Avanti Spring 2012

THE MAGAZINE FOR MEMBERS OF THE CIVIL SERVICE RETIREMENT FELLOWSHIP SPRING 2012 www.csrf.org.uk

MAGAZINE

CODE

BREAKER

Celebrating Turing’s legacy

AT THE GUILDHALL Inside the Supreme Court

ACTIVE AGEING 2012

EU Commissioner László Andor on plans for the year ahead Plus &A

special V ecil C Offer for bilee ju Beaton ibition h ex

HAPPY & GLORIOUS Celebrating 60 years of HM The Queen

D I A M O N D

J U B I L E E

S P E C I A L

I S S U E

PLUS: Royal Gardens • Romania • Books • Films • Puzzles • CSRF 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

David at the 2011 Communities First Conference in Cardiff with Board Director Sylvia Edgell 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

Editor’s Letter Did I really just blink and miss January? They say time flies when you’re having fun and that’s certainly the case for me as it’s been great to hear from so many of you since the last issue. Your input really helps the team when we consider future editorial themes so keep it coming!

As you will see from the front cover, this is a special edition to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee and we have a number of articles that are our acknowledgment to the tremendous warmth and affection felt by many towards Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

THE CIVIL SERVICE INSURANCE SOCIETY CHARITY FUND

Another activity taking place this year is the European Year of Active Ageing and Solidarity across generations. This will be marked with all sorts of events taking place across Europe. EU Commissioner Laszlo Andor, Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion found time to talk to us more about the plans for the year, so be sure to read his interview on page 28.

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

I hope you enjoy this issue. Don’t forget to continue to spread the word about all the great work going on at the CSRF and help us to recruit as many new members as we can.

Contents 4-8, 13 Front Desk

Publisher: Gaynor Garton e: gaynor@square7media.co.uk Advertising: e: adsales@square7media.co.uk Editor: David Tickner e: avanti@square7media.co.uk Contact the Editor By mail: Write to the Fellowship Office address above Email: avanti@square7media.co.uk Tel: 020 8691 7411 Designer: Charlotte Morgan Cover Image: Cecil Beaton, Queen Elizabeth II in Coronation Robes, 1953 © V&A images. The V&A Cecil Beaton exhibition celebrating 60 years of HM The Queen is at the V&A until 22.04.12. For more information visit www.vam.ac.uk ©2012. 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.

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

11 Forward Thinking

Tony Hazeldine CBE, Chair of the Board of Directors working group on Governance outlines the group’s views on the importance of the Fellowship’s evolution.

15 Happy and Glorious

To celebrate the Diamond Jubilee, Paul Allen looks back at the 60 year reign of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

21 Royal Memories

CSRF members share their stories and experiences.

24 A guide to Royal Gardens

Martin Sayers looks at some of the amazing Royal parks and gardens around the country.

28 Celebrating Age

EU Commissioner László Andor, Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion talks about the plans for the European Year for Active Ageing.

30 Supreme Justice

We’re shown round the UK Supreme Court by its Chief Executive, Jenny Rowe.

32 The Romanian Trio

Western Romania is just a small part of the many attractions the country has to offer to travellers.

36 True Genius

15

Stephen DavyOsborne explores the lasting legacy of Alan Turing and why we should all celebrate his centenary year.

39 Leisure Life

The latest book , film and DVD reviews.

36

43 Coffee Time

Fun titbits, trivia and the ever-popular prize crossword!

46 Postbag

Your letters and views.

49 M ember Offers

Enjoy the benefits of some great money off discounts and offers.

24

50 Group Focus

Group reports and news from around the country.

54-61 The Planner

Find out what your local group is up to.

62 My Favourite Things With television and stage actress Ann Emery.

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front desk The latest news from Fellowship Office

from the chief executive Words by Jean Cooper

Dear Friend, The year has already got off to a flying start as I’ve been out and about continuing my meetings with civil service departments.

These form part of our core strategy that is focused on recruiting new members and volunteers. The initiatives that are being developed from this strategy represent a very positive step forwards on how we are able to engage with serving Civil Servants.

Our Chairman John Barker and I were delighted to welcome the new Head of the Home Civil Service, Sir Bob Kerslake, as our Honorary President. I am looking forward to working with him to help keep our messages to the fore within departments.

Recruitment is of paramount importance this year so I would encourage all of you to do what you can to help us to recruit.

We will be advising all of our social groups shortly on how they can support the national push to drive membership up on a local level. But if any of you have any ideas that you feel might help us to engage more members then please send them in – it is in all of our best interests to continue to welcome new blood into the Fellowship!

Our new member initiative, the Phone Buddy scheme, has received a very positive response from members and we have already had a number of registrations of

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Jean Cooper with Bronwyn Hill CBE, Permanent Secretary, DEFRA

interest from those wishing to participate.

You can still get involved; have a look at the update on the opposite page which tells you how.

This issue is a Diamond Jubilee edition and I was very interested to see all the Royal features inside, in particular it was a pleasure to read about all your experiences and fond memories of The Queen. I would also draw your attention to the fascinating feature on the history of the Supreme Court building and extend a personal thanks to their Chief Executive Jenny Rowe who has kindly offered a special member discount for tours.

I hope you enjoy the issue and once again a big thank you to our publishers Square7 for another engaging edition!

Life Member

Appeal Update Your support of this fundraising appeal last year has made a huge difference to what we are able to do this year. We have been able to launch a couple of brand new member services (a Computer and I.T.advice helpline and the Phone Buddy scheme) thanks to the money raised.

You can still make a donation by sending your cheque (made payable to ‘The CSRF’) to Member Appeal, The Civil Service Retirement Fellowship, FREEPOST SE4414, London SE10 8BP. Or alternatively you can make a donation online at www.csrf.org. uk or by text to CSRF01 (along with the amount you wish to donate – e.g. £10) to 70070. All donations are extremely appreciated and every little bit really does help. the grant in aid support but also to recruit new supporters and volunteers.

We had a terrific response to our recent Life Member appeal to boost funds. A big thank you to everyone who has so generously donated and to those who intend to contribute through a donation or legacy gift in the future. This fundraising has helped launch the new Phone Buddy scheme and the IT support member service. As a result of cost savings elsewhere, this year 134 groups who applied for social room hire funding received 79% of their request. It is our aim to achieve 100% fulfilment for 2013.

We carry advertising and inserts each issue to help fund the publishing costs so please do consider responding to the adverts if relevant, and please mention avanti where possible.

If you haven’t visited your local group recently, why not give it a try. If you can’t because of difficulties travelling to a group venue, do get in touch with either the group contact shown in the Planner section or Fellowship Office for a confidential chat about your circumstances, help might be available.

As you will see in our “round up of activities” the team here at Fellowship Office has been extremely busy, with 2012 seeing a huge push to raise funds, not only to compensate for the further reduction of

The future of the CSRF is in OUR hands; we all have a contribution to make whether as a dedicated volunteer or staff member, all of you have a role to play in shaping the future of this fantastic charity.

Yours in friendship and fellowship,

Appointments

Welcome to our new CSRF President

NEW member service: Computer & IT Advice Thanks to the generous donations we received in last year’s Life Member Appeal we have been able to add a brand new member benefit to the list of services we offer. Computer support and advice was rated as one of the top member benefits you’d like to see launched in our last members survey.

So we are delighted to announce the launch of a brand new member service with immediate effect.

BC Technologies will be providing Internet & Technology advice to CSRF

Members and will be on hand to assist with any enquiry you may have.

The service is completely FREE and easily accessible via email or by telephone.

You can contact the Internet & Technology advice line by phone on 01369 706656 (telephone lines operate from 9am-5pm, MonFri only) or by email to: csrf@bc-group.co.uk

Need a Buddy,

Be a Buddy Since we highlighted this new member initiative in the last issue of the magazine we’ve had many enquiries from you about how to get involved. Those of you who have already expressed an interest will have been contacted with full details of how to apply to participate don’t worry it’s not too late to get involved!

Whatever your age you can sign up to either make or receive a call – all details will be treated in the strictest

confidence. So let us help each other to beat social isolation and take the first step by signing up.

To register your interest (or want to learn more) in being either a volunteer phone buddy, a recipient of a call or both contact Hannah Evans on 020 8469 9192 or email: info@csrf.org.uk with ‘Phone Buddy’ in the subject line or fill out the interest form on the CSRF website, www.csrf.org.uk

With Sir Gus O’Donnell retiring from his role as Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Home Civil Service in December, we are pleased to welcome Sir Bob Kerslake who is the new Head of the Home Civil Service as our new Honorary President.

Sir Bob was appointed Permanent Secretary at the Department for Communities and Local Government in 2010, and took up the post on 1 November 2010. He was formerly the first Chief Executive of the Homes and Communities Agency, and began in post as Chief Executive Designate from 31 March 2008. From 1997 to 2008 he was Chief Executive of Sheffield City Council.

Before that he was with the London Borough of Hounslow initially in the post of Director of Finance and then for seven years as Chief Executive. He has also held posts with the Greater London Council and Inner London Education Authority.

Sir Bob is positive about his new role, “I am looking forward to assisting the Fellowship in providing the best possible support they can to Civil Servants across government.”

New Year’s Honours Congratulations to:

Alex Allan, one of our newly elected honorary Vice Presidents and retired Champion receiving a Knighthood (KCB) in the New Year’s honours list.

Beverley Allen, our former Northern Ireland development officer who received an MBE for her charity work in the community.

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news

E-Newsletter If you have access to a computer then why not sign up to receive our regular e-newsletter, which is full of the latest news from headquarters and our national group network. It’s easy to do – just visit the home page of our website at www.csrf.org.uk and enter your email address in the box marked ‘Email sign up’.

Once you’ve clicked to confirm you will see a confirmation message on screen that says ‘you have successfully signed up for the newsletter’ and then each time we send out an e-newsletter you will receive it in your email inbox.

If you experience any problems trying to sign up then contact Belinda Stalker on 020 8469 9194 or email: belinda.stalker@csrf.org.uk

Beware Romance Fraud We are pleased to be co-operating with The Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) to help to combat Romance Fraud. Romance fraudsters target people who use Internet dating, social websites and newspaper personal columns. By feigning romantic

interest they first secure their victim’s trust then go on to exploit the relationship by stealing personal information and money.

Romance fraud can appear highly plausible and SOCA has produced some useful dos and don’ts to help you avoid being scammed:

• DON’T send any money,

• DO conduct your online chats

no matter how persuasive the story is

within the dating website’s monitored area.

• DON’T give out personal or • DO resist pressure to move financial details as fraudsters may use these to steal your identity.

• DON’T let your own bank

account be used by someone else to deposit or transfer money. They could use your account for money laundering

quickly from a chatroom to personal email.

• DO be suspicious if you are asked for money

• DO report any suspicions to the dating website

SOCA advise anybody who has received any correspondence that they feel may be suspicious to contact Action Fraud at www.ActionFraud.org.uk or call 0300 123 2040

The 2011 Civil Service Awards Chief Executive Jean Cooper and National Chairman John Barker joined guests from across government at the 2011 Civil Service Awards (held in the splendid setting of Lancaster House) in November last year as part of the CSRF support of the new Volunteering Award.

The award recognises individuals or teams that have taken part in social action and volunteering and was won by Alison Naftalin for her voluntary work with Lively Minds, an overseas development charity that she set up herself (you can see our interview with Alison earlier). She was presented with her award by Sir Gus

O’Donnell.

This annual event (organised

by DODS), hosted by BBC presenter Jon Sopel and Siobhan Benita, Deputy Director (Development Delivery, Corporate Development Directorate) at the Department of Health, is now in its 6th year and provides a very important © Paul Heartfield opportunity to acknowledge the achievements of all those who Sir Gus on stage to add his note of thanks work within the Civil Service. The evening to the Civil Service for their support and also had a surprise special guest in the assistance over the past 18 months since he form of the Prime Minister who joined took office.

Communities First Conference, Cardiff The CSRF joined a wide range of community organisations and charities last November at the annual conference for Communities First. Board Director Sylvia Edgell joined avanti Editor David Tickner and Chief Executive Jean Cooper to man the Fellowship’s stand and

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promote our work to delegates. It was a worthwhile opportunity to build and strengthen the presence of the Fellowship in Wales. If any CSRF members would be interested in attending the 2012 event then please contact Fellowship Office to register your interest.

Pig Tales!

Our stress piggies continue to capture the hearts and minds of all those who encounter them. Since our last issue they’ve been spotted from Cambodia to New York and have even managed to pay a visit to Number 10.

Your Gift Is

Important It’s a common myth that only the rich and famous leave money to charity when they die. This couldn’t be any further from the truth. The reality is that without the gifts left in Wills, many charities would struggle.

Charitable legacies are the foundation for many good causes and are vital in helping them to continue their work.

74% of the UK population support charities and when asked, 35% of people say they’d happily leave a gift in their Will once family and friends had been provided for. The problem is only 7% actually do.

That’s why, if we all leave some money in our Wills for charity as well as our family, we can make a huge difference. In fact, just a 4% change in behaviour would generate an additional £1 billion for good causes in the UK every year.

So remember, you don’t have to be rich and famous to make a contribution; your consideration when writing a Will can help make a positive difference.

If you’d like to find out more about leaving a legacy or writing a Will then contact Fellowship Office to request our free information sheet on legacies or you can download it direct from the members’ area on the CSRF website

Preah Ko Pig ia) (Cambod

Broadwa y Pig

public Pig e R n a ic Domin

Prime Ministerial Pig

Member Pig – joining the CSRF You can help us raise funds and receive one of our pigs! All you need to do is make a minimum donation of £5 to the CSRF and we will send you a pig of your very own! Send your cheque made payable to ‘The CSRF’ to ‘Pig Tales Donation, The CSRF, Suite 2, 80a Blackheath Road, London SE10 8DA or you can donate online at www.csrf.org.uk

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Member Activities

The Book Club We all enjoy literature and reading so we are pleased to announce a brand new member initiative which we are launching with the NHSRF. The Book Club is designed to give you an opportunity to share your views and opinions on your favourite books. It will also offer you the chance to purchase a different book each month (with a special member discount), read it and then post your reviews directly on to our special Book Club website.

Also online there will be special member offers and discounts, news of literary events around the country along with other recommended books for you to consider.

Access to the club is free for all full members of both the CSRF and the NHSRF. If you don’t have access to the internet, advice and tips on how to set up your own local book club are available on request, as well.

The Book Club is an excellent way of interacting with other members and furthering your knowledge and reading in retirement.

contact us To register your interest in either the book club, golf or photography competitions send your details (name, address and telephone

number) to: CSRF/Special Interest, The CSRF, Suite 2, 80A Blackheath Road, London SE10 8DA or to: info@csrf.org.uk.

Photography Competition To celebrate the EU Year of Active Ageing we are running a photo competition with our friends at the NHSRF. It’s free to enter for any CSRF or NHSRF member. The theme is ‘active ageing’ and all entrants can submit up to four pictures. The competition closes at midnight on 30 May 2012.

Whatever your handicap why not participate in the inaugural Seniors’ Golf Tour that is taking place over the summer.

The tour is open to any member of either the CSRF or the NHSRF and costs £25 to sign up. Prizes will be awarded to Individual and Team champions, Longest drive & Nearest the Line.

Alternatively you can fill out the relevent interest form online in the members’ area of the CSRF website, www.csrf.org.uk

FELLOWSHIP DAY / EU YEAR Consider the Animals OF ACTIVE AGEING We’ve been contacted by a member who has asked us to raise awareness about the practice of having pictures taken with animals when on holiday. Their experiences were in Mexico where they observed a young tiger cub, lion cub and spider monkey being carried around for tourists to have their photos taken with them for a fee. The animals were shaking, clearly sedated and evidently distressed.

The Born Free Foundation has campaigned to raise awareness of this problem and to encourage tourists not to fall victim to it.

So if you are approached then help the stamp out this cruel practice by politely declining and get in touch with the Foundation!

For more information on the work of the Born Free Foundation call 01403 240170 or visit www.bornfree.org.uk

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As many of you will be aware the 9 April is Fellowship Day – the day that we celebrate the anniversary of the official formation of the Fellowship that took place on 9 April 1968. Many of our groups and branches around the country mark this occasion with special events and it is a perfect opportunity for you to get involved. So why not visit your local group and join in the celebrations. You can find your local group by referring to the Planner section towards the back of the magazine or by typing your postcode into the group finder box on the home page of the website, www.csrf.org.uk

2012 is also the European Year of Active Ageing, an initiative running across Europe to emphasise that we are living longer and enjoying healthier lifestyles.

It also aims to show that tomorrow’s older generation can continue to play an active part in society and keep living as healthy and fulfilling lives as possible.

We would encourage all members to support the initiative through promoting the message, and where possible by raising vital funds for the Fellowship.

So if you have any ideas then please contact your local group representative or Fellowship Office to discuss further.

news

forward thinking

for future growth. As yet the Board is not advocating this approach but we may well be forced into it.

Ensuring the operational structure of the Fellowship evolves is as important as member recruitment. The first steps have already been taken to look at a more streamlined group and branch structure. As many of our groups now operate independently the need and importance of branches has been considerably reduced. By simplifying this Tony Hazeldine CBE, Chair of the Board of Directors’ we not only make the processes a lot Working Group on Governance outlines the group’s simpler but are also able to ensure that our views on the importance of the Fellowship’s evolution… administrative costs are reduced as well. We recognise that more work needs to be done on this. structure of the Fellowship.

Some were clearly It was Albert Einstein who was quoted as We see our future as a three-tier happy with maintaining the status quo saying, “Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep organisation: the first is made up of those but we believe that we do not have that your balance you must keep moving”. I use luxury if we are to make sure the organisation members who are active – these are the this quotation to highlight the challenges people who help run our social groups, is ready for its post grant-in-aid existence. faced by the Trustees of any charitable volunteer as visitors and attend or participate The Fellowship needs to continue organisation when it comes to preparing for in group activities. The second includes those the future. Our progress into the future must to provide the Civil Service with an members who may not wish to engage with organisation which will support retiring come through evolution. us beyond paying an annual membership. staff in their transition into retirement; to Each year we lose a percentage of our These members know where we are and are give opportunities to retired civil servants membership through natural causes such as aware that they can call upon us when and if death and illness. This is to be expected given to enrich themselves and others during the they need our support and will be kept in the age of our members, many of whom have next stage in their lives and achieve to a far touch via avanti. The third is those members been life members of the organisation for 30 greater extent than hitherto the objectives who may feel isolated and/or are infirm or to 40 years. But the challenge facing us is how of our Founding Fathers - to relieve through housebound and need our help and support in friendship and support the suffering, to replace these members with the ‘next providing companionship and social generation’ of supporters. Although no more hardship, distress and problems associated interaction. All these tiers are of equal “We cannot afford to stand still and I’m sure that many of our long importance and show that as an organisation serving volunteers who have dedicated so much of their time and we are able to tailor our support and work to match any member’s requirements. support into ‘working’ for the Fellowship will recognise this..”

We cannot afford to stand still and I’m sure that many of our long serving volunteers who have dedicated so much of their time and with old age among its beneficiaries. important than the existing membership support into ‘working’ for the Fellowship will We also need to target both serving it is this new wave of supporters who will recognise this and are aware of the dangers and retired civil servants as potential new safeguard all of our good work in the future. that come from just standing still. members. With over half a million civil What makes this scenario all the more This article is the first of a number the Board servants out there we should have no important is that after 2015, when we no will be writing to help focus our thoughts on longer receive any grant-in-aid, membership barriers to prevent us engaging with them how we can look towards reconstruction as an and enlisting their support in volunteering, fees will become an essential revenue organisation. But we believe that if we are to fundraising or just signing up as a member. stream. It is this revenue stream which be forward looking and progressive and ready The introduction of a new membership will determine the success or failure of our category such as ‘Associate member’ so that to meet the demands of future members then financial objectives as a charity. the first steps towards evolution have to be our ‘Friends’ can become full members or Whilst the main priority for the future will be about increasing membership numbers and even by opening the door to all public sector taken now. There is no tomorrow, only today! retirees would make a significant difference raising money, we are also already looking to the many member recruitment initiatives at the expenditure of the organisation. being undertaken at present.

Fellowship Office has taken the lead by We would like to highlight here what is rationalising working procedures and cutting happening to other Civil Service organisations out unnecessary process with the effect of such as Benenden and the Civil Service Sports being able to release two staff members.

All views are welcome, you can Council which are moving towards widening At last year’s AGM and Conference the contact The Review Group, c/o their membership base to welcome retirees Board heard the views of our branch and Fellowship office using the address at from outside the Civil Service family as they group representatives expressed very the front of the magazine see how important member numbers are eloquently on our proposals for the future

talk tous

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news

Volunteering We were pleased to support the Volunteering award at the 2011 Civil Service Awards. It was the first time this category had been included in the awards and shows just how important volunteering has become within the Civil Service.

We caught up with the 2011 winner Alison Naftalin to find out more about her thoughts on volunteering: What first prompted you to get involved with volunteering?

In 2007 I spent my annual leave volunteering in a primary school in Northern Ghana.

During this time I saw many hardships affecting children living in poverty and in particular the lack of access to quality education. It was very clear to see that without adequate educational opportunities, these children fail to develop the critical thinking skills, the “lively minds” needed to innovate and find solutions to problems, which are essential if they are to break out of the cycle of poverty. I believed strongly that the best way to make a difference was to reach children at an early age, and to give them a better start in life. I wanted to find a way to give young children the opportunity to learn through playing with stimulating educational activities – activities that we in the UK take for granted and are crucial for a child’s development, but are simply unavailable in rural Africa. So I hit on the idea of setting up Play Centres, full of educational toys, where they could learn and develop crucial skills through play.

I decided to take a year’s break from the Treasury Solicitors Department to return to Ghana and later Uganda to try and turn my idea into reality. I was fortunate to find excellent local people to work with who helped me set up Play Centres in their communities. I wanted the Play Centres to be run by the communities so I trained teenagers and women from villages to run the Play Centres as volunteers. I commissioned local carpenters to make wooden games and used local materials like cardboard boxes, bottle tops and buttons to make the games. The Play Centres turned out to be extremely successful. Neighbouring villages started to

ask for Centres in their villages too. Within 1 year and for £3,000 I had set up 10 Play Centres – reaching over 1,000 children and run by over 250 volunteers. Most importantly the people that I was working with wanted to continue with the project and asked me to employ them so that they could continue the work. So I then established Lively Minds as a charity.

How difficult did you find it juggling your full time job commitments with those of your voluntary work?

I returned to the UK and started to work full time at the Ministry of Justice. I spent my weekends fundraising and speaking to my staff in Ghana and Uganda. I used my annual leave to return to Africa to check up on progress. After a year of this, it was apparent that I would need to spend more time fundraising so that we could improve upon and expand our operations. My department kindly agreed to let me work four days a week, so that I could spend one day a week working for Lively Minds. This made a big difference. Running a charity alongside a demanding government job is hard work and can be pretty exhausting, but it is definitely worth it.

What words of encouragement and advice would you offer to anybody considering volunteering?

I think that it is brilliant that the government has such a great approach

“I think that it is brilliant that the government has such a great approach to volunteering. I would definitely recommend that people take advantage of this.” to volunteering. I would definitely recommend that people take advantage of this. Knowing that you have made a direct and lasting difference to someone’s life is an amazing feeling. Besides that, my volunteering work has given me so many new skills and experiences, which have really helped me in my job. There are two pieces of advice I would give to anybody who is considering volunteering.

First, there are thousands of amazing charities out there, so take the time to find both a cause and a charity that you feel passionate about. Second, don’t underestimate yourself. No matter what your background or work involves, you will have so many transferable skills that a charity will be able to use. So try and find a volunteering position that will make the most of your time and commitment.

We need you!

Volunteers are the lifeblood of our organisation and we are always on the lookout for people to help at events or exhibitions, support us in the workplace or provide some help and assistance in our head office. If you’d like to find out more call Hannah Evans on 020 8469 9192, email: info@csrf.org.uk or visit www.csrf.org.uk

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Cecil Beaton, Princess Elizabeth at Buckingham Palace 1945 © V&A Images

happy glorious We look back at the 60 year reign of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

60 years

We look back at some of the major world events that have taken place during the reign of Queen Elizabeth II along with the Prime Ministers she’s seen come and go

Sir Anthony Eden Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill Prime Minister

1951 -1955

1953

1955 -1957

Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation

The Berlin Wall is constructed.

Harold MacMillan Prime Minister

1956 The start of the Suez Crisis: Britain and France invade Egypt.

1957 -1963

1961

1961

On board Vostok 1, Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin becomes the first person in the world to enter space and the first person to orbit the Earth.

1963 US President John F Kennedy is assassinated.

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W

hen the 25-year old Princess Elizabeth became Queen in 1952, few people could have imagined that she would still be wearing the crown over six decades later. After all, only one British monarch had ever previously celebrated a diamond jubilee: Queen Victoria. ar from favouring longevity, the position of a British monarch tends to be short-lived, often in the literal sense of the word. While the change from absolute power to a constitutional role has made life less precarious for recent heads of state (and their heads), Queen Elizabeth II has reigned over the country during a time of radical social and political change.

When The Queen was crowned in Westminster Abbey in 1953, she took on a very different realm to the one her father knew from his coronation in 1936. Eight years after the end of World War II, Britain may have been proud and victorious, but she was also a nation ravaged by the war effort and facing an immutable shift in world power towards America. The “glorious” age of empire was over. After the war, many of Britain’s most

F

TOP: The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh arriving at Derby Midland Station, March 1957 © Derby Telegraph; RIGHT:Cecil Beaton, Contact sheet of The Royal Family, Buckingham Palace © V&A Images; BELOW: The Queen arrives at Aberdeen Airport with her dogs, to start her holidays at Balmoral, August 1974. © Anwar Hussein; BELOW RIGHT: The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh at Badminton Horse Trials, 20 April 1968, John Scott, © Alpha Press;

3,500 U.S. Marines are dispatched to South Vietnam, marking the beginning of the American ground war.

Harold Wilson Prime Minister

1963 -1964

1964 -1970

1965

Sir Alec Douglas-Home Prime Minister

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valuable colonies sought and found their independence. Indeed, between 1956 and 1992, half of The Queen’s realms, including South Africa, Pakistan, and Ceylon (renamed Sri Lanka), became republics.

On the home front, Britain was looking anything but imperious. Such were the continuing shortages that food rationing wasn’t stopped in the UK until 1954, nine years after the end of the war. When Princess Elizabeth and her husband Prince Philip married in 1947, she had to save ration coupons to buy the material for her gown, designed by Norman Hartnell.

However, despite – or perhaps due to the crushing austerity, the nation took the “fairytale Queen” to their hearts. It was a radical turnaround in fortunes for a princess whom few had ever expected to be queen.

The granddaughter of King George V and Queen Mary, the child Elizabeth was third in line to the throne; first was her uncle Edward, Prince of Wales, and then her father. It was naturally assumed that Edward’s future children would inherit the throne after his death, and Elizabeth would remain a princess all of her life.

When King George V died in 1936, his eldest son Edward did indeed become king, but only for a few months – famously abdicating later that year to marry the American socialite, Wallis Simpson. As a result, Elizabeth’s father became king – and when he died aged just 56, the crown was passed to Elizabeth, at the age of 25.

Already a mother of two (Prince Charles and Princess Anne were born in 1948 and 1950 respectively), the new Queen quickly began to explore her territories. During the 1950s, she travelled extensively, becoming the first reigning monarch of Australia

1965

The Civil Service Retirement Fellowship is created

Sir Francis Chichester completes the first circumnavigation of the globe solo.

American astronaut Neil Armstrong becomes the first man to set foot on the moon.

1967

1969

1966 Mao Zedong, chairman of the Communist Party of China, launches the Cultural Revolution.

1968

Martin Luther King is assassinated at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee, sparking several days of riots.

1970 -1974

The United Kingdom and Ireland switch to decimal currency.

1974 -1976

1971

Harold Wilson Prime Minister Edward Heath Prime Minister

and New Zealand to visit those countries.

Today, she is the most widely travelled head of state in history which given the wide range of modes of transport she has had access to over the years (The Royal Yacht Britannia, Royal Train, The Queen’s Flight) does not come as a great surprise.

As well as performing traditional ceremonies, such as opening parliaments, she has also instituted new practices. Her first royal walkabout, meeting members of the public, took place during a tour of Australia and New Zealand in 1970.

During the Sixties, she gave birth to her third and fourth children, Prince Andrew in 1960 and Prince Edward in 1964.

However, her royal schedule continued apace. During this decade, she saw many of Britain’s African and Caribbean territories gain independence, and helped to smooth the transition from colony to membership of the Commonwealth.

By 1977, her Silver Jubilee year, the Queen’s popularity was at an all-time high – and the anniversary was celebrated with street parties across the UK. The 1980s and 1990s, however, proved to be far more challenging decades for HRH and her family.

The Vietnam War is ended as North Vietnamese troops take control of Saigon.

1975

Elvis Presley dies in his home in Graceland.

Two days later, 75,000 fans line the streets of Memphis for his funeral.

1976 -1979 James Callaghan Prime Minister

1977

1978

World’s first test-tube baby is delivered.

TOP: Cecil Beaton, Queen Elizabeth II with Prince Andrew 1960 MAIN: Cecil Beaton, Queen Elizabeth II 1968 © V&A Images

Margaret Thatcher Prime Minister Falklands War

1979 -1990

1981

1982

700 million TV viewers worldwide watch Prince Charles marry Lady Diana Spencer at St Paul’s Cathedral.

Two disasters: The American space After separating shuttle Challenger explodes seconds East and West after lift-off, killing its crew of seven. Germany for 28 years, the Berlin Three months later, one of four Wall falls. nuclear reactors at Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant explodes.

1985 Bob Geldof’s dual-venue Live Aid concert raises £30m for African famine victims.

1986

1988

1989

Pan Am Flight 103 explodes over the Scottish town of Lockerbie, Dumfries and Galloway and kills a total of 270 people – including all 259 who were on board. www.csrf.org.uk SPRING 2012

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Initially unwilling to express grief publicly for her former daughter-in-law, some commentators accused The Queen of being aloof and cold. Amidst intense pressure, she relented and after three days instructed the flag to be raised at half-mast over Windsor.

She also agreed to a live broadcast on the day before Diana’s funeral. In the broadcast, she expressed admiration for Diana, and her feelings “as a grandmother” for Princes William and Harry. Following this broadcast, much of the public hostility evaporated.

Since then, she has steered a steady course and remains popular at home and abroad. As she enters her Diamond Jubilee year, commentators continue to speculate how long the 85-year old monarch will reign. Despite her son being the longestserving heir apparent in British history and almost of pensionable age – Prince Charles will be 64 this year – there is no sign that Queen Elizabeth II will be giving up her crown prematurely.

increasing amount of negative publicity. In her early years as monarch, such reproach would have been unthinkable. However, in recent decades, the tabloid press has increasingly considered the royal family as an acceptable target for criticism.

The early 1990s proved especially difficult for The Queen. In her 1992 Christmas message, she said: “[This] is not a year on which I shall look back with undiluted pleasure. In the words of one of my more sympathetic correspondents, it has turned out to be an Annus Horribilis.”

During 1992, her son Andrew divorced Sarah Ferguson, her daughter Anne divorced Captain Mark Phillips, Windsor Castle caught fire and Charles finally divorced Diana. In particular, the acrimonious break up of Princess Diana and Prince Charles divided the royal family with many media reports saying The Queen was less than sympathetic to Princess Diana.

Indeed, the death of Princess Diana was a critical moment in her reign.

During the 1981 Trooping of the Colour ceremony, and only six weeks before the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer, six shots were fired at The Queen from close range as she rode down The Mall on her horse. Thankfully police later discovered that the shots were blanks and the 17-year-old assailant, Marcus Sarjeant, was sentenced to five years in prison. In newspaper reports, The Queen’s composure and skill in controlling her mount were widely praised.

The following year, The Queen awoke in her bedroom at Buckingham Palace to find an intruder, Michael Fagan, in the room with her. Remaining calm, she spoke to Fagan while he sat at the foot of her bed until assistance arrived.

Whilst these events will undoubtedly have been upsetting, The Queen has since experienced far more personal anguish. As well as the death of her mother in 2002, she has seen three of her four children divorce and the royal family endure an

Members of the Royal Family at the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, dutourdumonde / Shutterstock.com

The European Union is formally established.

John Major Prime Minister

1990

1990 -1997

1991

Nelson Mandela is released from Victor Verster Prison after more than 27 years in prison.

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1993

The Soviet Union is formally dissolved.

1994

Good Friday Accord (Belfast Agreement) is signed by Ireland and Britain.

Tony Blair Prime Minister

1997 -2007

Nelson Mandela becomes South Africa’s first black president.

1997

1998

Diana, Princess of Wales and Dodi AlFayed are killed in a car crash in Paris.

Al-Qaeda terrorists fly aeroplanes into the World Trade Center in New York.

1999

2001

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland take control of devolved government and assemblies

2002

The funeral of Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother takes place in Westminster Abbey.

For this year at least, she will continue to hold the spotlight. As well as an extra bank holiday, the Diamond Jubilee weekend in June promises a host of high profile events and celebrations. Monarchist or not, it will be hard to avoid hearing the national anthem through our screens and in the streets. With 60 years already under her belt, the line “long to reign over us” is sounding more appropriate than ever.

We would like to extend our heartfelt congratulations and thanks on behalf of The Fellowship to Her Majesty on reaching this special milestone.

member

memories

We’re planning a member memories section in the summer issue that is focused on the Olympics – were you involved with the 1948 London Olympics or did you attend? Perhaps you were involved as a volunteer or in the planning of the event? Please send your letters and pictures (we return all images) to the Editor using the Fellowship Office address at the front of the magazine or by email to: avanti@square7media.co.uk no later than 30 March 2012.

U.S. and allied forces invade Iraq, beginning the Iraq War.

2003

52 people are killed and over 700 injured when al-Qaeda-associated militants detonate four bombs in London, three on the London Underground and one on a bus.

2004

2005

Almost a quarter of a million people are killed as the Boxing Day Tsunami sends waves of up to 30 meters in height crashing into communities across South Asia.

2007 -2010 Gordon Brown Prime Minister

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh at a Service of Thanksgiving for Her Majesty’s 80th Birthday at St Paul’s Cathedral, 15 June 2006 © Ian Jones

Stock markets around the world crash amid growing fears of a global recession.

2008

2009

David Cameron Prime Minister

2010

Senator Barack Obama is inaugurated as the United States of America’s first African American President.

Following street demonstrations, Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, President of the Tunisian Republic, steps down from office and flees Tunisia after 23 years in power – sparking the start of the ‘Arab spring’ of uprisings across the Middle East.

2010 It is announced that Prince William of Wales will marry long-term girlfriend, Kate Middleton.

2011

2012

HM The Queen celebrates her Diamond Jubilee; London hosts the 30th Olympiad (Olympic Games). www.csrf.org.uk SPRING 2012

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ROYAL

memories

Members share memories and stories of their experiences with Her Majesty The Queen

1930s

Queen Mary and Princess Elizabeth visit Bekonscot Model Village, 1930

Dear Editor, My most poignant memory of her is as a little girl.

Eighty years ago I was out walking with my father in London along the Mall when we realised a small crowd had gathered. We joined them in front and a few moments later a large Rolls Royce drove very slowly past and kneeling on the back seat were two excited small girls waving and smiling to the crowd. They were the two princesses Margaret and Elizabeth out for a Sunday afternoon trip on their way to Buckingham Palace.

I am nearly 94 but I have never forgotten those two little girls – laughing and waving to the crowd.

They looked lovely in blue bonnets and matching coats, and so natural kneeling up on the car’s back seat.

The next time I saw the Queen was VE Day – on the palace balcony with her family around her – still a princess but now our marvellous Queen.

Mrs Kythe Read, Colchester, Essex Dear Editor, My most memorable childhood experience was halfway through the Second World War when

Dear Editor, Between the beginning of the Second World War and my release from the A.T.S. in 1946 unexpected things happened.

After my initial training in York and Hereford I was sent as a driver with the first batch of A.T.S. to Sandhurst. I cannot remember the year the King and Queen along with Princesses Margaret and Elizabeth came to visit us but I do remember the King was to inspect us on parade that morning. And I also know the King suffered a slight stammer.

As he came along the ranks he suddenly stopped in front of me and spoke. He felt

I was about 13 years old. I was evacuated to Windsor with my school in September 1939 and one day the lady at my billet asked me to take her little boy for a walk.

I was feeling miserable and homesick for my family in London. The Long Walk in Windsor Great Park was nearby so I took Michael (around 3 years old) in his pushchair.

The Long Walk runs between Windsor Castle and the Copper Horse. I believe it was a Sunday afternoon and the Park was empty of people. I heard a car tooting behind me and I looked back.

An open-topped sports car was slowing down as it approached us. The driver was the King with the Queen sitting next to him and the two Princesses on the back seat.

I pulled over to the grass verge and called out, “Michael, wave to the King and Queen.” We both waved madly, calling out “Hello”, and the Royal Family waved back to us happy and smiling.

It was wonderful – I forgot my misery and homesickness!

I wonder if our Queen remembers that day which I will never forget.

Miss Beatrice Cowie, Sutton, Surrey

quite at ease with me and I with him and I only noticed a slight pause in his speech. It was an eventful moment. I must say we all felt very honoured to have had a Royal visit. I myself was quite chuffed to hear later Princess Elizabeth was to come to Sandhurst and wasn’t quite sure if she attended the same course as myself. Being 94 it was a long time ago.

Would have loved to have met Her Majesty to talk over those days and I wish her a very happy and rewarding Diamond Jubilee with Prince Philip by her side.

Mrs J Burgess, Ipswich, Suffolk

1940s

Taken from: Cecil Beaton, Contact sheet of The Royal Family, Buckingham Palace, 1942, © V&A Images;

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1950s Dear Editor, On the morning of 6 February 1952 at age 15, I was in class at Hereford Cathedral School, a so-called “minor” public school.

It was a Latin lesson and the Latin master, who lived in the school, liked to spend his time in his room listening to the radio and drinking port! He would usually arrive as the lesson time was ending, set “prep” and disappear again but this time he burst in with the words, “Le roi est mort - vive la reine!” We looked at him with open mouths until he translated and then told someone in the front row - “You boy - go and put the school flag at half mast”!

Next year, 1953, there was an edict from the government that all public schools should send two members of their Combined Cadet Force to attend the Coronation celebrations in London, being granted special positions on the Victoria monument in front of Buckingham Palace.

I was one of the chosen ones and we went up to London (in our cadet uniforms) and spent the night before the big day

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being accommodated at RAF Northolt in nissen huts that had been unused since the war. We had our evening meal in the mess which also gave us a packed lunch for Coronation day on 2 June. Buses took us to our spectator position early in the morning and wait in the drizzly rain for the procession to pass us, twice. Despite getting very wet it was a great day.

Richard Hornsby, Deputy Chief Executive, the CSRF Dear Editor, My momentous Royal experience was in June 1953, when as a young ordinary seaman serving on board the fleet destroyer H.M.S. Agincourt I was present at The Fleet Review at Spithead. The Queen reviewed the fleet on board the frigate HMS Surprise, as the new Royal Yacht Britannia was not yet in service. I vividly remember the Queen waving to the ships moored at anchor. All of the ships gave three cheers in return. What a sight it was 10 or more lines of ships stretching for

several miles between the Isle of Wight and the mainland. As well as ships from the Royal Navy there were also many from foreign navies too. I do not think that any review since then has contained so many vessels.

G.R. Holman, Ringmer, Lewes, East Sussex

A young Queen Elizabeth II when she lived in Malta between 1947 and 1951

1970s Dear Editor, I hope you’ll find these pictures (left) interesting.

I took them at the artillery ground of the Honourable Artillery Company (HAC) when Her Majesty presented new colours to the regiment in the early seventies. I was working as a clerical officer for the HAC at the time.

Mrs E Slowman, Hertford

Dear Editor, I have sent a photo I took in 1973 (sic) at the time of the Silver Jubilee when the Queen drove to the City of London (see right). It was taken at the entrance to the City. Sadly I cannot remember the exact date. I was working in a tax office at Holborn at the time.

The crowds were very enthusiastic and the Queen was obviously enjoying the occasion!

Hope this is of interest and thanks for yet another great issue of avanti.

Tony Ireland, HMIT (Retired) (1953 1994), Cheltenham, Glos

talk tous

Have you got a Royal memory or story you’d like to share? Send your letters and stories to the Editor at the Fellowship Office using the address found at the front of the magazine

A ROYAL OPENING In 1986 I was responsible for the opening of the Queen Elizabeth 2 Conference Centre by Her Majesty and the Duke of Edinburgh. At the time I was an administrator in a Division of the Property Services Agency (PSA) responsible for a number of major London projects, one of which was the Conference Centre.

The Palace were approached through one of the Queen’s Private Secretaries, Robert, now Lord, Fellowes to see if The Queen would agree to open the Centre, which she did. Normally the formal opening ceremony for a building is conducted some time after it is completed and occupied when any problems with the building have been sorted out. But in our case the opening had to be done in the June very soon after the building was due to be finished because of The Queen’s other commitments.

On the day itself The Queen and The Duke were met by the Lord Lieutenant and the Lord Mayor of Westminster outside the building. The royal party then entered the Churchill Auditorium - their arrival announced by a fanfare by trumpeters of the Blues & Royals - where Nicholas Ridley, our Secretary

The Queen on a walkabout in the grounds of Queen’s Park in Toronto

1980s

of State, gave a welcome speech and the Queen responded. The Bishop of London then blessed the building, which seemed very appropriate as we were in the presence of the Head of the Church of England. The Royal party then toured the building while I had the challenge of having to move all the guests from different floors to the Benjamin Lounge for afternoon tea where they would be joined by The Queen and The Duke.

I had asked Prue Leith, whose company were the caterers for the Centre, to pour Her Majesty’s cup of tea which was Earl Grey. I learnt some years later that Prue was quite worried about the tea pouring whereas to me it was a small detail in a detailed and complicated operation. The tea party was a great success as it enabled Her Majesty and The Duke to chat to the guests both famous and not so famous in a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere.

As the Royal Party left I breathed a huge sigh of relief.

Afterwards we had a thank you letter from Robert Fellowes saying how much The Queen and The Duke had enjoyed the occasion. For my part I transferred to another job a week later; I have never set foot in the Conference Centre since the Opening.

Peter Hodson, Chairman, Sutton Group

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A GUIDE TO

ROYAL GARDENS As part of our Jubilee special Martin Sayers takes a look at some of the amazing Royal gardens and parks around the country

G

ardening is in the blood where the Royal Family is concerned. The Queen comes from a long line of Royal gardeners and is said to inherit her green fingers from her father George VI, whilst further back Queen Victoria and Prince Albert took particular interest in the gardens at their various properties.

This goes some way to explaining the splendour of the many fantastic gardens that exist at Royal properties across the UK, many of which welcome visitors. In London alone there are 9 royal parks that provide residents with a wonderful (and free) opportunity to enjoy wildlife, flora and fauna. The Royal Parks website, www.royalparks.gov.uk provides up to date information on activities and events taking place.

Here is our guide to some of the garden gems that exist in Royal properties across the UK:

Kew Gardens

Explore glasshouses, landscapes and 250 years of history at the world’s most famous garden. Climb to the treetops, delve into rainforest or discover more on a guided tour. Kew Gardens is

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home to the world’s largest collection of living plants and has been a popular attraction since its inception in 1759.

Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 3AB Opens daily at 9.30am every day except for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Prices are £13.90 (£11 concessions). For more information call 020 8332 5655 or visit www.kew.org

Sandringham

The Queen’s Norfolk estate boasts what many regard as the finest Royal gardens in the country. The 24-hectare area offers something for everyone, from shady woodland walks to the magnificent lakes and the formal grandeur of the North garden, with its famous pleached (pleaching is a technique to weave the branches of trees into a hedge.) lime avenues. A wider country park surrounds the royal property that is planted with a mixture of pine, oak, sweet chestnut and birch.

The Sandringham Estate, Sandringham, Norfolk, PE35 6EN Open daily from 1st April to 4th November (except 6th April, 12th June and 25th July). Prices are £11.50 (£9.00

senior) for admission to the whole property or £8.00 for just the museum and gardens; entrance to the country park is free. For more information call 01485 545400 or visit www.sandringhamestate.co.uk Guided garden tours are available for a £2.50 supplement.

Frogmore House

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: The Temperate House, Kew, RGB Kew; Azaleas at Sandringham; Garden View, Frogmore House, Derry Moore, The Royal Collection © 2012, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II; Summer at Kew, RGB Kew; Pathway at Osborne House, English Heritage; The Indian Kiosk, Frogmore House, Derry Moore, The Royal Collection © 2012, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II; Wisteria at Sandringham, by gracious permission of HM The Queen; Osborne House, exterior.

Somewhat overshadowed by nearby Windsor Castle, Frogmore House nevertheless full of Royal history and has played host to various members of the Royal Family since the 17th century. The mansion was a particular favourite of Queen Victoria and, although no longer a Royal residence, Frogmore is still owned by the Royal Family and is sometimes used for receptions.

The property is a garden lover’s delight - the grounds feature extensive flowerbeds combined with sweeping lawns dotted with wildflowers and an impressive variety of mature forest trees. The gardens are also home to the mausoleum of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.

Frogmore House, adjacent to Windsor Castle, Windsor Guided tours for groups (15+) of the house and gardens are available throughout August and September – price £9.00 per person. Individuals and smaller groups can also visit the property during selected dates in August – price £7.50. For more information call 020 7766 7305 or visit www.royalcollection.org.uk

Osbourne House

Osbourne House on the Isle of Wight is a former Royal residence that was originally built in the mid-nineteenth century as a summer home for Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. Today this beautiful seaside palace is owned by English Heritage and is fully open to the public.

Restoration work has seen the parterre gardens and terraces returned to their original Victorian layout and

planted with seasonally changing bedding plants that would have been present in the Victorian era; these areas also contain a range of statues originally bought by the Royal couple.

Rare species of plants and trees are a feature of the gardens and you may even catch a glimpse of a red squirrel.

The Isle of Wight is one of the disappearing mammals’ last English strongholds and they are often seen at Osbourne.

Osbourne House, The Avenue, East Cowes, Isle of Wight, PO32 6JX Open daily during the spring and summer. Prices are £11.50 (£10.40 senior, free for English Heritage members) for admission to the whole property. Opening times are more sporadic during the autumn/winter; access to gardens-only are sometimes available at a reduced price of £5.00 (£4.50 senior). For more information call 01983 200022 or visit www.english-heritage.org.uk

Highgrove

Prince Charles has a famous passion for plants so it is no surprise that the gardens at his property in Gloucestershire are stunning.

The Prince has spent thirty years developing an area that is both attractive to look at and built on sound environmental principles, which allow wildlife to thrive.

The Highgrove gardens are a series of interlinked areas that each have their own character; these include the Woodland Garden, Sundial Garden and a traditional wild flower meadow recreated by the Prince.

Highgrove House, nr. Tetbury, Gloucestershire Garden tours at Highgrove run from April to October and must be booked in advance. An individual price (where you join another group) is £19.50 per person.

Visit www.highgrovegardens.com for further information or email gardentours@highgroveenterprises. com

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Balmoral

Many people don’t realise that the Queen’s Scottish summer residence accepts visitors; in fact, the property can be toured from the start of April until the end of July.

The magnificent gardens were first started in the 19th Century by Prince Albert and have since been extended and improved by successive members of the Royal Family.

Highlights include a magnificent water garden and a conservatory that houses a wide variety of flowering pot plants. The castle’s position within the boundaries of the Cairngorms National Park makes for magnificent views.

Balmoral Estates, Ballater, Aberdeenshire, AB35 5TB Open daily from Sunday 1st April until Tuesday 31st July. Price £9.00 (£8.00 seniors). For more information call 01339 742034 or visit www.balmoralcastle.com

The Castle of Mey

Although understandably less famous than Balmoral, the Castle of Mey presents a fascinating prospect for anyone visiting the far north of Scotland. Nestled on the coast some six miles from John O’Groats, the Castle was the property of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother until 1996 when she bequeathed the property to the Castle of Mey Trust, which now looks after the house and gardens.

Protected from the fierce sea winds by the 12-foot high ‘Great Wall of Mey’, the gardens present a colourful mixture of flowers such as marigolds, pansies, dahlias, primulas, nasturtiums, and Albertine – the Queen Mother’s favourite variety of rose. The gardeners have also recently created a rose garden in the shape of two giant Es to commemorate the property’s famous former occupant.

The Castle of Mey, Thurso, Caithness, KW14 8XH Open daily from 1st May to 30th

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September 2012 (except from 26th July to 13th August inclusive). Prices are £10.00 (£9.00 senior) for admission to the whole property; £5.50 for just grounds and gardens. For more information call 01847 851473 or visit www.castleofmey.org.uk

Hillsborough Castle

Hillsborough Castle in Ulster is famous as the residence of the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, but it also the official Northern Ireland seat of the Queen.

Despite its name, Hillsborough Castle is actually a Georgian mansion and boasts particularly grand gardens that feature Europe’s largest rhododendron bush, an extensive rose garden and fabulous lakeside walks.

Hillsborough Castle, The Square, Hillsborough, Lisburn, BT26 6AG The Castle opens its gates to the public each Saturday in May, June and August. Prices are £6.00 for a guided tour of the gardens (£3.50 seniors), or £3.00 for unguided access. For more information call 028 9268 1309 or visit www.discovernorthernireland.com

talk tous Have you visited a royal park or garden that you particularly enjoyed? Write in and share your recommendations with other members. Send your letters for the attention of the Editor at Fellowship Office using the contact information at the front of the magazine

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: The Conservatory at Balmoral; The Castle of Mey at Dusk; The E shaped rose garden at the Castle of Mey; Pathways at Hillsborough Castle.

feature

celebrating AGE 2012 is the European Year of Active Ageing and Solidarity across Generations. In short, it is intended to raise awareness of the importance of age in Europe. The man tasked with spearheading this EU-wide initiative is EU Commissioner László Andor, Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, who kindly found time in his busy schedule to talk to avanti about the plans for the year ahead 1. 2012 is the European Year of Active Ageing and Inter-generational solidarity – what are the core objectives behind this initiative?

Demographic ageing is one of our greatest achievements. Today mortality rates are low and life expectancy much higher. The 2012 European Year for Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations aims to promote conditions for a better future for young and old in our ageing societies. The key to this is to ensure that people, as they age, can continue to contribute to the economy and to society and to look after themselves. This is what we call active ageing.

So active ageing is not just about the participation of older workers in the labour market – it’s also about their active contribution to society through voluntary work, or the possibility to live independently thanks to adapted housing and infrastructure.

During the European Year we will be raising awareness about the contribution of older people to society in general. It will be an opportunity to identify and disseminate good practice, in particular by encouraging all policymakers and stakeholders to set themselves specific goals related to active ageing and to take action to meet these goals. With the European Year website, we will have a platform where those actions can be presented and explained.

2. What should citizens expect from this year long initiative? Why should people support it?

I believe that the European Year for Active Ageing will help create better opportunities

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and working conditions for older workers.

It is clear that, if we want to reach the 75% employment target set out in the Europe 2020 strategy, we must increase the number of 54-64 year olds in work beyond the current level of 46%.

I also hope the European Year will contribute to combating the social exclusion of older people by fostering active participation in society, by encouraging voluntary activities and support for informal carers. Lifelong learning is also crucial to helping older workers stay active. More efforts are needed, as in 2010, less than 5% of 55-64 old workers participated in training, against the already low 10% for all the workers. Here, the European Social Fund has an important role to play. Already, out of the 116 ESF operational programmes, 35 programmes from 13 Member States include ‘active ageing and working longer’ as a priority theme. We will be encouraging member states to continue on this path and to support older workers improve their skills so it’s easier for them to find a job.

2012 will be a chance too to encourage healthy ageing and independent living by using a preventive approach in health care, making transport more accessible and affordable and making the environment more age-friendly.

3. With statistics in the UK showing that the older generation are the age group most likely to vote at elections, do you think the views and concerns of older people are well represented in European politics?

We should welcome the strong

participation of older people in elections and, more generally, in political and social life. European politics of course mirrors to a large extent what happens in national politics. I believe that older people have a voice at the European level, but we should not forget that the policies that determine the quality of life of older people are mostly determined at the national, regional and local levels. The EU’s priority must be to ensure that we have strong and sound economies, which will of course benefit people of all ages.

4. The older population is living a lot longer now, what plans does the European Union have to ensure that the needs of the older people are looked after in the future?

First of all, we need to improve the opportunities for older people to stay in control of their own lives. By giving them access to employment and hence better incomes, by enabling them to stay connected to society through voluntary work, and by allowing them to live independently for as long as possible thanks to healthy ageing and an agefriendly environment with adapted housing, infrastructure and services.

Active ageing is crucial to Europe’s ability to achieve its ambitious goals under the Europe2020 strategy. Without more employment of older workers, the employment goal of 75% will be out of reach, and it will be impossible to prevent a rise of poverty in old age. Active ageing raises both the current incomes and future pension entitlements of the older worker

and, at the same time, improves the financial sustainability of pension systems.

The crucial role of active ageing for adequate and sustainable pension systems will be emphasised in the forthcoming White Paper on pensions.

Active ageing calls for innovation in a wide range of fields: social and employment relations, life-long learning, urban and transport policies, health and long-term care, assistive technologies. In this respect, the European Year links to the pilot project ‘European Innovation Partnership on active and healthy ageing’.

It will be important to create synergies between both initiatives.

5. What will you be doing personally during 2012 to promote the initiative?

I will be deeply involved in promoting policies supporting the employment of older workers. For instance, I will soon propose a White paper on pensions, aimed at supporting measures to provide safe, adequate and sustainable pensions in the future. I will also attend as many events during the European Year 2012 as possible, starting with the Opening Conference on 18/19 January in Copenhagen. I will meet stakeholders and decision makers, to encourage them to make commitments related to employment, participation in social activities, adult learning, senior volunteering, independent living or healthy ageing.

I will be actively contributing to the activities of European Year of Active Ageing and Solidarity between generations – because we all want to make it a lasting success.

Around Europe All EU members will be promoting the messages associated with Active Ageing; we’ve picked a few that caught our eye…

Britain

Generations Ageing Together

The European Mapping of Intergenerational Learning (EMIL) network together with the International Consortium for Intergenerational Programmes (ICIP) will be staging a conference in July to provide an inspiring opportunity to share ideas, knowledge and questions in building a vision of intergenerational work across Europe.

Pin your history to the world

This project aims to get younger and older people to build and share a new picture of their community’s history by using photos and stories as a way for mixed generations to come together.

Czech Republic Respect my Granny – Please the Trees Tour 2012

Young rock-band Please The Trees and the Elpida Chorus of older people are arranging a tour around music clubs in the Czech Republic so young people will see and hear the importance of inter generational solidarity.

Denmark László Andor was born 3 June, 1966, in Zalaegerszeg, Hungary. He is a Hungarian economist with a PhD in economics; he is also an Associate Professor and editor of the journal “Eszmélet”.

Since 10 February, 2010 he has been the EU Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion.

Flex Seniority – A Shortcut to Active Ageing

Intended to improve age-friendly practices in companies and encourage more seniors to stay longer in the job.

The project will organise workshops for managers, workshops for shop stewards and pre-retirement courses for senior

workers. The courses and workshops will be implemented in public and private workplaces.

Finland

The Day and Week of the Elderly

The themes of active ageing and intergenerational solidarity will be adopted in the celebrations planned in October for the Day of the Elderly (first Sunday of October) and the following week.

Ireland

The Logon Learn Programme

Log On, Learn is a successful approach to digital inclusion for older adults. To date more than 180 schools in Ireland have trained approximately 2,000 senior citizens with the same number of students participating in the training programme which will be expanded during 2012.

Slovenia

Fruits of Society- an intergenerational project

This initiative involves connecting schools with associations for elderly people, and encouraging them to start developing different intergenerational activities.

To find our more about all the initiatives being planned for the 2012 EU Year of Active Ageing you can click the banner on the home page of the CSRF website, www.csrf.org.uk or visit http://europa.eu/ey2012/ey2012

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supreme justice Ben Wilson shows us round the Supreme Court with its Chief Executive Jenny Rowe and looks at the history and work of the UK’s highest court

O

ctober 2009 marked an historic occasion for the United Kingdom.

For the very first time the UK had a Supreme Court – and it was also the first opportunity for the public to see the Middlesex Guildhall, situated on Parliament Square in the heart of London, in all its restored glory.

When the government decided in 2003 that what were known as the Law Lords were to be moved out of Parliament and form a Supreme Court, the obvious question was where the court would sit.

The idea of a brand new, purpose-built building was quickly dashed by Treasury constraints, so the hunt was on for a suitable site within one mile’s radius of Charing Cross. Gradually the Middlesex Guildhall began to emerge as the front runner. It was in a position which physically embodied the concept of “separation of

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powers”, with the legislature (Parliament), government (The Treasury) and the established Church (Westminster Abbey) on the other three sides of the square. It had also been a full-time working court since the 1970s.

“It did require some imagination to see what the building could become”, explains Jenny Rowe, the Court’s Chief Executive, “At the point when it was confirmed as the site for the Court, it was a rather gloomy and somewhat unloved place. But it had a wealth of original detail and superb sculptures both inside and out, and we were confident that it could once again be a place with which one could feel a real sense of pride.”

The original Guildhall was completed in 1913 and designed by the Scottishborn architect James Gibson. Its original purpose was to be the council offices of

the Middlesex County Council. Gibson saw the site as being “one of the finest in London” and wanted it to complement the surrounding buildings as well as have its own distinct identity. The style he developed was described by Pevsner as “art noveau gothic” – a blending of tradition and modernity that Feilden and Mawson, the architects responsible for the recent refurbishment, sought to continue.

The sculptures adorning the interior and exterior of the building were designed by Henry Fehr, an eminent sculptor of his day.

His work is arguably at its most spectacular as one approaches the Court. Above the main entrance, which faces the Palace of Westminster, is a frieze depicting historical scenes including the signing of Magna Carta and Henry III granting a charter to Westminster Abbey.

Once inside, the visitor is greeted by an

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF… impressive glass screen etched with extracts from the Judicial oath, pledged by all appointees to judicial office in the UK. Also on the ground floor is a small courtroom used for sittings of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, which serves as the final court of appeal for British Overseas Territories, Crown Dependencies and some Commonwealth countries. It houses one of the most valuable paintings in the building, a portrait of the Earl of Northumberland by Joshua Reynolds in an ornate Chippendale frame.

Jenny Rowe picks up our tour, “The main staircase is studded by stained glass windows depicting the coats-of-arms of past Lord Lieutenants of Middlesex. It leads from the entrance hall to the first floor, where we find Courtroom Two. The modernity of this room can come as a surprise, but this part of the building was radically changed during an earlier unsympathetic refurbishment, which gave the architects more scope to design something unrestrained by planning rules,” she explains.

This courtroom certainly is strikingly modern, with large windows and light wood. It is dominated by a glass sculpture of the Supreme Court emblem incorporating the Tudor rose, representing England, the Welsh leek, the Scottish thistle and the flax of Northern Ireland. One notes many different interpretations of this emblem throughout the building, most notably in the quirky ‘pop art’ styled carpet designed

by Sir Peter Blake (of Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band cover art fame).

Up to the second floor, and we find the Supreme Court’s main courtroom, where the biggest cases are heard. This was originally the Middlesex Council chamber and very little has changed since the building first opened: the magnificent ceiling, chandeliers and woodwork have all been carefully restored and the ends of the public benches are decorated with heraldic beasts and English kings.

Jenny Rowe explains that the Supreme Court decides major points of law, often on technical legal matters, and does not hear evidence from witnesses or have defendants in a dock, “So instead we try and create an atmosphere of a learned seminar. The furniture reflects this, with the Judges sitting on the same level as the advocates, facing each other behind curved benches.”

Much of the lower ground floor is devoted to an exhibition about the Court and the building, part of the Court’s mission

Jenny Rowe, Chief Executive of the UK Supreme Court gives us a flavour of her role by telling us about one of her work days last December.

8.30

I arrive at work. Look through press cuttings, check correspondence.

9.30

Meeting with Lord Phillips (President of the Supreme Court) and Lord Hope (Deputy President). I meet them once a week to discuss a range of practical and policy issues, accompanied by the Registrar of the Court, Louise di Mambro.

10.15

I have a daily short meeting with Louise and William Arnold, Head of Corporate Services, to review the way different parts of the Court are working together.

10.30

Walk around public areas of the court including our popular cafe. I try to do this daily to catch up with a range of staff and I often pick up pieces of information or snippets of conversation from visitors.

11.00 Meeting with colleagues about the arrangements for swearing in a new Justice. We have had a number of Justices retiring in the last two and half years and several appointment boards to administer – a complicated and sensitive task.

12.00 I regularly meet with individual Justices to discuss non judicial aspects of their work. to make its work accessible to a wide range of visitors. We note a range of leaflets, translated into foreign languages, are available in the reception area, and eagerly snapped up by the tourists who drop in.

The lower ground floor also contains a café (a good tip for a quiet place for coffee in the middle of Westminster), a space which provides an opportunity to see one of the most spectacular parts of the refurbishment of the building. The original architecture included two lightwells open to the elements. These have now been glassed over, with one containing the café and the other including the librarian’s office and a Justices’ reading area.

As we end our tour by returning to the ground floor, at the very heart of the building is the Justices’ library. This triple height space is dominated by an ornately carved original ceiling and a balcony wall engraved with quotes about Justice, chosen by the inaugural Justices. “There are approximately 20,000 works on the shelves – and this number grows every month,”

1.00

I rarely have a lunch break but eat at my desk while going through my emails.

2.00

Give a brief talk to a group of college students. Last year we saw 350 educational groups through the door of the court.

2.30

Meeting about progress on electronic presentation of cases in court.

We are working to dramatically reduce the amount of paperwork surrounding our hearings.

3.30

Greet and guide a group of foreign judges around the court. Since our opening we have welcomed hundreds of such dignitaries and in the last few weeks I have seen legislators from Vietnam, judges from the Nigerian Supreme Court and a group of young men and women from the Middle East.

4.30

Deal with correspondence and emails until home time which is usually 6.00 pm says Rowe. “The library is the one area not usually accessible to the public, although those who join one of our guided tours do get the chance to see it. And we hope that CSRF members will be among them! It is a court for the whole of the UK, and we want as many people as possible to come and see us in action”.

member OFFER The Supreme Court is kindly offering members of the CSRF a discounted opportunity to see the building.

Places on the regular guided tours (most Fridays) are usually £5, but upon presentation of a valid CSRF card or copy of avanti this will be reduced to £2.50.

Contact enquiries@supremecourt. gsi.gov.uk or call 020 7960 1900 to check availability and book your place.

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the ROMANIAN trio

The three principal cities in Western Romania offer visitors an abundance of different attractions to enjoy and are only the tip of the iceberg as far as Romania as a destination is concerned.

Union Square, Timisoara

Timisoara

S

ince it’s re-emergence into Europe following the 1989 uprising which saw the overthrow of infamous dictator Nicolae Ceausescu, Romania is fast becoming a popular tourist destination. A country rich in history and art with some amazingly beautiful natural attractions it offers a wide range of travel opportunities.

A journey of just three to four hours, by car or train, can take you from the Danube River to the medieval towns in Transylvania; from capital city Bucharest to the Black Sea or from Southern Transylvania to the world famous painted monasteries in Bucovina.

The unique mix of architectural and cultural heritages in the history-rich provinces of Crisana and Banat (Western Romania) stems from the fact that for centuries Romanians have lived here alongside Germans (Swabs), Serbians and Hungarians (Magyars). A trio of cities Timisoara, Oradea and Arad - provides travellers with an insight into this region’s long past and colourful traditions. The region also benefits from a climate that is not dissimilar to the Mediterranean making it a great spot for active travellers and adventure seekers, with opportunities for trekking, mountain climbing, hunting, fishing, horseback riding and more.

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Inside the Roman Catholic Catherdral, Timisoara

Romanian Orthodox Cathedral, Timisoara

Habsburg rule until 1918 introduced Art Nouveau architecture and helped establish Timisoara as ‘the garden city’. Often known as ‘Little Vienna’ (on account of the Habsburg influences) Timisoara is one of the country’s more progressive and cosmopolitan cities with its open squares, elegant boutiques, cafes and restaurants.

You can also see a lot of the city on foot. The Union Square (Piata Unirii) is home to the Serbian Orthodox and Roman Catholic cathedrals and the Baroque Palace, which now houses the Museum of Fine Arts. The Victory Square (Piata Victoriei) with its plethora of cafes, bookstores and shops is the beating heart of Timisoara. Here you will see the imposing Romanian Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral that towers over the south side of the square. The Memorial Museum of the 1989 Revolution can also be found here. Another square worth a look is The Freedom Square (Piata Libertatii) with its impressive display of 19th century architecture.

Romania is well known for its handicrafts and you’ll find plenty of outlets selling embroidered clothing and linen, painted or beaded eggs, carpets, pottery and woodcarvings.

Other cultural attractions include the Banat Museum (art, natural history and ethnography), the Village Museum, the Botanical Garden, the Timisoara Philharmonic and the Opera House.

Useful Information

Oradea

The official Romanian Tourism website offers lots of useful advice and information for planning a trip to Romania along with hotel recommendations and approved tour operators, visit www.romaniatourism.com

Oradea, eight miles east of the RomanianHungarian border, is one of the most picturesque towns of western Romania, as well as an important cultural centre.

At the turn of the last century most of the town’s old houses were rebuilt and customized to the then trendy architectural style from Vienna called “Sezession,” with its richly decorated facades of pale pink, green, blue and white. The style is in evidence on many buildings found in the Old Downtown area of the city.

You can find out more about the city’s history with a visit to the Museum of the Crisana Region, which is housed in a splendid 1770 baroque palace with 365 windows modelled after the Belvedere Palace in Vienna.

One of the most impressive buildings in the city is the Oradea Fortress (Cetatea Oradea). Its present five point star shape dates back to 1569 when it was rebuilt after a series of attacks by invaders. Of particular note is the Fortress’s network of underground channels that were supplied by ducts of warm water during the winter.

There are over 100 religious sites of different denominations in Oradea, including three synagogues, the biggest Baptist Church in Eastern Europe and the Church of the Moon (Biserica cu Luna) – featuring an astronomical clock depicting the phases of the moon.

Romania’s currency is the Leu (plural “Lei” - pronunciation: lay). 1 Leu = 100 ban. (The exchange rate is approx £1=5.14 Lei).

The Church of the Moon, Oradea

Oradea

British Airways, Romanian Airlines Tarom, Wizz Air and Blue Air operate regular flights from the UK to Bucharest and Timisoara.

For the best flight deals search online using one of the many travel booking websites such as lastminute.com.

One of the best ways to see Romania is by car. This will save you a lot of time particularly when visiting some of the more remote parts of the country. Most major international auto rental companies operate in the major cities and airports. Renters must be over 21 and have a valid driver’s licence and an internationally valid credit card.

As the language can be quite difficult to pick up it is worth considering hiring a guide on your first visit – the Romanian Tourist Board will offer advice on this!

Arad

Soimos medieval fortress

Sitting on the banks of the River Mures (just north of Timisoara), Arad is a city rich in history. Its churches and cathedrals span four centuries, several denominations and architectural styles ranging from baroque to neoclassic. The exciting architecture of the buildings in the city’s square reflects City Hall, Arad the influence of the one-time AustrianHungarian occupation; most notable are the City Hall and Cenad Palace.

An original Turkish fortress (built in 1550 and rebuilt twice in the 17th and 18th centuries), the Palace of Culture and the State Philharmonic House are some of the other sights to enjoy here.

If you have some extra time head 15 miles east of the city and visit the Minis Maderat Vineyard which is one of the stars of the winemaking area with its esteemed history in wine production (its Rosu de Minis won the biggest prize in London’s wine contest in 1862).

The Water Tower Museum, Arad

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travel

TRAVEL CLINIC Your questions answered

Q:

What can you do about travel insurance premiums for the older traveller?

Windmills at the Astra Museum

Did you know?

The Palace of Parliament, located in Bucharest, ranks as the biggest office building in Europe and second largest in the world, after the U.S. Pentagon.

Romania has the second largest underground glacier in Europe The 3,500-year old Scarisoara glacier, located in the Bihor Mountains – 90 miles southwest of Cluj Napoca - has a volume of 2,649,000 cubic feet (75,000 cubic metres), making it the second largest European underground glacier, after the Eisriesenwelt ice cave in Austria.

The meaning of the word “Transylvania” is the land beyond the forest Transylvania was first referred to in a Medieval Latin document dating from 1075 as Ultra Silvam (Ultra meaning “beyond” or “on the far side of …” and Sylva (sylvam) meaning “wood or forest”).

Romania has the second-largest outdoor museum in the world (the largest is Ancient Siam, a park in Thailand) Astra Museum in Sibiu features more than 300 buildings as well as watermills and windmills, gigantic presses for wine, fruit and oil, hydraulic forges and structures representing village architectural styles from many parts of Romania.

The Romanian city of Timisoara was the first in Europe to have electric street lighting Timisoara was the first European city to introduce horse-drawn trams (in 1869) and electric street lighting (in 1889).

The Palace of Parliament

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A:

We asked our friends at The Civil Service Insurance Society for their answer to this question.

According to the Association of British Insurers (ABI) people over the age of 65 are three times more likely to make a claim on their travel insurance, while people over 85-years-old are eight times more likely to claim. The average medical expense claim made by someone over the age of 65 is also more likely to be three-and-a-half-times more costly than that of a policyholder under the age of 50.

This means that older travellers are paying more for their cover, provided an Insurer can be found in the first place.

The ABI is encouraging more guidance for the elderly traveller to help seek out the increasing number of alternative Internet and specialist markets. The British Insurance Brokers Association (BIBA) will point people in the direction of insurance brokers who specialise in helping older travellers. There are also affinity organisations such as SAGA and Age Concern that may be able to help.

Even where premiums are reasonable, the policy may exclude pre-existing medical conditions, so check the small print.

When you find an insurer willing to offer you cover, you will probably have to declare any pre-existing medical conditions, or, whether you have taken any prescribed medication or attended hospital within the last 12 months. They might also ask if you anticipate any tests or treatment in the future and whether you have submitted any medical claims within the last three years. If the answer is “yes” you may find the condition excluded or may have to pay an additional charge.

CSIS – who offer travel cover with no age limit (except in the USA/Canada or whilst skiing) - include a confidential medical referral service to establish if cover can be given for pre-existing medical conditions without additional charge, but with a higher excess (if the

condition is accepted) - which many consider to be a fairer approach.

Once accepted by the insurer, you should be aware that some activities on your trip may not be covered by your policy. Certain hazardous pursuits – including quad biking, motorcycling holidays, hot air ballooning, parachuting and piloting light aircraft – are likely to be excluded. Even some less hazardous activities – such as deep-sea fishing, yachting, paragliding, safaris and scuba diving ¬– may have terms attached or increased excesses applied, so always check the small print of your policy.

The young at heart who enjoy a bit of partying should also remember that most insurers will not meet any claim attributable to the influence of alcohol, or drugs not prescribed by a doctor.

With advancing years comes a greater risk of travel associated health problems, but this need not prevent you from obtaining cover. Following some sensible advice, and with adequate travel insurance in place, there’s nothing to stop the more mature tourist from having fantastic fun abroad.

USEFUL INFORMATION CSIS - www.csis.co.uk or call 0845 6077444.

ABI – www.abi.org.uk or call 0207 600 3333 BIBA – www.biba.org.uk or call 0870 950 1790 Or Google “specialist travel insurance”

talk tous If you’ve got a travel problem you’d like us to help with send it to the Editor using the Fellowship Office address at the front of the magazine

feature

true genius Alan Turing was arguably one of the great wonders of the 20th century. His intellectual ability created wonders that had never been conceived before, and set out the pathway for modern computers and technology.

During his life, his greatest achievement remained his greatest secret. During this year, the centenary of his birth, thousands of people across the world will celebrate the life and legacy of Alan Turing. Stephen Davy-Osborne looks at his now infamous genius and the global impact his work has had

U

p until the late 1980s, Turing’s name was most commonly associated with the creation of what we now know as the modern computer. His research at the University of Manchester, where he was employed as the Director of the Computing Machine Laboratory, had earned him a formidable reputation as being at the very top of his game.

Turing had first revealed his desire to create a ‘Thinking Machine’ while at the University of Cambridge, where his dexterity with figures was unrivalled.

When war was declared in Europe, he was sent to the then top-secret Bletchley Park to join an elite team of highly

skilled mathematicians to help crack the Enigma Machine.

Allied convoys, carrying vital supplies of raw materials from America to Britain, were being decimated in the North Atlantic by the stealthy German U-boats, and, as food reserves in the UK reached a dangerous low, it became even more imperative that the coded messages were deciphered to give the merchant navy some advantage over the grey wolves that lurked beneath the waves.

But cracking the Enigma Machine was no mean feat. These type-writer-like machines encoded a message into what would appear to be absolute nonsense to anyone who intercepted that message.

The original message could then only be decoded by another Enigma Machine that had been programmed with the same code as the one that had originally sent the message. The Enigma Machines themselves were so advanced, that any given message could be encoded in an eye-watering 159 billion different ways. One might therefore understand why the Nazis thought their system was impenetrable.

With Turing on-board at Bletchley, his brilliant mind was put to work on creating the Bombe Machine, which could handle vast amounts of data and come up with possible solutions to the encoded Enigma messages. The problem with the Enigma

member OFFER Bletchley Park is offering CSRF members a special entrance deal – cut out this coupon and take with you to redeem

Valid until 31 December 2012 www.bletchleypark.org.uk The Mansion, Bletchley Park, Sherwood Drive Milton Keynes, MK3 6EB Tel: 01908 640404, info@bltchleypark.org.uk

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An Enigma Machine

was that the codes kept changing. So even if the team found a way in, and were able to decipher messages for a time, it was not long before the codes were changed by German Intelligence and the Bletchley Team found themselves in the dark once again.

Such an on-going arduous task required on-going work and significant manpower.

During his time at Bletchley, he and his colleagues stressed to top brass that the work they were undertaking required much greater man-power to process the high volume of data being collected by intelligence officers. It took a letter to new Prime Minister, Winston Churchill to resolve this. As a result, Turing then went on to design the Colossus Computer at Bletchley, a machine that could speed up the de-coding of the German messages.

Like all of the men and women employed by the intelligence services, Turing’s work at Bletchley Park was highly secret. Even after the war ended, many of his technological breakthroughs remained highly classified. It wouldn’t be for another 45 years, following the fall of the Berlin Wall in Germany, before the true identity and work of Bletchley Park was made public, and the extraordinary achievements of all those stationed there was revealed to the world.

Indeed, the real reason for Turing’s OBE could not be revealed for it would compromise the Security Service and expose the wartime efforts at Bletchley.

Turing’s legacy is truly staggering.

Modern computers simply would not be as advanced as they are today without the research and drive that Turing had to create a Thinking Machine.

Bernard Richards, now a Professor at the University of Manchester was one of Turing’s students and he is in no doubt as to his former teacher’s tremendous contribution to science. He is delighted that there are so many events planned

around the world to celebrate his centenary, “I want people to recognise his abilities. I often liken Turing to the great pyramid in Giza in the sense that it is great; it is significant, and it had four sides. I see Turing very much like that: he too had four facets: he was a computer designer and a computer programmer; he was a mathematician; he had ideas for using the computer as a ‘Thinking Machine’; and he also researched in Botany and Biology.”

Perhaps the biggest acknowledgement of Turing and his team’s efforts at Bletchley Park to lay the foundations of the modern computer came from the Internet search engine Google. The Company recently made a donation of £550,000 to Bletchley Park to help kickstart the Centenary Celebrations into gear and transform the site into a world-class heritage and education centre.

It is not surprising, really, when you consider that Turing’s work has touched the vast majority of the population in some form or another that so many people have chosen to pay tribute to this great visionary. He not only helped change the course of the war, but revolutionized the twentieth century, creating technology that most of us could only dream of beginning to understand.

Colossus Machine

The lake view of B Block, Bletchley Park

Bombe Machine

Bletchley Park

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entertainment

leisure life

books New releases reviewed

by Janet Tester

Our regular round up of books and entertainment

Calories & Corsets

By Louise Foxcroft (Profile Books Ltd) It is very sad that, over two millennia, we have fought the battle of the bulge with apparently very little success.

Award winning historian Louise Foxcroft has meticulously researched the subject of diets and dieting and how our complicated relationship with food, fashion and fads of body shape has dominated so much of so many people’s lives.

From Lord Byron, the first famous dieter to the present day Dukan Diet credited with Prince William’s mother-in-law’s svelte figure, the search seems to be always on for the next ‘sure thing’.

This witty book exposes the extreme lengths that people will often go to in order to achieve the perfect body – the multi-million pound dieting industry seems to have a safe future.

Bus-Pass Britain

Gamble

Edited by Nicky Gardner and Susanne Kries (Bradt Travel Guides Ltd, UK)

By Felix Francis (Michael Joseph)

In 2008 the existing regional bus passes in England were extended to cover the whole country. Suddenly pensioners had free travel throughout England, all that was needed was the time, the imagination and the ability to work round timetables, which were sometimes, more than approximate!

Bradt Travel Guides needed information on favourite routes and this collection of fifty is the result of a competition attracting many entries from members of U3A (the University of the Third Age).

This delightful guide is slim enough to fit neatly into a pocket, it is sub-divided into regional areas and packed with lovely photographs with descriptions by those who submitted their favourite routes for the rest of us to enjoy.

A short section at the end explains who is eligible for free travel and also indicates what is available for those not so lucky, citing a variety of modestly priced day and week passes. Even if one can’t manage many of the routes, it is still a great pleasure to read about them, perhaps while waiting for the next bus?

Save money on buying this book see page 49

The Pocket Book of Good Grannies

By Jane Fearnley-Whittingstall (Short Books) This neat little volume is indeed quite short as its publisher would imply but it’s packed with good stuff and will gladden any grandmother’s heart.

With lovely cartoons by Alex Fox, each granny-type

Felix Francis, former teacher of A Level Physics and younger son of the legendary Dick Francis, has been co-writing with his father for several years. Sadly Dick died in February 2010 and Gamble is Felix’s first solo Dick Francis novel.

Many fans of the master have been eagerly awaiting the publishing of a new novel each year and it is very pleasing that Felix is carrying on the tradition, losing none of the skill of his father.

As always, impeccable research allows the characters to be drawn with conviction – this time the main character, Nick, is a financier, a career he had to take up after being very badly injured as a jockey. His colleague is murdered as they stand together at the races and the story unfolds from there.

The writing of these novels is always first-class and there is the added bonus of being able to learn something new each time both about horse racing and also about the chosen profession of the main character.

is wittily described, and charmingly drawn. There are about forty different types of granny to choose from – including Wise Granny, Yoga Granny, Mad Granny and High-maintenance Granny and it can be quite fun to find matches for the Granny types from your friends.

Jane Fearnley-Whittingstall is the best-selling author of several ‘granny’ books, has six grandchildren of her own and is mother of Hugh, the TV chef.

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The Necessary Aptitude A Memoir

By Pam Ayres (Ebury Press)

Mile by Mile on Britain’s Railways

By S. N. Pike MBE (Aurum) In 1947 S. N. Pike, about whom very little is known, self-published three little pamphlets each mapping in great detail one of Britain’s mainline rail routes. More than sixty years on they have become fascinating archival documents of the railway system before Dr Beeching decimated it.

Aurum has reissued all three of S. N. Pike’s cherished Mile by Mile guides together with an entirely new guide to the GWR, from Paddington to Penzance and to Bristol, as it was in 1947, in the same cartographic style, so that at last the set is complete.

This delightful book will remind today’s traveller of the great pleasures that were had in the golden age of rail travel.

films

This is a lovely book – Pam writes as she speaks with humour and humility. What is also very clear is that she is amazingly perceptive – no tiny detail escapes her – and it is this that brings to life not only her poetry but also her endearing writing about her childhood and early years.

Her childhood in Stanford in the Vale was idyllic in many ways and her descriptions of life in the immediate post-war years will ring bells for many readers. Her life as a teenager with four older brothers and a sister tells of a lively mind and a yearning for something more in her life. Eventually she joined the WRAF and found herself posted to the Far East.

That was when she started writing in earnest.

Pam is the author of several best-selling poetry collections and she is a regular guest on radio programmes such as Just A Minute, Loose Ends and Saturday Live. She was awarded an MBE in 2004.

dvds

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

Go to Blazes (50th Anniversary)

Released

by Studio Canal, RRP £17.99

Released

by Studio Canal, RRP £15.99

Starring: Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, Tom Hardy Set in the 1970s, this latest adaptation of Le Carre’s novel finds George Smiley (Gary Oldman), a recently retired MI6 agent, doing his best to adjust to a life outside the secret service. However, when a disgraced agent reappears with information concerning a mole at the heart of the Circus, Smiley is drawn back into the murky field of espionage. Tasked with investigating which of his trusted former colleagues has chosen to betray him and their country, Smiley narrows his search to four suspects – all experienced, urbane, successful agents – but past histories, rivalries and friendships make it far from easy to pinpoint the man who is eating away at the heart of the British establishment.

Starring: Maggie Smith, Dave King, Robert Morley and Daniel Massey Bernard, Harry and Alfie are three charming but foolhardy crooks whose smash and grab tactics rarely come off. On their way for another stint behind bars they see the traffic part for an on call fire engine and hatch a new plan. Upon their release they set out to acquire a fire engine to use as the perfect getaway vehicle on a jewellery robbery.

But when they are mistaken for real firemen their plan begins to unravel! With a cast that reads like a who’s who of British comedy (Maggie Smith, Will Hay, Thora Hird) this release is a lost gem and one guaranteed to put a smile on your face!

Our recommendation is that the best place to buy DVDs is online on sites such as amazon.co.uk – however if you don’t have access to the Internet, high street stores such as WHSmith and HMV have extensive ranges.

Oscar Tip – the film

has received 3 Oscar nominations for 2012 including Gary Oldman for ‘Best Actor’!

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel Released by 20th Century Fox on February 24 The cast list for this film is like a ‘who’s who’ of great British acting talent!!

Dame Maggie Smith, Dame Judi Dench, Penelope Wilton, Celia Imrie, Tom Wilkinson, Bill Nighy and Ronald Pickup are just a few of the hugely talented actors to feature in this story of a group of British retirees who decided to move to a ‘wonderful’ hotel in India and discover it’s not quite as luxurious as they had thought. From the trailers for this film currently being shown it looks every bit as good as you might expect from the colossally experienced cast!

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SPRING 2012 www.csrf.org.uk

Atlaspix / Shutterstock.com

HANDY GUIDE To celebrate her 60 years, HM The Queen and members of the Royal Family are undertaking a number of visits and activities around the UK. At the time of going to press these are just some of the highlights – but for more up to date information visit the websites mentioned below or keep an eye on your local newspaper and TV news channel for further announcements.

Regional visits

The Queen will undertake a series of regional visits and engagements supported by other Members of the Royal Family.

Details of the programme will include: 29 March North London 26 - 27 April Wales 1 - 2 May South West England 15 May South London 16 - 17 May North West England 13 - 14 June East Midlands and East Anglia 25 June & 25 July South East England 2- 6 July Scotland (Holyrood Week) 11 – 12 July West Midlands 18 – 19 July North East England

Diamond Jubilee Pageant, Windsor 10,11 and 13 May

Dancers, musicians, military and equestrian displays from around the world will come together for three nights in a performance to pay tribute to 60 spectacular years of HM The Queen’s reign. There will also be a Jubilee Royal Horse Show taking place during the day.

weekend of 2-5 June this year will be an extended bank holiday. The main programme of activities will run as follows:

Saturday 2 June

The Queen will attend the Epsom Derby

Sunday 3 June

The Big Jubilee Lunch – people

Diamond Jubilee Pageant, Windsor: Tickets are priced from £30- £100 for this event. To book call 0844 581 4970 or book online at www.diamondjubilee-pageant.com

are encouraged to share lunch with neighbours and friends as part of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations. This could take the form of a traditional street party or a picnic lunch in small or larger groups.

Big Jubilee Lunch: For inspiration and ideas on how to get involved visit www.thebiglunch.com

The River Pageant

The River Pageant: For general information and enquiries call 020 7592 0894 or visit www. thamesdiamondjubileepageant.org

Over 1,000 boats from across the UK and Commonwealth will assemble on the River Thames for a procession, which will be lead by The Queen on a Royal barge.

Recommendations for the best places to see the Pageant can be found on the website.

Monday 4 June

The Main Jubilee Weekend

BBC Concert – there will be a televised concert at Buckingham Palace that is expected to feature British and Commonwealth musicians.

To mark the 60th anniversary the government has announced that the

The Diamond Jubilee Beacons

2-5 June

MORE INFORMATION

– a network of 2,012 beacons will be lit across the UK, as well as the Isle of Man, Channel Islands and Commonwealth. The Queen will light the National Beacon in London.

Tuesday 5 June

Service of Thanksgiving and Carriage Procession –

The Queen will attend a service at St Paul’s Cathedral, which will be followed by a carriage procession.

BBC Concert: Tickets will be offered by public ballot in due course – for more information visit www.royal.gov.uk Jubilee Beacons: To find out more about events near you visit www. diamondjubileebeacons.co.uk For more information on events and activities taking place around the country to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee visit www.directgov.uk/ diamondjubilee

talk tous Are you planning to hold a Diamond Jubilee event? Or maybe your local group is cooking up something special?

Write in using the contact information at the front of the magazine and tell us more as throughout 2012 we will be publishing photos of groups celebrating the Diamond Jubilee event.

Flotilla illustration, Josh Knowles www.csrf.org.uk SPRING 2012

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coffee break Trivia and titbits to keep your mind in gear!

woof woof!

The Queen has owned more than 30 corgis during her reign, her first (Susan) was a present for her 18th birthday.

She currently has five corgis, Emma, Linnet, Monty, Holly and Willow.

What is a grandparent? (taken from papers written by a class of 8 year olds) Grandparents are a lady and a man who have no little children of their own…they like other peoples.

A grandfather is a man and a grandmother is a lady!

Grandparents don’t have to do anything except be there when we come to see them.

They are so old they shouldn’t play hard or run. It is good if they drive us to the shops and give us money.

When they take us for walks, they slow down past things like pretty leaves and caterpillars.

senior

MOMENTS Life’s observations through older eyes Youth is a wonderful thing.

When I use stairs I have to What a crime to waste it on stop midway to catch my children. (George Bernard breath. When I’m ready Shaw) to start again I can’t remember At our age Once you are whether I was everything has over the hill, you going upstairs either dried up begin to pick up or downstairs. speed. or leaks.

None are so old (Charles M Schulz) as those who have outlived enthusiasm.

Wrinkles should merely indicate where smiles have Back up my hard drive? How been. (Mark Twain) do I put it in reverse?

I am getting to an age You don’t know the meaning when I can enjoy the last of embarrassment until your sport left. It’s called hunting hip replacement sets off the for spectacles. metal detector at the airport.

(Edward Grey)

Anyone at home?

Where’s granny?

This was heard on an answering machine

A six year old was asked where his grandma lived.

‘Oh’ he said, ‘She lives at the airport and when we want her we just go get her. Then when we’re done having her visit, we take her back to the airport.’

‘Good morning….at present we are not at home….Please leave your message after you hear the beep…Beeeep….

If you are one of our children, dial 1 and then select the option from 1 to 5 in order of ‘arrival’ so we know who it is.

Thank you now please respond as follows: If you need us to stay with the children, press 2 If you want to borrow the car, press 3 If you want us to wash your clothes and iron them, press 4 If you want the grandchildren to sleep here tonight, press 5 If you want us to pick up the kids at school, press 6 If you want us to prepare a meal for Sunday, or to have it delivered to your home, press 7 If you want to come to eat here, press 8 If you need money, press 9 If you are going to invite us to dinner or take us to the theatre, start talking, we are listening!’

They show us and talk to us about the colours of the flowers and also why we shouldn’t step on ‘cracks’.

Usually grandmothers are fat but not too fat to tie your shoes.

They wear glasses and funny underwear.

They have to answer questions like ‘Why isn’t God married?’ and ‘How come dogs chase cats?’

WEATHER OR NOT

Three retired gentlemen, each with bad hearing, are playing golf on a blustery afternoon. One remarks to the other, ‘Windy, isn’t it?’

‘No,’ the second man replies, ‘it’s Thursday.’ And the third man chimes in, ‘So am I. There’s a pub just round the corner.’

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coffee time

Clever Conundrums for Older Intellects Some new puzzles for our Coffee Time section that are designed to test your mind, courtesy of Wrinklies’ Puzzles, published by Prion Books priced £7.99

Sum People

Work out what number is represented by which person and replace the question mark

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?

Aside from the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee being celebrated this year, 2012 has a number of other significant historic anniversaries:

▶ 200th anniversary of Charles Dicken’s birth (Dickens was born on 7 February 1812)

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▶ 200th anniversary of Edward Lear’s birth (Lear was born on 12 May 1812)

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▶ 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic (The Titanic sank on 14-15 April 1912)

6 4

did you KNOW?

▶ 100th anniversary of the founding of the Royal Air Force (The Royal Flying Corps was founded on 13 May 1912) ▶ 100th anniversary of the death of Captain Scott (Captain Robert Scott died on 29 March 1912 during his ill-fated voyage to the South Pole)

Double Drat

All these shapes appear twice in the box except one.

Can you spot the singleton?

▶ 80th anniversary of Amelia Earhart’s solo flight across the Atlantic (The flight took place on 21 May 1932)

Solutions will be published in the Summer 2012 issue

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SPRING 2012 www.csrf.org.uk

talk to us

Do you have a joke or funny story to share?

Send in your contributions to the Editor at the Fellowship Office address printed at the front of the magazine.

Prize Crossword

What would you do with £100 of Marks & Spencer vouchers? Enter our prize crossword and you might just find out if you are our lucky winner! Congratulations to our Winter winner, one of our international members, Mr B Wills from Anduze in France.

ACROSS 7. Not allowed (6) 8. Substituted (8) 9. Inside (8) 10. Acquired knowledge (6) 11. Expectant (8) 12. Support for workers measures (6) 13. Temperature gauge (11) 18. Armed troops (6) 20. Preparations for exams (8) 22. Mend (6) 23. Who you are (8) 24. Football officials (8) 25. ___ and Ladders? (6)

DOWN 1. Race competitors (7) 2. What strong man has (8) 3. Recurring unit in poem (6) 4. Clapping (8) 5. Home of Five-O (6) 6. What it’s about (7) 8. Family connections (13) 14. Seat set aside (8) 15. A native of Cairo (8) 16. In whatever way (7) 17. Made from wool (7) 19. Pursued (6) 21. Troubled (6)

Solution to Winter Prize Crossword

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2

3

7

4

5

6

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16 18

17 19

22

20

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TO ENTER: Please send the completed crossword, along with your name, address and postcode to: PRIZE CROSSWORD, CSRF, Suite 2, 80A Blackheath Road, London SE10 8DA. The judges’ decision is final. Winners will be notified by post. Closing date: 30 March 2012 NAME: ADDRESS:

POSTCODE: EMAIL:

Please tick if you do not wish to receive our e-newsletter

Terms & Conditions :The publisher reserves the right to substitute a prize of equivalent or equal value if necessary.

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postbag

POSTbag Digital Inclusion Dear Postbag, I was surprised to read about the Internet article in avanti having such a mixed response. I had an Internet TV bought for me by my son and daughter in law for my 80th birthday which I enjoyed because I have a daughter and her family in South Africa. However I could only look at photos and when my daughter was over here I said I would like a computer. We borrowed my son’s old one which was being scrapped and then we went out and bought a basic one.

I am now 89 and I’m pleased to say I have Facebook and Picassa (photo album) which is great for keeping up with the growing

family; I have just been given the gift of a Great Grandson, a brother for his sister. I also have Skype and a printer.

At the moment I am still feeling the effects of having Shingles and as they were in my head and face I cannot see properly so would have difficulty writing, but even with a few typo errors I can manage to keep in touch. I am only able to go out with help so I find my computer a good friend. I would like to encourage more people to join the Silver Surfers Edna Kirby, Middlesbrough (by email) Dear Postbag, It is interesting to see how older people like me (78) have managed to come to terms with the computer and with the Internet.

Having retired I decided to write a book, The Magwitch Story using my computer and the internet in order to get it published.

Since then I have published two more about Abel Magwitch, and I am in the process of having a fourth book published. So I would say to all of you out there: ‘Have a go’.

Writing your book, and we all have one inside our heads, is a brilliant way to get to learn how to use the computer and the internet.

MUSical thoughts Dear Postbag, You asked if any of us had played since retirement. I play clarinet/sax in Gosport U3A Swing Band which I lead and my wife plays accordion. We also play in a Folk group and sing in the Songsters as well as playing in a pub once a month. The ages of our band range from 60ish to about 85.

John Taylor, Gosport (by email)

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SPRING 2012 www.csrf.org.uk

Dear Postbag, I have two tracks on Herding Cats - a new charity double CD for the British Computer Association for the Blind (BCAB) and perform alongside Jeremy Irons, Linda Bellingham, Michael Palin, Toyah Wilcox, Bernard Cribbins, James Bolam and many others.

As you’ll see, it’s a very worthy cause. There is a link on the BCAB page to

purchase this little gem - BCAB will receive more money in this way - or it’s available on Amazon.

Members can find out more about the CD on the BCAB website www.bcab.org.uk/guidecats-cds/herding-cats John Scott Cree, Horley (by email)

Your letters and opinions shared

My email is lester.tonyr@gmail.com and if anyone wants to contact me to ask for advice about how to start writing and getting published, I will try to help.

Tony Lester (by email)

Ed’s Note – another good source of inspiration for any budding writer is the Society for Civil and Public Sector Writers (SCPSW) – check out their website at www.scpsw.co.uk

ON THE BUSES Dear Postbag, I was interested to read the recent correspondence on the Thames Valley Bristol K-type bus 446, which is indeed a fine specimen.

As it was, I rode on buses of this type to school, and a couple of years ago wrote my book on Thames Valley 1946 to 1960, a detailed history of that operator and its fleet. I still have a stock of these and would be happy to offer them to fellow readers at the discounted price of £15 inclusive of postage (cover cost £25) if they mention avanti. It’s 224 pages A4 and contains 544 photographs, along with route maps and fleet list.

Cheque to: Paul Lacey, 17 Sparrow Close, Woosehill, Wokingham, Berkshire, RG41 3HT. Paul Lacey, Wokingham (by email)

Ed’s Note - that’s great Paul, many thanks for sharing that with our members, I’m sure people will be taking you up on the offer

SPACE CONSTRAINTS: It’s lovely to hear from you and read all of the long letters you take the time to write. But unfortunately due to space constraints we are often unable to print the full version of some of them. In these cases, letters will be edited to fit within the allotted space we give to Postbag.

DID YOU KNOW?

WARTIME MEMORIES

If you want an audio copy of avanti then contact the Fellowship Office for more information on how one can be sent to you free of charge.

Dear Postbag, The article about HMS Campania brought back wartime memories for me.

In 1945 shortly after the VJ day celebrations in Trinidad the Royal Naval air station was disbanded and I (PO (Radar)) and crew were returned to the UK on HMS Campania. We were allowed to stock up our lockers with green fruit (bananas and grapefruit) which was a wonderful surprise for our families who had been deprived of such things for many years. My little sister did not know what a banana was and had to be shown how to deal with it.

Walter Liddiard, Clwyd

REMEMBERING LLANDUDNO Dear Postbag, Like Betty Vickery (Postbag Winter 2011), my father was evacuated to Llandudno with the Inland Revenue early in the war. His office was in the Imperial Hotel and he had a splendid view of the whole bay from his window. Until my mother and I joined him he was ‘billeted’ in a boarding house on the front with several other ‘evacuees’ and I sometimes wondered what conversation was like at breakfast amongst all the enforced bachelors.

An added bonus was that the BBC was evacuated to Bangor, a few miles further west along the North Wales coast. Variety shows like “Happidrome” on a Sunday evening were broadcast live from the Grand Theatre in Llandudno, and you could catch sight of visiting artists as they came out of the stage door at the end of the performance.

Hugh Lewis, Bushey, Herts (by email) Dear Postbag, Having read the letter in the winter edition of avanti, I thought you might like to hear about my time spent in Llandudno during the war.

In 1940 I was a clerical assistant in the Inland Revenue, working in Somerset House in the Strand. In September 1940 a bomb hit Somerset House at night and it was decided to send a lot of us to Llandudno. We set off for Llandudno by special train on September 20th and after arriving were taken to our various billets. I was in Lloyd

Street with 11 other women. The next day we found our various hotels and I started in the St George’s and was then moved to the Somerset.

Those of us who were C.A.s had a job called ‘connecting’ and in the mornings after the post had arrived we had to go to the various hotels to connect the post with its office. The photograph shows four of us ‘connecting’ (I am on the far right).

One of the things that we were able to do that first winter was to go upstairs in the hotel and have a bath. I also remember doing my washing in the cloakroom of the St George’s. The Ormescliffe was used as a social centre and also, in the attics, for doing our washing and ironing. We used to visit the Pavilion Theatre, now long gone, for entertainment and the Grand Theatre (now the Boulevard) which the BBC had taken over.

I enjoyed being in Llandudno and am now back here again, permanently.

Peggy Jones (nee Humphries), Llandudno, Wales

Ed’s Note – Betty’s letter in the last issue has hit a chord – so please keep any holiday memories coming in to Postbag.

Are there other places around the UK that you remember fondly during your time in the Civil Service? Write in and tell me about them using the usual address

talk tous If you have a story or picture to share, write or send it to the Editor using the contact information at the front of the magazine.

LIVING THE GOOD LIFE Dear Postbag, Allow me to introduce myself. I am a retired civil servant (MOD), and member of the CSRF. With my other hat, I am a Trustee and Manager for Blackwater Wildlife Rescue (BWR). Although not strictly Wildlife, nevertheless our members and volunteers are generally keen on all aspects of animal welfare, conservation etc, and I am always on the lookout for relevant articles in the various publications I receive, as are they.

It is with this in mind that I write to you today. It concerns the most enjoyable and informative article entitled “How to live the good life” by Martin Sayers, in your latest edition of avanti.

Here at BWR we grow a lot of food, mainly for the resident animals and this year for the first time, with the help of some donated vegetables and greenery managed to be self sufficient in that area of feedstuff.

The only thing I would like to add to the article is to plead the case for rehoming ex-battery hens, usually free of charge, with many years of productive lay still ahead of them. The joy of seeing your hens scratching on soil, making happy chicken noises, enjoying sunshine and dust baths is wonderful, and after a few weeks of care their feathers start to regrow and they too can look like the ideal picture you showed of such a lovely specimen.

The Battery Hen Welfare Trust has regional rescue centres around the country. Their contact details are as follows – Tel: 01769 580310, Website: www.bhwt.org.uk, Email: info@bhwt. org.uk Please consider addressing the balance of your otherwise excellent article, in a most enjoyable magazine.

Carole Waite, Blackwater, Surrey

Ed’s Note – Many thanks for your letter Caroline, we are delighted to help raise awareness of the plight of ex-battery hens and I hope its publication helps to continue the good work of the Battery Hen Welfare Trust

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offers

MEMBER OFFERS THE NATIONAL GARDENS SCHEME Published each year The Yellow Book is the essential listing of gardens to visit and provides a county-by-county guide to the thousands of welcoming gardens in England & Wales, many of which are not normally open to the public. Each garden is described and includes directions, admission price as well as opening dates and times.

The 2012 edition will contain details of over 3,700 gardens with over 650 new gardens listed.

Some special deals exclusively for you!

Cecil Beaton, Queen Elizabeth II with Prince Andrew, 1960 © V&A Images

To purchase your copy of the Yellow Book 2012 at the special CSRF member offer price of just £7 (RRP £9.99) including both post and packing to UK postal addresses please order via their website www.ngs.org.uk or call 01483 211535 (during office hours) and use the following promotional code - CSYB12.

If you enjoyed our book review of Bus-Pass Britain (on page 39) then why not take advantage of this special 30% discount (RRP £15.99) to buy the book (p&p offered free to UK addresses) offered by the publishers, Bradt Guides.

To order online visit www.bradtguides.com or call 01752 202387 – quote the code AVANTI30.

TRACING YOUR FAMILY HISTORY The latest guide to be released by consumer experts Which? is packed with step-by-step instructions, jargon busters, and practical tips. The book guides you through the entire process of tracing your family history, from interviewing relatives and consulting both online and offline records, to recording your findings and building your family tree on a home PC. The book also includes tips on: • Checking censuses and parish registers • Understanding and interpreting documents • Searching military and occupational records A CD-Rom of family tree software Family Historian Starter Edition 4.1 is also included with the book.

The CD allows you to add up to 80 people per project, incorporate photos and videos, and share the tree with your family and friends.

Which? is offering CSRF members a special deal for this guide – just £10.99 incl. P&P (usual price £12.99). To order your copy 01903 828 557 and quote FAMILY. Offer ends 25 May 2012

V&A MUSEUM – Cecil Beaton Queen Elizabeth II by Cecil Beaton features portraits of Her Majesty The Queen by great society photographer Cecil Beaton. It shows the Queen in her roles as princess, monarch and mother and coincides with the 60th anniversary of her accession to the throne.

There are nearly 100 images from wartime to official portraits and informal moments of the Queen at home.

The exhibition includes a number of never seen before photographs, film clips, Beaton’s personal scrapbooks and shows how the images of the monarchy changed dramatically over the course of the 20th century.

V&A is delighted to offer CSRF members £2 off exhibition tickets bought in person at the V&A. Please present your membership card or this page of the magazine at the ticket desk to redeem your discount.

Offer price £4 (full price ticket £6) Offer valid until 22 Apr 2012. Subject to availability.

Timed tickets in operation.

Information: V&A, Cromwell Road, London SW7 www.vam.ac.uk/cecilbeaton

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group news

GROUPFOCUS News and information from around the group network – main reporting by David Tickner (DT)

Branch members enjoying their lunch

‘Meritorious Service’

Ascot & Sunningdale group 20 January

‘End of an Era’ lunch

North Sussex branch 16 November 2011 Members from the Crawley, Horley, East Grinstead and Horsham groups enjoyed a first class lunch in November last year to mark the end of the North Sussex branch. In spite of this the groups in the area will continue to operate with the support from Fellowship Office.

The lunch was held in the restaurant of the Central College in the heart of Crawley and was well attended with over 50 guests.

After the food there was the obligatory raffle with musical entertainment being provided by the irrepressible Evelyn George.

Evelyn gave members the chance to pick songs from a printed repertoire of over 150 and kicked off her part of the lunch with a rendition of the Fellowship song!

I slipped away to the sound of members singing along to some well-known songs while Evelyn was sparkling on the piano! A big thanks to all those who put a lot of hard work and effort into arranging a very well organised event. (DT)

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One of my fondest memories from the many wonderful group visits I’ve done in the last few years was the afternoon I was first introduced to a beetle drive.

It was during my first visit to the Ascot & Sunningdale group and if memory serves me correctly our team managed a respectable third. The lady who looked after me that day (and was my team partner in the Beetle drive) was the lady I was revisiting to present with a well deserved Certificate of Merit, Sylvia Hennah. She has been secretary of the group for nine years, working hard to make sure that the meetings run smoothly and all

Sylvia Hennah (holding her certificate) with committee members of Ascot & Sunningdale group

members feel welcome.

It was a lovely afternoon (thanks to John Cook for excellent organisation), which combined AGM business for the year ahead with an entertaining account of a cruise to Alaska. It was very nice to reacquaint myself with group members and I have been invited back in October for their highly contested annual quiz! (DT)

competition was held. The centre boasts a very modern facility for bowling; this was followed by a very good luncheon. The afternoon was rounded off with several members enjoying rides on the Dodgems. Our meeting on 30 November was a first for the group as instead of a speaker we enjoyed a morning of festive bingo, preceded by coffee and mince pies.

On December 7 we enjoyed our Christmas lunch which was held this Report from Sylvia Allkins year at The Hannafore Point Hotel in Looe, overlooking the bay. We enjoyed a pleasant lunch which was a fitting On November 9, the group enjoyed a way to end the group’s activities in day at the Trethorne leisure complex, near to Launceston. They arrived in time 2011. Thanks go to P&S Waye, J.Slade and M.Ball for organising the events. for coffee and then a 10 pin bowling

Liskeard & Pensilva news

group forum

Age takes Centre Stage

Congratulations to the Whitley Bay group for being nominated for an award at the 2011 Age Takes Centre Stage event. Supported by North Tyneside Age UK it took place on board the DFDS King of Seaways where members received an award for doing good work for the retired people in their group.

At the Ambassadors

A big thank you to the Ambassadors Theatre Group for extending an invitation

Belinda Stalker pictured with Theresa Baker from the Ambassadors Theatre Group and CSRF group outings organisers

Share your ideas with other groups throughout the network. If something’s worked for your group then tell us about it Members of the Whitley Bay group with their award

to group organisers to join them at a special matinee performance of the Lion King that took place at the Lyceum Theatre in central London. Group representatives from Aldershot, Ascot & Sunningdale, Basingstoke, Kingston, Ipswich, Eltham, Trowbridge, Catford & Lewisham, Stubbington and Sutton attended the event along with Branch & Group Co-Ordinator Belinda Stalker from Fellowship Office. (DT)

Directors’ visits

Some of our Board of Directors have been out and about visiting groups recently. Tony Hazeldine (pictured above, 2nd from right) paid a visit to the Weymouth group in January to talk to members about the future plans for the Fellowship.

If you would like to put a request in for a visit by one of the Board of Directors then please contact Hannah at 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 so please try to submit them as soon as you can to ensure success.

Jubilee Celebrations

You might be considering planning a small party or fete to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee. If so you can use it for fundraising and/or a recruitment initiative to attract new members to join your group.

For an event over a particular size you will need to apply for permission from

Visiting Llandudno

You may have read the letters in this issue and the last about the fond memories members had of their time in Llandudno during the war. The Llandudno group have contacted us to say that any members

talk tous

the local council. They will need to know about your event four to twelve weeks ahead of time and will ask you some questions about your plans or send you a simple application form.

You can download an application form directly from the Communities & Local Government website, www.communities.gov.uk

would be most welcome at their group meetings to share their reminiscences with group members. If you are considering visiting Llandudno then you can contact the group using the contact information in the Planner section.

Is your group planning a special Diamond Jubilee event?

Why not share the information with other members? Send your information marked for the attention of the Editor using the contact information at the front of the magazine.

Call my Bluff

The Croxley group ran a very successful session for the Watford (Cassiobury) group in November last year and West Hertfordshire branch secretary Ian White explains how the game works Our “Call my Bluff” is based on the television version of the game but instead of two teams we have one team and the audience.

The game is played as follows: 1. One of the team provides three words that might not be familiar to our audience.

2. The team member provides three versions of the meaning of each word, one being the correct meaning.

3. The Chairman introduces the first word, showing it to the audience on A4 size paper. He then invites each team member to give their version of the meaning of the word.

4. The Chairman then gives a very brief reminder of each version of the word and then asks the audience to raise their hands if they think the first version, describing it, is correct. The same procedure is followed for the other two versions.

5. The true version is then revealed, by the team member or the chairman. The audience win if more than half select the correct version.

The above procedure is repeated for the remaining two words. We find it takes about 20 to 30 minutes to complete the game of three words.

certificates of merit If you’d like to single out a particular member for recognition of their service to The CSRF then why not request a free Certificate of Merit or Appreciation. The request should normally come from a Branch or Group committee and be sent to Hannah Evans at Fellowship Office.

There are no forms to fill out either!

For more information contact Hannah Evans on 020 8691 7411 or email: hannah.evans@csrf.org.uk

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1

in pictures 2

1. Donnington group now have 6 nonagenarians, not that you’d guess it from this picture! Back (l to r) Gladys Edmond, Alice Merrington, Beatrice Walters; Front (l to r) Mona Gaunt, Madge Tooka, Evelyn Cliff 2. Trudy Thomas retired as branch secretary in November and was presented with a Luckenbooth brooch as a mark of thanks for her many years of service to the Edinburgh, Lothian & Borders branch. The Luckenbooth brooch is a medieval design in silver that signifies love and friendship (appropriate for the CSRF) and is particularly well known in the Edinburgh area.

3. Doug and Blanche Horsley from Tadley group were presented with Certificates of Merit for their service as Chairman and Secretary respectively by Board Director Tony Hazeldine.

4. Minehead group got into the festive spirit at their lunch at the Fox’s Hotel.

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5+6. Chairman Mick Grigg and Vice Chairman David Punshon (pic 5) did a spoof sketch based roughly on the Battle of Trafalgar at Taunton group’s Christmas lunch.

Members enjoyed a grand draw, a musical quiz and traditional Christmas dinner (pic 6).

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SPRING 2012 www.csrf.org.uk

7. Four members of the Bexleyheath group displaying their Appreciation Certificates. Between them they have chalked up 100 years of active service. From left to right: Fred Lynds, Sylvia Lynds, Ethel Thomas, Billy McCully.

8. Members of the Bolton group at Calf’s Head, Worston.

9. Grantham group members enjoying their Christmas lunch in December 2011.

10. Members of the Sutton group had fun at their afternoon tea at the Rubens Hotel, London.

11. Salisbury Plain group members having fun & games at their January finger buffet and entertainment afternoon.

group info SCOTLAND Dumfries & Kirkcudbright John Walker CHAIRMAN 01387 261889 j.walker215@btinternet.com We do not hold regular meetings but if you would like further details about coach outings and to book, please contact Pat Greig on 01387 770526.

07/03/12 AGM; Lunch and Short Play on Road Safety: ‘Better late than dead on time’ Moreig Hotel, Annan Road, Dumfries at 11.15am 04/04/12 Coach Trip to Cragside, Northumberland.

02/05/12 Coach Trip to Finlaystone Estate, Renfrewshire

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

East Neuk Nigel Thomas CHAIRMAN nigelgthomas@hotmail. com

Edinburgh (Central) Liz Beedie SECRETARY 0131 229 7422 Edinburgh Quaker Meeting House, First Floor, 7 Victoria Terrace, Edinburgh. Buses to George IV Bridge, there is a lift.

Third Tuesday of the month (Oct to Apr) at 2.00pm. We run walks throughout the year, meet at Lakeland, George Street at 1.30pm on the first Friday of each month. We meet at St. Johns Church, Lothian Road for coffee/tea at 2pm from May-Sep (incl).

20/03/12 Leith and its Past - talk by Mollie Gray, Author 17/04/12 The Everglades - talk by John Ramsay

Edinburgh (Corstorphine) Mr V Burchell SECRETARY 0131 334 5781 Martin Shields Hall, St. Ninian’s Church, Corstorphine, Edinburgh. Please note that during the summer months - May-September inclusive - we meet at St. Johns Church, Lothian Road for coffee/ tea at 2pm on the last Tuesday of the month Third Thursday of each month October-April at 10.30-11.45am 15/03/12 Coffee Morning 19/04/12 Coffee Morning

Edinburgh (Craiglockhart) Liz Beedie SECRETARY 0131 229 7422 Craiglockhart Parish Church Hall, Craiglockhart Drive North, Edinburgh. Please note that during the summer months - May-September inclusive - we meet at St. Johns Church, Lothian Road for coffee/ tea at 2pm on the last Tuesday of the month.

Second Wednesday of each month October-April at 2pm 14/03/12 A ‘Retro’ Afternoon introduced by Bernie O’Donnell 11/04/12 No meeting

Highland (Scotland) Mrs Pam Barnet LOCAL CONTACT 01463 790265 MacDougall Clansman Hotel, 103 Church Street, Inverness

SPRING PLANNER

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

First Wednesday of each month at 2pm & coffee morning on third Wednesday of each month at 11am. Walk and Lunch on the Friday 9 days after monthly meeting.

07/03/12 Monthly Meeting 21/03/12 Coffee Morning 04/04/12 Monthly Meeting 18/04/12 Coffee Morning 02/05/12 Monthly Meeting

Rosneath Mrs Coleen Titcomb SECRETARY 01436 842456 The Howie Pavillion, Rosneath First Monday of the month at 1.30pm 05/03/12 St. Dunstanes - talk by Alison West 02/04/12 Global Warming - talk by Rolf Johannessen 07/05/12 Life in the Navy - talk by Katrine Wreford

NORTHERN IRELAND & NORTH WEST ENGLAND

Second Monday of the month at 1.30-3.30pm (except April when it is the third Monday) 12/03/12 The Air Ambulance Service - talk by Barry Bond 16/04/12 Flower Arrangements demonstration by Julie Birkett (arrangements to be raffled - free tickets) 14/05/12 Luncheon at the Stretton Hotel, North Promenade

Bolton Eileen Nelson SECRETARY 01204 595246 eileen.nelson@ntlworld.com St. Andrews & St. Georges Church, St. Georges Road, Bolton First Tuesday of the month at 2pm 26/03/12 Outing to Broadstone Mill, Stockport 23/04/12 Outing to Holker Hall 28/05/12 Outing to Ness Gardens

Bury

Brian Shields CHAIRPERSON 028 9443 2615 Crown Buildings, 20 Castle Street, Antrim Second Wednesday of each month at 2.30pm

Gerald Beadling CHAIRMAN 01706 633674 The Mosses Community Centre, Cecil Street Each Wednesday at 2.15pm (except events listed below) 14/03/12 Lunch at Bury College (date to be confirmed, may be 14th or 21st)

Banbridge

Chester

Antrim

Margaret Stevenson CHAIRPERSON 028 4062 2950 1st Floor, Old Tech Building, Downshire Road First Wednesday of each month at 2pm 07/03/2012 Recycle - talk by Recycle Centre Manager 04/04/12 Fellowship Day Celebration 02/05/12 AGM

Bangor Isabel McKnight SECRETARY 028 9186 3410 IR3410@yahoo.co.uk Hamilton House, Hamilton Road, Bangor Second 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

Birkenhead/Wirral Miss Cynthia Morgan SECRETARY 0151 678 6266 Birkenhead Land Registry Office, Rosebrae Court, Woodside Ferry Approach, Birkenhead First Tuesday of the month at 2.00pm

Blackpool & Poulton Leonora Sanderson CHAIRMAN/SECRETARY 01253 358435 Council Chamber, Blackpool Town Hall, Talbot Square, Blackpool

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, Crewe First Tuesday of each month at 2pm 06/03/12 Birds of the Garden and Countryside illustrated talk by Peter Kirk 03/04/12 The Church Family of Nantwich - talk

by Mrs Sue Church 01/05/12 Jonathan & Pamela Baddeley - Music from the 50s and 60s

Lancaster & Morecambe Mrs V Pritchard CHAIRMAN 01524 32733 Torrisholme Methodist Church, Longton Drive, Torrisholme, Morecambe Second Tuesday of the month at 2.15pm 13/03/12 Songs from the Shows - John Atkinson and Jean Schofield www.csrf.org.uk spring 2012

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10/04/12 The Humorous Side of Funeral Directing - Paul Wilson 08/05/12 Rogues, Villains and Ghosts in Lancaster Castle - Colin Penny

10/04/12 History of the Yorkshire Dales - talk by Mrs A Henson 08/05/12 Consumer Rights - talk by Mr J Wilson

Lisburn

Bradford

Helen Fletcher SECRETARY 028 9261 1604 Bridge Community Centre, 50 Railway Street, Lisburn Second Monday of each month at 2.30pm 12/03/12 Outing to Stormont (tour of the building) 26/03/12 Outing to Glenariff Forest Park/ Antrim Coast 09/04/12 No meeting (Easter) 14/05/12 Outing to Fermanagh

Mr N Griffiths SECRETARY 01274 586410 Conference Room, Centenary Court, St Blaise Way Third Tuesday of each month at 2pm 20/03/12 Bradford, a Multicultural City - talk by Stanley King 17/04/12 Behind the Silk Curtain - talk by Miss Jeanette Wallace 15/05/12 The Role of a Parish Council Councillor Peter Ketley

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

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

Southport Mrs E Milne CHAIRPERSON 01704 560850 Conservative Club, Bath Street, Southport Third Thursday of each month at 2pm onwards 15/03/12 Monthly Get Together 19/04/12 Monthly Get Together 17/05/12 Monthly Get Together

Stockport/Grove Park Joan Broadbent SOCIAL SECRETARY 01625 873740 Brookdale Club, Bridge Lane, Bramhall First Thursday of each month at 2.15pm 01/03/12 One Thing Leads to Another - talk by Barbara Frost 05/04/12 Churches of Delight - talk by Dr C Hamilton 12/04/12 Coach Trip to Wales including Steam Train ride 03/05/12 Joseph Whitworth, the Greatest Engineer - talk by Mr J Mahon

Waterloo (Merseyside) Mrs Joyce Nicholls SECRETARY 0151 924 1433 nichollsjoyce@yahoo.com Mersey Road Methodist Church, Mersey Road, Crosby, Liverpool Second Tuesday of each month at 10.30am

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

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 13/03/12 AGM and Buffet Lunch (pre-booking essential)

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spring 2012 www.csrf.org.uk

Chester-Le-Street 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

Durham Richard Wood SECRETARY 0191 384 2628 Newton Hall Community Centre, Ryelands Way, Durham First Thursday of each month at 2pm

Gateshead Mrs J Scott SOCIAL SECRETARY 0191 268 7935 Whitehall Road Methodist Church, Gateshead First Thursday of the month from 10am - 12 noon

Harrogate & Ripon Margaret Terry SECRETARY 01423 885297 Wesley Chapel (Lower Hall), Oxford Street Third Thursday of each month at 2.15pm

Horsforth, Rawdon & District 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

Hull Colin Bielby SECRETARY 01482 782930 Age UK Healthy Living Centre, Porter Street, Hull Third Tuesday of the month at 2.15pm 20/03/12 Sir Samuel Standage of Thorngumbald talk by Mrs S Gardner 17/04/12 Events and Musical Nostalgia - talk by Terry Richards 15/05/12 Hull’s Fishing Industry - talk by Alan Hopper

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

05/03/12 Illustrated talk by Mr B Mitchelson on Forest Hall and Killingworth. We will also be collecting subscriptions for the forthcoming year 02/04/12 Easter Bonnet/Easter Egg Theme 14/05/12 TBA

Middlesbrough Lilian Lloyd SECRETARY 01642 315439 St. Marys Centre, 82-90 Corporation Road, Middlesbrough Last Tuesday of the month at 2pm 27/03/12 AGM and Bring & Buy 24/04/12 The Cinnamon Trust – talk by Mary (from Take Heart Support Group) 29/05/12 Footprints in the Sand – talk by Pam

Newcastle West Mrs E Jackson CHAIRMAN 0191 267 4728 Bentinck Social Club, Bentinck Road, Newcastle upon Tyne Second Wednesday of each month at 10am - 12 Noon 14/03/12 Tyne & Wear Archives - talk 11/04/12 Cheese & Wine and Sales Table 09/05/12 Slide Show

Redcar & Cleveland Myrtle Fishlock CHAIRMAN 01287 641153 Main Ground Floor Lounge, Redcar Youth Centre, Coatham Road, Redcar Third Monday of each month at 2pm

Scarborough Mrs P Mawson SECRETARY 01723 512778 Small Room, 1st Floor, Scarborough Library, Vernon Road, Scarborough First Tuesday of the month at 10.15am 14/03/12 Lunch at Fledglings Restaurant, East Coast College, Scarborough - 12 for 12.30 (tbc) 03/04/12 Group AGM - come for good company!

01/05/12 Branch AGM - come for good company!

Sunderland & Washington 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)

Whitley Bay Peter Harris MBE CHAIRMAN 0191 447 4066 Age Concern Centre, Park Avenue, Whitley Bay Second Thursday of the month 10.30am 12 noon

WALES & WELSH BORDERS 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 13/03/12 Diamond Hearing Services - Jamie Philp 10/04/12 The Newport Transporter Bridge, Past and Present - Mrs Anne Gatehouse 08/05/12 The Role of an Honorary Consul Madam Claude Annik Rapport

Church Stretton John Brewer SECRETARY 01694 722965 johnbrewer1@talktalk.net Mayfair Community Centre, Easthope Road First Friday of the month at 2.30pm

Llandudno Mrs H Davis CHAIRMAN 01492 545436 Queen’s Hotel, The Promenade, Llandudno First Tuesday of each month at 10.30am 20/03/12 Lunch at local Inn followed by a walk 17/04/12 Lunch at local Inn followed by a walk 15/05/12 Spring Lunch at Queen’s Hotel

Llanishen (Cardiff) 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

Ludlow

Banbury

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

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 13/03/12 The Amazing Amazon - talk by Dr John Paine 10/04/12 Lunch at The Hanwell Arms (12.30pm) followed by AGM in the Community Centre. Raffle.

08/05/12 Tudor Costume & Life of Tudor Women - talk by Ann Hobday

Neath/Port Talbot Mrs E Northcott CHAIRMAN 01639 887851 Moose Hall, Castle Street, Neath Last Wednesday of each month at 2pm 28/03/12 Speaker (TBA) 25/04/12 Port Talbot Lifeboat - talk by Mel Cooper 30/05/12 The Welshman with Captain Scott - talk by Gary Gregor

Bedford

Anne Wilson CHAIRMAN 01691 650419 The Wynnstay Hotel, Church Street, Oswestry First Tuesday of each month at 10.30am 06/03/12 Visit by David Tickner, Editor of avanti 03/04/12 A Day in the Life of a Paramedic - talk

by Terry Foster

Patricia Waters SECRETARY 01234 347443 Bunyan Meeting, Mill Street, Bedford First Tuesday of each month at 10am 06/03/12 PAT (Pets as Therapy) Dogs - talk by Mr & Mrs J Tyler and Coffee Morning 03/04/12 Jackie’s Diabolical Quiz - Jackie Sheldon and Coffee Morning 01/05/12 Ethiopia: A Country with Differences talk by Fiona McLeod and Coffee Morning

Penylan (Cardiff)

Birmingham

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 27/03/12 Service of Thanksgiving at St. Andrews URC 24/04/12 AGM and Bring & Buy Sale 29/05/12 Talk by Diamond Hearing Services (tbc)

June Oakley CHAIRMAN 01952 604922 Five Ways House, Islington Road, Five Ways, Edgbaston Third Wednesday of each month at 11.00am

Oswestry

Shrewsbury Irene Williams CHAIRMAN 01743 447279 Roy Fletcher Centre, 12-17 Cross Hill, Shrewsbury Second Wednesday of each month at 2pm

Swansea Mrs Sylvia Edgell CHAIRMAN 01792 851125 The Vestry Hall, St Mary’s Church, Swansea Last Friday of each month at 2pm 01/03/12 St. Davids Day Lunch - Norton House 30/03/12 Falls Cost Lives - talk by Tony Arcari 27/04/12 South Dakota - illustrated talk by Polly Davies 25/05/12 Day at the Palace - talk by Georgine Scannell followed by Jubilee Tea

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 Jim Campbell CHAIRMAN 01494 722558 The Community Centre, Chiltern Avenue, Amersham First Wednesday of the month at 2.30pm 07/03/12 Policing: Then and Now – talk by Chief Supt Mervyn Edwards 04/04/12 A Miscellany – talk by Dr Peter Humphreys 04/05/12 Group AGM and Quiz

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.

Cheltenham John Kennett CHAIRMAN 01242 603443 St. Luke’s Church Hall, St. Lukes Place, Cheltenham Third Wednesday of the month at 2.30pm 21/03/12 The Tartan and Highland Dress, a General History - talk and exhibits 18/04/12 Flying Light Aircraft - talk with slides 16/05/12 The History of Art touches the interpretation of The Bible - talk with slides

Coalville & Ashby Terry Watson CHAIRMAN 01530 835373 Thringstone Community Centre, The Green, Thringstone Third Wednesday each month 2.00-4.00pm 21/03/12 Joseph Roberts, a Grocer of Distinction – talk 18/04/12 Holidays in China and the Holy Land – slideshow 16/05/12 Hidden Gem – talk

Coventry Mrs J Turner CHAIRMAN 024 76 465382 Room 2, Gilbert Richard Centre, Broadway, Earlsdon Third Tuesday of each month at 2pm

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 j.bliss35@btinternet.com Scout HQ, Grovebury Road, Leighton Buzzard First Wednesday of the month at 2pm 07/03/12 How the London Cockney influenced

USA Culture - talk by Mark Davis 04/04/12 A Collection of Paperweights - talk

by Pauline Wolsey. Raffle and Book Table 02/05/12 Elizabeth: The Making of a Queen - film presentation by John Allen.

Bring & Buy, Raffle and Book Table

Evesham Eric Marsh GROUP LIAISON 01386 421460 ericbrenda@btinternet.com Foyer of the Methodist Chapel, Bridge Street, Evesham Second Tuesday of each month at 10.30am for tea/coffee & a catch up

Grantham Mrs Emma Macrae TREASURER 01476 405196 Church of the Ascension Hall, Edinburgh Road, Grantham First Wednesday every month at 10.00am noon

Hucclecote Mrs B Arnold SECRETARY 01452 618069 Evangelical Church, Colwell Avenue, Hucclecote, Gloucester First Thursday of the month at 2.00pm 01/03/12 AGM followed by Social Afternoon 05/04/12 The Swans of Cheltenham illustrated talk 03/05/12 Confessions and Traditions of a Morris Man - music and demonstration 16/05/12 Boat Trip - Bristol to Hanham (and return) with a pub lunch

Kidderminster Pam Hussey LIAISON OFFICER 01562 755632 The Three Shires, Lower Mill Street Third Wednesday of each month at 11am (except when lunching out) 21/03/12 Outing to Rowberry’s Nursery, Chaddesley 18/04/12 Coffee Morning 16/05/12 Coffee Morning

Lincoln City Jeanette Hook SECRETARY 01522 803412 St. Benedicts Church Room, St. Benedicts Square, Lincoln First Wednesday of the month at 10.30am

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

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 (except Bank Holidays) 05/03/12 Luton Hoo - talk by Zene Dickinson 02/04/12 Age UK - talk by Liz 07/05/12 No meeting (Bank Holiday)

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 www.csrf.org.uk spring 2012

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Milton Keynes

Wellington & Telford

Colchester

Jim Ford SECRETARY 01908 368410 james296ford@btinternet.com Centrecom, 602 North Row, Secklow Gate West First Monday of each month at 1.30pm (second Monday if first is a Bank Holiday) 05/03/12 Country Cousins - talk by Dusty Rhodes 02/04/12 Border Control - talk by Michael Welling 14/05/12 Cyprus - illustrated talk by Ray Rowlson

Emrys Jones CHAIRMAN 01952 254252 e30jones@btinternet.com Belmont Community Hall, Wellington, Telford First Thursday of each month at 10am - 12 noon

Joan Gomer SECRETARY 01206 794656 St Margaret’s Anglican Church Hall, Stansted Road, Colchester Third Tuesday of each month at 2pm 20/03/12 Alaska and the Yukon - talk by Sheila Steer 17/04/12 Finding out about history using old local newspapers - talk by Pip Wright 15/05/12 Music in the 50s - talk by Ray Spillar

Northampton Mr Geoff Morris CHAIRMAN 01604 719677 Holy Sepulchre Church Rooms, Church Lane, Northampton Alternate Thursday mornings at 10.00am 12/04/12 Combined Plant and Bring & Buy Sale

Nottingham Pam Bradley SECRETARY 0115 938 4676 pamthedragon@hotmail.co.uk The Mechanics, 3 North Sherwood Street, Nottingham Second Wednesday of the month at 10.15am - 12 noon 12/03/12 Nottinghamshire Branch and Nottingham Group AGMs 11/04/12 The Workhouse Storytellers 09/05/12 Polar Bears - an Arctic Adventure

Nuneaton Rachel Homer SECRETARY 02476 385845 rachel. homer@tesco.net The Sycamore Tree, 2 Chapel Street, Nuneaton (next to the Ropewalk) Coffee morning on the 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 2pm

Rutland Mrs Peggy Brown CHAIRMAN 01780 480314 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

Sleaford & Ancaster Mike Smith GROUP PR/CO-ORDINATOR 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 07/03/12 Visit to the National Arboretum

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

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Wigston Mrs J Collins VICE CHAIRMAN 0116 288 7802 The Royal British Legion, Launceston Road, Wigston Second and fourth Mondays of each month from 1.30 - 4.00pm (Bank Holidays permitting) 12/03/12 Edwardian Leicester – talk by Mrs Felicity Austin 26/03/12 AGM – Tea and Cakes 23/04/12 Mayor’s Office: Part 2 – talk by Mrs Helen Loydall 14/05/12 Humour – talk by Mike Leonard 28/05/12 Down the Garden Path (Humour) – talk

by David Bell

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

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

Aylsham & District Janet Bezant SECRETARY 01263 731640 janetbezant@btinternet.com Friends Meeting House, Peggs Yard, Red Lion Street, Aylsham Second Monday of each month at 10am (unless it’s a Bank Holiday) 12/03/12 International Volunteers Group - talk

by Mr Alan Quinn 09/04/12 No meeting (Easter) 14/05/12 Scotland Yard - talk by Mr David McDermott

Billericay Mr J R Smith LOCAL CONTACT 01277 622156 Various venues for lunches at 12.30pm 22/03/12 Lunch at the Blue Boar, High Street, Billericay at 12.30pm 24/05/12 Lunch at the Blue Boar, High Street, Billericay at 12.30pm

Bury St Edmunds Mrs Doreen Ginn CHAIRMAN 01284 755256 West End Home Guard Club, Abbot Road, Bury St. Edmunds Second Wednesday of each month at 10am 12/03/12 Role of Wildlife Crime Officer - talk by Barry Kaufman 11/04/12 Edmund: King, Martyr, Saint - talk by Ron Murell 09/05/12 St. Edmundsbury Cathedral - talk by Horry Parsons

Chelmsford Mrs Christa Bringloe CHAIRPERSON 01245 420555 Room 3, Christ Church URC, New London Road Second Tuesday of each month 10.00am 12.30pm 13/03/12 AGM followed by Fish & Chips 10/04/12 Talk by a Theatrical Costumier 08/05/12 Talk by an Essex Record Archivist

Croxley Green & Rickmansworth 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) at 10.15am and on first Monday of intervening months for pub lunch from 12 noon

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 - 12 noon 09/03/12 Reflexology Demonstration - Jennie Smith 13/04/12 Growing Fuchsias My Way - Frank Lambert 11/05/12 Wiltshire Farm Foods Free Tasting Demonstration - Christine Alderman

Drayton - Norfolk Derek Heffer CHAIRMAN 01603 861554 Various venues for lunch quarterly 13/03/12 AGM and Cheese & Wine at St. Margarets Church Room, Drayton, at 2.15pm 10/04/12 TBA 08/05/12 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) 05/03/12 The West Country - talk by David Attrill MBE 21/03/12 Lunch at The Cricketers, Clavering 02/04/12 Kew Gardens - talk by Mrs Brenda Brown 12/04/12 Theatre - Crazy for You 14/05/12 Hertford Museum - talk by Ms Sarah Keeling 23/05/12 Trip to Southend

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 29/03/12 The Joys of Collecting - talk by John Smith 26/04/12 The History and Art of Knotting - talk and demonstration by Wendy Elizabeth 31/05/12 AGM followed by Bring & Buy Sale

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 19/03/12 30 Years as a BBC Reporter - Brian Curtois 16/04/12 AGM 21/05/12 The Redbridge Lions - Doreen Carr

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 07/03/12 Land Army Girls - talk by Irene Grimwood 21/03/12 Luncheon at Peak Lodge 04/04/12 More Tales from the Housemaid’s Cupboard! - talk by Deborah Preston 02/05/12 Martyn Harrison sings 09/05/12 Luncheon at Peak Lodge

Loughton Eric Adams CHAIRMAN 020 8508 7207 Jazz Archive Room, Loughton Library, Traps Hill, Loughton Third Monday of each month at 2pm 19/03/12 In the Garden 16/04/12 Social Afternoon 21/05/12 Social Afternoon

Lowestoft Kate McNamara TREASURER/SECRETARY 01502 714380 kate_mcn@talktalk.net Beaconsfield Club, 7 Surrey Street, Lowestoft First and Third Wednesday of each month at 10.30am

Mildenhall Mr Martin Claridge SECRETARY 01842 810096 Mildenhall Social Club, Recreation Way First Tuesday of each month at 2pm 06/03/12 The Work of The Soldiers, Sailors and Air Force Association (SSAFA) - talk by Robin Newall 03/04/12 Mr Edward Crichton, from Lacy Scott & Knight Auctioneers will be hosting a ‘Mini Antiques Roadshow’ 01/05/12 The Free NHS Sight Test at Home - talk

by Ms Katie Reah

Newmarket Les Beament CHAIRMAN 01638 744005 St. John Training Centre, Newmarket Hospital, Exning Road Second Wednesday of each month at 2.15pm 14/03/12 The Eel Cathcher - Peter Carter 11/04/12 The Gredley Trust - Margaret Butcher 09/05/12 Spring Outing with the Gredley Bus to Bridge Farm Barnes at Monks Eleigh then on to Lavenham for tea

Norwich Mary Weatherhead SECRETARY 01603 410821 Reading Room, Doughty’s Hospital, Golden Dog Lane Second Monday of each month at 10am for 10.30am 12/03/12 The History of Dragon Hall - speaker from Norfolk & Norwich Heritage Trust

16/04/12 The Village Craftsman - talk by Mr S Pope 14/05/12 China - talk by Mrs E Wilson Staniforth

Radlett Mrs Shirley Herbert SECRETARY 020 8953 2999 Local restaurants for coffee or lunch Monthly - details from Secretary

Rayleigh Mrs F Cohen SOCIAL SECRETARY 01702 342426 Cloister West, Parish Rooms, Rayleigh Church, Rectory Garth (off Hockley Road), Rayleigh First Thursday of each month from 2.00-4.00pm 01/03/12 Death Valley - talk by Ray Woodcock 05/04/12 Welsh Adventure - talk by Tony Curtis 03/05/12 Unusual Events in Essex - talk by Bob Dalgarno. Bring & Buy.

Rochford Mrs F Cohen SOCIAL SECRETARY 01702 342426 Parish Council Rooms, 82 West Street, Rochford Third Thursday of each month from 145-3.45pm 15/03/12 Volcanos - talk by Ray Woodcock 19/04/12 Golden West - talk by Tony Curtis 17/05/12 Unusual Events in Essex - talk by Bob Dalgarno

Saffron Walden 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. Please contact Chairman for details.

12/03/12 Lunch

Shoeburyness Mrs F Cohen SOCIAL SECRETARY 01702 342426 Thorpdene Community Centre, Delaware Road, Shoeburyness First Tuesday of each month from 2-4pm 06/03/12 Death Valley - talk by Ray Woodcock 03/04/12 Welsh Adventure - talk by Tony Curtis 01/05/12 Shoebury Garrison - talk by Bob Delgarno. Bring & Buy.

St. Albans Mrs B G Hill SECRETARY 01727 858198 barbara.hill5@ntlworld.com Friends Meeting House, Upper Lattimore Road, St. Albans First Thursday of the month at 10am

Stevenage & Baldock

St. Luke’s Church, Langley Way, Watford WD17 3EG Second Tuesday of Jan, May, Jul, Sep & Nov at 10am 13/03/12 Annual Lunch at West Hertfordshire Golf Club

Westcliff-on-Sea Mrs F Cohen SOCIAL SECRETARY 01702 342426 Balmoral Community Centre, Salisbury Avenue, Westcliff on Sea Fourth Wednesday of each month from 2.004.00pm 28/03/12 AGM and Bring & Buy 25/04/12 Silent Auction 23/05/12 Visit by David Tickner, Editor of avanti

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 27/03/12 Puppy Guide Dog Training - talk by Chris Pinder 17/04/12 Outing: Capital Curios with City & Village Tours (provisional) 21/04/12 The Sound of Music Theatre Production at Cliffs Pavilion, Southend

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 08/03/12 Talk with Farnham Town Crier Jonathan Jones 12/04/12 Horse Racing - talk by Margaret & John Walters 10/05/12 The Chelsea Flower Show - talk by John Negus

Arun - formerly Littlehampton Jim Underwood SECRETARY jimunderwood9@hotmail.com St Joseph’s Convent, Franciscan Way. Please use entrance in East Street if arriving by car.

Second Wednesday of each month at 2pm

Helen Leisk SECRETARY 01438 355131 helen.leisk@firenet.uk.net United Reformed Church, Cuttys Lane, Stevenage First Thursday of every month at 2pm 01/03/12 The Panama Canal - talk by Richard Thomas 12/04/12 A Dam Buster - talk by Arthur Creighton 24/04/12 Mystery Trip by Coach (must be prebooked) 03/05/12 Rock and Roll Years - talk by Sheila Porter 09/05/12 Coach Trip to Knole (must be prebooked)

John Cook CHAIRMAN 01344 429391 johnwgc@btinternet.com National School of Government at Sunningdale Park, Larch Avenue, Ascot Third Friday of each month at 12 noon 16/03/12 Curiosities in the Chilterns (Part 1) - talk

by Alan Copeland 20/04/12 Humorous Side of being an Actor - talk

by Jonathan Fryer 18/05/12 Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Celebration

Swaffham

Basingstoke

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

Janette Davies CHAIRMAN 01256 321471 Brookvale Village Hall, Lower Brook Street, Basingstoke First Wednesday of each month at 10.00am 07/03/12 AGM and Quiz and BCOT Lunch 16/03/12 Outing to Osterley House and Park 04/04/12 Iberian Adventure: Portsmouth to Barcelona - talk by Gordon Massie

Watford (Cassiobury) Mr Ian Whyte LOCAL CONTACT 01923 441952 duncan.whyte1@ntlworld.com

Ascot & Sunningdale

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26/04/12 Outing to Hilliers Arboretum 02/05/12 The Ladies of the Tower - talk by Tony Strafford 17/05/12 Trip on the Watercress Line: Alresford to Alton

Bexhill Hilary Markham SECRETARY 01424 210985 Bexhill Sailing Club, Marina, Bexhill-on-Sea Fourth Tuesday of each month at 10am 13/03/12 Visit to Petworth House 04/04/12 Carvery Lunch at the Cooden Beach Hotel

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 07/03/12 Liberty’s Owl Raptor & Reptile Centre - Lynda Bridges 04/04/12 AGM & Quiz 02/05/12 We All Make Mistakes - Alan Hyde

Bournemouth Central Alan Carter 01202 292720

Brighton & Hove Mrs B Vickery 01273 321770 Ventnor Hall, Blatchington Road, Hove First Wednesday of the month at 2.15pm 07/03/12 Coffee, Cakes and possible Quiz 04/04/12 Group AGM 11/04/12 Brighton & Mid Sussex Branch AGM, 10.30am, at Adastra Hall, 31 Keymer Road, Hassocks 02/05/12 TBA

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 28/03/12 The Town Crier - talk by Neil Batsford and Coffee Morning. Meeting will start at 9.45am for today only.

11/04/12 Brighton & Mid Sussex Branch AGM, 10.30am, at Adastra Hall, 31 Keymer Road, Hassocks 25/04/12 Coffee Morning and Music Quiz compiled by Roy Saberton 23/05/12 Coffee Morning

Chandlers Ford Ken Willcocks CHAIRMAN 023 8076 0102 Chandlers Ford Community Centre, Hursley Road, Chandlers Ford First Friday of the month at 10am 02/03/12 Group AGM plus Quiz 06/04/12 Reminiscences of a Busy and Hectic Life - Bob Goff 04/05/12 Life as an Expatriate Wife - Mrs E Thomsett

Chichester Norman Gubbey CHAIRMAN 01243 787135

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

Crawley Jim Piercey CHAIRMAN 01293 409332 Bill Buck Room, Crawley Library, Southgate Avenue, Crawley

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Fourth Friday of the month at 2pm 23/03/12 Bingo 27/04/12 The Olympic Games - talk by Eric Marsh 25/05/12 Talk on Life as a Searchlight Operator in the War - Grace Butterfield

Eastbourne Audrey Fewtrell CHAIRMAN/SECRETARY 01323 730570 St. Saviour’s Church Hall, South Street, Eastbourne Third Wednesday of the month at 10am 21/03/12 Speaker - Mr Roy Hall 18/04/12 Group AGM

College, Crawley (12 noon for 12.30pm) 28/03/12 No meeting 25/04/12 Coffee Morning 23/05/12 Coffee Morning

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 06/03/12 RNIB - Raising Awareness (Milford) 03/04/12 AGM (Bashley) 01/05/12 SSAFA - John Slater (Milford)

Emsworth & Havant

Newbury

Ralph Whitehouse CHAIRMAN 01243 374081 Emsworth Community Centre, Church Path, Emsworth First Friday of each month at 10am 02/03/12 Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildflife Trust - talk by Nigel Johnson 13/04/12 The Rowan’s Hospice - talk by Leslie Woodcock

Roger Walker CHAIRMAN 01635 44575 colonelrog@hotmail.com St. Johns Church Room, Newtown Road, Newbury Second Monday of the month at 2.15pm 12/03/12 Ladies of the Tower - talk by Tony Stafford 22/03/12 Skittles Evening and Supper 16/04/12 Plant Bring & Buy plus Quiz 14/05/12 Musings on the Amateur Stage - talk by Mike Brook 17/07/12 Pub Lunch 28/05/12 Group Holiday to Tenby (28 May - 1 June)

Fleet Dorothy Brookman CHAIRMAN 01252 684368 dorothy.brookman@ntlworld.com Baptist Church Hall, 115 Clarence Road, Fleet Third Tuesday of each month at 2.15pm 20/03/12 Lunch Outing 17/04/12 Flora Thompson: Beyond Candleford Green - talk by John Owen Smith 22/05/12 Ponies & People of the New Forest talk by Sue Bowser

Hailsham Jeanne Archer CHAIRMAN & SECRETARY 01323 832055 St. Marys Church Lounge, St. Marys Church, Vicarage Road, Hailsham Second Tuesday of the month at 10.15am 13/03/12 Nepal - talk by John Proctor 10/04/12 Silent Auction 08/05/12 London Oddities (Past and Present) talk by Mrs Patricia Clark

Hassocks Dennis Miles CHAIRMAN 01273 845693 jodem38@live.co.uk Adastra Hall, 31 Keymer Road, Hassocks First Thursday of each month at 10.30am 01/03/12 Wartime Memories - a Group Discussion 05/04/12 Something Musical - David Howe Entertains 11/04/12 Brighton & Mid Sussex Branch AGM, 10.30am, at Adastra Hall 03/05/12 The Sussex Girl who became a close friend of Hitler - talk by D Miles

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 20/03/12 AGM 17/04/12 My Work in Ghana and Travels in Africa - illustrated talk by Roy Hall 15/05/12 On the West Hill - illustrated talk by Edward Preston

Horley 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) 27/03/12 North Sussex Groups Lunch, Cordon Vert Restaurant, Central Sussex

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

Portsmouth North Janie Quayle CHAIRMAN 023 92 641954 janiequayle@googlemail.com St. Nicholas Church Hall, Battenburg Avenue, Copnor Second and fourth Mondays at 2pm (except Bank Holidays) 12/03/12 Chat, Tea, Raffle etc.

26/03/12 Hot Cross Buns followed by Memories of the Isle of Wight - talk by Roger Clarke 09/04/12 No meeting 23/04/12 Chat, Tea, Raffle etc.

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 28/03/12 The Welsh Marches - illustrated talk by Eric Aspden 25/04/12 The Big Picture Show - illustrated talk by Alan Copeland 30/05/12 Purley Park Trust - talk by Larry Grady

Ringwood & District Ron Fisher CHAIRMAN 01202 896315 ronf.nottington@homecall.co.uk Greyfriars Community Centre, Ringwood First Friday of each month at 10am 02/03/12 Experiences of a Customs Officer - talk

by Mr C Russell 30/03/12 Group AGM and Books, Jigsaws, CDs and DVDs Bring & Buy (please note change of date due to Easter) 04/05/12 A Year through the Lens - talk by Mr P Sturgess

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 14/03/12 Coffee Morning

28/03/12 11/04/12 25/04/12 09/05/12 23/05/12

Musical Memoirs Coffee Morning ‘A Sweet Tooth’ Coffee Morning and Home Produce Stall The Melodians

Stubbington

Third Tuesday of each month at 10.00am (coffee at 9.45am) 20/03/12 Green Fingers & Growing Minds - Trevor & Jennie Rollings 17/04/12 Dreams are Made of This - Gwen Cole 15/05/12 A History of the Olympic Games - Chris Carter

Mrs Tressie Heather SECRETARY 023 92 580681 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)

SOUTH WEST ENGLAND

Swanage

Mrs Dorothy Weston SOCIAL SECRETARY 01980 624589 Antrobus House, 39 Salisbury Road, Amesbury First Tuesday of each month at 2pm 06/03/12 The History of Punch & Judy - talk by Mrs Alex Booth 20/03/12 Outing to Times Gone By at Standerwick, Frome 03/04/12 In Search of the Bengal Tiger - talk by Mr John Gidley 17/04/12 Outing to Blenheim Palace 01/05/12 Bishop John Wordsworth - talk by Miss Jane Pelly 15/05/12 Outing to Vale of Evesham

Mrs Irene Greenway 01929 423394

Tadley Mr D MacLean CHAIRMAN 0118 970 1290 Tadley Community Centre, Newchurch Road, Tadley First Thursday of each month at 1.30pm for 2.00pm (excepting in unusual circumstances when advance notice is given to our members) 01/03/12 A Walk on the Wild Side - Brian Clews 12/04/12 History of Thomas Cook - Tony King 03/05/12 An Orphanage in India - Eyrlis Davies

Totton & Waterside Mrs P Shakespeare CHAIRMAN 023 8087 2035 Totton & Eling Community Centre, Civic Centre Building, Library Road, Totton First Friday of each month at 10am 02/03/12 Group AGM 13/04/12 Hot Cross Buns 04/05/12 Speaker - Emily Wallace

Twyford & Wargrave John Keast SECRETARY 0118 940 2975 john@keast.go-plus.net Hannen Room, St. Marys Church, Station Road, Wargrave Third Tuesday of Feb, Apr, June, Oct and Dec

Uckfield John Gutteridge SECRETARY 01825 764781 john@gutteridge.eclipse.co.uk Five Ash Down Village Hall, Five Ash Down, Uckfield First Thursday of the month at 2.30pm unless otherwise announced.

01/03/12 From Minaret to Mission Bell - talk by Jane Mitchell 05/04/12 The Other Romania - talk by Graham Albon followed by AGM 03/05/12 Steam my Cream - tea on the Bluebell Railway

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.

Skittles meetings, New Forest walks and other events are held from time to time - ask Eric Basire for details.

Wokingham Bernard Good SECRETARY 0118 978 2350 bernard.good@btinternet.com The Cornerstone, Norreys Avenue Third Wednesday of each month at 2.30pm 21/03/12 AGM and Bring & Buy Sale 18/04/12 Secrets of the Box as featured on Antiques Roadshow - Tony Weston 16/05/12 TBA

Worthing David Keeling CHAIRMAN 01903 248663 United Reformed Church Hall, Shaftesbury Avenue (just south of Durrington Railway Bridge: entrance in Barrington Road)

Amesbury

Chard Gordon Baker SECRETARY 01460 73333 The Donyatt Bowling Club, Ilminster Third Thursday of the month at 10.30am

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 07/03/12 Group AGM

Crediton Miss M Steer CHAIRMAN 01363 866256 Club Crediton, Searle Street, Crediton First Friday of each month at 10.35am for coffee unless there is a trip or lunch when a notice will appear in the local paper

Dawlish Mrs M Carter SECRETARY 01626 888275 The Manor House, Old Town Street Second Friday of each month at 2pm 09/03/12 Kents Cavern - Alan Salsbury 13/04/12 Spring Lunch (Restaurant) 11/05/12 Trading Standards Scams - M Cotton

Barnstaple

Dorchester

Peter Mumby CHAIRMAN 01271 815021 Committee Room, Roundswell Community Centre, Roundswell, Barnstaple Last Friday in the month at 11am Feb, May, Jun, Jul, Oct and Nov and at 10am Mar, Apr and Sep.

Mike Rogers SECRETARY 01308 420755 michael@mikerogers3.plus.com Dorset Youth HQ, Lubbecke Way, Dorchester Third Thursday of the month at 10.15 for 10.30am 15/03/12 Sale of a Village - 1958 - Mrs Elizabeth Gale 19/04/12 AGM 17/05/12 Long Distance Walks with Ian Botham Richard Delderfield

Bath Roy Burnett CHAIRMAN 01225 426583 St. John’s Parish Hall, South Parade, Bath First Thursday of each month at 10.30am 01/03/12 Branch AGM (10.15 for 10.30am) 17/03/12 Coach Trip to Worcester (9.30am) 05/04/12 Coffee Morning 27/04/12 Songs from the Shows at the Guildhall at 7.30pm 03/05/12 Coffee Morning

Bideford Tony Turland LOCAL CONTACT 01237 327606 Griggs Close Community Centre, Northam, Bideford Second Friday in the month at 10.30am - 12 noon

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

Second Friday of each month at 11am

Bradford-on-Avon Mr P F Nuttall SECRETARY 01225 862919 United Reformed Church Hall, St. Margarets Street, Bradford on Avon Second Monday of each month at 2.15pm 19/03/12 Spring Lunch 24/05/12 Coach Outing to Berkeley Castle

Brixham Mrs Edna Wright CHAIRMAN 01803 855638 ewright238@btinternet.com Various local restaurants, usually Waterside Paignton Usually second Thursday of the month at 12 noon contact Mrs Wright for details.

Burnham-on-Sea Joyce Beard SECRETARY/TREASURER 07706 868648 joyful18@live.co.uk Burnham Area Youth Centre, Cassis Close, Burnham on Sea Fourth Tuesday in each month from 10am to 12 noon

Exmouth Carol Brett SECRETARY 01395 442671 RAFA Club, Imperial Road, Exmouth First Wednesday of each month at 10am 07/03/12 Coffee Morning 27/03/12 Annual Lunch 04/04/12 AGM and Coffee Morning 02/05/12 Coffee Morning

Ham (Plymouth) Veronica Smerdon SECRETARY 01752 318672 veronicasmerdon@aol.com The Halcyon Centre, Dingle Road, North Prospect, Plymouth Every Monday at 2.00pm

Liskeard & Pensilva Shirley Waye SECRETARY 01579 346089 Refreshment Rooms, Liskeard Public Hall, West Street, Liskeard Last Wednesday of each month at 10am 28/03/12 Group Meeting and Easter Bonnet Competition 16/04/12 Inter-Group Quiz and Lunch - Trethorne Leisure 25/04/12 Group Meeting - Speaker TBA 23/05/12 Group Meeting - Speaker TBA (please note change of date due to holiday) 28/05/12 5 Day Holiday to Bognor Regis (28 May1 June)

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

Princetown Mike Fitzpatrick SECRETARY 01822 890799 mikeandkate3@talktalk.net Prince of Wales, Tavistock Road, Princetown www.csrf.org.uk spring 2012

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First Thursday of the month at 12.30pm 01/03/12 The Wonderful World of Horsepower: Coaches, Carriages and Wagons - talk

by Gerald Williamson 15/03/12 AGM and Buffet Lunch 05/04/12 Work of the Investigation Division of Customs & Excise - talk by Barrie Riley 23/04/12 St. George’s Day Lunch 17/05/12 Day Trip with dinner at an approved hostelry on the way home

Salisbury Plain Mr Roy German SECRETARY 01980 653446 rogerman1@live.com The Village Hall, High Street, Durrington Third Tuesday of each month at 2.30pm 20/03/12 Yes she was a Cobbler - talk by Linda Turner 17/04/12 A Year in the Life of a Beehive - talk by Fred Smith 29/04/12 7 day holiday in Scarborough 15/05/12 Great Bustard Group - talk by Lynne Derry 22/05/12 Outing to Bath and the Oakham Treasure Museum

Sidmouth Margaret Adams CHAIRMAN 01395 577622 rjadams39@waitrose.com Sidholme Hotel, Elysian Fields, Temple Street Second Wednesday of each month at 10.25am

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

Sturminster Newton Robert Scott- Puttock SECRETARY 01258 471011 Meetings and venues are arranged on an ad hoc basis.

Tamar/Tavy (Tavistock) Mike Fitzpatrick ACTING SECRETARY 01822 890799 mikeandkate3@talktalk.net Burrator Inn, Princetown Road, Dousland, Yelverton Second Thursday of the month at 12.30pm 08/03/12 AGM 12/04/12 The Woodlands Trust - talk by Steve Beech 23/04/12 St. George’s Day Lunch 17/05/12 Day Trip with dinner at an approved hostelry on the way home

Taunton Mick Grigg CHAIRMAN 01823 272046 mfgrigg@talktalk.net Lawns Social Club (formerly Royal British Legion Club), St. Mary Street, Taunton Second Friday of the month at 10.30am (unless Public Holiday in which case third Friday) 09/03/12 Treasures of Somerset Museum - talk

by Steve Minnit 13/04/12 Bring & Buy Cakes 11/05/12 Viking Women - talk by Val Bannister

Trowbridge Peter Collins SECRETARY 01225 768370 petercollins@vulnera.freeserve.co.uk Old Manor Hotel, Trowle, Trowbridge/ St. Thomas’ Church Hall, York Buildings, off Timbrell Street, Trowbridge First Wednesday of each month at 10.30am (Old Manor Hotel) & third Wednesday of each month at 2pm (St Thomas’ Church Hall) 07/03/12 Coffee Morning at the Od Manor Hotel 21/03/12 Tristan da Cunha - talk by Richard Grundy

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04/04/12 Coffee Morning at the Od Manor Hotel 18/04/12 Tracing a Family Tree - talk by Mrs Wiltshire 02/05/12 Coffee Morning at the Od Manor Hotel 16/05/12 Coach Trip (to be decided)

Wadebridge Mr G Williams CHAIRMAN 01208 814590 Various venues, members’ homes for coffee or local restaurant/hotel for lunch. Decided at previous meeting.

First Friday in month

Wellington (Somerset) Tony Martin TREASURER 01823 662879 Northfield Centre, Lodge Close, Wellington Third Tuesday every month at 10.15am

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 2pm 19/03/12 Meeting and Gone to Blazes - talk by John Craig 21/03/12 Outing to St. Fagans 16/04/12 Meeting and History of Westbury - talk

by Derek Whale 18/04/12 Outing to Burrington Combe and Weston-Super-Mare 16/05/12 Outing to Swanage 21/05/12 Meeting and Speaker, Bob Browning

Westbury-on-Trym Beryl Webb SECRETARY 01454 614451 Studland Court, Henleaze Road, Henleaze First Thursday of each month at 2pm 01/03/12 Message in a Bottle - talk by Sylvia Hanbeidge 05/04/12 Radio Comedy - talk by Bob Horton 03/05/12 TBA

Weston-Super-Mare 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) 13/03/12 Coach Outing to Stratford-on-Avon (includes tea) 10/04/12 Coach Outing to Evesham Country Park and Blossom Trail Tour (includes tea) 08/05/12 Coach Outing to Marlow and Henley on Thames (includes tea)

Weymouth Geoff Greenstreet VICE CHAIRMAN 01305 832432 St. Nicholas Church, Buxton Road, Weymouth Second Thursday of each month at 2.30pm 08/03/12 Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance - talk

by Annette Prapaud 28/03/12 Coffee Morning 12/04/12 AGM 25/04/12 Anniversary Lunch at The Marquis of Granby

Yate & District Donald Kirkham CHAIRMAN 01454 317242 donald@kirkham3.orangehome.co.uk Yate Parish Hall, Station Road Fourth Tuesday of each month at 2pm 27/03/12 3 Week Cycle Tour in Europe - talk by Mrs Pat Porter 24/04/12 Spring Luncheon (venue tbc) 22/05/12 In Nan’s Attic - talk by Mrs Eunice Elsbury

LONDON & SOUTH EAST ENGLAND Banstead & District Miss Marion Pevy SECRETARY/TREASURER 01737 812129 Banstead Methodist Church Hall, The Drive Last Tuesday of each month at 10.30am - 12 noon 27/03/12 Coffee Morning and Quiz 24/04/12 Coffee Morning and Quiz 29/05/12 Coffee Morning and Quiz

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

Bexleyheath Sylvia Lynds CHAIR/TREASURER 020 8310 6169 St. Andrews Church Hall, Brampton Road, Bexleyheath First three Wednesdays in every month at 1.45-3.45pm. Every 2nd Wednesday is a Social Afternoon and Bingo.

07/03/12 Demonstration of Handbells by Sandra Winter 21/03/12 Talk by Peter Jones, retired Metropolitan Police Fingerprint Expert 04/04/12 Does one really need a Professional Toastmaster? - talk by Alan J Coxon MBE 18/04/12 41st Anniversary Lunch with Chris Randall 02/05/12 Spring Fair 16/05/12 Quiz Afternoon

Camberley Jenny Ingoe RECORDS SECRETARY 01483 558152 jenny954@btinternet.com High Cross Church, Knoll Road, Camberley Fourth Tuesday of each month at 2pm 27/03/12 AGM

Edgware & Stanmore Ray Broom SECRETARY 020 8427 8659 St. Lawrence’s Church Hall, Whitchurch Lane, Edgware Second Monday of each month at 2pm 12/03/12 My Uncle was a Cowboy - Juliet Winkel 16/04/12 Fencing as a Sport - talk by Len Linger 14/05/12 The History of Pears Soap - talk by Andrea Cameron

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) 05/03/12 Murder Most Profitable - an illustrated talk by Geoff Bowden 02/04/12 Malta and Two Good Friday Processions - an illustrated talk by Brenda Brown 14/05/12 Bygones - a presentation of Artefacts by Jeff Daniels

Hounslow Roy Woods CHAIRMAN 020 8230 5533 United Reformed Church Hall, 114 Hanworth Road, Hounslow Second Tuesday of each month 1.30-4pm 14/03/12 Birthday Tea and talk by Angela Carroll from Bonnetts Solicitors on Wills and Probate 10/04/12 Beatrix Potter and E Nesbitt (Railway Children) - talk by Mrs Betty Richardson 08/05/12 The Ganges - talk by Tom Edbrooke

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 21/03/12 Vienna - talk by Mr Brewster 18/04/12 Wiltshire Farm Foods 16/05/12 History of Newgate Prison - talk by Elanor Bloom

Kingston & District Mrs Anne Pitman SECRETARY 020 8546 0595 Kingston Methodist Church Hall, Avenue Road, Fairfield South, Kingston Third Tuesday of each month at 2pm. For outings programme contact the Secretary.

20/03/12 AGM & Quiz/Clarus Audio Visual Presentation with Slides 17/04/12 Ghosts of Hampton Court - illustrated talk by Mr I Franklin (Warder) 08/05/12 TBA 22/05/12 Coach Trip to Worthing

Leatherhead 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 Apr) 02/03/12 The Work of the London Air Ambulance Service and my Role as one of its Ambassadors - talk by Colin Edwards 30/03/12 AGM followed by Bring & Buy Stall 04/05/12 A Nice Cup of Tea - talk by Russell Bowes

London - Catford & Lewisham Peter Maple SECRETARY 020 8699 2002 St. Laurence Church Hall, Bromley Road, Catford Second Tuesday of the month at 10am

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. We also have a monthly pub lunch - for details please contact the Secretary

London - Dulwich & Norwood

London - Eltham

Orpington

Phyllis Duignan CHAIR 020 8265 0810 phyllis.duignan@gmail.com United Reformed Church,Sherard Hall, Court Road, Eltham Fourth Thursday of each month at 10am - 12 noon 08/03/12 Coach Outing to Windsor Castle 22/03/12 Coffee Morning and My Days of Captivity - talk by Tom Hart Dyke 12/04/12 Coach Outing to Pashley Manor and Merriments Gardens 26/04/12 Coffee Morning and Italian Olive Oil talk by Barbara Stevens 21/05/12 Holiday to the Forest of Dean (21-25 May) 31/05/12 Coffee Morning and Antiques - talk by Robert Dodd

Peter Standen VICE CHAIRMAN 01689 833358 The Memorial Hall, Methodist Church, Sevenoaks Road, Orpington First Friday in the month at 1.45pm 02/03/12 Scenes of Old Crayford - talk 13/04/12 Policewoman in the 50s - talk 04/05/12 Bromley in the Blitz - talk

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 - Hendon Harry Hunt SECRETARY 020 8202 7647 harrycarman@hotmail.com Various venues each month for lunch - phone Secretary for details First Thursday of every month at 12.30pm

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 13/03/12 More Tea Vicar? - talk by Reverend C Morgan of St. Oswalds Church 10/04/12 Produce & Plant Market 08/05/12 Japan’s Winter Wonderland - talk by Sue Henning

Maidstone

Mrs Pat Belsey SECRETARY 020 7701 4992 Railway Club, Selhurst Station Approach Fourth Tuesday of each month at 10.30am 27/03/12 Coffee Morning 24/04/12 Family Trees 22/05/12 AGM

Keith Hunter CHAIRMAN 01622 746792 Methodist Church Centre, Brewer Street, Maidstone Second Monday of the month at 2pm 12/03/12 Spring Fayre, Beetle Drive and Raffle 16/04/12 The Donkey Sanctuary - talk by Wendy Small 14/05/12 The Medway Queen Paddle Steamer

London - Edmonton

North/South Harrow

Mrs Sheila Lamonte CHAIRPERSON 020 8886 7873 Ambassador Room, Millfield House, Silver Street, London Third Monday of each month from 10am - 12 noon 19/03/12 How products persuade us to buy them - talk by Phil Lawder 16/04/11 Swiss Surprises - illustrated talk by Michael Welling 21/04/12 Plant and Bring & Buy Sale

Mrs Doris Bending SECRETARY 020 8863 3240 St. Albans Church Hall, Norwood Drive, North Harrow Last Tuesday of the month at 2pm 27/03/12 Talk by Marion Thomas, Witness Service Manager, Harrow Crown Court 24/04/12 Lower Lea Valley: Before and After the Olympics - talk by Mr J Finn 29/05/12 TBA. Please contact Kath Wilkerson on 01895 672384 for further details.

Romney Marsh Mrs Win Owen CHAIR 01797 362598 winefrideowen@aol.com The Assembly Rooms, Church Approach, New Romney Second Wednesday of each month at 10am (except May) 14/03/12 Artists of the First World War - Martin Heard 11/04/12 My £3 Husband, Computer Dating Prue Anderton May Outing (TBA)

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 08/03/12 Hearing Dogs for the Deaf - talk 12/04/12 Fun with Words - talk by Geruldine Horn 10/05/12 Interviews with the Famous - talk by Roger Hoath

South East Middlesex Mrs June Brown SECRETARY 020 8891 4680 junebrownuk@hotmail.com Various venues Various dates and times 14/03/12 The Katie Cox Lunch at All Hallows Church, Erncroft Way, Twickenham.

Sausages or Braised Beef and Dessert cost £6.50 25/04/12 Rye and Pashley Manor Tulip Festival

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 12/03/12 Informal Lunch (venue tba) 26/03/12 Felons and Fingerprints - talk by Mr Carrigan 16/04/12 Informal Lunch (date and venue tbc) 30/04/12 Behind the Scenes at TV Quiz Shows talk by Mrs Faith Powell 14/05/12 Outing to the Geffrye Museum (tbc) 28/05/12 Countryside Birds - talk by Gordon McBeath

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) 05/03/12 The Street Names of Cuddington - talk

by George Crawford followed by AGM 02/04/12 Maldon: an Essex Town in Victorian Times - talk by Jean Vesey 14/05/12 The Olympics - talk by Eric Marsh

ENTER YOUR POSTCODE AND FIND YOUR NEAREST GROUP ONLINE at www.csrf.org.uk www.csrf.org.uk spring 2012

61

the last word

My

favourite things…

Ann Emery has had a career in film, television and theatre that has spanned over 50 years. The sister of legendary comedian Dick Emery and also one of the cast of the cult television series Rentaghost, she’s just returned to the stage at the young old age of 81 to play ‘Grandma’ in Billy Elliot.

1

Painting

Film

“The Kiss” by Gustav Klimt. I was

in Vienna in the US production of My Fair Lady and fell in love with it. I have several reproductions and forms of the artist’s work and he had such a sad and wonderful short life – tragedy in art eternally.

The Wizard of Oz. I am a great fan of Judy Garland and the film gave me an indelible lust for red shoes!! I still have several sparkly pairs!

5

Quotation

All of Charles Dickens novels

are my cup of tea. I can see his great descriptions spring to life as I read.

I have worked on several in character productions of his.

“This above all: to thine own self

be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man.” I can’t remember who said it but the deep truth of its sentiment is always on my mind and in my heart forever more.

Ed’s Note – it’s a Shakespeare quote Ann – appearing in Hamlet and delivered by Polonius (Act1,Scene3)

3

6

2

Novel

Piece of Music

My favourite classical composer

is Chopin and I like so many of his etudes it’s difficult to pick just one. I remember fondly my father playing them to us as we sat around at home, very sentimental memories.

62

SPRING 2012 www.csrf.org.uk

City

Madrid was most exciting when

I worked in a ballet company there.

I loved everything about the atmosphere, the language, the dance. I see all the great Spanish companies when possible and the food is just wonderful.

7 8 9

COLOUR

Red. All hues and

connotations belonging to the fiery intensity of the jewellery.

ANIMAL

Elephant. They are reputed to

never forget and I pride myself as one of the thoughtful people.

Historical Figure

Winston Churchill who won the war for us.

What a statesman, philosopher and leading figure of my childhood during the blitz of 1939.

10

Flower

Orchid. My mother’s

favourite and mine too. She used to buy a spray for any good occasion and I just love the flawless perfection. In autumn great ropes of scarlet berries feed the birds, and in spring a great foam of creamy flowers provide nectar for hordes of insects.

Billy Elliot the Musical is at the Victoria Palace Theatre, Victoria St, London SW1 – for more information on tickets contact the Box Office on 0844 811 0055 or check our Members’ theatre club (online in the member area of the CSRF website) for any ticket deals that may be available