the last of the Fenland Eel Trappers - Peter Carter

Ilford Mrs Sylvia Green Social Secretary 020 8594 5284 sylviagreen@rocketmail.com St. Andrew’s Church Hall, The Drive, Ilford Third Monday of the month at 1.30pm 21/03/11 A Pub Crawl - talk by Brian Billins on

the history of pubs and their signs 18/04/11 AGM 16/05/11 The Tower of London and its

Prisoners - Brian D’Arcy

Ipswich Eva Stevens Secretary 01473 688040 evajs@ yahoo.co.uk Museum Street Methodist Church Hall, Blackhorse Lane, Ipswich First Wednesday of each month at 2pm 02/03/11 Community Safety - John Clouting 16/03/11 Luncheon Peak Lodge at 12.30pm 06/04/11 Britain’s Top Mrs Mop Deborah Preston 04/05/11 Hary Secombe Songs - Martyn Harrison 18/05/11 Luncheon Peak Lodge at 12.30pm

Loughton

Norwich Mary Weatherhead Secretary 01603 410821 Reading Room, Doughty’s Hospital, Golden Dog Lane Second Monday of each month at 10am for 10.30am 14/03/11 Norwich Courts & Yards Mrs Holmes 11/04/11 Windmills - Mrs J Baker 09/05/11 The Mysterious Green Man - Mr & Mrs Worton

Nottingham Pam Bradley Secretary 0115 938 4676 pamthedragon@hotmail.co.uk The New Mechanics, 3 North Sherwood Street Second Wednesday of each month at 10.15am - Noon 09/03/11 Nottinghamshire Branch and

Nottingham Group AGMs 13/04/11 A Walk through Somerset House -

talk by Ian Thompson 11/05/11 Sri Lanka after the Tsunami - talk by

Pat Clarke

Radlett Mrs Shirley Herbert Secretary 020 8953 2999

Rayleigh Mrs F Cohen Social Secretary 01702 342426

Rochford

Eric Adams Chairman 020 8508 7207 Jazz Archive Room, Loughton Library, Traps Hill, Loughton Third Monday of each month at 2pm 21/03/11 Discussion on Current Affairs 18/04/11 Discussion on Local Affairs 16/05/11 Looking forward to Summer!

Mrs F Cohen Social Secretary 01702 342426

Lowestoft

Saffron Walden

Daphne Faulkner Secretary 01502 573866 Beaconsfield Club, Surrey Street First and Third Wednesday of each month at 10.15am

Mrs E Mansfield Chairperson 01279 755458 The Chequers Public House, Cambridge Road, Ugley, Bishops Stortford Second Monday in the month (approx 4 times per year) at 12-12.30pm for lunch

Mildenhall Mr Martin Claridge Secretary 01842 810096 Mildenhall Social Club, Recreation Way First Tuesday of each month at 2pm 01/03/11 Mr David J Pryor BSC , Forensic

Scientist – Investigating Crime Scenes 05/04/11 Miss Marcia Chadwick –

Experiences of overseas postings

with FCO 03/05/11 AGM

Newmarket Les Beament Chairman 01638 744005 St. John Training Centre, Newmarket Hospital, Exning Road Second Wednesday of each month at 2pm 09/03/11 Lakenheath Fen, the first 15 Years -

talk by David White 13/04/11 Exploring Suffolk by Bus Pass - talk

by Pip Wright 11/05/11 Outing to Huntingdon Garden

Centre and Houghton Mill

Romford Norma Wright Secretary 01708 341099 Dukes Hall, Maygreen Crescent, Hornchurch Third Thursday in the month from 2.00-4.00pm refreshments served.

Shoeburyness Mrs F Cohen Social Secretary 01702 342426

St. Albans Mrs B G Hill Secretary 01727 858198 Friends Meeting House, Upper Lattimore Road, St. Albans First Thursday of the month at 10am

Stevenage & Baldock Helen Leisk Secretary 01438 355131 helen. leisk@firenet.uk.net United Reformed Church, Cuttys Lane, Stevenage First Thursday of every month at 2pm 03/03/11 From Tiller Girl to Vernon Girl -

Sheila Parker 07/04/11 The Spey Valley - Brian Sawford 12/04/11 Mystery Trip by Coach (must be

pre-booked) 05/05/11 Apollo Adventures - Keith Baldwin 12/05/11 Coach Trip to Sulgrave Manor (must

be pre-booked)

www.crsf.org.uk SPRING 2011

55

group info Swaffham Mrs June Finch Secretary 01760 720728 montague141@yahoo.co.uk Methodist Church Hall, London Street, Swaffham Third Tuesday of each month at 10.15am

Watford (Cassiobury) Mr Ian Whyte Local Contact 01923 441952 duncan.whyte1@ntlworld.com St. Luke’s Church, Langley Way, Watford WD17 3EG Second Tuesday of Jan, May, Jul, Sep & Nov at 10am 08/03/11 Annual Lunch at West Hertfordshire

Golf Club

Westcliff-on-Sea Mrs F Cohen Social Secretary 01702 342426

Wickford Peter Blake Chairman & Secretary 01268 583060 Christchurch Hall, R/O 44 High Street, Wickford Second Thursday each month 1.30 - 3.30pm

Witham David Longhurst Committee Member 01376 513629 Methodist Church Hall, Guithavon Street Last Tuesday of each month at 10.30am

SOUTHERN ENGLAND Aldershot Gloria Wetherill Secretary/Social Secretary 01252 345318 rayglo227@talktalk.net Holy Trinity Church, Galpin Hall, Windsor Way, Aldershot Second Thursday of every month at 1.30-3.30pm

Alton Bryan Knight Secretary 01420 561833 St. John Ambulance Hall, Anstey Lane, Alton Third Thursday of the month at 2.00pm (except Mar) 17/03/11 Pub Lunch 21/04/11 Speaker 19/05/11 Speaker

Arun - formerly Littlehampton Martin Smith Chairman 01903 725520 St Joseph’s Convent, Franciscan Way. Please use entrance in East Street if arriving by car.

Second Wednesday of each month at 2pm 09/03/11 Old Time Police Service - talk by

Martin Smith 13/04/11 Artificial Eyes - talk by Shelagh

Kenwood-Honey 20/04/11 Proposed Lunch at Northbrook

College, Worthing

Ascot & Sunningdale Sylvia Hennah Secretary 01344 620860 National School of Government at Sunningdale Park, Larch Avenue, Ascot Third Friday of each month at 12noon 18/03/11 Arthur Ransome - Neil Aufflick

56

SPRING 2011 www.crsf.org.uk

15/04/11

20/05/11

Role of a Minister in Northern Ireland Office during 1970s - Raymond Carter The Great Train Robbery John Woolley

Basingstoke Janette Davies Chairman 01256 321471 Brookvale Village Hall, Lower Brook Street, Basingstoke First Wednesday of each month at 10.00am 14/04/11 Outing to Bowood House, Wiltshire 11/05/11 Exbury Gardens, Dorset

Chandlers Ford Ken Willcocks Chairman 023 8076 0102 Chandlers Ford Community Centre, Hursley Road, Chandlers Ford First Friday of the month at 10am 04/03/11 Group AGM 01/04/11 Looking Forward to Summer Brian Kidd 06/05/11 Arctic Circle Expedition - Jim Bettley

Christchurch & Highcliffe Paul Tabor 01202 422493 paul.tabor@tesco.net

Bexhill

Crawley

Hilary Markham Secretary 01424 210985 Bexhill Sailing Club, Marina, Bexhill-on-Sea Fourth Tuesday of each month at 10am 22/03/11 Coffee Morning with Quiz 26/04/11 Coffee Morning 24/05/11 Coffee Morning

Jim Piercey Chairman 01293 409332 The Tree Annex, 103 The High Street, Crawley Fourth Friday of the month at 2pm 25/03/11 Thank the Forces - talk 22/04/11 No Meeting 27/05/11 Power of Attorneys and Wills - talk

by Sue Tipper

Bitterne (Southampton) Joan Dunnings Chairman 023 8057 6784 St. Johns Hall, Dean Road, Bitterne First Friday of each month at 2.00pm 04/03/11 AGM 01/04/11 Outing 06/05/11 Talk on Basic Hampshire

Boscombe & Southbourne Paul Tabor Chairman 01202 422493 paul. tabor@tesco.net St Katherine’s Church Hall, Church Road, Southbourne First Wednesday of each month at 10am 02/03/11 Cliffs, Coves and Contraband Mrs A King 06/04/11 AGM and Quiz 04/05/11 Vienna, A Little Night Music Mr C Legrand

Bournemouth Central Alan Carter 01202 292720

Brighton & Hove Peter Savage Secretary 01273 419881 Ventnor Hall, Blatchington Road, Hove First Wednesday of the month at 2.15pm 02/03/11 Sussex Air Ambulance - talk 06/04/11 AGM 04/05/11 Quiz with the ever popular Derek Leaney

Burgess Hill Mike Mason Chairman 01444 245289 michael_ mason6@hotmail.com Millfield Suite, Cyprus Hall, Cyprus Road, Burgess Hill Fourth Wednesday of each month at 10am 23/03/11 Coffee Morning 27/04/11 Coffee Morning and talk (with

slides) on the Pottery Industry in

Burgess Hill by Fred Avery 25/05/11 Coffee Morning

Eastbourne Audrey Fewtrell Chairman/Secretary 01323 730570 St. Saviour’s Church Hall, South Street, Eastbourne Third Wednesday of the month at 10am 16/03/11 Speaker - Mr Roy Hall 20/04/11 Group AGM

Emsworth & Havant Ralph Whitehouse Chairman 01243 374081 Emsworth Community Centre, Church Path, Emsworth First Friday of each month at 10am 04/03/11 Monthly meeting 01/04/11 Monthly meeting 06/05/11 Monthly meeting

Fareham Bill Sculpher Chairman 01329 519613 Holy Trinity Church Hall, West Street, Fareham First Tuesday of the month at 2.00pm 01/03/11 A Diver’s Story - Mike Marten 05/04/11 Heath Robinson, his Garden Owen Neal 03/05/11 Mr Monologue - Dave Walker

SHARING BEST PRACTICE

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Have you had a good speaker?

Or perhaps tried a recruitment initiative that really worked for you? Share your views and experiences with other groups using these pages as a Forum.

Send to the Fellowship Office marked for the attention of the Editor or you can email: avanti@square7media.co.uk

DIARY DATES The Planner deadline dates for submission in 2011 are as follows:

i

Summer 2011: 29 April (for the period 1 June-31 August) Autumn 2011: 29 July (for the period 1 Sept – 15 Nov) Winter 2011: 14 October (for the period 16 Nov – 28 Feb 2012) Please make sure you send in as full a listing as possible so people know what your group is up to.

Fleet Dorothy Brookman Chairman 01252 684368 Baptist Church Hall, 115 Clarence Road, Fleet Third Tuesday of each month at 2.15pm 15/03/11 History of an Edwardian House in

Fleet - Graham & Rosemary Mist 19/04/11 Cream Tea and Quiz 17/05/11 Fleet Pond: Origins, Problems and

Future - Colin Gray

Hailsham Jeanne Archer Secretary 01323 832055 St. Marys Church Lounge, St. Marys Church, Vicarage Road, Hailsham Second Tuesday of the month at 10.15am 08/03/11 Travel Talk with Slides - Arthur Hill 12/04/11 Silent Auction 10/05/11 My Travels in New Zealand John Proctor

Hassocks Dennis Miles Chairman 01273 845693 jodem38@live.co.uk Adastra Hall, 31 Keymer Road, Hassocks First Thursday of each month at 10.30am 03/03/11 Visit by David Tickner, Editor of

avanti magazine

Hastings & St Leonards John Hall Chairman 01424 813355 All Saints Church Hall, All Saints Street, Old Town Third Tuesday of each month at 10am - 12 noon 15/03/11 TBC 19/04/11 My Work and Travels in Ghana - Roy

Hall (illustrated talk) 17/05/11 TBC

Haywards Heath Ron Essex Chairman 01444 458470 Methodist Church, Perry Mount Road, Haywards Heath Second Friday of the month at 2.30pm

Horley

Ringwood & District

Arnold Ullmann MBE Treasurer 01293 783590 Horley & District Constitutional Club, 1 Albert Road, Horley (unless otherwise stated) Fourth Wednesday of the month at 10.45am (unless otherwise stated) 23/03/11 Coffee Morning and talk by Valerie

Jones - Treasures of the Baltic 27/04/11 Coffee Morning and Quiz 25/05/11 Coffee Morning - programme to be

confirmed

Ray White Chairman 01425 476037 rm-white@ tiscali.co.uk Greyfriars Community Centre, Ringwood First Friday of each month at 10am 02/03/11 AGM and Quiz 01/04/11 Wiltshire Farm Foods 06/05/11 The Search for HMS Wagner

Lancing May Coleman Secretary 01903 761670 Methodist Church Hall, Chester Avenue, Lancing First Tuesday of each month at 2pm

New Forest Sandy Whittaker Chairman 023 8028 2157 Meetings in odd months are at Milford on Sea Village Community Centre, Sea Road; meetings in even months are at Bashley Village Hall First Tuesday of each month at 10.15am 01/03/11 Normandy Revisited - Eric Watson

Esq JP (Milford) 05/04/11 AGM (Bashley) 03/05/11 The Spice of Life - Ron Taylor

(Milford)

Newbury Roger Walker Chairman 01635 44575 colonelrog@hotmail.com St. Johns Church Room, Newtown Road, Newbury Second Monday of the month at 2.15pm 14/03/11 Travel Talk - Alan & Rosemary Collins 17/03/11 Skittles Evening and Supper -

Thatcham FC 11/04/11 Healthy Living - Mrs Chandler 09/05/11 Bring & Buy and Plant Sale 12/05/11 Pub Lunch

Southsea Mike Barrow Chairman 023 92 829552 m.barrow4@ntlworld.com St. Simon’s Church Hall, Waverley Road, Southsea Second Wednesday of the month at 10.30 and fourth Wednesday of the month at 2.30pm 09/03/11 Coffee Morning 23/03/11 Being an Author and Researching

for Novels 13/04/11 Coffee Morning 27/04/11 Tales from Pop’s Allotment 11/05/11 Coffee Morning and ‘Bakery’ 25/05/11 Haslar Hospital - A Potted History

Stubbington Mrs Pamela McKay Chairman 023 92 552710 Catholic Church Hall, Bells Lane, Stubbington Second Thursday of each month at 2pm (meeting) and last Tuesday of each month at 10.30am (coffee morning)

Swanage Mrs Irene Greenway 01929 423394

Tadley

Ray White 01425 476037 rm-white@tiscali.co.uk

Mr D Horsley Chairman 0118 981 7152 doug@ hgcards.fsnet.co.uk Tadley Community Centre, Newchurch Road, Tadley First Thursday of each month at 1.30pm for 2.00pm (excepting in unusual circumstances ie elections, when advance notice is given to our members) 21/04/11 Visit to Kew Gardens 19/05/11 Visit to Hereford

Portsmouth North

Totton & Waterside

Iris Shields Treasurer 023 9266 8178 St. Nicholas Church Hall, Battenburg Avenue, Copnor Second and fourth Monday at 2pm (except Bank Holidays) 14/03/11 Military History - Michael Forrest 28/03/11 Armchair Aerobics - Debbie Pentland 11/04/11 Mike Charman entertains 25/04/11 No meeting (Bank Holiday) 29/04/11 Warners Weekend at Bembridge,

Isle of Wight (29 April-2 May)

Mrs P Shakespeare Chairman 023 8087 2035 Totton & Eling Community Association, Civic Centre Building, Library Road, Totton First and third Friday of each month at 10.00am

Poole & District

Reading West & Tilehurst David Cox Secretary 0118 958 6311 United Reformed Church Hall, Polsted Road, off Armour Road Last Wednesday of the month at 2pm 30/03/11 Mystery - Alan Brearley 27/04/11 Speaker (with slides) from RSPCA 25/05/11 Tale of Two Cities - Gwen Barton

Twyford & Wargrave John Keast Secretary 0118 940 2975 Various locations Third Tuesday of Feb, Apr, June, Oct and Dec

Uckfield Arthur Thompson Secretary 01825 763142 Five Ash Down Village Hall, Five Ash Down, Uckfield First Thursday of the month at 2.30pm unless otherwise announced.

03/03/11 Sightsavers - David Sands-Smith 07/04/11 AGM plus The Crop Circles Mystery

- Andy Thomas 05/05/211 The Art of Numerology - Michaele

Wynn-Jones

www.crsf.org.uk SPRING 2011

57

group info Wallingford & Didcot David Beasley Chairman 01491 835947

Wantage & Grove Mrs Isobel Clanfield Treasurer 01235 764638 Red Cross Hall, Wallingford Street, Wantage First Monday of the month at 2pm (except Bank Holidays when it is second Monday)

Wimborne & Ferndown Eric Basire Secretary 01202 897158 eric-rita@ tiscali.co.uk Ferndown Village Hall, Church Road, Ferndown Third Wednesday of each month at 10.30am.

Winton & Northbourne Ray White 01425 476037 rm-white@tiscali.co.uk

Wokingham Bernard Good Secretary 0118 978 2350 bernard.good@btinternet.com The Cornerstone, Norreys Avenue Third Wednesday of each month at 2.30pm 16/03/11 AGM and Bring & Buy Sale 20/04/11 Talk - come and be surprised 18/05/11 Talk - come and be enlightened

Worthing David Keeling Chairman 01903 248663 United Reformed Church Hall, Shaftesbury Avenue (just south of Durrington Railway Bridge: entrance in Barrington Road) Third Tuesday of each month at 10.00am (coffee at 9.45am) 15/03/11 Owls - John Scrace 19/04/11 The Peak District - Eric Burchell 17/05/11 Slides of China - Wendy Funnell

SOUTH WEST ENGLAND Amesbury Mrs Dorothy Weston Social Secretary 01980 624589 Antrobus House, 39 Salisbury Road, Amesbury First Tuesday of each month at 2pm 15/03/11 Outing to Poole 19/04/11 Outing to Highclere Castle 17/05/11 Outing to Blenheim Palace

Barnstaple Ken Summerfield Chairman 01271 372311 wksummerfield@hotmail.com Barnstaple Record Lending Library, Tuly Street, Barnstaple EX31 1EL Last Friday in the month at 11am Feb, May, Jun, Jul, Oct and Nov and at 10am Mar, Apr and Sep.

Bath Roy Burnett Chairman 01225 426583 St. John’s Parish Hall, South Parade, Bath First Thursday of each month at 10.30am 03/03/11 Coffee Morning 07/04/11 Coffee Morning 08/04/11 Songs from the Shows 27/04/11 Guys and Dolls at the Theatre Royal 05/05/11 Coffee Morning

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SPRING 2011 www.crsf.org.uk

INTER-GROUP VISITS

i

Are you planning to visit a different part of the country this year? Then why not visit another CSRF group in that area? You can find out where the nearest group by referring to the Planner in the magazine or by entering the postcode to the Group Finder section of the CSRF website. All of the group contacts are listed here including the key contact names and numbers for every group.

Bideford Sylvia Moody Treasurer 01237 471334 Griggs Close Community Centre, Northam, Bideford Second Friday in the month at 10.30am

Blandford Forum Mrs M Chambers Secretary 01258 456572 Contact Secretary for venue details.

Second Friday of each month at 11am

Bradford-on-Avon Pat Carter Social Secretary (Outings) 01225 866229 budbury8@talktalk.net Trinity Church Hall, Church Street, Bradford-onAvon Second Monday of each month at 2.15pm

Braunton Peter Mumby Treasurer 01271 815021 Committee Room, Braunton Parish Hall, Chaloners Road, Braunton EX33 2ES Third Tuesday of each month at 10am - 12 noon

Brixham Mrs Edna Wright Chairman 01803 855638 ewright238@btinternet.com Local restaurants Once monthly at 12 noon - contact Mrs Wright for details.

Calne June Marsden Secretary 01249 816675 june. marsden@btinternet.com Woodlands Social Club, Woodlands Park, Station Road, Calne Fourth Tuesday of each month at 10am 22/03/11 Secret Underground Cities Mr N McCanley 26/04/11 All about Yoga - Mrs L Macallister

(talk and demonstration) 24/05/11 Ageing Successfully - Christine Stapley

Chard Gordon Baker Secretary 01460 73333

Chippenham Mr J A Sutton Chairman 01249 461892 a-tsutton@tiscali.co.uk Rotary Hall, Station Hill, Chippenham First Wednesday of each month at 2pm 02/03/11 AGM and Bring & Buy Sale 06/04/11 Australian Experience - George

Bennett 04/05/11 Welsh Love Spoons - R Browning

Corsham Maureen Boulton Chairman 01249 701181 Corsham Club, Newlands Road, Corsham Second Wednesday in the month at 10.15am 09/03/11 Chew Valley before the Lake Mrs Lesley Ross 13/04/11 Titanic - Mrs Lynda Warren 11/05/11 Spring Lunch

Crediton Miss M Steer Chairman 01363 866256 Club Crediton, Searle Street, Crediton First Friday of each month at 10.15am

Dawlish Mrs M Carter Secretary 01626 888275 The Manor House, Old Town Street Third Friday of each month at 2pm. From May meetings will take place on the second Friday of each month.

18/03/11 Shelter Boxes - Mr C Tims 15/04/11 Spring Lunch 13/05/11 Australia and New Zealand - Mr P Dodd

Dorchester Peter Bryant Chairman 01305 263920 peterjbryant@btinternet.com Dorset Youth HQ, Lubbecke Way, Dorchester Third Thursday of the month at 10.15 for 10.30am 17/03/11 Talk by Dorset Fire & Rescue Service 14/04/11 AGM

Exmouth Carol Brett Secretary 01395 442671 Bastin Hall, Elmgrove, Exmouth First Wednesday of each month at 9.45am 02/03/11 AGM 06/04/11 Coffee Morning 04/05/11 Coffee Morning 12/05/11 Hosting Branch AGM (2.30pm) with

Guest Speaker, David Tickner, Editor

of avanti

Ham (Plymouth) Pauline Singleton Secretary 01752 366672 The Halcyon Centre, Dingle Road, North Prospect, Plymouth Every Monday at 2.00pm

Launceston Joan Simpkin Secretary 01566 782542 The White Hart Hotel, Launceston First Wednesday of each month at 10.30am

Liskeard & Pensilva Shirley Waye Secretary 01579 346089 Refreshment Rooms, Liskeard Public Hall, West Street, Liskeard Last Wednesday of each month at 10am

Minehead

Taunton

Westbury-on-Trym

Isabel Dobson 01643 703199 Foxes Hotel, The Esplanade, Minehead Last Tuesday of the month at 10.15am

Mick Grigg Chairman 01823 272046 mfgrigg@ talktalk.net Royal British Legion Club, St. Mary Street, Taunton Second Friday of the month at 10.30am (unless Bank Holiday in which case third Friday) 11/03/11 The History of Station Road in aid of

SURE - Denis Calvert 08/04/11 Bring & Buy Cakes 13/05/11 Teddy Bears - Denise Budd

Beryl Webb Secretary 01454 614451 Studland Court, Henleaze Road, Henleaze First Thursday of each month at 2pm 03/03/11 British Seaside Piers - Robert Tinber 07/04/11 Gadgets of Yesteryear - Cyril Routley 05/05/11 Kennet and Avon Canal - Michael Horseman

Princetown Mike Fitzpatrick Secretary 01822 890799 mikeandkate3@talktalk.net Prince of Wales, Tavistock Road, Princetown First Thursday of the month at 12.30pm 03/03/11 Self Defence - Tony Speakman 17/03/11 AGM 07/04/11 Humorous Recitations - Carol Matum 23/04/11 St. George’s Day Lunch 14/05/11 Group Holiday to Killarney, Ireland

(one week)

Salisbury Plain Mr Roy German Secretary 01980 653446 violet. german@mypostoffice.co.uk The Village Hall, High Street, Durrington Third Tuesday of each month at 2.30pm 15/03/11 Birds in the Garden - talk by Steven Oakes 10/04/11 Holiday in Torquay (10 - 16 April) 19/04/11 Life as a Tour Guide - talk by Mrs

Romay Wyeth 17/05/11 Living with the Boss - talk by Mrs Adams 24/5/11 Mystery Tour

Sherborne Mrs Jean Nunn Chairman 01935 817053 Youth Centre, Tinneys Lane, Sherborne Second Wednesday of the month at 10.15am 09/03/11 AGM 13/04/11 My Family Tree: Root and

Branch - Mike Bolton (talk with slides) 11/05/11 TBA

Sidmouth Margaret Adams Chairman 01395 577622 rjadams39@waitrose.com Sidholme Hotel, Elysian Fields, Temple Street Second Wednesday of each month at 10.25am 23/03/11 Lunch at The Cinnamon Tree Restaurant 20/04/11 Lunch at The Anchor, Beer

Trowbridge Peter Collins Secretary 01225 768370 petercollins@vulnera.freeserve.co.uk The Wiltshire Yeoman, Chilmark Road, Trowbridge/ St. Thomas’ Church Hall, York Buildings, off Timbrell Street, Trowbridge First Wednesday of each month at 11am (The Wiltshire Yeoman) & third Wednesday of each month at 2pm (St Thomas’ Church) 02/03/11 Coffee Morning at The Wiltshire Yeoman 16/03/11 St. Thomas’s Church Hall - Speaker

Mr Keith Hickett - The Big Boys 06/04/11 Coffee Morning at The Wiltshire Yeoman 20/04/11 St. Thomas’s Church Hall - Speaker

Mrs Freda Ferne - Visit to Bhutan 04/05/11 Coffee Morning at The Wiltshire Yeoman 18/05/11 Coach Trip (TBA)

Wadebridge Mr G Williams Chairman 01208 814590 Various venues First Friday in month

Warminster Ted Bryant Secretary 01985 218289 Warminster Town Football Club, 73 Weymouth Street, Warminster First Monday of each month at 2pm, second Monday if Bank Holiday 07/03/11 Brunel’s Bridges and Tunnels - Ted

Johnson 04/04/11 Life in the Trenches - Steve Williams 09/05/11 Speaker from Wiltshire Air

Ambulance

Weymouth Derek Green Secretary 01305 771290 derekjgreen@btinternet.com St. Nicholas Church, Buxton Road, Weymouth Second Thursday of each month at 2.30pm

Yate & District Donald Kirkham VICE CHAIRMAN 01454 317242 Yate Parish Hall, Station Road Fourth Tuesday of each month at 2pm

LONDON & SOUTH EAST ENGLAND Ashford (Kent) Sandra Price Secretary 01233 331898 rogerprice44@btopenworld.com Baptist Church, Station Road, Ashford Last Thursday of each month at 10am - 12 noon 31/03/11 My Dramatic Life - Rob Masters 28/04/11 The Work of the Kent Air

Ambulance Trust 26/05/11 My Magic Life - Clyde Clayton

Banstead & District

Tony Martin Treasurer 01823 662879 Northfield Centre, Lodge Close, Wellington Third Tuesday every month at 10.15am

Miss Marion Pevy Secretary/Treasurer 01737 812129 Banstead Methodist Church Hall, The Drive Last Tuesday of each month at 10.30am - 12 noon 29/03/11 Coffee Morning 26/04/11 Coffee Morning 24/05/11 Coffee Morning

Somerton

Westbury (Wiltshire) Ken Holloway Chairman 01373 864049 kenmoholloway@metronet.co.uk Paragon Hall, Haynes Road, Westbury Third Monday of each month at 1.45pm for 2.00pm 16/03/11 Outing to Kingston Lacy House 21/03/11 Meeting. Ann Orr, National Legal

Services 18/04/11 Meeting (TBC) 20/04/11 Outing - City and Village Tour

- Faith, Hope and Charity -

Bloomsbury 16/05/11 Meeting (TBC) 18/05/11 Outing - Poole, Boat Trip around

Brownsea Island or Harbour

Mike Fitzpatrick Acting Secretary 01822 890799 mikeandkate3@talktalk.net Club Room, The Cornish Arms, West Street, Tavistock Second Thursday of the month at 12.30pm 10/03/11 AGM 23/04/11 St. George’s Day Lunch

Alan Jackson Chairman 01275 858766 jackson-a21@sky.com Friends Meeting House, corner of High Street/ Oxford Street, Weston-Super-Mare First and third Thursday of the month at 10am (for coffee mornings, other events listed below) 08/03/11 Coach Outing to Oxford and WI Tea 12/04/11 Coach Outing to Gloucester and

Docks 10/05/11 Coach Outing to Bishops Lydiard

(train trip) and Minehead

Wellington (Somerset)

Colin Mclntyre Secretary 01458 223953 The Two Brewers, Leigh Road, Street Third Tuesday of the month at 11.30am

Tamar/Tavy (Tavistock)

Weston-Super-Mare

Beckenham Eileen Morgan Chairman 020 8650 8784 Beckenham Public Hall, 4 Bromley Road, Beckenham First Tuesday of each month at 2pm

Bexleyheath Brian Coles Secretary 020 8310 1552 St. Andrews Church Hall, Brampton Road, Bexleyheath First three Wednesdays in every month at 1.30pm

www.crsf.org.uk SPRING 2011

59

group info Camberley Jenny Ingoe Records Secretary 01483 558152 jenny954@btinternet.com High Cross Church, Knoll Road, Camberley Fourth Tuesday of each month at 2pm 22/03/11 AGM 26/04/11 No meeting 24/05/11 Speaker

Edgware & Stanmore Ray Broom Secretary 020 8427 8659 St. Lawrence’s Church Hall, Whitchurch Lane, Edgware Second Monday of each month at 2pm 14/03/11 Our Hats - talk by John & Juliet Winkel 11/04/11 Orkney Islands - a talk with slides by

Ivan French 09/05/11 My Life as a Fleet Street Photo

Journalist - a talk by Dennis Hart

Enfield Colin Cutler Chairman 020 8363 8379 St. Andrew’s Church Hall, Silver Street, Enfield First Monday of the month at 10am (unless a Bank Holiday when it will be the second Monday) 07/03/11 Madeira - the Country and the

Gardens - Film 04/04/11 Memory Teasers - Presentation 09/05/11 Funny Girls - illustrated talk on

British Comediennes 30s - 60s

Farnham Barbara Martin Social Secretary 01252 793357 United Reformed Church, South Street, Farnham Fourth Thursday of each month at 10.15am

Hounslow Roy Woods Chairman 020 8230 5533 Montague Hall, 30 Montague Road, Hounslow Second Tuesday of each month 1.30-4.00pm 08/03/11 AGM 12/04/11 Wartime Memories of the 1940s -

Jane Short and Johanna Coombes 10/05/11 The Fire and Great Plague of

London - Tom Edbrooke (talk with slides)

Kenton (Middlesex) Daphne Radford Secretary 020 8908 4099 dmradford@btinternet.com St. Anselm’s Church Hall, Uppingham Avenue, Stanmore Third Wednesday of the month at 2pm 16/03/11 History of the Women’s Land Army 20/04/11 Jean Cooper, Chief Executive, CSRF 18/05/11 Donkey Sanctuary

Kingston & District John Hobday Secretary 020 8546 5214 Kingston Methodist Church Hall, Avenue Road, Fairfield South, Kingston Third Tuesday of each month at 2pm. For outings programme contact the Secretary.

01/03/11 Lunch at Tony Roma’s at The

Rotunda (opposite Kingston Railway

Station) 15/03/11 Meeting. Clarus return to show

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SPRING 2011 www.crsf.org.uk

5/04/11

19/04/11

27/04/11 17/05/11 25/05/11

an audio/visual story of the Graf Zeppelin and other short presentations.

Pub Lunch at The Royal Oak, New Malden (bus 213 passes) Meeting. Burial Grounds of London - Mr L Grout (talk with slides) Coach Outing Meeting. Figure Fun - Mrs B James Coach Outing

London - Dulwich & Norwood Victor Johnston Acting Secretary 020 8653 2946 victor@jmail.co.uk Railway Club, Selhurst Station Approach Fourth Tuesday of each month at 10.30am 22/03/11 AGM 26/04/11 Coffee Morning 24/05/11 Bingo

Leatherhead

London - Edmonton

Anne Thomson Secretary 01372 373258 anner. thomson@talktalk.net John Rumble Hall, Fetcham Village Hall, The Street, Fetcham First Friday of each month at 10am (except Mar) 04/03/11 Lunch at Bookham Grange Hotel (in

place of cancelled Christmas Lunch) 01/04/11 AGM and Bring & Buy Stall 06/05/11 Memories of Life in Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing

Corps - talk by Liz Viner

Mrs Sheila Lamonte Chairperson 020 8886 7873 St. Aldhelms Church Hall, Windmill Road, London N18 Third Monday of each month from 10am - 12 noon 21/03/11 Songs and Memories by Simon

Gilburt 18/04/11 U3A Singing for Fun (and us) 16/05/11 Plant and Bring & Buy Sale

London - Abbey Wood SE1,SE2,SE7,SE10,SE18 Miss Ivy Burns Secretary 020 8310 1268 Abbey Wood Community Centre, Knee Hill, Abbey Wood First & third Thursday of each month at 1.15 3.15pm 03/03/11 Entertainment (TBC) 17/03/11 Bingo 07/04/11 Quiz 21/04/11 Hot Cross Buns 05/05/11 Handbells - talk by Sandra Winter 19/05/11 TBA

London - Catford & Lewisham Peter Maple Secretary 020 8699 2002 St. Laurence Church Hall, Bromley Road, Catford Second Tuesday of the month at 10am 08/03/11 Coffee Morning and Speaker 12/04/11 Coffee Morning and Activity (TBA) 10/05/11 Coffee Morning and Speaker

London - Central London EC1, EC2, WC1, WC2 & W1 Mr D O’Callaghan Secretary 020 7373 3756 Civil Service Club, 13-15 Great Scotland Yard, London Second Wednesday of each month at 2pm

London - Chiswick W4, W6 & W12 Helen Barron Chairman 020 8748 2486 Scouthaven, Wilson Walk (passage between Stamford Brook Underground Station and Prebend Gardens) Fourth Friday of each month at 2pm

London - Clapham SW4 & SW11 Miss M Farley Secretary 020 8870 7361 Staff Restaurant 4th Floor, PCS Headquarters, 160 Falcon Road, Clapham Junction First Thursday of each month at 10.15am

London - Eltham Phyllis Duignan Chair 020 8265 0810 United Reformed Church,Sherard Hall, Court Road, Eltham Fourth Thursday of each month at 10am - 12 noon 10/03/11 Coach Outing to Pole Hill 17/03/11 Outing to Bromley Theatre to see

Swan Lake on Ice 24/03/11 Coffee Morning followed by talk -

Wicked Women 21/04/11 Coach Outing to Biddenden

Vineyard (guided tour and lunch) 28/04/11 Coffee Morning followed by talk -

Hop Pickers Revisited 19/05/11 Coach Outing to Secret Garden of

Sandwich with tour, tea and cake 26/05/11 Coffee Morning followed by talk -

The Crystal Palace Tragic Happenings

London - Fulham SW5, SW6 & SW10 Mrs Grace Phillipson Chairman Waterford House, Waterford Road, Fulham First Wednesday of the month at 10.15am.

Please contact Fellowship Office (020 8691 7411) for further details.

London - Harrow Road W2, W9 & W10 Mr D O’Callaghan Secretary 020 7373 3756 Moberley Education & Sports Centre, Kilburn Lane, London Second Tuesday of each month at 10am

London - Hendon Harry Hunt Secretary 020 8202 7647 gracefoxtrot@hotmail.com Various venues each month for lunch - phone Secretary for details First Thursday of every month at 12.30pm

London - Kensington W8, W11 & W14 Mr D O’Callaghan Chairman 020 7373 3756 Crypt of the Church of Our Lady of Victories,

Kensington High Street, London W8 Third Tuesday of each month at 10.30am 19/04/11 Easter Coffee Morning and Get Together

London - North Alice Fox Social Secretary 020 7359 2469 Bennett Court Social Room, Salterton Road, London Every alternate Tuesday from 24 May onwards at 12 noon

London - Southbank SE17 Joy Creamer Chairperson 020 7407 2332 Penrose Tenants Hall, Penrose Estate, Walworth Second Wednesday of each month at 10am

London - Stockwell SW8 & SW9 Mr D Stannard Secretary 020 7720 0982 Job Centre Plus Offices, 246 Stockwell Road, Brixton Fourth Thursday of each month at 2pm

London - Streatham & Norbury - SW16 Mrs J E Winter Secretary 020 8764 6450 The Glebe Sheltered Housing Complex, Prentis Road, Streatham SW16 1QR Second Tuesday of each month at 2pm 08/03/11 Violetta Szabo GC, Wartime Heroine

and Secret Agent - talk by Daphne Marchant 12/04/11 Produce and Plant Mini Market.

Please bring something to sell to

swell the funds (foods should not

be past their sell by dates) 10/05/11 America: West Coast and National

Parks (eg Yellowstone and Grand

Canyon) - talk by Sue Henning

Maidstone Keith Hunter Chairman/Secretary 01622 746792 Methodist Church Centre, Brewer Street, Maidstone Second Monday of the month at 2pm 14/03/11 Spring Fayre, Quiz and Raffle 11/04/11 Young at Heart (Entertainment)

followed by Cream Tea 09/05/11 Old Maidstone Transport - Andrew Clarke

North/South Harrow Mrs Margaret Pickard Secretary 020 8866 5708 ja.pickard@btinternet.com St. John Ambulance HQ, end of Public Car Park in Pinner Road, North Harrow Last Tuesday of the month at 2pm 29/03/11 City Traditions including the Lord

Mayor’s Show - Miss Muriel Jones

(talk with slides) 26/04/11 Further Tales of a Fleet Street

Photographer - Mr D Hart 31/05/11 The History of Pears Soap - Miss

Andrea Cameron (talk with slides)

Orpington Sid Towner Chairman 01689 838567 The Memorial Hall, Methodist Church, Sevenoaks Road, Orpington Second Friday in the month at 1.45pm

Romney Marsh Mrs Win Owen Chairperson 01797 362598 winefrideowen@aol.com The Assembly Rooms, Church Approach, New Romney Second Wednesday of each month at 10am (except May) 09/03/11 Introduction to Wood Turning - Bob Cooper 13/04/11 Round the World on a Double

Decker Bus - Richard King 18/05/11 Outing - Kentish Lady River Trip

Sanderstead & Selsdon Ralph Perryman Secretary 020 8657 3487 Selsdon Centre for the Retired, 132 Addington Road, Selsdon, South Croydon Second Thursday of the month at 2.30pm 10/03/11 Common Birds of Parks,

Gardens and Woodlands - John Becklam 14/04/11 Croydon Trading Services on

Consumer Protection 15/05/11 TBA

South East Middlesex Mrs June Brown Secretary 020 8891 4680 junebrownuk@hotmail.com Various venues Various dates and times 09/03/11 AGM in All Hallows Church Hall,

GRATEFUL THANKS TO ALL who contributed to the planner section. Apologies if your entry is edited, but occasionally due to space restrictions we will edit comments and give priority to contact details and forthcoming activities, dates and events that are planned.

Deadline for contributions to the SUMMER 2011 planner is 29 APRIL 2011. Please note this planner will run from 1 June – 31 August so please make sure you include as full a listing as possible. Your submission can be sent

Erncroft Way, Twickenham at 2.30pm 05/04/11 Outing to Denbies Vineyard,

Dorking (coach and tour) 12/05/11 The Busbridge Lakes and

Winkworth Arboretum in Surrey

(coach and tour)

Staines Dorothy Dib Secretary 01784 441990 Various restaurants for lunch Third Tuesday of each month

Sutton Peter Hodson Chairman 020 8643 5402 Friends Meeting House, 10 Cedar Road, Sutton Monday afternoons 2.00 - 3.45pm 14/03/11 Informal Lunch (venue TBA) 28/03/11 Life as a Butcher - talk by Keith Weston 18/04/11 Beekeeping - talk by Mollie Bonard 28/04/11 Outing to the Royal Albert Hall

(date TBC) 18/05/11 Tea at a London Hotel (venue and

date TBC) 23/05/11 Johnathan Jones talks about his role

as the Farnham Town Crier

West Wickham & Hayes Mrs Beryl Talbot Chairman 020 8325 3063 The Griffith Jones Room, Emmanuel Church, The Grove, West Wickham First Wednesday in the month at 2.30pm

Worcester Park Peter Tharby Chairman 020 8337 7423 petertharby@blueyonder.co.uk Old Malden Scout Hall, 411 Malden Road, Worcester Park First Monday each month at 2.00-4.00pm (If Bank Holiday, then second Monday) 07/03/11 “Ooh Aah Cantona!” and other

Policing Memories - a talk by

George Crawford followed by the AGM 04/04/11 Things you don’t know - a talk by

Roger Keep 09/05/11 Amazing Ancestors - a talk by Jean

Vesey

by post (please send your entry well before the deadline as the post can at times be unreliable) or by email to Belinda.stalker@csrf.org.uk DON’T FORGET – ALL groups are now entitled to a FULL listing in the planner, so please do not forget to send us your full activities calendar.

If your group would like to contribute to a future issue, or you want any advice or guidance, call Belinda Stalker on 020 8691 7411 or Belinda.stalker@csrf.org.uk www.crsf.org.uk SPRING 2011

61

the last word

My

favourite things…

What are the things that matter to you? We launch this brand new section to the magazine by talking to best selling author Gervase Phinn…

1

Painting

This has to be a watercolour by my son. Matthew is a professional artist and for my birthday painted for me a most beautiful view of the Yorkshire Dales which has pride of place on my wall. I love the soft colours, the sweeping Dale, the distant purple peaks shrouded in a fleecy mist, the old stone barn and the dry-stone walls criss- crossing the fields. Along with seven of his other paintings of Yorkshire, it is in my Dalesman book Gervase Phinn’s Yorkshire Journey.

2

Novel

The Warden by Anthony Trollope. This is a masterpiece: superbly structured and containing the most wonderful, colourful characters.

No novelist surpasses Trollope in the command of dialogue. The scene where the unctuous Mr Slope is dismissed as the Bishop’s chaplain in the presence of the haughty and insufferable Mrs Proudie, the Bishop’s virago of a wife, is hilarious theatre. Beautifully crafted and descriptive, it is a novel which rivals those of Dickens.

3

Piece of Music

Panis Angelicus sung by the choirboys of Ampleforth Abbey in North Yorkshire. My brother Michael, who has a fine tenor voice would sing this in church and make my mother weep. The two small boys at Ampleforth sound like angels.

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SPRING 2011 www.crsf.org.uk

4

Film

Cromwell starring Richard Harris as the protector and Robert Morley as the Duke of Manchester. Alec Guinness as Charles 1 steals the film with his unnerving portrayal of the doomed monarch.

5

Quotation Am I allowed two?

“In youth, the days are short and the years are long. In old age the years are short and the days long.”

Pope Paul VI’s words are now largely forgotten but he had some telling things to say.

“In forty years we will have thousands of old ladies called Chardonnay walking around with tattoos.”

I don’t know where this comes from but it makes me smile.

6

Colour

Although the red rose is the colour of the folk over the Pennines, I love the colour red. It is bright, cheerful and stands out. I bought my wife Christine some scarlet silk underwear for her 50th birthday. I thought it was a romantic

gesture. My four grown-up children turned the colour of the items and my motherin-law, at 86, remarked as she cast an eye on the present, ‘Put them away Christine. Your father went through that stage.’

7

Historical Figure (living or dead)

8

Flower

The stoical, betrayed and cruelly-treated Katharine of Aragon. A wonderfully brave, resourceful, stubborn and devout woman who deserved better

The White Rose (need you ask?)

We are delighted to announce that Gervase Phinn will be joining us as guest speaker at this year’s AGM & Conference in August.You can read a review of his latest book in our new leisure section starting on page 28

talk tous Would you like to nominate somebody to appear in the next ‘My Favourite Things’? Send your recommendation to the Editor at the Fellowship Office address at the front of the magazine.