Avanti Magazine Winter 2012

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

NAVIGATING THE CARE SYSTEM

MAGAZINE

Protect yourself and your loved ones

Stoicism

Life is good, if you know how to live it!

BUY BRITISH Making food more palatable

PAID TO SHOP

Demystifying the mystery shopper

THIS IS YOUR LIFE

How to preserve your memories

P L U S : B O O K C L U B • C U LT U R E • E V E N T S • G R O U P N E W S • P O S T B A G • F I L M S Supported By The Civ il S er v ice Insurance S ociet y C h a r it y Fu n d

Editor’s Letter The Civil Service Retirement Fellowship Suite 2, 80A Blackheath Road, London SE10 8DA t: 020 8691 7411 f: 020 8692 2386 e: info@csrf.org.uk w: www.csrf.org.uk A charity registered in England and Wales No 255465 and in Scotland No SC039049 and a company limited by guarantee in England and Wales No 6297479

The magazine has been produced with financial support from

THE CIVIL SERVICE INSURANCE SOCIETY CHARITY FUND Please note: In accordance with data protection, The CSRF never passes member’s personal information to third parties. If you are contacted by any organisation claiming otherwise then please let us know.

I was recently the guest speaker at the annual literary lunch for the Society of Civil and Public Sector Writers which was held at the Civil Service Club. The subject of my talk was about my career as a writer/editor and opened up into a very engaging discussion about everything from poetry to how to submit written work (the double spacing v single spacing debate).

Having just looked back at my career so far I was particularly interested in the This is Your Life article in this issue (page 28) about how you can ‘record’ your personal memories for the benefit of your loved ones. I wish that my grandmother had done something like that before she died as I’ve become quite a fan of genealogy this year and she had an encyclopaedic memory when it came to knowing the names and connections of family members!

As is customary with the end of another year approaching I’d like to take the opportunity to say a big thank you to the team who work on the magazine - a lot of work goes into producing each issue and I’m extremely grateful for their input and support. Editing avanti is both a privilege and a pleasure and I look forward to continuing to hear from you throughout 2013.

Wishing you all a very Happy Christmas,

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

Contents 4 Front Desk

Publisher: Gaynor Garton e: gaynor@square7media.co.uk Advertising: t: 020 3283 4055 e: adsales@square7media.co.uk Editor: David Tickner Contributors: Gareth Southwell, David Porteous, Julie Penfold, Janet Tester

News from the Fellowship Office and the Chief Executive’s ‘Year in Review’.

14 Navigating the care system How can you protect your loved ones?

Julie Penfold highlights your rights.

18 Living Well Life is well if you know how to live it!

Gareth Southwell explores stoicism.

Contact the Editor By mail: Use the address above Email: avanti@square7media.co.uk Tel: 020 8691 7411

22 Best of British

Designer: Charlotte Morgan

26 Postcard from a cruise

©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.

By buying British produce you can not only help the local economy but also support animal welfare.

Guest ‘piggy’ writers Emperor and Josephine reminisce about their cruise to Scandinavia.

28 This is your life David Porteous looks at how you can preserve old memories.

32 Mystery Shopper demystified David Porteous explains the secrets of the mystery shopper.

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36 Leisure Life

The latest book, film and culture reviews.

40 Talking Heads What would you like in your Christmas stocking? We ask staff, group members and serving civil servants.

43 Coffee Time Fun titbits, word search, Sudoku and a Christmas hamper prize winning crossword!

46 Postbag Your letters and views.

50 Group Focus Group reports and news from around the country.

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54-61 The Planner Find out what your local group is up to.

62 My Favourite Things With actress Gwen Taylor.

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front desk

The latest news from Fellowship Office

A Year in Review Chief Executive Jean Cooper reflects on 2012

I

t hardly seems possible that this year is almost over; it’s been a very busy one for staff at Fellowship Office, our Board of Directors and volunteers. We have all been working hard to strengthen the support we provide to all beneficiaries whilst at the same time exploring new initiatives and boosting member recruitment.

Our profile amongst serving civil servants has continued to grow with relationships being built effectively with departments via regular meetings with Permanent Secretaries and engaging with HR Directors. The results of these initiatives have seen our presence on departmental intranets improve and the number of direct invitations to participate in pre-retirement/staff wellbeing events increase. Also this year we have worked with the Ministry of Justice, Department of Health, Ministry of Defence and HMRC. Our Charity Partner status at both of the Civil Service Live events (in Belfast and London) proved highly productive in signing up both new members and volunteers. The recent appointment of Sir Paul Jenkins KCB, QC (Permanent Secretary at the Treasury Solicitors Department) as our Champion and the ongoing support of our President Sir Bob Kerslake has made a significant impact on our profile within the Civil Service.

Ensuring our continued support and duty of care to you has been equally important this year. The launch of the Phone Buddy scheme and support of the National Campaign to End Loneliness marked our active engagement on an issue

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ABOVE: With new CSRF Champion Sir Paul Jenkins KCB, QC; RIGHT: With Malcolm Booth, the new Chief Executive of the National Federation of Occupational Pensioners

of particular concern to older people. We currently have over 100 active participants involved with the scheme and it will remain an integral part of our ongoing duty of care to beneficiaries.

The Buddy scheme was launched thanks to the generous donations received from you via our Life Member Appeal in 2011 and in response to feedback received from groups and branches listing services they would like to see being added. Another popular service requested and added was the introduction of our IT & Technology helpline and I would encourage all of you who experience any problems in this arena to take full advantage of that. Our service provision goes on as you will see on page 9 with the new introduction for members of a Later Life Legal Helpline.

Faced with the realities of a small team to deliver a large remit it has been increasingly important to build partnerships and relationships with other like-minded charities and organisations.

Our ongoing work with the National Health Service Retirement Fellowship saw the successful launch of a range of new member activities throughout 2012 (plans

to expand on this are already underway for 2013). We have additionally strengthened our ties with Citizens’ Advice, AgeUK, the Relatives & Residents Association and Independent Age and welcomed the help offered by Community Networks and Community Service Volunteers. We also plan to further develop our relationships with the Civil Service Pensioners’ Alliance, Benenden Healthcare Society, The Charity for Civil Servants, My Civil Service Pension and Civil Service Learning.

Listening to the needs of both the Civil Service and our beneficiaries has given renewed focus and clarity to the purpose and aims of The CSRF and reinforced our relevance as a welfare provider. But

the challenges for the year ahead remain real. We need to ensure that our fundraising activities are able to deliver the revenue to maintain and expand our services. To achieve those targets it is imperative we tackle them together and that’s why the support of all of you both individually and within your groups will make the difference.

From 2013 we will be launching a Golden Jubilee appeal that will run up until 2015 – the year that celebrates 50 years from the official start of the Fellowship. We will be outlining how that appeal will take shape in the next issue but please put your fundraising hats on, because the next three years promises to be very busy.

At the same time we are also exploring opportunities to seek financial support from outside sources to support relevant projects and activities.

Another equally important fundraising source is legacy giving.

With the start of our new legal partnership with W W & J McClure we will be exploring a special legacy appeal in 2013 but if you would like further information about how to leave a legacy you can download the legacy giving factsheet from the members’ area or contact one of the team at Fellowship Office.

I would like to take this opportunity to say a few thank yous: to the team at Fellowship Office for all of their hard work during the year, to the Board of Directors and all of our dedicated volunteers who give their time to us to help run our groups, assist at events and provide office support. A big thank you as well to Square7 Media who once again ensured that avanti has gone from strength to strength in 2012. Finally, thank you to the CSIS Charity Fund for sponsoring avanti during 2012.

I very much hope you have a happy and peaceful festive season and look forward to reconnecting with you all in 2013.

BUDDY SCHEME UPDATE: Buddies Wanted!

Recent research highlighted by the Campaign to End Loneliness shows that loneliness has a similar impact on mortality as smoking, and is worse for us than obesity. It also has significant links to hypertension, depression, and increases the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease by 50%. It also affects people of any age.

So if you are sitting at home reading this now and are feeling a bit lonely we hope you will take the opportunity to benefit from our Phone Buddy scheme. It has been running for nearly a year now and has already made a positive difference to the lives of many beneficiaries who have signed up to receive a regular call from our ‘Buddies’. We would to encourage more people to register to receive a call.

When you sign up you will be sent out a confidentiality agreement and evaluation form to fill in and return. On the form you are asked to select what day of the week and what time you would like to receive your call. You will also be asked to pick from a list of subjects that you would be particularly interested in talking about with your buddy. This helps give your buddy a good starting point for your call.

Once we have received your completed forms you will be matched to a volunteer buddy and the time set for your first call.

N WA

T A BU D D Y

B E A U D DY B After the initial call you and your buddy can then agree a pattern for the calls which are made either weekly, fortnightly or monthly (depending on your personal requirements).

We are always on the lookout for Phone Buddy volunteers too – so if you have some time handy then why not use it to help bring friendship into someone’s life and register using the information below. Don’t forget any buddies call costs can be reimbursed.

So don’t succumb to loneliness we are here to support you! Pick up the phone today and call us on 020 8691 7411 to register your interest (or alternatively you can register online at www.csrf.org.uk).

Join the team!

We were delighted to welcome Andrew Prior (pictured above) to the Fellowship Office recently. He joins a growing team of volunteers who help us with office support. This is just one of a number of areas you might be interested in as we currently offer a range of volunteering opportunities for beneficiaries to participate in. Without the help and support we receive from

volunteers we would not be able to maintain the level of services we provide.

Whether you can spare a couple of hours or something more frequent your contribution is just as important!

To find out more about volunteering opportunities call Fellowship Office on 020 8691 7411, email: info@csrf.org.uk or visit www.csrf.org.uk

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news

events

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The CSPA 60th anniversary celebration The Civil Service Pensioners’ Alliance celebrated its 60th anniversary with a Parliamentary reception held in the Stranger’s Dining Room of the House of Commons last month.

The event was sponsored by Square7 Media Ltd and CSIS and hosted by Michael McCann MP. It was also attended by the Pensions Minister Steve Webb MP and the Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Rachel Reeves MP both of whom paid tribute to the work of the Alliance in their speeches. We would like to extend extremely warm congratulations to the CSPA for their milestone anniversary, and we wish them well in all their future endeavours.

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1: Beneficiaries at the Marine Hotel, Tankerton; 2: Group volunteer Linda Swift with Fellowship Office’s Belinda Stalker; 3: The first meeting of the working committee, (from left to right) Linda Swift, Agnes KabdeboGedeon, Sheila Burrow, Roger McQueen and Marion Finch pictured with Fellowship Office’s Belinda Stalker (standing).

2 1: CSRF Chief Executive Jean Cooper with Andrew Parker, Head of Customer Insight, MyCSP; 2: CSRF National Chairman John Barker with CSPA EC Member Don Makepeace; 3: Clint Elliott, Chief Executive of NARPO, CSPA Deputy General Secretary Ralph Groves and CSPA EC Member Dave Brown

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Whitstable/Herne Bay – new group event

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Beneficiaries from Canterbury, Herne Bay, Whitstable and Tankerton came together last month to discuss the opening of a new social group. Working with local CSRF volunteer Linda Swift, Fellowship Office helped to arrange and support the event that was held at The Marine Hotel in Tankerton. Over 70 beneficiaries had registered their interest in being involved with a new group for the area and Group & Branch Support Officer Belinda Stalker was on hand to oversee proceedings.

A working committee to oversee the start of the new group was formed from those who attended and they met afterwards to start the planning process. This project is the first of a number of new group initiatives around the country that have been identified and spearheaded by the team at Fellowship Office.

STOP PRESS : STOP PRESS STOP PRESS : STOP PRESS

Three C’s at CSIS Event Our new champion, Sir Paul Jenkins KCB, QC joined National Chairman John Barker CB and Chief Executive Jean Cooper at a reception held in recognition of the charitable work undertaken by the CSiS Charity Fund and the success of the Civil Service Insurance Society (CSIS). Since the charity fund was re-launched five years ago CSIS has donated £3.1 million to the CSiS Charity Fund enabling the charity to give donations in excess of £2.9 million to many civil and public sector charities.

Abbeyfield champion ‘Companionship at Christmas’

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Charitable organisation Abbeyfield is once again running their very popular ‘Companionship at Christmas’ campaign. The initiative invites members of local communities with elderly neighbours living alone, family members in need of respite support and those who plan to spend the Christmas period alone to enjoy a Christmas lunch and overnight stays from Christmas Eve to 4 January across many of its houses nationwide. So if you are over 55, facing the prospect of being alone at Christmas and currently living independently then you would be eligible for this.

For more information call 0845 0523553 (free from a landline) or visit www.abbeyfield.com to register

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3 4 1: CSRF National Chairman John Barker CB and Sir Paul Jenkins KCB QC, new CSRF Champion; 2: CSIS Deputy Chief Executive Helen Harris with CSRF Chief Executive Jean Cooper; 3: CSRF National Vice Chairman Russell Brown with Mike Duggan, General Secretary of the Civil Service Pensioners Alliance; 4: CSRF Board Trustee Tony Hazeldine CBE with John Toman, Fellowship Officer - Wales, National Health Service Retirement Fellowship; 5: Richard Williams, Treasurer of the Residents & Relatives Association, CSRF Chief Executive Jean Cooper and Judy Downey, Chairman of the Residents & Relatives Association

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HMRC, Employee Forum, Luton As part of our ongoing commitment to support all staff welfare initiatives run by departments we were pleased to have been invited to participate in a first time wellbeing event held at the HMRC offices in Luton. A range of activities and seminars were laid on for staff during the course of the morning/lunchtime.

These were designed to offer good health and wellbeing options for them to consider. We joined representatives from the NHS Stop Smoking Programme, Benenden Healthcare and local sports centres as exhibitors, which provided us with a good opportunity to promote both our social and leisure activities and volunteering programmes.

June and John Barrett, the Chair and Secretary of the local Luton group found time to help on the stand

Surveying loneliness

Age UK recently released results from their loneliness survey which found 1 in 3 people aged over 65 said they are lonely some, all or most of the time. They also estimated most people live within 71 yards of someone who suffers from loneliness. These are extremely worrying figures to us and of even greater concern during the winter months when people are affected by adverse weather and dark nights. Please do consider dropping in on your neighbours and keeping more in touch with your fellow CSRF members as loneliness really can be alleviated. The Christmas season can be especially tough on people with no support network, and your kindness and time can really make a massive difference.

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news

fundraising Where is our pig?

Please help and support our work by donating to the CSRF To date our Life Member Appeal has raised over £80,000.00. But you can still help us by making a donation. Send 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. Every little bit really does help. You can also make a regular donation by signing up to a direct debit or deduction from your Civil Service Pension.

You can download a direct debit form from our website, www.csrf.org.uk or call Fellowship Office to request a copy on 020 8691 7411

Don’t forget you can help us raise funds by adopting one of our stress pigs for a minimum donation of £5. Once you’ve adopted your pig you can share your pictures with other members via the Pig Tales page on the CSRF website. As you can see our pigs have been popping up in the most unlikely of places! Alternatively our pigs make very good Christmas presents, door stops and anti-stress devices. Please do support us and buy one (or more!).

Spot the Pig and win a £50 M&S voucher Somewhere in the magazine you will find a pig ‘hidden’ on one of the pages. Guess the correct page and you could be the lucky winner of a £50 M&S voucher. To enter the competition send your name and contact details along with the page number where the pig is hidden to: Spot the Pig, The CSRF, Suite 2, 80A Blackheath Road, London SE10 8DA. Competition closes on 20 December 2012.

CLUE: Look for something tasty and patriotic!

Make a minimum donation of £5 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 order online and receive your pig at www.csrf.org.uk

FROM TOP: Travel Pig (on Brac Island, Croatia), submitted by Cliff Baker; Bungee Pig (near Tower Bridge), submitted by Hannah Evans; Cruise Pig (prior to cruising around the Med), submitted by Yvonne Scott; The Lord Bishop Pig (at Blackburn Cathedral)

Legacy giving

This source of support remains an important one for any charity, so please consider nominating the Fellowship for a charitable legacy in your will and help our work to continue for years to come. Any contribution will make a positive difference to the Fellowship’s ability to both maintain

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and expand its range of services.

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 directly from the members’ area on the CSRF website

member services NEW

Later Life Helpline For all your I.T. problems!

Working in partnership with W W & J McClures we are very pleased to announce the launch of a brand new later life helpline that will offer advice on queries relating to Wills, Lasting Powers of Attorney, Care Costs, Probate Costs or Funeral Plans. Calls on any other subject would be referred to one of McClure’s partner firms. They would also be able to

However big or small your IT problems don’t forget you can get helpful advice over the telephone by calling our technology advice helpline. Run on our behalf by BC Technologies it’s completely FREE (except for the cost of your phone call) and easily accessible via email or by telephone.

advise on setting up legacies as well.

Established in 1840, McClure’s is a very well established firm with a modern approach to solving client’s problems.

They are one of only a small number of multinational legal firms, authorised to act for English & Welsh clients as well as Scottish. They also operate partnerships with firms in Northern Ireland.

You can contact the Later Life Helpline by telephone or email using the following contacts: Telephone: 08451 800 939 Email: csrf@mcclure-solicitors.co.uk

You can contact the I.T. Helpline by telephone or email using the following contacts:

Please note: the telephone line is only operational between 9am and 5pm on weekdays only.

Telephone: 01369 706656 Email: csrf@bc-group.co.uk

Please note: the telephone line is only operational between 9am and 5pm on weekdays only

Theatre Club Don’t forget that if you are a fan of the theatre we have two theatre clubs available for members and both offer some good discounts on ticket prices.

WestEndTheatre.com have run the avanti theatre club for some time now and offer

regularly updated deals on West End shows in London as well as discounts on hotels and restaurants.

The Ambassadors Theatre Group is the country’s largest theatre owner and they offer ticket discounts on productions at their theatres across the country.

Both theatre clubs are accessible via the Members’ area of the CSRF

website – click the required icon and you will be able to see all the selected offers available and follow the instructions online to book your tickets.

This is a web-based only benefit but if you encounter any problems with booking then call the following contact numbers: for West End Theatre Club (020 7492 1566) and for Ambassadors Theatre Group (0844 871 7627)

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news

Writing Competition 2013 Calling all aspiring writers! Why not enter the Society of Civil and Public Service Writers’ competitions for travel writing, short story and poetry (entries close on 28 February 2013).

The competitions are open only to SCPSW members. Those eligible include serving or retired members of the Civil Service, Armed Forces, National Health Service, Local Government, The Police Force, or any Public Service.

Prizes/Categories Lewis Wright Short Story Competition Prizes: £75 and £25.

Entry fee £4 per story.

Herbert Spencer Poetry Competition Prizes: £50 and £25.

Entry fee £2 per entry.

Vincent Brennan Travel Article Prize: £30.

Entry fee £2.50 per entry.

Short stories should be not more than 3,000 words; travel articles not more than 2,000 words; poems not more than 40 lines, with each on a separate sheet.

Stories and articles should be typed, double-spaced, on A4 paper, with word count. All entries should bear only the author’s pen name and a separate sheet quoting: pen name, title, real name and address. Enclose SAE for return of entries. All entries should be sent to: Competition Secretary Nina Mattar, 4 Redruth House, Grange Road, Sutton SM2 6RT. For any membership enquiries write (with a S.A.E) to Michael Smith, 22 Western Drive, Shepperton, TW17 8HL or email membership@scpsw.co.uk. More information can be found on the website www.scpsw.co.uk

Prime Entrepreneurs The Prince’s Initiative for Mature Enterprise (PRIME) recently held its first ever awards ceremony to recognise and celebrate the success of the over 50 entrepreneur. Supported by Sage One the Awards looked for senior entrepreneurial success in three categories; Best New Digital Business, Best New Product and Best New Service. If you are a budding entrepreneur and fancy getting involved you can find out more at www.prime.org.uk

Age of Creativity If you are feeling inspired and in need of a creative outlet, this online platform shares, celebrates and inspires work in the field of arts and older people. It aims to foster collaboration and discussion between practitioners, artists and organisations. Find out more at www.ageofcreativity.co.uk

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The Seniors’ Golf Tour 2013 After the success of this year’s Golf Tour next year’s event will be taking place on 17 September 2013 at the St Pierre, Chepstow Golf and Country Club.

Located in South Wales it offers stunning views and is set within 400 acres of parkland. The courses at St Pierre provide an excellent challenge for all levels of golfer and the resort has an impressive history having hosted no less than 14 European tour events and the Solheim Cup. It is has easy access to the M4, M5 and M50 and is less than 2 hours from Birmingham and London.

The programme for the day is as follows: 0900 Registration and tournament briefing Tea/Coffee and Bacon roll 1100 First tee reserved on the Old Course 1800 Buffet meal and prize giving We are able to offer a reduced rate of just £40 for national members to sign up. Aside from a full day’s golf with food and an evening meal, all participants will also receive a set of specially branded golf balls and a golf tag included in the Tour entry fee.

The 2013 Photography Competition The theme for next year’s photography competition is ‘the joy of retirement’ and is open to all members. How you interpret the theme is of course up to you but you might wish to consider a photo that captures a hobby or leisure activity that you’ve taken up in retirement or a person or place that has a particular significance. Judges will be looking for originality, creativity and something that captures the positive (or negative) side of retirement.

Just like this year there will be an overall winner (judged from entries from both the CSRF and NHSRF) and an individual CSRF winner. The prizes will be £400 and £200 worth of vouchers of your choice respectively.

So whatever your photographic ability we’d like to see your creative side and would encourage you to submit an entry to the 2013 Photography competition.

To register your interest in either of these two activities email info@csrf.org.uk with your name, full postal address and telephone number, sign up online in the Members’ area or write in to: CSRF/NHSRF Leisure activities, The CSRF, Suite 2, 80A Blackheath Road, London SE10 8DA (please indicate which leisure pursuit you are interested in receiving more information about)

Share your love of literature Since the National book club launched earlier on this year we’ve had a great response from members. There are currently over 60 book club members registered but there’s no upper limit on numbers, so if you enjoy reading then why not sign up.

The Book Club works very simply – once you’ve registered you will receive your welcome pack along with a copy of the approved book list. Once you’ve read the book you can submit your review using one of the review response forms or online via

How to register

the book club page on the CSRF website. There is a new book every other month (to allow for a variation on reading speed) but you can go as fast or slow as you want.

Looking ahead to 2013 there are plans to involve book club members in a couple of literary-related events and we are encouraging national book club members to consider setting up local book groups that they can invite members along to discuss the books on our list in person.

Membership of the book club is FREE to any full member of the CSRF or NHSRF. To register: either email info@csrf.org.uk with your name, full postal address and telephone number, sign up online in the Members’ area or write in to: CSRF/NHSRF Book Club, The CSRF, Suite 2, 80A Blackheath Road, London SE10 8DA.

Book Club reviews We’ve had reviews on a number of the books on our list in the past few months. Here are just a few excerpts from some of them (you can read the full reviews on the Book Club page in the Members section of the CSRF website) On Bring up the Bodies

by Hilary Mantel “Historical novels, especially when well researched and as detailed as this one, are among my favourite reads, so I really enjoyed reading this book.

Having recently visited Hampton Court Palace I was able to visualise some of the scenes as described. However, I believe I enjoyed this book more for its literary excellence even than as an historical novel.” Submitted by Melanie Sidorczuk

and our universal pre-occupations with family life, power, money, sex, kindness, friendship - all are depicted here in Tudor times.

I very much look forward to the third book in the series.” Submitted by Margaret Tobin On Midnight in Peking

by Paul French “A true crime novel is not usually my choice but this book was an exciting page turner and I was desperate to learn

the truth of the gruesome murder.”

Submitted by Marian Lusher On Death and a Penguin

by Andrey Kurkov “The book has a sense of isolation and loneliness, enhanced by the bleak urban landscape and cold snowy weather. The penguin too has an air of melancholy about it... I found this easy to read and at 228 pages it almost seemed like a long short story with a neat twist at the end.”

Submitted by Jean Anderson

“What a Marathon.

Marathons can be too long. Not this account of the period. Historical books on the subject of Henry VIII are sometimes dry.

Not this one. A page turner from beginning to end.”

Submitted by Agnes Kabdebo-Gedeon “Hilary Mantel is a keen observer of human behaviour

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news

trustees’ news Olympic Volunteer

Board Director Tony Hazeldine had a busy summer as he was involved as a volunteer games maker and ambassador for London 2012. Tony drew the ‘short straw’ (probably much envied by many) and was involved with the Womens’ Beach volleyball competition that took place on Horseguards Parade in the heart of Whitehall.

RIGHT: Tony in front of a rather famous house!

Group Visits

Skegness 6 September

Our Board of Directors have been busy visiting groups across the country in the past few months to gain firsthand experience of what matters to group members and ensure that appropriate support can be given where needed. Reporting by Keith Sullens (KS), Sylvia Edgell (SE) and Martin Claridge (MC)

I initially experienced difficulty in finding the meeting venue as there were no signs (the on-duty warden of the sheltered housing complex pointed me in the right direction).

However once I arrived I soon found myself being shown to a chair, given a cup of tea and was made a great fuss of. Group members meet socially usually with no guest speakers so my presence provided a good opportunity for people to find out about the plans ahead for the Fellowship. (MC)

Hounslow 14 August

10 September

With a very active committee, the group is well run and offers a range of activities including visiting speakers, trips and lunches. The speaker during my visit was a fascinating lady who gave a talk on Japan.

She was terrific and I learnt more about Japan in 45 minutes than I’ve picked up in 68 years. Members were very welcoming throughout my visit and were extremely supportive of all the work undertaken by Fellowship Office. (KS)

Aylsham & District

This very active group meets at the Friends Meeting House in Aylsham and offers a mixed programme of guest speakers.

My visit coincided with a visiting speaker from The Woodland Trust who delivered a very informative talk about their work.

Over coffee and tea before the meeting began I had a chance to chat to members about their programme for the rest of the year and share some ideas for potential recruitment activities. (MC)

LEFT: Martin Claridge (pictured far right) with members of the Sleaford & Ancaster group RIGHT: Sylvia Edgell Edgell (standing third from left) with members of the Westbury-onTrym group

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Nottingham

12 September

I enjoyed another very entertaining speaker from The Woodland Trust who gave a talk about ancient woodlands during my visit here. The group meet at the Nottingham Mechanics, a 3-storey building that is quite central. Members are able to purchase refreshments from a ground floor cafe before taking them up to the meeting room. Nottingham group has a healthy number of regular attendees and provides an engaging programme each month. (MC)

Westbury-on-Trym

4 October

I had a wonderful welcome from this very well organised and caring group. On arrival I was collected from the railway station and was given a lovely scenic tour of the area enroute to and from the group meeting. During the meeting we discussed a whole variety of topics including member recruitment and running successful group outings and I left feeling as though I’d made some new friends. (SE)

Get help now before winter bites With the weather getting colder and winter approaching fast, national fuel poverty charity NEA is urging all older people to take action now to ensure they are warm and comfortable in their homes.

Around 2.5 million households with a resident over the age of 60 in England are estimated to be living in fuel poverty. Older people are at particular risk because they are more likely to live in homes that have poor heating and insulation, and they are often on low, fixed incomes that make them particularly vulnerable to rising energy costs. Many choose to ration their energy use, unaware that living in a cold home can actually cause or exacerbate a range of serious health conditions such as strokes, heart attacks and bronchitis.

The good news is that there is help available. The Warm Front scheme is a Government funded initiative providing heating and insulation measures for low income households. The scheme, which is in its final year, has recently broadened its eligibility criteria meaning more people will qualify for assistance. Energy

suppliers also offer a range of assistance to certain older customers, including the Warm Homes Discount scheme; this includes providing discounts of ÂŁ130 on energy bills for some low income pensioners.

You can contact Warm Front team now on 0800 316 2805 to see if you are eligible for assistance.Details on the Warm Home Discount Scheme can be found at www.direct.gov/warmhome

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navigating the CARE SYSTEM When placing a loved one in a care home, ensuring your family member is content and well looked after is paramount. Words by Julie Penfold.

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nsuring a loved one is appropriately cared for starts with your choice of care home. Ahead of making a decision, thoroughly researching each home under consideration is vital.

As a starting point, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspects all registered care homes and provides a care home rating and report based on their findings.

However, the CQC’s ratings and inspection system has faced scrutiny as a result of highlighted cases of elderly abuse including the recent exposé of the abuse of Maria Worrall at Ash Court Care Home (rated excellent by the CQC), which was highlighted via a BBC Panorama investigation.

“Over the last few years, we have seen care homes only being monitored if they are under-performing on a regular basis, while those that are performing well may wait up to three years before they are inspected,” says Emma Williams, Helpline team member at the Relatives

and Residents Association. “This means there is very little information out there for individuals to judge the level of care that has actually been provided in the care home because most of it is out of date.”

Ask questions With the lack of information available, it is important to visit several care homes and ask any questions you feel are pertinent as this will help to form an impression of how each care home is run. You should consider whether the home feels friendly, does it provide a flexible environment where residents have food and activity choices and are residents routines respected, such as times they like to retire to bed or get up each morning? Also consider the level of staff in the home in comparison to the number of residents and the level of their care needs.

To assist with making a thorough assessment of each home, the Relatives

and Residents Association provides a form, which is available to download via the charity’s website or can be sent as a hard copy. This highlights all areas to consider.

Care home plans The charity also advises prior to placing an elderly person in a care home, that they have a thorough medical assessment.

If the placement of a relative is through self-funding and the family prefers not to go through the local authority to draw up a care plan, a suitable care plan must be agreed with the care home manager.

Ideally this should also include input from relatives and the vulnerable adult.

The care plan covers all areas including identifying the individual’s care needs, day-to-day routine information and dietary requirements. This documents the level of care that is expected and provided within that home. This should form part of the contract between the care home and the

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person paying the fees, in some instances this may be a relative who has Power of Attorney.

Once your relative is settled into the home, making visits on a regular basis, (ideally at different times of the day), can help to provide a good impression of your loved one’s life in the home and allow you to look more closely at the level of care and attention they receive.

When suspicions arise If there are any causes for concern or worries about your relative, documenting all that you can is very important. Ill-treatment can be anything from poor levels of care to worries about abuse as a result of bruising or serious suspicions about assault. If you are unhappy about any aspect of your loved one’s care, document all that you can. Write down times, dates, staffing numbers and photograph any bruises or cuts. Document as much information as you can. If there are instances of bruising or falls, it is a legal obligation of the care home to record this. They should be able to explain how the incident happened. You may also want to ensure you have a copy for your reference.

Making your worries known

The first step is to address any concerns of abuse with the care home manager or a member of staff that you are at ease speaking to within the care home. If no action is taken or you are dissatisfied with the response, you can go to the local authority adult safeguarding team, whether your relative is a local authority funded individual or is self-funded.

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“The local authority adult safeguarding team has a duty to ensure the safety of all vulnerable adults in care homes. They can go into the care home and investigate.

In addition, there are other avenues.

If you suspect abuse by a nurse, you can contact the Nursing and Midwifery Council. You can also contact the Care Quality Commission if you are worried about a person being in danger. If you suspect violent abuse, ring the police. As the case of Maria Worrall highlighted, it is a criminal act to assault a resident. If the abuse is of that nature, charges need to be brought against the individuals concerned,” says Emma.

In the case of Maria Worrall, all five carers filmed were sacked. Male nurse Jonathon Aquino who was seen abusing Maria in the Panorama documentary was convicted of assault and sentenced to 18 months imprisonment.

“The CQC has regulatory duties towards all care homes and if they are not performing in line with the regulations, they have the power to take action against those homes. The adult safeguarding teams can in some instances remove people from places of care to a safe alternative. They can also refer a case to the CQC to take action, particularly where they have concerns about the way a care home is being run,” adds Emma.

Worried family members can also call the Relatives and Residents Association’s helpline to discuss their fears and review what options are available in making

their concerns known.

The Association provides confidential support throughout the process of finding a care home, raising concerns and launching a complaint.

Campaigning for change

The Relatives and Residents Association believes that one way to improve care for older people and stamp out abuse is to have a powerful regulator who ensures care homes are inspected regularly. They also feel inspectors should thoroughly scrutinise for tell-tale signs of good and bad practice and listen more carefully

Once your relative is settled into the home, making visits on a regular basis, ideally at different times of the day, can help to provide a good impression of your loved one’s life in the home...

Further information More information on choosing a care home and support with sharing concerns can be found on the Relatives and Residents Association’s website at www.relres.org or by calling their helpline on 0207 359 8136.

You can sign their online petition by visiting www.relres.org/our-petition To contact the Care Quality Commission to report a concern, visit www.cqc.org.uk or call 03000 616161.

To contact the Nursing and Midwifery Council to report a concern, visit www.nmc-uk.org or call 020 7462 5800/5801.

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STOP PRESS : STOP PRESS : STOP PRE

to individual complaints, which is something the Relatives and Residents Association knows is not always happening.

The charity has set up an online petition asking to see immediate changes to the way the Care Quality Commission carries out inspections.

100,000 signatures are required in order to be considered for debate in the House of Commons.

“We do not feel there have been any changes to how the CQC carries out care home checks and this is why we have launched our petition. We also do not feel concerns raised by residents and family members are taken seriously enough. In the case of Maria Worrall, her daughter Jane had filmed the horrific abuse taking place, yet when the CQC became involved, they did not speak to Jane or view her footage. We believe the current system is not working for both the residents and relatives trying to help their loved ones,” adds Emma.

The Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE), a UK charity focused on improving care and support services has just launched Find Me Good Care, a comprehensive source of adult social care information and advice. To find out more visit www.findmegoodcare.co.uk (online only)

talk tous If you have any stories or advice you’d like to share with others about your good (and bad) personal experiences of care homes then send them in using the Fellowship Office address at the front of the magazine or email: avanti@square7media.co.uk

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LIVING

well

Life is good if you know how to live it – Gareth Southwell explores the tenets of Stoicism

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f you pick up an introduction to ethics from your local bookshop, you’ll probably find little in the way of practical advice. You’ll get detailed analysis of some very abstract and technical issues - the various forms of utilitarianism, what defines a deontologist, ongoing debates between non-cognitivism and moral realism – but remain in the dark about whether to tell your friend about her husband’s affair, which charity you should give to (if any), or whether to turn a blind eye to your son’s suspected cannabis use.

A philosopher will patiently explain that you want applied ethics: the application of moral theories to specific situations euthanasia, animal rights, abortion, and so on. But which theory should you apply?

Ah, answering that leads us back to those intimidating and technical debates that prompted you to reshelve the book in the first place. This is probably why book buyers seeking ethical guidance or inspirational attitudes are nowadays more likely to be found in Popular Psychology, Self-Help, or Mind, Body and Spirit than the Philosophy section (if indeed there is one).

Scholars mock such bestsellers as The Little Book of Calm, The Secret or Feel the Fear and Do it Anyway, but the popularity of such titles says a lot about the gap between what people feel they need and what philosophers think is respectable.

Aside from the fact that not everyone is motivated, interested or equipped to engage in academic debate, we might also argue that - as much as we’d like to think

otherwise - many of us simply don’t arrive at our moral attitudes through such rational analysis. So, for all the fresh-faced undergraduates, announcing to their families over the brussels sprouts that they are now preference utilitarians, there are countless others who adopt less rigorous methods.

Firstly, average people are more interested in the direct practical benefit of adopting a certain outlook. More than the abstract appeal of moral principles, we want to see them in action. Would they make us happy, fulfilled, perhaps even enlightened? Help us to deal with emotional upheaval or physical suffering?

In deciding such questions, it’s common to look to examples and role models, to the famous, to family and friends - what do they believe? The painful spectacle of a friend’s family break-up provides more forceful lessons in the real-life consequences of infidelity than any set of commandments. In short, most are more likely to derive moral instruction from Tracy and Dave, Downton Abbey or Geordie Shore, than the works of Plato, Kant and Mill.

All of which goes some way to explain the long and broad appeal of Stoicism. A school of philosophy which sprang up in ancient

Greece around the 3rd century BC. It was enthusiastically taken up by the Romans and spread through the empire, gaining adherents irrespective of social class. Two of its finest exponents were Epictetus, who was a slave, and Marcus Aurelius who was the Emperor of Rome itself.

Its emphasis upon courage in the face of adversity, the pursuit of achievable and realistic goals, and calm acceptance of the inevitable, made it a philosophy tailored for the everyday, generating a host of role models from all walks of life and a rich stock of teaching anecdotes. Its noble, selfless ideals greatly influenced the development of Christianity, through which its outlook became a cornerstone of Western culture. The continued emphasis on the classics in education helped maintain its influence down through Victorian times, ensuring no future public servant or prime minister could be ignorant of the great exemplars of Stoic fortitude. The well-known poem ‘If’, by Rudyard Kipling - himself a product of this system - is really little more than a handy Stoic primer.

So what were its principles? Foremostly, that we are at the mercy of fortune.

Foremostly, that we are at the mercy of Fortune. Whether I’m handsome or ugly, become rich or poor, famous or forgotten, is ultimately out of my hands. Even those things that appear to be within my control may not, despite my best efforts, turn out as planned... www.csrf.org.uk WINTER 2012

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Stoicism is proof that philosophy can be a living guide, not merely an academic exercise or something reserved for an intellectual elite.

Whether I’m handsome or ugly, become rich or poor, famous or forgotten, is ultimately out of my hands. Even those things that appear to be within my control may not, despite my best efforts, turn out as planned. The best laid schemes of mice and men often go pear-shaped, and Fate will have its way in the end. Best, then, not to wager happiness on unknown outcomes - in fact, any outcomes at all.

But what is under my control? Only the way I react to circumstances. “Life is opinion”, states Marcus Aurelius, meaning that whether we perceive something as good or bad is up to us. Zeno of Citium, the founder of Stoicism (not to be confused with that other Zeno, who riddled about racing tortoises and arrows that never reach their target), on being informed that all his possessions had been lost in a shipwreck, famously responded, ‘Fortune bids me to be a less encumbered philosopher’. It was Zeno’s choice to view destitution in a more positive light. But Stoicism wasn’t about looking on the bright side, but developing mental and emotional detachment. The ultimate aim is tranquillity of mind. This is achieved by living in harmony with ‘Nature’, a term which could designate a God-like universal spirit or mind, or simply the destined course of the universe - in a way, it didn’t matter, and Stoicism is refreshingly undogmatic in this respect. Whether life is controlled by God or some implacable and impersonal force, our best course of action is to be courageous, mentally adaptable and free from attachment.

Another key feature of Stoic philosophy is a belief in flux. It was influenced in this by the Greek philosopher Heraclitus, who argued that the world is constantly in a state of change. ‘You cannot step into the same river twice’, he said - reasoning, presumably, that as both you and the river gradually change over time, neither will ever be exactly the same as when you first got your feet wet. So, why be afraid, sad, or angry? Everything passes. The disappointments of love and career, the indignities of age and illness - all are part

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of the natural cycle. Even death is not to be feared: either there’s an afterlife, or you’ll disperse into atoms. Whatever the case, there’s nothing you can do. So, live a ‘Natural life’, ‘go with the flow’. And what could be more natural than death?

Such attitudes make the Stoic character a striking one, furnishing us with some remarkable anecdotes. Seneca recounts the demise of fellow Stoic Julius Canus, condemned to death by Emperor Caligula.

Passing his final days free of anxiety, playing draughts against fellow prisoners, he was called to execution mid-game. Turning to his gaoler, he said, ‘Witness that I am leading by one piece.’ The moral here is that we must live in the moment. We cannot change the past, cannot predict or control the future, so regret and anxiety are both pointless. When Seneca’s own time came, ordered to commit suicide by another of history’s great monsters, Emperor Nero, he did so without compunction. Critical of those who would cling to life at all costs, or complain of their short span, Seneca argued that ‘life is long if you know how to live it’. It’s what we do with our time that’s important. Wasting it on trifles and vanities, always longing for the past or hoping for the future, bemoaning our lot, no wonder life seems short.

But Stoicism’s most notable feature is its practical application to everyday affairs.

Its practitioners were no shrinking violets or ivory tower intellectuals, but active members of society whose philosophy helped them deal with the ups and downs of daily life. Marcus Aurelius’ Meditations, collecting his daily thoughts about life, the universe and everything, was written whilst on a military campaign against the tribes of the East. Seneca, philosopher, essayist, and dramatist, was also statesman and political advisor to the emperor. And of course, there are the many non-philosophers - politicians, soldiers, kings and common people - who sought to employ Stoic principles and attitudes in their everyday life.

So, was the Meditations the Little Book of Calm of its day? Was Seneca the self-

FROM TOP: Marble bust of Marcus Aurelius; Zeno of Citium, the founder of Stoicism.

help guru of Rome? Not quite, but Stoicism’s concern not just for how we live and what we do, but for our mental and emotional health, show it to have as much affinity with today’s popular psychology books as with its more respectable philosophical descendants - if not more.

Stoicism is proof that philosophy can be a living guide, not merely an academic exercise or something reserved for an intellectual elite. It avoids pat answers - the Stoics faced the same quandaries as the rest of us, but did so with a seriousness, discipline and optimism that suggested that there was an answer to be found. Not in interminable technical squabbles, but in the practical and flexible application of clear principles designed to make us happy and behave justly.

Though hard, it says, life can be simple and fulfilling - good, in fact, if you know how to live it.

Let us know if you think Stoicism is an approach that could change your thinking about life, or if you have any other ‘rules or guidelines’ to live by that you would like to share.

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best of BRITISH

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Spot the Labels With the current economic climate impacting on certain areas of the food industry, shoppers are increasingly opting for the cheaper ‘economy’ and ‘value’ brands. This isn’t good for Britain, our farmers, nor our livestock. We take a look at the state of British farming and how by buying British you can help your local economy and also support animal welfare.

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ood security – being able to access sufficient food, at affordable prices – is becoming a major national policy priority, as global demand for food soars in response to population increase and economic growth. In 2010, Britain’s farmers and growers supplied 60% of the nation’s food and 74% of the sorts of foods that can be grown in this country (Source: Defra, Agriculture in the UK 2010).

On food quality and safety, Britain leads the world. The Red Tractor guarantee of farm assurance now appears on over £11 billion of products that are sold in supermarkets and the local food market was valued last year at almost £6 billion by Mintel. Farm shops, direct online retailing and farmers’ markets have added hugely to the richness and diversity of the British food scene, whilst more and more pubs, restaurants and hotels are making a point of sourcing from the farmers and growers in their areas.

Britain’s farmers and growers now play a vital role in delivering a secure supply of safe, top quality food to suit every palate and every pocket. Their challenge for the future is to deliver even more of it, without compromising on either environmental performance or quality. With that in mind the National Farmers Union launched the Farming Delivers for Britain campaign in May. This is designed to highlight the many contributions that agriculture and horticulture make to the country.

The key themes are food, animal welfare, the economy, the environment, careers and cleaner energy and by sourcing seasonal, British produce, when you shop you can help to make your own contribution to this.

Make it local

Even in times of economic hardship, the British public has continued to see value in buying locally produced food. According to

the Institute of Grocery Distribution (IGD), 41% of shoppers are prepared to pay more for locally produced food and 47% for higher animal welfare. Mintel is forecasting that the retail value of local food sales will reach £6.2 billion by 2013, a rise of 31% on the 2008 figure.

Tesco has seen sales of ‘local food’ increase from £850m in 2009 to £1bn in 2012 and all major retailers have plans to expand in this area: Sainsbury’s recent ‘20 by 20 Vision’ calls for a doubling in UK sourcing by 2020.

The phenomenal growth in local food speaks volumes for both the people who buy it and the farmers who have understood what consumers want and have played to their strengths.

There are a number of reasons why we buy food that’s produced locally. For some, buying local food gives them the chance to support their local economy. The continuing drive for local sourcing means that consumers can decide to invest their money into their local economy by buying food from producers near to them. By buying British food, consumers are not only contributing to the nation’s economy, but are also helping to drive our economic recovery.

The village of Todmorden is a good example of this. Their Incredible Edible Todmorden project began life as an urban gardening experiment in 2008. It aimed to get people together to make a difference through growing healthy local food, and reducing reliance on big businesses.

Since its conception, Incredible Edible Community Growing Plots have grown up in dozens of communities all over the world by local people getting together in their own time to turn overgrown pieces of land into community allotment gardens with small taster growing plots that anyone can rent to begin growing their own food.

For many consumers though the chief benefit of local produce is quality and

With so many labels on food produce these days it can be sometimes quite difficult to recognise one from the other.

As a quick and handy reference we’ve reproduced the three main labels to keep an eye out for when you’re next doing your weekly shop: LEAF is a registered charity (No. 1045781) promoting environmentally responsible farming, through encouraging farmers globally to produce food with care for the environment and to improve public understanding of food and farming.

The Red Tractor is a food assurance scheme, which covers production standards developed by experts on safety, hygiene, animal welfare and the environment amongst other things. The Red Tractor certifies that food has been produced to independently inspected standards right across the food chain – from farm to pack.

Freedom Food is the RSPCA’s welfare food labelling and farm assurance scheme and is used by a variety of other bodies and individuals in the UK and beyond.

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taste. From Welsh lamb to West Country beef; Yorkshire rhubarb to Cumberland sausage; Lincolnshire cabbages to Kentish strawberries; Cornish new potatoes to Herefordshire apples; Stilton cheese to Dorset Blue Vinney, the choice is endless.

Not only can we buy different foods now but we can choose to buy different foods from different regions too, and not only that, we can take advantage of our changing seasons to buy fresh food when it is at its very best.

even further to meet consumers’ demands by being part of quality assurance schemes that are linked to farming systems, like organics and conservation grade, or which involve higher animal welfare standards, such as with Freedom Foods (the RSPCA’s As important as quality is the need for welfare labelling scheme). assurance that the food we buy conforms The Freedom Foods label has already to expected welfare standards as well. helped to improve the lives of millions of Television chefs such as Hugh Fearnleyfarm animals with the charity’s science Whittingstall, Jamie Oliver and Jimmy team working to develop RSPCA welfare Doherty have all promoted the importance standards for each of the major farm of animal welfare for our nation’s animal species. These cover every aspect livestock. By comparison to some of our of the animals’ lives, including feed and European neighbours, the UK does adhere water provision, the environment they live to good welfare in farming standards. in, how they are managed, health care, The Red Tractor logo not only guarantees transport, and humane that food has been produced in the UK slaughter/killing. The but also that it meets good standards standards are designed of animal welfare as well to ensure that all animals as respect for the reared according to environment. These the requirements have standards not only everything they need for a reinforce UK legislation good quality of life, whether but go further to ensure they are kept on large or that food is produced small farms, or in indoor according to the demands or outdoor production of consumers. The systems. response from The standards consumers has are set at the been hugely limit of what encouraging. A is achievable, YouGov poll, Knowledge and understanding of animal welfare in terms published in is constantly evolving, as is the importance of of animal April 2012, locally produced food and its impact on the national husbandry found that economy. We must ensure that when we do our and 64% of UK weekly shop what we buy reflects our support of commercial shoppers this. So as you head to your supermarket this viability, and (16% up on Christmas do look out for the assurance labels aim to deliver 2011) say and make this season one of goodwill to improved they support both humans and animals by giving a animal welfare the Red Tractor moment’s thought to what you above and beyond and are positively choose to put in your ‘standard’ or typical UK influenced by it when trolley. production. deciding what food to buy.

Food labelling, whilst often While the Red Tractor provides confusing in its complexities, does a solid benchmark for quality assurance however help consumers be more many farmers and growers have gone

Quality and Welfare

Consider your trolley

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informed than ever before. Consumers dictate markets, where their food is grown and how livestock lives and dies.

We have the power to move from battery farming towards organic produce and less environmentally intensive farming methods. This comes at a higher price of course, but isn’t it worth it?

USEFUL INFORMATION Red Tractor Assurance Scheme Tel: 0207 630 3320 www.redtractor.org.uk LEAF – Linking farming and environment Tel: 0247 6413 911 www.leafuk.org.uk Freedom Food (run by the RSPCA) Tel: 0300 123 0014 www.rspca.org.uk/freedomfood Farmers’ Markets Offers a postcode search to find your nearest farmers’ market Tel: 0845 45 88 420 www.localfoods.org.uk Compassion in World Farming Tel: 01483 521953 www.ciwf.org.uk Incredible Edible – Todmorden Unlimited A living example of supporting local food within the community www.incredible-edibletodmorden.co.uk

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postcard from a Josephine and Emperor (two of the CSRF’s travelling pigs) joined Lincolnshire branch chairman Mike Smith and his wife Gill on a recent cruise to Scandinavia. With a busy schedule that took in Oslo and Copenhagen, they managed to find time to send us their holiday postcard

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fter arriving at Hull to join the Ocean Countess we had priority in embarkation as we were part of a group and once we’d unpacked we headed off to find some food. Although there was plenty of choice available we decided to opt for a fantastic 5-course dinner in the restaurant. (pic 1) The next couple of days were spent on board until we arrived in Oslo. We had not opted for a cruise organized trip or the official bus tour but followed a route that we had planned ourselves.

We saw the Parliament building (pic 2) and the impressive Cathedral. After all that sightseeing we stopped for a coffee and beer in a Hard Rock café and then discovered just how expensive Oslo is (as we were charged over £4 for the coffee and £8 for the beer and the glass was not even full).

Feeling suitably refreshed we trotted up the hill to the Royal Palace, which has a wonderful view of the city. The Palace wasn’t open but it was an interesting building and we saw the changing of

the guard. We finished the tour in the Akershus fortress, which was built in 1300 AD and overlooked the harbour and the Ocean Countess.

Our next port of call was Helsingborg in Sweden with its turreted neo Gothic town hall, the Dunkers Museum (paid for by a large donation by the development of galoshes – the factory closed in 1979) and the Medieval Castle (Karnan).

We were doubly impressed with the architecture of many of the town’s buildings. After Helsingborg we arrived

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3

CRUISE in Copenhagen for a 24-hour stopover.

Before that we helped some of the members in the cruise quiz although they ignored our answers!

Close to the port in Copenhagen we visited the Resistance Museum, which was very thought provoking. It had two statues outside, one a heavily decorated Wing Commander who joined the RAF and the other a Major with a VC. We had hoped to be photographed near to Little Mermaid but there were too many tourists to get a decent picture. We visited another historic museum complex that is still used by the military. In trying to get a picture on two ancient cannons we were accosted by an armed guard who

indicated that we should keep off the grass (most worrying) but Josephine and I were consoled and managed to get our photograph taken (pic 3).

Our next port of call was Aalbourg, which in the 17th Century prospered with the herring industry and had close connections with Britain. The 16th Century gothic Cathedral had an interesting bulbous spire and white painted walls inside with a large range of interesting pictures and an ornately carved pulpit resting on the head of a carved standing man. Another attraction was the 17th Century Jens Bangs House with a range of carved figures showing the displeasure of the

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original owner of the council members and the Monastery of the Holy Ghost.

We managed to find a Danish pub (pic 4) to try the local beer but this was difficult to find amongst the vast range of British beers. (pic 5).

Aalbourg was the last stop on the cruise before we headed back to Hull.

The remaining days on board were fun and we particularly enjoyed the regular afternoon teas (pic 6) although we were pleased to be going home. We had a most enjoyable trip and thank all who helped in organising it. We are now off to stay with Uncle Napoleon (you may have heard of him in a famous book written by George Orwell) at Manor Farm.

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send us your postcard

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Have you travelled somewhere special recently? Send us your ‘postcard’ (no more than 700 words) along with some pictures of your holiday experience (with CSRF pig included if possible!) using the Fellowship Office address at the front of the magazine or email: avanti@square7media.co.uk

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this is your

life You don’t have to be a celebrity to be the worthy subject of a biography. We have all experienced extraordinary events, encounters and experiences in our lives that are worthy anecdotes and entertaining to relive through story telling.

Whether you want to share these memories and pass them down to your family and future generations, or record for posterity for your own amusement, your options are increasing. David Porteous explores new methods to preserve old memories.

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N

ancie Cutsforth (née Gifford) died in 2011 in her 91st year. After working in an armaments factory in the Second World War, she married, raised a family and lived in Grimsby. She led an ordinary, though exemplary, life and while she was still alive her family were determined to document her story in the form of a printed biography, a distinction once the preserve of the rich and famous but now widely available thanks to advances in digital technology.

“My relatives have done nothing remarkable in the greater scheme of things but each family has its own story to tell, including mine,” says Nancie’s son, Nick Cutsforth. “Rather than just have a family tree and rely on hearsay, I wanted to record the story of my mother’s generation in a book, something of substance that would be handed down to my children and so on.”

Nick, a retired ship broker, searched online and came across the website of The Book of My Life, a business set up

by London-based writer Alison Vina to help people set down their memories in print. After recording nearly 100 hours of interviews, she transformed Nancie’s words and recollections into a coherent narrative written in the first person, telling not just her story but also that of her two brothers, who both saw active service in the Royal Navy, and her younger sister, who was evacuated to Canada.

“We also made an audio recording of the book and my mother listened to most of it before she died, which understandably she found quite emotional,” adds Nick. “But she enjoyed being interviewed and having the opportunity to talk about her life and her family. I’m sure it was a cathartic process for her.”

Once a client is happy with the content of their book, The Book of My Life will typeset it, including photographs and illustrations, design a cover, and then arrange for it to be printed and bound.

“In the past, printing a book would have been financially out of most people’s reach without the backing of a traditional publisher,” explains Alison. “With short-run digital printing, it’s so easy to self-publish now.” For a short biography (circa 15,000 words), the cost for the writing, editing

and design of the book, plus 20 paperback copies with a full colour cover and photographs, will be around £2,500. “As well as being a legacy for people to leave to their children and grandchildren,” says Alison, “I believe self-published memoirs are important pieces of social history.”

Alison’s clients are not all retired people in their 60s and 70s – a recent subject was a young man who was terminally ill – and they hail from all walks of life and backgrounds: businessmen, artists, nurses, even members of the aristocracy.

She edited the autobiography of The Rt Hon the Lord Remnant, CVO, entitled Odds & Ends, so named because he says it is a “haphazard recollection of the various things I have done in my life” – which perhaps belies his distinguished business career in the City of London – as well as being a light-hearted reference to the family name.

“Nobody in the family had ever put anything in writing before,” reveals the peer, who lives in Henley-onThames, Oxfordshire. “When I was fully retired I finally had the time to put something together. Once you start it becomes sort of addictive and before I knew it I had 25,000 words on the computer. I carried on until I had written 50,000 words, but it all needed to be

FROM TOP: Nancie Gifford; Stanley, Godfrey, Nancie, Sybil Gifford; the Gifford's book, Runaway Horses; FAR LEFT: Lord Remnant's book, Odds & Ends; LEFT: Lord Remnant with HM The Queen; BELOW LEFT:and with HRH Prince Charles;

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Feature

structured and edited by a professional.” Lord Remnant had 30 copies of his memoir printed, purely for members of his family, but there is nothing to stop self-publishers from selling their book through websites like Amazon if they wish.

A cheaper, quicker alternative to producing a book is to have a film made to capture and preserve your memories.

Ian Brazil, a local government officer from Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire, says: “I had a stab at writing some stuff but I was getting nowhere. There were screwed-up bits of paper all over the house.” His wife then saw an ad in a local newsagent’s window for a biographical film service.

“I was a little bit nervous to begin with about being interviewed on camera but I enjoyed the experience more than I thought I would,” adds Ian. “I’ve not fought in any wars or climbed any mountains or anything like that but it was good to talk about what I consider to be my life’s achievements. I did it mainly for my 10-year-old daughter as there are things about my upbringing and the family I want her to know about. If I simply told her all about this now, none of it would register because she’s too young, but she’ll be able to watch the film when she’s older and more interested in learning about our family’s history.”

Ian’s film was made by Fraser McGruer of Family Memoir Films, who was inspired to start his business after researching the life of his late father. “My father was 75 when I was born and he died at the age of 90 when I was 15 just as I was getting interested in my family’s history,” Fraser says. “There is much about his life that remains a mystery to me and I wish I had a record of my father’s story in his own words.

People have always been interested in passing down their stories to the next generation and recording a film is another way to do it. This wasn’t affordable 10 years ago because the cost of the equipment would have been too expensive.”

Before filming Fraser asks his clients to complete a questionnaire to map out what they want to talk about in their interview. This will typically last about two hours and be edited down to around 40 to 50 minutes. Stills of photographs and documents can also be incorporated into

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Hints and tips If you want to produce a memoir or biography, decide if you are going to write it yourself. If you don’t have the time or skills, hiring a professional ghostwriter may be your best option.

ABOVE: Ian Brazil, and, inset, as a schoolboy

the film, which is supplied in DVD format.

Prices start from £450.

“I find that many people are naturally quite reticent and humble and feel they have nothing much to say,” adds Fraser.

“But once I start interviewing them they will reveal remarkable things like how they escaped after being shot behind enemy lines. Some of the stories I’ve heard have been incredible.”

Whatever way you decide to record your own or a relative’s life story, Nick Cutsforth offers a pertinent piece of advice: “Don’t leave it too late. My only regret is that we didn’t do it sooner because my mother’s two brothers passed away before we could record their memories first-hand. The old adage is as true as ever: you never know what you’ve got until it’s gone.”

CONTACT INFORMATION

Plan the content of your life story: do you want it to cover the whole of your life to date, or focus on a particular time or aspect of your life – for example, your childhood or career?

Some people will consider it expensive to commission a writer and have a book (especially a hardback) printed, so share the cost by asking other members of your family to contribute.

Even a limited-circulation book kept within the family could be construed as being in the public domain, so be wary of things like copyright infringement and libel. If in doubt, seek expert advice.

If you want your book to be available on the open market, you will need an ISBN (International Standard Book Number) to facilitate order processing, distribution and referencing.

The Book of My Life 0845 643 9423 www.bookofmylife.co.uk

Whether you opt for a book or a film, start to organise and archive all your family paraphernalia.

Family Memoir Films 01279 600823 www.familymemoirfilms.co.uk

Archivists recommend that you store all your scanned photographs and digital files on at least two-backup devices as well as on your computer.

There are other companies across the UK offering similar services. Search online or look through the ads in family history and genealogy magazines so you can compare prices and find businesses closer to home.

Useful websites: The National Archives www.nationalarchives.gov.uk Federation of Family History Societies www.ffhs.org.uk

Old, fragile historical documents should be kept in strong cardboard boxes, away from bright lights, in a dry cupboard.

Feature

mystery shopping

demystified Fancy getting paid just to shop? By becoming a mystery shopper you can. Thousands of people across the country are making money by pretending to be genuine customers and testing services, helping companies to keep one step ahead of their rivals. David Porteous lifts the lid on the UK’s growing army of mystery shoppers.

A

nybody can be a mystery shopper because all you need to be is, well, normal. When posing as a real customer and visiting a shop or restaurant to conduct a survey, the key objective is not to look out of place. You may be working under cover, as it were, but disguises, dodgy accents and false moustaches are not necessary.

“I’ve completed hundreds of assignments but I’ve never been rumbled yet as far as I am aware,” says Sarah, a mother of three from the West Midlands, who has been a mystery shopper for more than 12 years. “In an average week I’ll visit five or more shops. It’s so easy because all you have to do is go shopping and then report what you experienced.

“I do it because I can earn a little bit

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of extra money from something I enjoy doing anyway. One of the perks is that sometimes you also get to keep the purchases you make. When visiting cafés or restaurants, you usually have to take somebody with you and my husband and I have enjoyed quite a few free meals in some nice places. For my most recent assignment we had to stay for a night in a plush hotel. Everything was paid for and the staff couldn’t have been more helpful.

That was a lovely treat.”

Mystery shopping, originally a technique used by private investigators to prevent employee theft, was first used as a method for evaluating customer service in the 1940s. After decades of steady growth, the industry was revolutionised by the Internet, making it possible for

market research firms to recruit thousands of shoppers and collate and analyse their reports quickly and efficiently.

Before assignments, mystery shoppers will be sent a questionnaire listing the various aspects of a retailer’s service they will have to check during their visit. How

long did they have to wait to be served?

Was the shop clean and tidy? Were staff wearing the correct uniform? Were they asked if they had a loyalty card? And so on. Some assignments involve making a telephone call beforehand and filming covertly using a hidden video camera.

Barry, a self-employed graphic designer from Brighton, has recently become a mystery shopper. “Typically I will earn £10 to £15 per visit, which will last about 20 minutes, and filling in the report afterwards takes me another 30 minutes. You certainly won’t get rich from doing it but it’s a fun way to

supplement your income.

“It is a bit of a thrill being incognito.

When I’ve been kept waiting to be served because the staff are having a chat about last night’s telly or something, I’m standing there thinking, ‘If you only knew who I am’. On odd occasions, the service in a shop has been so bad I would have walked out if I wasn’t there on an assignment. I wouldn’t want anybody to get into trouble by what I report but you have to remember you are being paid to tell the truth.”

In retail, a low-paid industry with a high turnover of staff, it is a perpetual challenge to maintain high levels of service. Despite these tough economic times, mystery shopping is booming as more and more companies are turning to

it to make sure their customers are happy.

This is good news for the likes of Retail Maxim, one of the UK’s leading providers of mystery shopping services. “We have nearly 20,000 mystery shoppers on our books but we are constantly looking for more to join us,” says Robert Brocklesby, sales and marketing director.

“We need a wide range of people, males and females, of all ages, and in all locations. The criteria for assignments can be very specific. If we’re hired by a fashion retailer and their core market is young women aged between 18 and 25, there’s no point in sending a man in his forties to one of their stores. On other occasions, we may want spectacle wearers to visit an optician, or even people of a certain shoe size. To cover every demographic

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Feature

and every scenario, we are always recruiting.”

Before Retail Maxim starts a new evaluation programme for a client, the first thing they will do is to notify the managers of all its stores that they can expect a visit.

“They won’t know exactly when we’re coming but we’re not trying to catch the staff doing things wrong,” explains Mr Brocklesby. “They will know what we will be measuring them on and good results will be rewarded. If somebody goes that extra mile, they will receive a letter of recognition or a bottle of champagne.

“In the past mystery shopping was used as a bit of big stick and retailers just focused on the bad scores. Now they can see its value as a tool to train and motivate their staff to improve customer service. And with better service, sales will only go one way – and that’s up!”

In a survey of 2,374 customers from 14 organisations, more than 40% listed poor service as the main reason for switching to the competition, while only 8% listed price, according to the Mystery Shopping Providers Association (MSPA). It also says that nine out of 10 customers don’t complain if they receive poor service, but most won’t go back. And it costs a business five times more to attract new customers than to keep existing ones.

“Major retailers and banks will each spend £1 million a year on mystery shopping programmes and the industry in the UK as a whole is worth between £80 million and £100 million,” says MSPA spokesman Stephen Hurst. “Mystery shopping is a means of measurement, telling a company what is going right and

CONTACT INFORMATION Retail Maxim www.retail-maxim.co.uk Tel: 0844 875 5505 Mystery Shopping Providers Association www.mspa-eu.org

what is going wrong so they can train their people to do better. Standards of service in the UK are definitely getting better where businesses are prepared to invest in it and the estimated 200,000 mystery shoppers in the UK are helping to achieve that.”

Sarah, busy preparing for her next visit, says: “When I have gone back to a shop several months later, I have often noticed that the standard of service has improved.

I think they must have taken on board what I said in my report and that makes me feel I am making a difference.”

frequently asked questions Q. Do I need previous experience?

A. No, though some companies will ask you to complete a simple test.

Q. How/where do I apply to be a mystery shopper?

A. Mystery shopping companies process all applications via their websites. You can find companies in the UK by searching online or via the MSPA website (see above).

Q. What are the key qualities needed to be a good mystery shopper?

A. You need to be reliable, objective, observant and have a good memory. You must also have a good command of the English language to write detailed reports.

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Q. What equipment will I need?

A. You will need at least a computer with Internet access – all reports are submitted online – and a smartphone or digital camera for taking pictures. If you volunteer for covert filming assignments, video equipment (and training) will be provided.

Q. Can I work as a mystery shopper for more than one company?

A. Yes, but all information and documentation must be kept strictly confidential.

Q. Will I have to pay to register as a mystery shopper?

A. No, if a company asks you to pay a fee upfront, it is acting fraudulently. Also beware of email scams where you are asked

to make money transfers.

Q. Could I make a living out of mystery shopping?

A. No, the average fee is less than £15 per visit. But there is nothing to stop you working full-time as a mystery shopper to maximise your earnings.

Q. Will I have to pay tax on my earnings?

A. Yes, you will need to register as self-employed (if you are not already) and declare your earnings to Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs.

entertainment

leisure life

books New releases reviewed

by Janet Tester

Our regular mix of books, culture and entertainment

Trouble at the Little Village School

By Gervase Phinn (Hodder & Stoughton) ISBN 978 1 444 70559 1

Bloodline A Dick Francis Novel

By Felix Francis (Michael Joseph) ISBN 978 0 718 15934 4 This is the second solo novel that Felix has written since the death of his father in 2010 and it would be difficult for fans to see any change in the excellent writing that they have enjoyed for so many years – the transition is seamless. The central character, Mark Shillingford, is a television commentator and his twin sister a successful jockey. To his dismay he notices that she fails to win a race for which he is commentating and confronts her with his suspicions. She storms off and later in the evening apparently commits suicide by jumping from the balcony of a London hotel. Consumed with grief Mark sets out to find the facts surrounding his twin’s death. As is always the case with Dick Francis novels, the background details are impeccably researched and the story is both convincing and intriguing.

This is Gervase Phinn’s second adult novel following on from The Little Village School and the reader is carried along through the gentle rhythms of Yorkshire village life, peppered with acute observations of both children and adults and supported by a credible storyline. It is rather reminiscent of the ‘Miss Read’ novels and the author makes full use of his many years of experience as a teacher and school inspector but always with benevolence and humour. Romance, ambition, gossip, childish innocence and community life are all mixed together in a delicious hotchpotch set in rural England – delightful.

Free Lunch: Easily Digestible Economics

By David Smith (Profile Books Ltd) ISBN 978 1781250112 David Smith, the Economics Editor of the Sunday Times has produced an amusing and informative book cutting away the waffle and mystery that shrouds the whole

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Lessons from the Top

By Gavin Esler (Profile Books) ISBN 978 1 84668 499 9 Behind every leader is a great story and Gavin Esler calls upon his thirty years of experience at the BBC to show how leaders in every field are masters at crafting a good yarn. There are tales about their origins, their beliefs and their successes. There are also counter-stories planted to discredit their opponents – never more clearly illustrated than in the run-up to elections. Encounters with people such as Bill Clinton, Tony Blair, Nelson Mandela, Margaret Thatcher and celebrities such as Angelina Jolie, Dolly Parton and Lady Gaga provide rich sources of material for what can only be described as ‘spin’. Gavin Esler has produced a balanced and intriguing look into how the great and the good sell themselves and there is even advice on how to produce one’s own story.

subject of economics. Like it or not, no-one is unaffected by economics. Every facet of life is governed by them. It is important to understand why things such as inflation, deflation, rising and falling interest rates etc will govern everything we do (or don’t do). Organised like a convivial meal with friends, David Smith leads the reader through the financial mysteries and hopefully, like any good dinner party, will leave him or her satisfied, informed and more confident about economics.

On the Map

By Simon Garfield (Profile Books) ISBN 978 1 8466 8509 5

Leaves on the Line: Letters on Trains to The Daily Telegraph Edited by Gavin Fuller (Aurum Press) ISBN 978 1 84513 776 2 Gavin Fuller is a former Mastermind champion, now the Telegraph’s archivist and he has put together the best letters on trains to the paper over the years. In September 1928 the hot topic seems to be to name the oldest railway tunnel, opinions being divided between Leicester or Whitstable for this honour.

By October 1939, the plea for more light on the trains and the difficulties of travelling by rail in the black-out are exercising the letter writers and the book progresses through the years with thoughts on Doctor Beeching, the unions, smoking in railway carriages, late trains, timetables, and all the other old favourites. The letter pages of the Telegraph provide a perfect outlet for the angry, the disillusioned, the opinionated and the gently witty and this collection has been beautifully put together for the readers’ delight.

Can Onions Cure Ear-Ache?

Edited by Melanie King from an original text by William Buchan (Bodleian Library Publishing) ISBN 978 1 85124 382 2 Out of print for nearly 250 years, this self-help guide was once hugely popular and ran to 142 editions, many of which are held in the Bodleian library. The Scottish physician author published this manual specifically for the benefit of people who were unable to access or afford medical assistance and for people to ‘guard themselves against the destructive influences of Ignorance, Superstition and Quackery.’ The book is an amazing mixture of perfectly sound advice such as eating a varied and healthy diet, breathing fresh air and taking exercise with downright dangerous advice such as administering mercury to treat various ailments or bleeding a woman experiencing difficulty in childbirth.

‘Why the World Looks the Way it Does’ is the sub-title of this history of maps. In case that sounds a little dull, rest assured that this illustrated and beautifully presented book is a very good read.

In the introduction to this book there is a most astounding tale of a map released by Facebook in 2010. In appearance it was a luminous blue with gauzy lines spread over the map like silk webs. It looked odd – China and Asia were hardly there and some countries weren’t in the right place. The amazing thing is that this wasn’t a slightly bizarre map of the world but a map made by 500 million cartographers all at once. What had happened was that someone had taken the latitude and longitude of every member and linked them to the coordinates of the place where they had connections. The digital revolution had succeeded in transforming mapping more than any other innovations in cartography. This was a map of the world’s Facebook communities.

Chapters on ancient maps, the discovery of new worlds, Mercator the great mapmaker, Ordnance Survey, Google maps and SatNav and Internet mapping all illustrate what a huge and gripping subject this is.

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The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Warner Bros, Released 14 December Stars: Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen, Richard Armitage, James Nesbitt, Aidan Turner, Hugo Weaving, Cate Blanchett, Christopher Lee It’s been almost ten years since the last part of the epic trilogy Lord of the Rings hit cinema screens.

Next month sees director Peter Jackson return with his own adaptation of the book that preceded it, The Hobbit. Eagerly anticipated and sure to be every bit as popular, he has chosen once again to split the book into three films. Expect familiar faces (many of the Lord of the Ring cast make appearances) and some new heroes as Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) finds himself swept into a quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor from the fearsome dragon

Smaug (voiced by Sherlock’s Benedict Cumberbatch). Bilbo joins a company of thirteen dwarves led by the legendary warrior, Thorin Oakenshield (Spooks Richard Armitage) and finds himself fighting goblins, orcs, giant spiders and sorcerers.

Life of Pi Twentieth Century Fox, Released 21 December Stars: Gerard Depardieu, Rafe Spall Based on the best-selling novel by Yann Martel, this magical tale centres on Pi Patel, the precocious son of a zookeeper. The family decides to move to Canada and hitch a ride on a huge freighter. However after running into difficulties Pi finds himself shipwrecked and adrift in the Pacific Ocean on a 26-foot lifeboat with a zebra, a hyena, an orangutan and a 450-pound Bengal tiger named Richard Parker, all fighting for survival.

Parental Guidance Twentieth Century Fox, Released 28 December Stars: Billy Crystal, Bette Midler, Marisa Tomei Nothing like a family comedy during the Christmas season and this one certainly has all the potential for humour with comedians Billy Crystal and Bette Midler playing the parents who unexpectedly find they have to look after their daughter’s children when she has to leave town for work. Expect chaos and slapstick with a generous dose of fun.

Quartet Momentum Pictures, Released 4 January 2013 Stars: Maggie Smith, Michael Gambon, Billy Connolly, Tom Courtenay.

Cecily, Reggie and Wilfred are in a home for retired opera singers. Every year, on October 10, there is a concert to celebrate Verdi’s birthday and they take part. Jean (Maggie Smith), who used to be married to Reggie (Tom Courtenay), arrives at the home and disrupts their equilibrium. She still acts like a diva, but she refuses to sing.

Still, the show must go on... and it does! With a stellar cast of British acting talent this promises to be every bit as popular as The Exotic Marigold Hotel.

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culture

KOOZA: Cirque du Soleil

Exhibitions around the UK

William Scott Tate St Ives, Porthmeor Beach, St Ives, Cornwall TR26 1TG 26 January – 6 May 2013 February 2013 marks the centenary of the birth of William Scott (1913–1989). Across a career spanning six decades, Scott produced an extraordinary body of work that has secured his reputation as one of the leading British painters of his generation. Exhibiting in America and Europe from the early 1950s, Scott is renowned for his powerful handling of paint in his exploration of still life, landscape and nude, and of the unstable boundaries between them. This will be the first major showing of the artist in the UK for over 20 years.

Tickets £6.50 (concessions available) – for more information call 01736 796 226 or visit www.tate.org.uk

The Northern Renaissance: Dürer to Holbein The Queen’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace, London Until 14 April 2013

The Royal Albert Hall, London From 5 January 2013

ABOVE: Lucas Cranach the Elder, Apollo and Diana, c.1526. Royal Collection Trust © 2012, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

This exhibition celebrates the Renaissance in northern Europe, a period dominated by the intense rivalry between the Habsburg Holy Roman Emperor, the kings of France and Henry VIII. While monarchs vied for territorial power, the artists responded to the changes around them by creating works of ingenuity, beauty and skill. Examples by the great masters Hans Memling, Albrecht Dürer and Hans Holbein are among the paintings, drawings, prints, manuscripts and sculptures on display.

Tickets £9.25 (£8.50 concs) – for more information call 020 7766 7301 or visit www.royalcollection.org.uk

Peter Lely: A Lyrical Vision The Courtauld Gallery, Somerset House, London Until 13 January 2013

Cirque du Soleil will return to London with a new touring show KOOZA in the New Year. The show is a return to the origins of Cirque du Soleil combining two circus traditions – acrobatic performance and the art of clowning. The name KOOZA is inspired by the Sanskrit word “koza,” which means, “box,” “chest” or “treasure,” and was chosen because one of the underlying concepts of the production is the idea of a “circus in a box.” The show presents an unprecedented approach to the High Wire and a breathtaking Wheel of Death – an act that Cirque du Soleil has never before presented under the big top.

Tickets priced from £35 – for more information call the box office on 0845 401 5034 or visit www.royalalberthall.com

Peter Lely was one of England’s leading painters from the period of the Civil War to the reign of Charles II. Known for his portraits of court beauties, Lely devoted his early career to ambitious paintings of figures in idyllic landscapes. This exhibition is the first to examine this remarkable, yet forgotten group of early paintings.

Tickets £6 (£4.50 concs) – for more information call 020 7848 2526 or visit www.courtauld.ac.uk/gallery ABOVE: Peter Lely (1618-80), Nymphs by a Fountain, c. 1654, Dulwich Picture Gallery

ABOVE: Double Tightrope, OSA Images

Veolia Wildlife Photographer of the Year Exhibition 2012 Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London Until 3 March 2013

City gull, Eve Tucker/ Veolia Environnement Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2012, Winner

This world-renowned annual exhibition at the Natural History Museum provides a spotlight on the rarely seen wonders of the natural world. The 100 winning images on show are selected from thousands of international entries and are beautifully displayed in sleek backlit installations.

Tickets £10 (£5 concs.) – for more information call 020 7942 5725 or visit www.nhm.ac.uk

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feature

This issue we get into the festive frame of mind with a Christmas question which we posed to Horley group members, Fellowship Office staff and serving civil servants…

What do you want in your Christmas stocking this year?

Jean Cooper A Swarovski crystal covered Ipad, a new Kate Spade or Anya Hindmarch bag or both, a Mont Blanc fountain pen and the new Ipad Mini

Sanjiv Vedi, Welsh Government "The Gift of Laughter" Arnold Ullmann “Longevity for our group and a box of chocolates to enjoy”

Shri Persaud, Horley group “Health, wealth and happiness” 40

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Dr Malcolm McKibbin, Head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service “A TV commentator on international sports events. I love sport, travel and competition.”

John Stannard “A beautiful blonde (like Lana Turner)!”

Kam Bedi “A ticket to help me escape the country (for a break or forever even)!”

Valerie Jones Tickets for a round the world cruise

Amanda Southam, Welsh Government “A Gift Aid card that will bring much happiness and joy; Donate it with a Xmas stocking hand made with love; filled with sweets, seasonal fare, wrapped gifts and toys...”

Margaret Grantham “Joy and peace for everyone” Yvonne Scott “A two week cruise in the Caribbean for a family of 4” Charles Roberts, Welsh Government “A Thiers-Issard straight edge razor. I have been shaving since the age of twelve and at forty I believe it is now time to start doing it properly.”

Mary Barton “A winning lottery ticket and then I’ll take the group out for Christmas dinner”

Jean Casel A giant box of chocolates

Richard Hornsby “A National Lottery ticket pre-filled with 6 winning numbers”

Peter Grantham “A premium bond worth £1 million” Belinda Stalker “A million pounds and health & happiness for the family”

Bertha Ullmann “New eyes!”

Adam Kent, Welsh Government “Hand-Shaped Hand Soap, a Sigmund Freud Action Figure, an Atari Joystick Gum Tin, a Beer Belt, Camouflage Toilet Paper and a Moustache Lollipop.”

Jenny Rowe, Chief Executive, UK Supreme Court “Given that world peace won't fit into a Christmas stocking, I would really like to be given Hilary Mantel's Bring up the Bodies”

If Santa does deliver any of your gifts - do let us know!

Audrey Mitchell A copy of the Count of Monte Cristo (and Book Club membership)

talk tous In keeping with the festive theme, we’d like to know what the strangest gift (s) you’ve ever received is! Write in and share details of your extraordinary gifts with us. Send you letters to the Fellowship Office address at the front of the magazine or email: avanti@square7media.co.uk

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coffee break

have a CHUCKLE Out of the Mouths of Babes Children can be relied upon to see things from an innocent perspective as their descriptions of certain school subjects’ attest…

Trivia and titbits to keep your mind in gear!

Maths: The total is when you add up all the numbers and a remainder is an animal that pulls Santa on his slay.

I would like to be an accountant but you have to know a lot about moths.

History: Sometimes in the war they take prisoners and keep them as ostriges until the war is over. Some prisoners end up in consterpation camps.

Christmas Tree Puzzle Fit the list of musical instruments below into the ‘christmas tree 1 grid’. Helpful hint – 1 DOWN is a member of the woodwind family 2 of recorders.

2

8

bin

3

4

Geography: The closet town to France is Dover. You can get to France on a train or you can go on a fairy.

5

14

cornet

15

fife

flageolet

7

8

lute

lyre moog

In Scandinavia, the Danish people come from Denmark, the Norwegians come from Norway and the Lapdancers come from Lapland.

6

concertina

9

18 13

oboe tabor

pipe

tuba

rebec

vina

saltbox

yamaha

16 10

11

12 14

piano

15

16

In geography we learned that countries with sea round them are islands and ones without sea are incontinents.

The arts: ...and at the end of the show we all sing away in a manager.

In last year’s Christmas concert, Linzi played the main prat.

I played one of the smaller prats and I would like to have a bigger prat this year.

Science: Helicopters are cleverer than planes.

17

Not only

can they fly through the air they can also hoover.

Natural history: Crabs and creatures like them all

18

belong to a family of crushed Asians.

The Perils of Job seeking A man went to the Job Centre but the only job they had for him was trainee lion tamer at the circus. So he went along and the retiring tamer told him not to be afraid of the lions as they had

Religious studies: I asked my mum why we said old men at the end of prayers at skool; I don’t know any old men apart from granpa.

Holidays: On our activity holiday Dad wanted to ride the hores, but mam said they were too ekspensiv.

cello

chang

Sir Walter Raleigh circumcised the world with a big clipper

If you marry two people you are a pigamist, but morons are allowed to do this.

1

4

alto recorder

Then Joan of Ark met her end. She was burned as a steak.

done all the tricks hundreds of times and he had to keep cracking his whip to keep them awake.

He showed the new man how to get them to do a few tricks and the following day the new tamer

had done so well he was taught some more advanced tricks. He was asked to put his head in the lion’s mouth. The retiring tamer said, “Don’t worry I’ll do it first and then you can have a go.” So he got the lion to open its mouth and he put his head in…and as

people said to his widow at the funeral, “If only he’d remembered to take that cigarette out of his mouth he’d have been alright.”

Sent in by T.R.Jenkins, Wisbech, Cambridge

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CHRISTMAS WORD SEARCH Find the festive words in our giant Christmas word search

Autumn’s solutions

SUDOKU

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EASY

Angel Baby Bells Birth Boxing Day Brandy Bread Camel Candy Carol Cedar Child Chimney Christmas card Crib Crowds Cupid Dasher December Divine Dolls Donner Eggnog Elves Excited Fir Flock

MEDIUM

Frosty Gift Gloria Gold Green Ham Happy Holly Holy Inn Ivy Jesus Joseph Joy Jubilee Lights Lord Magi Manger Mary Mass Merry Myrrh New Year Noel Pie Pine Port

Potato Present Punch Red Roast Rudolph Sales Sauce Sausage Shopping Sing Sled Sleigh Spirit St. Nick Stable Star Stockings Surprise Tinsel Toast Toys Vixen Wreath Xmas Yule

HARD

Prize Crossword Perfect for the Festive Season! Enter our prize crossword and you could win a M&S Festive Favourites Hamper (delivered in time for Christmas)!

Please note: the closing date for this issue’s competition is Friday 15 December.

Congratulations to Mrs K Waite from York who was our winner last issue.

ACROSS

1 To use (6) 4 Profitable (6) 8 To make one’s own (7) 9 Unsurpassed and permanent (7) 11 Making amends (10) 12 To smooth (4) 13 Waterlogged (5) 14 The preservation of green fodder in a silo or pit (8) 16 Anti-establishment (8) 18 Bound by duty (5) 20 Member of the crow family (4) 21 Attracting observation (10) 23 Legal officer associated with death (7) 24 Emergency calls? (7) 25 To feel pain (6) 26 A black eye (6)

DOWN

1 2 3 5 6 7 10 13 15 17 19 21 22

Allotropic form of oxygen (5) Californian bark aperient (7) Nut of a Turpentine tree (9) Ointment (5) Destined (7) Enjoying a moment in the headlines (9) A state of difference (9) Corresponding in some particular (9) Not one who hurries (9) Plane leaving the runway (7) To please (7) A sibling’s daughter (5) A hen kept for egg production (5)

Solution to Autumn Prize Crossword

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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: 15 December (please note earlier date than usual) NAME: ADDRESS:

POSTCODE:

EMAIL:

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

www.csrf.org.uk WINTER 2012

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postbag

POSTbag MILITARY TRAVELS Dear Postbag, Reading about Madge’s voyage on the HMT Windrush, reminded me of the tea set my husband sent me when he was stationed in Korea but it never arrived as the ship sank in 1954 off the coast of Africa.

The same year my husband was posted to Hong Kong and in December I left Tilbury with 70 other service wives on the P&O liner, ‘Chusan’, en route for the colony.

The following year we went to Kure in Japan on an ‘indulgence passage’ aboard the troopship ‘Empire Orwell’ (pictured above) and visited Hiroshima. But when it was time to return to the UK, the Suez Canal crisis meant there was a backlog of families waiting to sail home and the ‘Captain Cook’, a merchant ship that normally took emigrants to New Zealand, was diverted to collect us from Hong Kong.

It took us six weeks to reach Liverpool and when we crossed the equator, Father Neptune and his crew came on board.

I wonder how many cruise miles I clocked up as an army wife and if any mermaids have found my tea service at the bottom of the sea.

June Elford, Isle of Wight (by email)

Dear Postbag, My journeying during the second world was a little different from those stories published so far. I joined the Royal Corps of Signals in November 1939 at Prestatyn.

In March 1940 I was drafted to Norway but never went and the same a little later when drafted to France, but my fortunes were eventually changed dramatically after leaving from Victoria Dock, Liverpool in September 1940 aboard SS Orontes for an unknown destination.

We sailed for about six weeks calling at Freetown and Capetown and eventually landed at Port Tewfik at the southern end of the Suez Canal. Then to Sarafand in Palestine over Christmas 1940 followed by journeying to Egypt where in March 1941,

SECOND CAREERS Dear Postbag, I was looking at your Second Career feature in the summer issue. In the sixties I worked at the MATS Unit (Telephone accounts) in Portsmouth for the Civil Service. I left there to join Butlins Ltd. I became a Redcoat working at Minehead, Clacton and the clubs in the Midlands, North and Wales

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Your letters and STORIES

my unit was waiting to go to Z land.

Wherever that might be! We sailed from Alexandria on HMS York and landed in Z land, which turned out to be Greece on 10th March 1941 and were greeted by cheering crowds on the dockside.

But some seven weeks later we were retreating ahead of far superior German forces in the air and on land. Many of us met our “Dunkirk” on the beaches of Kalamata where many thousands of British troops were surrendered on 29th April. However on the previous evening I was helping to arrange communications for the evacuation that night when two of us were surprised by a German patrol that had entered the town and we were captured. The Royal Navy was waiting at sea to evacuate us and left. I was a prisoner of war in Yugoslavia and Austria until VE Day 8th May 1945.

In the first weeks of April 1945 we marched over 300 Km across Austria to Markt Pongau, which was some distance south of Salzburg from where we flew home to the green, green fields of England on 26th May 1945.

I had travelled many miles in strange places over a period of about five and a half years.

Jack Ansell, Hailsham, East Sussex (by email)

and was also chosen for the Redcoat Touring Show, which toured the country (pictured right).

Recently I gave talks to the Civil Service about the years I spent at Butlins and my life in show business. You could say that my life has done a full circle. I am now hoping to train as a fully qualified speaker.

Thank you for a very interesting magazine.

Eileen Stockwell, Fareham, Hants

SPORTING TRENDS Dear Postbag, I must add my “two penneth” to your article on fitness trends in the summer issue.

Having been active all my life- playing lacrosse, cricket, badminton etc., on taking early retirement I found fell walking and the odd ski trip insufficient to keep really fit and gym trips necessary but rather boring. Five years ago, I joined a local Tai Chi beginners group and am totally hooked (see picture above). It is especially good for older people as it can be done for the rest of one’s life. You will have no doubt seen footage of elderly Chinese performing incredibly slow and balanced movements out in the parks of China to say nothing of Calendar Girls.

I must however dispel the myth that Tai Chi is only a gentle form of exercise for geriatrics. It is of course a martial art and whilst I practice the “soft” non-combative form, I have recently been learning an energetic, if not to say aggressive form, using sticks or flutes. As we grow older, balance often becomes a problem, leading to instability and falls and as with the Alexander Technique and Pilates, core stability and balance, is the key. We do a lot of stretching and balancing on one leg, with kicks forming some of the moves.

Focussed breathing and concentrating hard for an hour or so is also good for the brain!

It is an exercise form that can (and should) be practiced daily, by anyone, in any shape. Moves can be learnt by people with restricted mobility, even sitting down; do give it a try! The Tai Chi Union for Great Britain’s website (www.taichiunion.com) will list teachers and classes in your area.

Judi Thompson (Mrs) (by email)

OLYMPIC MEMORIES

boy, who was born in December 1948 and still lives with us.

The war itself had played a central part in our courtship as otherwise my wife and I would never have met. Her home was in Gillingham, Kent and mine in Hazlemere, High Wycombe, Bucks.

By chance her two younger sisters were evacuated to Hazlemere and my mother took them in. Big sister came to visit on a weekend which coincided with a weekend pass for me and we clicked straightaway as we had similar interests.

My aunt, a sensible and widely experienced lady who dabbled with things like palmistry said it would never last as we were too much alike. Yet here we are after 66 years, still in love and always having been faithful to each other, despite being apart for many months when I was serving in India.

I remain in reasonable health for my 91 years, but my wife cannot walk and receives regular attention for her personal needs. We think we are both very lucky.

G F C Clarke, Norwich, Norfolk

Dear Postbag, The recent Olympic Games have reawakened many memories of the Austerity Games in 1948. The mind boggles at the technical advances that have taken place in the intervening years and the two events have very little in common apart from the fact that on both occasions the country has been enduring severe economic straits, though for different reasons.

The 1948 Games were a triumph of dedication and organisation on a virtual shoestring budget when we were still suffering from the aftermath of the War with widespread rationing.

As our athletes found out, ‘Make do and Mend’ was the order of the day.

It was a welcome tonic at a time of stress and contrasts dramatically with the arrangements for the 2012 Games.

I can still recall the exploits of Fanny Blankers-Koen and Emil Zatoptk more readily than some of the modern-day athletes.

SPACE It also evoked CONSTRAINTS Ed’s Note – what a many happy It’s lovely to hear from you and wonderful letter, personal read all of the letters you take the thank you for memories. My time to write. But unfortunately due to sharing that with wife, whom I had space constraints we are often unable us Mr Clarke. married in June to print the full version of some of I hope your 1946 immediately them. In these cases, letters will be memories inspire on demob from the edited to fit within the allotted other readers to RAF, was pregnant space we give to Postbag. write in with their with our first child, a own personal accounts

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LIFE IN LERWICK

cheeked him (which they regularly did) he sprayed them as well!!!

As it was Summer I experienced what Dear Postbag, they call the ‘sommer dim’ – it never really I served in the RAF from 1945 to 1948 as a got dark, the sun only just briefly dipping meteorological assistant. At Whitsun 1947 below the horizon. I was fascinated to I was posted from Leuchars in Fife up to see Shetland women standing gossiping a met station not far from Lerwick in the at their gates and busily knitting Fair Shetlands, which was like going to another Isle patterned garments on four needles world. without looking at what their nimble I was surprised to find the Islands were fingers were doing. On one occasion I saw ‘dry’, though a month or two later the local a group of herring girls playing down by the decree enforcing prohibition was repealed. quayside gutting the fish and putting them The streets of Lerwick seemed to me more into barrels with layers of salt. They dealt like large alleyways, cobbled and narrow the fish like playing cards so they filled the with no pavements. There was a small barrels in circles head to tail. Most cinema not far from the harbour; I of all I remember the stillness was amused to find that the of the midnight twilight two front rows of seats with only the distant were simple wooden AVANTI ON DISK beat of a fishing boat’s forms and with a If you are finding it difficult engine breaking corrugated iron to read the magazine, you might the silence. In roof when there consider our free audio version. It September I was was heavy rain you comes on a CD (kindly produced by moved away from could hardly hear Kent Association for the Blind) and is Shetland and went the sound track. posted out to you just after publication of to a met station In the interval the the print version. To request the audio on Romney Marsh commissionaire copy of avanti is simple – just contact where I remained came round and Fellowship Office and you’ll be until Demob. sprayed the auditorium added to the mailing list.

John Stuart, with air freshener. If Leigh-on-Sea, Essex the small boys at the front

EVACUEES Dear Postbag, I often wonder how many civil servants are still alive who were evacuated in World War II. On October 1 1939 then aged 20, the Statistical Office of the Customs & Excise went to Buxton in Derbyshire with 500 staff going on a special train from St Pancras. The government took over the best hotel in town, The Palace, where we worked for the duration of the war. When we arrived we were taken in crocodiles to the various parts of the town.

My friend and I were taken in by an engine driver and his wife and it was a happy home although I did have to share a double bed with my friend. Not many were as lucky as we were. It was a dreadful winter – Londoners had never seen so much snow!

My pay was 2 guineas a week; one paid for my billet of 2 meals and the other had to pay for lunch, clothes, trips

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home and amusements. It’s funny that the local people thought all Civil Servants were rich!!

Other departments were sent to Blackpool Bath and Harrogate. The nearest bomb fell 4 miles away, so at least we were safe.

Kathleen Morgan, Tonbridge, Kent

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. The Editor regrets it is not possible to enter into correspondence with individual readers. All submissions unless otherwise indicated will be considered for publication.

INSPIRING STORIES Dear Postbag, The bionic woman is what they call me now, after having had my second hip replacement done eight weeks ago at North Manchester hospital.

I worked at Her Majesty’s Stationery Office from 1972 until 1993 full time, after having been left with six children by my then husband. Because I had done some nursing before I married, I acquired a job in the laboratory. I was the only person in Britain to test the money paper (e.g. giro cheque, pension, passport) before it was printed in the pressroom.

The money I earned helped to give my children a better future.

Four of them received degrees at university, the fifth received a good grammar school education and the sixth child managed a very good apprenticeship.

When I was 59 years old I started to fall, my consultant has told me arthritis was to blame. My retirement never the less has been good and it looks like I have more years of it to come. I am now 78 years old and hope you could print my letter as it might help other civil servants who retire with arthritis that there is hope.

Mary Lowe, Oldham, Greater Manchester BELOW: Mary on a recent holiday abroad

group news

GROUPFOCUS News and reports from around the group network.

Reporting by David Tickner (DT), Peter Hodson (PH) and Mike Fitzpatrick (MF)

Porridge for lunch?

Sutton group

“The Clink will change the public perception of prisoners. I want The Clink to be the sound of chains being broken for men who want, and deserve, a second chance at life”. So wrote Alberto Crisci, the founder of the Clink Restaurant in High Down Prison, Sutton.

The Clink is open to the public and is the only such prison restaurant in the country at the moment. It is a training kitchen and aims to teach prisoners kitchen and waiting skills to enable them to work in the catering industry when they are released.

They are helped to find suitable jobs at the end of their sentence with the aim of reducing the amount of re-offending; so far the results have been encouraging.

Recently twenty members from the Sutton Group had lunch at The Clink. There were a number of formalities we had to go through before our visit such as providing names of all those going in advance and we all had to produce photo ID on arrival.

On the day we had to report to a reception centre where we were checked, given a security pass and had to hand in any banned items we had. These included mobile phones, cameras, scissors, drugs (apart from prescribed medication) and cash in excess of £50. Thankfully we were spared a full airport style security check, possibly because we retired civil servants are seen as a very law abiding lot! We were then escorted in small groups over to the prison.

High Down is on the edge of Banstead Downs which sounds an idyllic spot but the reality is rather different; with its

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high grey walls topped with barbed wire the prison looks very forbidding. Once inside we were taken through a series of rooms with the first door being locked before the next one was opened and finally we were shown into the restaurant which was an elegant room stylishly decorated with the kitchen on view in the modern manner.

We sat at long tables and were served our three course lunch which included dishes such as steamed sea bass and braised beef brisket. There were soft drinks - no alcohol for obvious reasons - followed by tea or coffee, at a cost of £20 a head. The prisoners do the cooking and the serving under supervision; the food was excellent and the service was attentive and friendly. My waiter told me he was a tree surgeon and intended to go back to that job when he was released; he

had been transferred from a prison near Oxford but had had to come to Highdown for an interview before he was accepted but we didn’t think it was right to ask him what he was in for. All the prisoners we saw looked a very respectable bunch of young men who had somehow got the wrong side of the law.

We had a very enjoyable lunchtime and in a small way we felt we were supporting a very worthwhile cause. (PH)

news in brief Certificates of Merit/ Appreciation

Talking Heads

Horley group 26 September Meeting each month at the Horley & District Constitutional Club in the heart of the town, the Horley group are a warm and welcoming bunch. The group has been running for many years under the stewardship of Chairman Arnold Ullmann MBE who guides proceedings with a quiet yet commanding charm. After an initial chat about the processes involved in publishing and producing avanti, group members were co-opted into taking part in a Talking Heads feature that you can see on page 40. (DT)

Jolly on the River

Princetown & Tamar/Tavy groups September

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Happy 100 Betty Langford is still ever present at all Worthing Group meetings despite reaching her centenary on 18th July. Having entered the Inland Revenue by examination straight from school she progressed to Grade 5 by the time of her retirement in 1972. Since retirement she has been a member of, and held various offices in the Fellowship and the Alliance. She remains a lively contributor to all our discussions and enjoys the affection of all group members.

1 In September the Princetown Group organised a river cruise down the River Dart from Totnes to Dartmouth. (Pictures 1 & 2). After an enjoyable cruise, which included a very entertaining commentary by a crew member, they took a second ferry to cross over the river to visit Kingswear where they enjoyed a 3-course lunch in the Royal Dart Hotel. (Picture 3). An interesting fact about the hotel is that the upper floors were renamed ‘HMS Cicala’ by the Admiralty in 1943 and were the Headquarters of seven flotillas of Motor Torpedo Boats and Gun Boats, including a Free French Flotilla commanded by Lieutenant Phillipe de Gaulle (the son of the Charles de Gaulle who later became President of France). (MF)

If you’d like to request a free Certificate of Merit or Appreciation for somebody who has given outstanding service to your group then please contact Kam Bedi at Fellowship Office. Any requests for Certificates should normally come from a Branch or Group committee. There are no forms to fill out either!

For more information contact Kam Bedi on 020 8691 7411 or email: Kamaljit.bedi@csrf.org.uk

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Well done Salisbury Plain!

Congratulations to the Salisbury Plain group who received a certificate of care in the community that was awarded by Durrington Town Council to all the volunteers in the group! Some group members are pictured here proudly displaying the certificate.

Would your group like a visit?

Our Board of Directors are currently undertaking group visits throughout the country as part of their commitment to support group activities. If your group would like to request a visit then please contact Kam Bedi at Fellowship Office to put your request in. You can call Kam on 020 8691 7411 or email: Kamaljit.bedi@csrf.org.uk

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in pictures 2 1. Marion Farley from the Clapham group celebrating her 90th birthday.

2. Alfred Ford (pictured on the right)chairman of the Cardiff Penylan group joined Alun Caddy-chairman of the Caerphilly group and members and friends on a delightful day trip to Bristol.

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3. Members of the Stevenage & Baldock group enjoyed a visit to the Houses of Parliament last month..

4 Members of the Highland branch enjoying a boat trip on the Caledonian Canal near Loch Ness 5 Members of the Wigston group enjoying a summer outing to Evesham with a boat trip.

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6. Mr Eric Kirton MBE celebrated his 100th birthday with Radlett group members and was presented with a book written by one of the group, Mr Donald Wratten.

7. Salisbury plain group having fun at the races, during their strawberry cream tea, the winner on horse no.4 is our vice chairman, Bob Giddings, the secretary Roy German is in charge of the fluffy dice.

8. Members of the Sleaford & Ancaster group at a special cocktail party held with the RAFA Cranwell on board the Ocean Countess in Copenhagen.

9. Neath/Port Talbot group members enjoyed a visit to Cefn-yr-Erw Ape & Monkey Sanctuary earlier in the year.

10. Swansea group member Gus Vodden celebrating his 90th birthday.

11. Vice Chairman Russell Brown was a guest at the Edinburgh groups’ summer lunch.

12. Members of the Sleaford & Ancaster group at the 40th anniversary lunch celebrating the establishment of the Lincolnshire branch.

13 & 14. The Rosneath group celebrated their 40th anniversary last month with a special party (complete with cake). Chairman Harold Smallbone is pictured cutting the cake with Mrs Rita McIntosh (92), the group’s oldest member.

15. Some members of the Swansea group enjoying a cruise on the River Tawe.

16. Members of the Weymouth group visiting the Duden Waterfalls while on their group holiday to Turkey.

17. Members of the Louth group celebrating the group’s 40th anniversary.

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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.

05/12/12 Christmas Lunch at Queensberry Arms Hotel, Annan - 12.00pm

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

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.

20/11/12 The Museum of Edinburgh - talk by Vicki Carrington, Curator 18/12/12 Mixed Spice - Christmas Entertainment 15/01/13 Mid-Winter Special - Party to celebrate all who 80+ years. All groups and ages welcome.

19/02/13 Branch AGM (3 Groups)

Edinburgh (Corstorphine) Mr V Burchell SECRETARY 0131 334 5781 Martin Shields Hall, St. Ninian’s Church, Corstorphine, Edinburgh.

Third Thursday of each month October-April at 10.3011.45am (except Dec). We run walks throughout the year, meet at Lakeland, George Street at 1.30pm on the first Friday of each month.

Edinburgh (Craiglockhart) Liz Beedie SECRETARY 0131 229 7422 Craiglockhart Parish Church Hall, Craiglockhart Drive North, Edinburgh.

Second Wednesday of each month October-April at 2pm. Also there are walks throughout the year, meet at Lakeland, George Street at 1.30pm on the first Friday of each month.

12/12/12 Mixed Spice - Christmas Entertainment 09/01/13 Community Policing - Keep Safe 13/02/13 Group AGM plus Bring & Buy Sale and general chat

Highland (Scotland) Mrs Pam Barnet LOCAL CONTACT 01463 790265 MacDougall Clansman Hotel, 103 Church Street, Inverness First Wednesday of each month at 2pm & coffee morning on third Wednesday of each month at 11am.

05/12/12 Christmas Lunch 16/01/13 Coffee Morning at Pringle Woollen Mill at 11.00am 06/02/13 AGM

Rosneath William Lauchlan SECRETARY 01436 842723 The Howie Pavillion, Rosneath First Monday of the month at 1.30pm 22/11/12 Annual Dinner 03/12/12 Monthly Meeting 04/01/13 Pantomime 07/01/13 Monthly Meeting 04/02/13 AGM and Monthly Meeting

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WINTER 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?

NORTHERN IRELAND & NORTH WEST ENGLAND

Chester

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

Mrs C F Hanratty CHAIR 01244 520929 Christian Aid Centre, Queen Street, Chester Third Tuesday of each month at 2.15pm (no meeting in August) 20/11/12 Places I have seen - talk by Dr Bass 10/12/12 Xmas Lunch at Mill House 15/01/13 Xmas Party 19/02/13 Talk by Sheila Ball

Banbridge

Craigavon

Margaret Stevenson CHAIRPERSON 028 4062 2950 3rd Floor, Old Tech Building, Downshire Road First Wednesday of each month at 2pm 23/01/13 Coach Trip to Belfast to see Cinderella at the Grand Opera House

George McConnell SECRETARY 028 8676 4395 joannearcher1@hotmail.co.uk Portadown Library, 24-26 Church Street, Portadown, Craigavon First Tuesday of the month at 2.30pm 03/01/13 AGM 07/02/13 Tom Gibson Crafts

Antrim

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 Cynthia Morgan SECRETARY 0151 678 6266 Birkenhead Land Registry Office, Rosebrae Court, Woodside Ferry Approach, Birkenhead CH41 6DU First Tuesday of the month at 2.00pm (except Jan)

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

Bolton Eileen Nelson SECRETARY 01204 595246 eileen.nelson@ntlworld.com St. Andrews & St. Georges Church, St. Georges Road, Bolton First Tuesday of the month at 2pm

Bury Gerald Beadling CHAIRMAN 01706 633674 The Mosses Community Centre, Cecil Street Each Wednesday at 2.15pm (except events listed below) 21/11/12 Lunch at Hatties Restaurant 12/12/12 Group Christmas Dinner at the Fusilier Museum 19/12/12 Christmas Tea 14/02/13 Lunch at Bury College

Crewe Miss Grace Harding CHAIRMAN 01270 250677 Wells Green Methodist Church Hall, Brooklands Avenue, Wistaston, Crewe First Tuesday of each month at 2pm 04/12/12 Christmas Party (for further details please contact Grace) 08/01/13 Nantwich Revisited - illustrated talk by John White (please note change of date due to Bank Holiday) 05/02/13 The Gilt on the Gingerbread - talk by Mrs Janet Bradshaw

Lancaster & Morecambe Mrs V Pritchard CHAIRMAN 01524 32733 Torrisholme Methodist Church, Longton Drive, Torrisholme, Morecambe Second Tuesday of the month at 2.15pm (venue changes in Dec for Xmas lunch) 14/12/12 Lunch at Morecambe Golf Club - Music by Martin Yule 12/02/13 Working with Glass - talk by Chris Edgar

Lisburn Helen Fletcher SECRETARY 028 9261 1604 Bridge Community Centre, 50 Railway Street, Lisburn Second Monday of each month at 2.30pm 10/12/12 Christmas Party

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 04/12/12 Christmas Lunch at the Roundthorn Country House, Penrith

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

Hull

Llandudno

Mrs E Milne CHAIRPERSON 01704 560850 Conservative Club, Bath Street, Southport Third Thursday of each month at 2pm onwards 20/12/12 Monthly Get Together 16/01/13 Monthly Get Together 21/02/13 Monthly Get Together including AGM

Colin Bielby SECRETARY 01482 782930 Age UK Healthy Living Centre, Porter Street, Hull Third Tuesday of the month at 2.15pm 20/11/12 Christmas Nostalgia - film show and talk by Terry Richards 18/12/12 Tea and Mince Pie Afternoon 15/01/13 AGM 19/02/13 Talk (to be arranged)

Mrs H Davis CHAIRMAN 01492 545436 Queen’s Hotel, The Promenade, Llandudno First Tuesday of each month at 10.30am 10/12/12 Christmas Lunch at The Queens Hotel 08/01/13 Coffee Morning (please note change of date) 15/01/13 Lunch and Walk 19/02/13 Lunch and Walk

Killingworth (North Tyneside)

Llanishen (Cardiff)

Stockport/Grove Park Joan Broadbent SOCIAL SECRETARY 01625 873740 Brookdale Club, Bridge Lane, Bramhall First Thursday of each month at 2.15pm 29/11/12 Christmas Lunch at the Davenport Park Hotel 06/12/12 Land of the Incas - talk by Mrs M Ledger 04/01/13 Quiz Afternoon 07/02/13 AGM

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 (except Jan)

Catherine Hankin CHAIRMAN 0191 268 1992 Sedgefield Court, West Mount, Killingworth NE12 6GF First Monday of month (except Bank Holidays) at 10.30am. No meetings in Jan or Feb. 22/11/12 Trip to Walworth Castle, Darlington for a meal and entertainment 03/12/12 Xmas Buffet and talk on Peru by Mr Wakenshaw

Middlesbrough

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

Lilian Lloyd SECRETARY 01642 315439 St. Marys Centre, 82-90 Corporation Road, Middlesbrough Last Tuesday of the month at 2pm (except Dec) 27/11/12 Christmas Party - Fun, Eats and Games 29/01/13 Never a dull moment! 44 years in the Civil Service - talk by Lilian Lloyd 26/02/13 The Transporter Bridge - talk by Alan Murray, Bridgemaster

Boston Spa/Wetherby

Newcastle West

Mrs Janet Walker RECORDS SECRETARY 01937 842216 Deepdale Community Centre, Deepdale Lane, Boston Spa, Wetherby Second Tuesday of the month at 2.00pm 11/12/12 Social Meeting 08/01/13 Social Meeting 12/02/13 “I did it for kicks” - talk by Pam Harcourt

Mrs E Jackson CHAIRMAN 0191 267 4728 Bentinck Social Club, Bentinck Road, Newcastle upon Tyne Second Wednesday of each month at 10am - 12 Noon 05/12/12 Christmas Lunch Outing 12/12/12 Christmas Social and Quiz 09/01/13 Beetle Drive 13/02/13 AGM

Bradford

Scarborough

Mr N Griffiths SECRETARY 01274 586410 Conference Room, Centenary Court, St Blaise Way Third Tuesday of each month at 2pm (except Dec) 20/11/12 Have you the time? - talk by David Miller 11/12/12 Christmas Lunch at Bradford College 15/01/13 AGM 19/02/13 TBA

Mrs P Mawson SECRETARY 01723 512778 Small Room, 1st Floor, Scarborough Library, Vernon Road, Scarborough First Tuesday of the month at 10.15am

NORTH EAST ENGLAND Blaydon

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 03/12/12 Christmas Tea

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

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 06/12/12 Christmas Lunch at Ascot House 17/01/13 AGM

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

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 Jan) 03/12/12 Annual Christmas Tea

Whitley Bay Peter Harris MBE CHAIRMAN 0191 447 4066 Age UK Centre, Park Avenue, Whitley Bay Second Thursday of the month 10.30am - 12 noon 05/12/12 Xmas Lunch

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 11/12/12 Christmas Coffee Morning 08/01/13 NEST: Making Homes Warm this Winter 12/02/13 AGM

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

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 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

Neath/Port Talbot Mrs E Northcott CHAIRMAN 01639 887851 Moose Hall, Castle Street, Neath Last Wednesday of each month at 2pm (except Dec) 28/11/12 Glad Tidings, the History of the Christmas Card - talk by Steph Mastoris 04/12/12 Carol Service at St. Thomas Church, Neath (with Swansea Group) 12/12/12 Christmas Lunch at Whittington Arms, Tonna 30/01/13 AGM, Tea Party and Raffle 27/02/13 Talk (TBA)

Oswestry Anne Wilson CHAIRMAN 01691 650419 The Wynnstay Hotel, Church Street, Oswestry First Tuesday of each month at 10.30am 04/12/12 Christmas Lunch at the Wynnstay Hotel (11.30am for 12 o’clock) 08/01/13 AGM followed by Lunch at the Wynnstay Hotel 05/02/13 All Aspects of India - talk by Liz Aveston

Swansea Mrs Sylvia Edgell CHAIRMAN/SECRETARY 01792 851125 sylviaedgell@hotmail.co.uk The Vestry Hall, St Mary’s Church, Swansea Last Friday of each month at 2pm (except Dec) 30/11/12 Classical Music - talk by Clive Williams 04/12/12 Carol Service at St. Thomas Church, Neath (with Neath/Port Talbot Group) 06/12/12 Chistmas Lunch at Pas, Newton Road, Mumbles 25/01/13 AGM and Social Time 22/02/13 Memories of Baglan Bay - talk by Viv Griffiths

Whitchurch (Cardiff) Mrs Mary Minty SECRETARY 029 2061 4445 Ararat Baptist Church, Plas Treoda, Whitchurch, Cardiff Second Wednesday of the month at 10am 12/12/12 Carols 09/01/13 Bring & Buy 13/02/13 AGM

Ynys Mon (Anglesey) Mr Eric Maynard CHAIRMAN 01407 720146 For venue details, please contact the Chairman Second Tuesday of each month at 12.30pm for lunch

Interested in starting a new group? To discuss this in more detail call Belinda on 020 8469 9194 or email: belinda.stalker@csrf.org.uk www.csrf.org.uk WINTER 2012

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MIDDLE ENGLAND Amersham Jim Campbell CHAIRMAN 01494 722558 The Community Centre, Chiltern Avenue, Amersham First Wednesday of the month at 2.30pm. Walks take place every third Wednesday of the month - please contact Jim Campbell for details.

05/12/12 King Zog of Albania - talk by Migel Reece 09/01/13 A Surpise - Diana Wright 23/01/13 New Year Lunch at Guido’s 06/02/13 Tales of an Evacuee - talk by James Cuming

Banbury 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 11/12/12 Christmas Cheer - Mince Pies & Sherry/ Fruit Juice, Handbells and Secret Santa.

Raffle with Prizes provided by Committee Members 20/12/12 Members Christmas Lunch at Banbury House Hotel 08/01/13 Social Afternoon with a Buffet provided by Members 12/02/13 Scotland - illustrated talk by Graham Soden

Bedford Patricia Waters SECRETARY 01234 347443 Bunyan Meeting, Mill Street, Bedford First Tuesday of each month at 10am 04/12/12 Coffee Morning, Christmas Carols, Christmas Draw and Sales Table 01/01/13 No meeting (New Years Day) 05/02/13 Coffee Morning, AGM and Sales Table

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

Bromsgrove Mrs Catherine Kealy LOCAL CONTACT 01527 876166 Bromsgrove Golf Club, Stratford Road, Bromsgrove First Wednesday of each month at 11.30am (except Jan) for coffee. Bar snacks and lunches also available.

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

Coventry Mrs J Turner CHAIRMAN 024 76 465382 Room 2, Gilbert Richard Centre, Broadway, Earlsdon Third Tuesday of each month at 2pm (except Nov and Dec)

Donnington Betty Pugh CHAIRMAN 01952 811355 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 05/12/12 Christmas Party. Social afternoon with live entertainment, bran tub, quiz, festive food and Christmas sale table.

11/12/12 Annual Christmas Lunch at the Old Palace Hotel, Dunstable - fine food, raffle and great company 09/01/13 Scenic Cruises of the World - a ‘cinema experience’ film with John Allen, Raffle and Book Table (please note this is 2nd Weds) 06/02/13 AGM followed by Musical Quiz, Bring & Buy, Raffle and Book Table.

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Evesham

Nottingham

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 (except Jan). We hold tea/coffee mornings on these dates and occasionally have lunch afterwards.

Pam Bradley CHAIR 0115 938 4676 pamthedragon@hotmail.co.uk The Nottingham Mechanics, 3 North Sherwood Street, Nottingham Second Wednesday of each month at 10.15am - 12 noon 12/12/12 Christmas Party 09/01/13 Rainbows, Hospice for Children and Young People - talk by Caroline Rossin 16/01/13 Robin Hood and the Babes in the Wood - pantomime matinee at the Nottingham Playhouse 13/02/13 “Getting to Know You” followed by annual lunch at the Gateway Hotel (coach leaves Shakespeare Street at 11.30am)

Grantham Mr Maurice Whincup CHAIRMAN 01476 572425 mewhincup@gmail.com 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 06/12/12 Christmas Tea Party

Kidderminster Pam Hussey LIAISON OFFICER 01562 755632 Various venues Third Wednesday of each month at 11am (except when lunching out) 21/11/12 Coffeee Morning 12/12/12 Xmas Lunch at Rowberry’s at 12.30 16/01/13 Coffee Morning 20/02/13 Coffee Morning

Lincoln City Jannette Hook SECRETARY 01522 803412 Mothers Union Centre, St. Benedicts Church, St. Benedicts Square, Lincoln First Wednesday of the month at 10.30am 28/11/12 Christmas Lunch

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) 03/12/12 Mince Pies and Entertainment 07/01/13 No meeting 09/01/13 New Year Lunch at Luton Indoor Bowls Club 04/02/13 AGM and Bring & Buy

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

Milton Keynes Jim Ford SECRETARY 01908 237055 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)

Northampton Mr Geoff Morris CHAIRMAN 01604 719677 Holy Sepulchre Church Rooms, Church Lane, Northampton Alternate Thursday mornings at 10.00am 12/12/12 Christmas Lunch at The Conservative Club, Billing Road, Northampton (12 for 12.30pm)

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

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

Rutland Mrs 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 Dec 12 noon - 2pm) 20/11/12 Grand Draw 18/12/12 Shared Christmas Lunch (12 noon 2.00pm) 15/01/13 Quiz 19/02/13 AGM

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

Solihull Margaret Smith SECRETARY 0121 744 6150 me.smith@talktalk.net John Palmer Hall, Union Road, Solihull Second Monday of each month at 10am 10/12/12 Christmas Meeting 14/01/13 Coffee Morning 11/02/13 AGM

Stamford Mrs B Smith CHAIRMAN/SECRETARY 01780 755437 Tenter Court, Wharf Road, Stamford Last Thursday of the month at 2.15pm 29/11/12 Countdown to Christmas by Morrisons

Wellington Emrys Jones CHAIRMAN 01952 254252 e30jones@btinternet.com Belmont Community Hall, New Street, Wellington, Telford

First Thursday of the month from 10am - 12 noon 04/12/12 Christmas Lunch Party at local hotel 06/12/12 Coffee Morning with big Christmas Raffle 03/01/13 Coffee Morning 07/02/13 Coffee Morning

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) 26/11/12 Animal Alphabet - talk by Mrs Val Williams 10/12/12 Christmas Party 14/01/13 Hawaii - travel talk by Graham Tompkinson 28/01/13 Lunch at Ullesthorpe Court 11/02/13 Tax, Care and Toy Boys - Speaker TBA 25/02/13 Exotic Animals and Plants - talk by Garry Lilley

Worcester Leigh Watkins SECRETARY 01905 774034 Perdiswell Young Peoples Leisure Centre, (A38) Droitwich Road (opp. Checketts Lane) Second Wednesday of each month at 1.30pm 12/12/12 Xmas Buffett plus Vocal Artiste 09/01/13 New Year Lunch at Whitehouse Hotel, Worcester 13/02/13 TBA

EASTERN ENGLAND & EAST ANGLIA Attleborough Mrs D Parker SECRETARY 01953 456958 Methodist Church Hall, London Road, Attleborough Third Thursday of the month from 10am - 12 noon 20/12/12 Christmas Party 17/01/13 TBA

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) 10/12/12 Christmas Lunch

Billericay Mr J R Smith LOCAL CONTACT 01277 622156 Various venues for lunches at 12.30pm 22/11/12 Lunch at the Blue Boar, High Street 24/01/13 Lunch at the Blue Boar, High Street

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 04/12/12 Xmas Lunch at Regency Hotel 12/12/12 Festive Fun and Games 09/01/13 A Flight Too Far - talk by David & Liz Bowden 13/02/13 AGM and Beetle Drive

Colchester Joan Gomer SECRETARY 01206 794656 St Margaret’s Anglican Church Hall, Stansted Road, Colchester Third Tuesday of each month at 2pm 20/11/12 Life in the 18th Century Essex Workhouse talk by Jane Pearson 11/12/12 No meeting 15/01/13 50 Years of Law - talk by John Scannell 19/02/13 AGM and Bring & Buy Sale

Croxley Green & Rickmansworth Frank Brown 01923 779070 fctbrown@btinternet.com Red Cross Centre, 1 Community Way (off Barton Way),

Croxley Green Second Thursday of alternate months (ie Jan, Mar, May etc) at 10.15am and on first Monday of intervening months for pub lunch from 12 noon. For more information on pub lunches please contact Mrs Eileen Murray on 01923 776092

First Wednesday of each month at 2pm 01/12/12 Christmas Lunch at noon at the Black Horse followed by Carols in the Church 02/01/13 The January 1953 Felixstowe Floods - talk

by Phil Hadwen 06/02/13 AGM and Bring & Buy

Dereham

Loughton

Robert Jackson CHAIRMAN 01362 693977 bobabs747@btinternet.com Toftwood Village Hall, 47 Shipdham Road, Toftwood, Dereham Second Friday of each month at 10.00am - 12 noon 14/12/12 Short AGM followed by Christmas Party and TV Music Quiz

Eric Adams CHAIRMAN 020 8508 7207 Jazz Archive Room, Loughton Library, Traps Hill, Loughton Third Monday of each month at 2pm 19/11/12 Review of past Meetings 17/12/12 Christmas Memories 21/01/13 Hopes for 2013 18/02/13 My Favourite Book

Drayton - Norfolk Derek Heffer CHAIRMAN 01603 861554 Please contact the Chairman for further details Second Tuesday of the month 11/12/12 Christmas Lunch at The Cock Inn, Drayton 08/01/13 TBA 12/02/13 TBA

Harlow Mrs Edna McNaughton SECRETARY 01279 865102 edian.mcnaughton@tesco.net Toby Carvery, Harlow First Friday of the month at 12 noon Dec Christmas Lunch at the London & Local (date to be confirmed)

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) 19/11/12 Turkey & Tinsel Break at The Queen’s Hotel, Eastbourne (19-23 Nov) 03/12/12 Bygone Times, New Collection - Mr Ian Torrence 11/12/12 Christmas Lunch at The Roebuck Inn, Ware

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 (except Dec) 29/11/12 Yet More Musical Nostalgia - Bill Morris 11/12/12 Group Christmas Lunch at the Dolphin Hotel, St. Ives 31/01/13 The Children’s Society - talk by Gordon Handley 28/02/13 A Fresh Look at Garden Birds - talk by Trevor Gunton

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 (except Dec) 19/11/12 Guest Speaker: Martin Claridge, CSRF Board of Directors 10/12/12 Christmas Lunch 21/01/13 Les Barnett - Holiday Slides 18/02/13 Varied Games with Joyce

Ipswich Eva Stevens SECRETARY 01473 688040 evajs@yahoo.co.uk Museum Street Methodist Church Hall, Blackhorse Lane, Ipswich

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 every month Nov-Feb at 1.30pm and Mar-Oct at 2.00pm 04/12/12 Musical Extravaganza with Breckland Breeze, a wind quartet 01/01/13 No meeting (Bank Holiday) 08/01/13 Annual post-Christmas Lunch at The Riverside Hotel 05/02/13 AGM followed by a Quiz

Newmarket Les Beament CHAIRMAN 01638 744005 St. John Training Centre, Newmarket Hospital, Exning Road Second Wednesday of each month at 2.15pm 12/12/12 Christmas Party 09/01/13 AGM 13/02/13 History of the Fire Service - talk by Bill McLean

Norwich Mary Weatherhead SECRETARY 01603 410821 Reading Room, Doughty’s Hospital, Golden Dog Lane Second Monday of each month at 10am for 10.30am 05/12/12 Christmas Lunch 10/12/12 Christmas Party 14/01/13 Members’ Meeting and Bring & Buy Sale 11/02/13 AGM

Radlett Mrs Shirley Herbert SECRETARY 020 8953 2999 Local restaurants for coffee or lunch Monthly - details from Secretary 26/11/12 Lunch at Battleaxes Restaurant, Elstree (12 noon)

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 06/12/12 Christmas Party

Rochford Mrs F Cohen SOCIAL SECRETARY 01702 342426 Parish Council Rooms, 82 West Street, Rochford Third Thursday of each month from 1.45-3.45pm 20/12/12 Christmas Party

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. www.csrf.org.uk WINTER 2012

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Shoeburyness

Ascot & Sunningdale

Mrs F Cohen SOCIAL SECRETARY 01702 342426 Thorpdene Community Centre, Delaware Road, Shoeburyness First Tuesday of each month from 2.00-4.00pm 03/12/12 Christmas Party

John Cook CHAIRMAN 01344 429391 johnwgc@btinternet.com De Vere Venues, Sunningdale Park, Larch Avenue, Ascot Third Friday of each month at 12 noon 16/11/12 Frank Gerrish, a Genealogical Journey - talk

by Colin Coombs 14/12/12 Christmas Lunch 18/01/13 Flygirl Adventures, a Lifetime in the Sky talk by Anita May followed by AGM 15/02/13 Games Maker, first hand experience of an Olympic Games Volunteer - talk by Jennie McColl

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 Helen Leisk SECRETARY 01438 355131 helen.leisk@firenet.uk.net United Reformed Church, Cuttys Lane, Stevenage First Thursday of every month at 2pm 06/12/12 Walking in the Himalayas - talk by Peter Jones 12/12/12 Christmas Lunch - must be pre-booked 03/01/13 New Year Party - food must be pre-booked 07/02/13 AGM

Swaffham Mrs June Finch SECRETARY 01760 720728 montague141@yahoo.co.uk Methodist Church Hall, London Street, Swaffham Third Tuesday of each month at 10.15am 19/12/12 Christmas Lunch at Canary & Linnet.

Meeting will take place as usual during which we will sort out transport then distribute our gifts.

Watford (Cassiobury) Mr Ian Whyte LOCAL CONTACT 01923 441952 duncan.whyte1@ntlworld.com St. Luke’s Church, Langley Way, Watford WD17 3EG Second Tuesday of Jan, May, Jul, Sep & Nov at 10am

Westcliff-on-Sea Mrs F Cohen SOCIAL SECRETARY 01702 342426 Balmoral Community Centre, Salisbury Avenue, Westcliff on Sea Fourth Wednesday of each month from 2.00-4.00pm 12/12/12 Christmas Party and Childrens Choir

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 (except Dec when second Tuesday) 17/11/12 Fiddler on the Roof at the 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 13/12/12 Christmas Party with Singalong and Limericks by David Mayhead 10/01/13 Open Forum with discussion about 2013 Programme 14/02/13 AGM followed by Bingo

Arun - formerly Littlehampton Jim Underwood TREASURER 01903 709033 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 12/12/12 Art in the Service of Medicine

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WINTER 2012 www.csrf.org.uk

Basingstoke Janette Davies CHAIRMAN 01256 321471 Brookvale Village Hall, Lower Brook Street, Basingstoke First Wednesday of each month at 10.00am 05/12/12 Christmas Capers - Gwen Appleton 13/12/12 Christmas Dinner at Highbury College, Portsmouth 21/02/13 Outing to the Royal Hospital Chelsea and the National Army Museum

Bexhill Hilary Markham SECRETARY 01424 210985 Bexhill Sailing Club, Marina, Bexhill-on-Sea Fourth Tuesday of each month at 10am (except Dec) 27/11/12 Coffee Morning with Quiz 14/12/12 Christmas Lunch, Hydro, Eastbourne 24/01/13 Coffee Morning and talk on Care Charges 26/02/13 Coffee Morning and AGM

Bournemouth - 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 05/12/12 Christmas Eats and Quiz 02/01/13 No meeting 17/01/13 New Year Lunch (for details contact Paul Tabor) 06/02/13 Dad’s Army - Chris McCall

Bournemouth - Central Alan Carter 01202 292720

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

01/02/13 Woofability Assistance Dogs - Mrs Jenny Clarke 26/02/13 Pub Lunch at The Angel, Longham

Bournemouth - Swanage Mrs Irene Greenway 01929 423394

Bournemouth - 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.

Brighton & Hove Mrs Anne Cobby saglibcob@googlemail.com Ventnor Hall, Blatchington Road, Hove First Wednesday of the month at 2.15pm

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 for coffee mornings (Dec may vary) 28/11/12 Coffee Morning 05/12/12 Christmas Lunch 12.30 for 1pm at the Greyhound, Keymer – pre-booked only 19/12/12 Coffee Morning 23/01/13 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 07/12/12 An Amusing and Useful Talk on Wills - Mr T Wright 18/12/12 Xmas Lunch at Keats Restaurant, Ampfield 04/01/13 Memories of a Survivor - talk by Gordon Saunders 01/02/13 Bishops, Sex and Money - talk by T Strafford 19/02/13 Skittles and Lunch at Wellow Golf Club

Crawley Jim Piercey CHAIRMAN 01293 409332 Bill Buck Room, Crawley Library, Southgate Avenue, Crawley Fourth Friday of the month at 2pm (except Dec) 23/11/12 Christmas Party

Bournemouth - New Forest Emsworth & Havant Sandy Whittaker CHAIRMAN 023 8028 2157 New Milton Community Centre, Osborne Road, New Milton (please note change of venue) Second Tuesday of each month at 10.15am (please note change of date) 04/12/12 Group Annual Lunch 11/12/12 Quiz/Entertainment 08/01/13 Gibraltar through the Ages - Trevor Fulton 12/02/13 Wild Flowers at your Doorstep - Eric Watson

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

Bournemouth - Ringwood & District Ron Fisher CHAIRMAN 01202 896315 ronf.nottington@homecall.co.uk Greyfriars Community Centre, Ringwood First Friday of each month at 10am 27/11/12 Annual Lunch at The Mayfair Hotel 07/12/12 Christmas Celebration 04/01/13 Winter Sun in the Canaries - John Coombes 22/01/13 Pub Lunch at The Elm Tree, Hightown

Ralph Whitehouse CHAIRMAN 01243 374081 Emsworth Community Centre, Church Path, Emsworth First Friday of each month at 10am (except Jan & Dec)

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 (except Dec) December meeting at 10.30-11.30am at the Harlington Centre, Fleet Road.

20/11/12 How Dogs Learn - talk by Sandra Lawton

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 (except Dec)

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 (except Dec)

20/11/12 Illustrated talk by Michael Betts followed by light buffet lunch until 1pm 01/12/12 Christmas Lunch (book with Mrs Evelyn Hall) 15/01/13 Illustrated talk by John Hall on his holiday in Venice 19/02/13 AGM

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) 28/11/12 Coffee Morning and talk by Valerie Jones - A Cruise in the Mediterranean 12/12/12 Coffee Morning followed by a Christmas Lunch (12.30 for 1pm). Cost £13.75 (bookings with payment by 28 November - Tel: 01293 783590) 23/01/13 No meeting 27/02/13 Coffee Morning and AGM

Newbury Roger Walker CHAIRMAN 01635 44575 colonelrog@hotmail.com St. Johns Church Room, Newtown Road, Newbury Second Monday of the month at 2.15pm 03/12/12 Christmas Lunch at Chequers Hotel 10/12/12 Christmas Tea Party 14/01/13 Group AGM 04/02/13 Group Committee Meeting at Broadway House 11/02/13 Bhutan, Land of the Thunder Dragon talk by Neil Stewart

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) 26/11/12 Visit by Evelyn George, CSRF Board of Directors 28/11/12 Trip to The Range, Burlesdon (leave at 11am - home 4pm approx) 10/12/12 Last meeting of the year - Christmas Cards, Mince Pies and Carol singing with Carol May 10/01/13 Panto: Jack & the Beanstalk at Mayflower Theatre and supper at Mother Kelly’s 07/02/13 Phantom of the Opera and supper at Mother Kelly’s

Reading West & Tilehurst David Cox SECRETARY 0118 958 6311 United Reformed Church Hall, Polsted Road, off Armour Road Last Wednesday of the month at 2pm 30/01/13 Talk - Dogs for the Deaf 27/02/13 AGM

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

Stubbington Mrs Tressie Heather SECRETARY 023 92 580681 Catholic Church Hall, Bells Lane, Stubbington Second Thursday of each month at 2.00pm (meeting) and last Tuesday of each month at 10.30am (coffee morning) (except December). On the Tuesday following the Thursday meeting we have a pub lunch.

On the last Thursday of the month we have lunch at a local pub and play skittles.

13/12/12 Christmas Jollifications - Tea Party

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) 06/12/12 Seasonal Music with the Hurst Singers 10/01/13 Tadley Council - David Leeks 07/02/13 Big Picture Show - Alan Copeland

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.

06/12/12 Christmas Lunch at the Foresters Arms, Fairwarp 12.30 for 1.00pm 03/01/13 New Year Lunch at Ashdown Village Hall 07/02/13 Blue Badge Guides - talk by David Overy (tbc)

Worthing David Keeling CHAIRMAN 01903 248663 United Reformed Church Hall, Shaftesbury Avenue (just south of Durrington Railway Bridge: entrance in Barrington Road) Third Tuesday of each month at 10.00am (coffee at 9.45am) 11/12/12 Christmas Lunch (details tba)

SOUTH WEST ENGLAND Amesbury Mrs Freda Hedge SECRETARY 01980 590499 Antrobus House, 39 Salisbury Road, Amesbury First Tuesday of each month at 2pm (unless otherwise stated) 19/11/12 Christmas Bazaar (Antrobus House 10am) 04/12/12 Christmas Tea and Handbell Ringers 13/12/12 Christmas Dinner at Royal Oak, Wishford 7pm 08/01/13 Hands on Healing with Gina Warren 15/01/13 New Year Lunch at The George, Amesbury 12.30pm 05/02/13 Valentine Tea

Barnstaple Peter Mumby CHAIRMAN 01271 815021 Committee Room, Roundswell Community Centre, Roundswell, Barnstaple Last Friday in the month (except Dec) at 11am Feb, May, Jun, Jul, Oct and Nov and at 10am Mar, Apr and Sep. 21/11/12 Christmas Lunch at Barnstaple Hotel, entertainment by Roger Colome and a Raffle, 1.00pm (£16.50 per head) 30/11/12 Coffee Morning 11.00am 22/02/13 Coffee Morning 11.00am

Bath Roy Burnett CHAIRMAN 01225 426583 St. John’s Parish Hall, South Parade, Bath Second Thursday of each month at 10.30am for coffee mornings.

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 10/12/12 Christmas Lunch at Leigh Park Hotel 14/01/13 New Year Party - members entertain 11/02/13 AGM with Quiz

Brixham Mrs Brenda Smith SECRETARY 01803 559466 brenda54@talktalk.net Various local restaurants, usually Waterside Paignton Usually second Thursday of the month at 12 noon contact Brenda Smith for details.

12/12/12 Christmas Lunch at The Livermead Cliff Hotel, Torquay

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 (except Dec)

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

Chippenham David Gardner CHAIRMAN 01249 658431 Rotary Hall, Station Hill, Chippenham First Wednesday of each month at 2pm 05/12/12 Music & Mirth, Songs & Laughter 02/01/13 TBA

Crediton Miss M Steer CHAIRMAN 01363 866256 Various venues - contact the Chairman for details 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 07/12/12 Lunch (TBA) 04/01/13 Coffee Morning (venue TBA) 08/02/13 Coffee Morning (venue TBA)

Dawlish Mrs M Carter SECRETARY 01626 888275 The Manor House, Old Town Street Second Friday of each month at 2pm 16/11/12 Living with Alaskan Huskies - talk 14/12/12 Christmas Lunch at the Mount Pleasant Inn 11/01/13 AGM and Quiz 08/02/13 50s Music and Talk

Dorchester Mike Rogers SECRETARY 01308 420755 michael@mikerogers3.plus.com Dorset Youth HQ, Lubbecke Way, Dorchester Third Thursday of the month at 10.15am for 10.30am - 3.00pm 20/12/12 Christmas Party 17/01/13 Work of the Dorset Youth Association talk by Dave Thompson 21/02/13 Life and Education in a South African Township - talk by Hillary Lancashire

Exmouth Carol Brett SECRETARY 01395 442671 RAFA Club, Imperial Road, Exmouth First Wednesday of each month at 10am 12/12/12 Christmas Coffee Morning with Buffet (note date change) 02/01/13 New Year Coffee Morning (possible venue change - check with Secretary) 06/02/13 Coffee Morning (possible venue change check with Secretary) 15/02/13 Annual Lunch at the Manor Hotel, Exmouth

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Ham (Plymouth)

Taunton

Veronica Smerdon SECRETARY 01752 318672 veronicasmerdon@aol.com The Halcyon Centre, Dingle Road, North Prospect, Plymouth Every Monday at 2.00pm 21/11/12 Coach to the Holland Inn for Christmas Lunch

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) 14/12/12 Christmas Party 11/01/13 Bring & Buy Sale and General Chat

Liskeard & Pensilva Shirley Waye CHAIRMAN & SECRETARY 01579 346089 Refreshment Room, Liskeard Town Council, 3 West Street, Liskeard Last Wednesday of each month at 10am (except Dec) 21/11/12 Christmas Bingo 26/11/12 Turkey & Tinsel Holiday, Sidmouth (26-30/11/12) 10/12/12 Christmas Lunch 30/01/13 Beetle Drive 27/02/13 AGM

Minehead Isabel Dobson 01643 703199 Foxes Hotel, The Esplanade, Minehead Coffee mornings on the last Tuesday of the month at 10.15am (except Dec) 04/12/12 Christmas Lunch (12 for 12.30pm) at Foxes Hotel

Princetown Mike Fitzpatrick SECRETARY 01822 890799 mikeandkate3@talktalk.net Prince of Wales, Tavistock Road, Princetown First Thursday of the month at 12.30pm 20/12/12 Christmas Lunch at the Prince of Wales, Princetown with entertainment by Geoff Lakeman and ‘Speakeasy’ 03/01/13 Meeting followed by Guest Speaker, Dave Young, talking about Robbie Burns 25/01/13 Burns Night at the Prince of Wales. Piper Haggis, Neeps and Champit Tatties 07/02/13 Meeting followed by Guest Speaker, Tom Sobey, talking about ‘The Jobbers Route’

Salisbury Plain Mr Roy German SECRETARY 01980 653446 royandvi@live.co.uk The Village Hall, High Street, Durrington Third Tuesday of each month at 2.30pm 20/11/12 Visit by David Tickner, avanti Editor and The Highlands and Islands - talk by David Kjker 27/11/12 Outing to Poole - Christmas Shopping Trip 18/12/12 Christmas Luncheon and Draw 15/01/13 New Year Party with finger buffet and entertainment 19/02/13 AGM

Sidmouth Margaret Adams CHAIRMAN 01395 577622 rjadams39@waitrose.com Sidholme Hotel, Elysian Fields, Temple Street Second Wednesday of each month at 10.25am 28/11/12 Lunch at the Halfway Inn 12.30 12/12/12 Lunch at the Sidmouth Golf Club

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

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 13/12/12 Christmas Lunch at the Burrator Inn 10/01/13 Group Lunch at the Burrator Inn followed

by Guest Speaker, Dave Young, talking about Robbie Burns

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WINTER 2012 www.csrf.org.uk

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) 21/11/12 Christmas Shopping Trip to Reading 05/12/12 Coffee Morning at the Old Manor Hotel 19/12/12 Christmas Party Lunch 02/01/13 Coffee Morning at the Old Manor Hotel 16/01/13 Annual General Meeting 06/02/13 Coffee Morning at the Old Manor Hotel 20/02/13 To be decided after the AGM

Westbury (Wiltshire) Ken Holloway CHAIRMAN 01373 864049 kenmoholloway@metronet.co.uk Paragon Hall, Haynes Road, Westbury Third Monday of each month at 1.45pm for 2.00pm.

Second Monday in December (Xmas Party) 19/11/12 Meeting followed by Traditional Victorian Christmas - talk by Maureen Hinton 21/11/12 Outing to Southampton - shopping 17/12/12 Christmas Party Jan 2013 Christmas Lunch (date to be confirmed) 21/01/13 AGM

Westbury-on-Trym Beryl Webb SECRETARY 01454 614451 Studland Court, Henleaze Road, Henleaze First Thursday of each month at 2pm 06/12/12 Christmas Lunch at the Salutation Toby Carvery (booking essential) 03/01/13 Quiz and Afternoon Tea 07/02/13 AGM

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) 06/12/12 Coffee Morning 11/12/12 Christmas Lunch at the Commodore Hotel 20/12/12 Coffee Morning 17/01/13 Group Lunch 12/02/13 Coach Outing to Cardiff

Weymouth Geoff Greenstreet SECRETARY 01305 832432 St. Nicholas Church, Buxton Road, Weymouth Second Thursday of each month at 2.30pm 28/11/12 Coffee Morning 13/12/12 Xmas Lunch 10/01/13 Paratroopers - talk by John Wilkinson 23/01/13 Coffee Morning 30/01/13 New Year Lunch 14/02/13 It shouldn’t happen to a speaker - talk by Colin Dean 27/02/13 Coffee Morning

Yate & District Donald Kirkham CHAIRMAN 01454 317242 donald@kirkham3.orangehome.co.uk Yate Parish Hall, Station Road Fourth Tuesday of each month at 2pm (except Dec) 27/11/12 Know your Friends - talk by Susan Marshfield

11/12/12 Christmas Party 22/01/13 AGM followed by A Lighter Look at Life talk by Mrs Pat Allerenshaw 26/02/13 Collectables - talk by Mrs W Parker

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 (except Dec - Christmas Lunch] - venues to be announced.

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

Bexleyheath Miss Norma Smith SECRETARY 020 8304 2466 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.

21/11/12 Royal Borough of Greenwich - talk by Alan Payne 28/11/12 Christmas Lunch at The Moorings, Pevensey Bay 05/12/12 Christmas Party and Entertainment by Martin Charles 12/12/12 A Celebration of Christmas - talk by Anne Carter 02/01/13 New Year Buffet and Entertainment by Martin Charles 09/01/13 Living with Prosopagnosia (The Inability to recognise faces) talk by Jo Livingston 16/01/13 Social Afternoon and AGM 06/02/13 A Parliament of Owls - talk and display by Jambs Owls

Camberley Jenny Ingoe RECORDS SECRETARY 01483 757400 jenny954@btinternet.com High Cross Church, Knoll Road, Camberley Fourth Tuesday of each month at 2pm (except Dec)

Edgware & Stanmore Ray Broom SECRETARY 020 8427 8659 St. Lawrence’s Church Hall, Whitchurch Lane, Edgware Second Monday of each month at 2pm 10/12/12 Christmas Social 14/01/13 AGM, Quiz, then more music from Musicals - Maurice Sobell 11/02/13 Edinburgh - Ivan French

Enfield Susan Bentley SECRETARY & PROGRAMME 020 8360 4361 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) 29/11/12 Christmas Lunch 03/12/12 Christmas Party and Buffet 07/01/13 UK Border Controls - illustrated talk by Michael Welling 04/02/13 AGM

Hounslow Roy Woods CHAIRMAN 020 8230 5533 United Reformed Church Hall, 114 Hanworth Road, Hounslow Second Tuesday of each month 1.30-4.00pm (except Dec) 11/12/12 Christmas Lunch (please contact Roy Woods for more information) 08/01/13 Travelogue - talk and slides with Roy Woods 12/02/13 AGM

Kenton (Middlesex) Daphne Radford SECRETARY 020 8908 4099 dmradford@btinternet.com St. Anselm’s Church Hall, Uppingham Avenue, Stanmore Occasional Wednesdays at 2pm (contact Secretary for further details)

Kingston & District Mrs Jean Hall SECRETARY 020 8942 2309 Kingston Methodist Church Hall, Avenue Road, Fairfield South, Kingston Third Tuesday of each month at 2pm. For outings programme contact the Secretary.

20/11/12 Russian Art, Crafts and Textiles - talk by Mrs A Duck (with examples) 03/12/12 Lunch at the Hand & Flower, Ham (from 12 noon) 18/12/12 Nonsuch Bell Ringers Jan 2013 New Year Lunch (date to be confirmed) 04/02/13 Lunch at Toni Roma, Kingston (from 12 noon)

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 07/12/12 Christmas Meeting - Talk by Richard Skelton: Behind the Scenes in Parliament 04/01/13 Garden Birds - talk by Janet Gilbert 01/02/13 Where there’s a Will there’s a Way - talk by Claire Jackson

London - Catford & Lewisham Doreen Hughes SECRETARY 020 8461 4800 St. Laurence Church Hall, Bromley Road, Catford Second Tuesday of the month at 10am 11/12/12 Christmas Social with Mince Pies

Fourth Thursday of each month at 10am - 12 noon 22/11/12 Coffee morning followed by Sandra Winters with her handbells “Christmas Version” 06/12/12 Coffee Morning followed by Mince Pies, Bumper Raffle and Carols 13/12/12 Christmas Lunch at a local Pub 16/12/12 Royal Albert Hall - Sing along Christmas Songs 10/01/13 Coach Outing to Polehill and Lunch at Fighting Cocks Pub 24/01/13 Coffee Morning followed by a talk on Quilting 14/02/13 Coach Outing to Hampton Court 28/02/13 Coffee Morning followed by AGM

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

London - Chiswick W4, W6 & W12

Mr D Stannard SECRETARY 020 7720 0982 Job Centre Plus Offices, 246 Stockwell Road, Brixton Fourth Thursday of each month at 2pm (except Dec)

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 - Streatham & Norbury - SW16

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

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 11/12/12 Christmas Party - cost £3.50 per head (includes entry and raffle). Come along and join in the carol singing.

08/01/13 The New Year starts with drinks, mince pies and nibbles, followed by tea 12/02/13 Bingo - prizes for lines and full houses

Maidstone

Mrs Pat Belsey SECRETARY 020 7701 4992 Railway Club, Selhurst Station Approach Fourth Tuesday of each month at 10.30am (except Dec) 27/11/12 Christmas Lunch 22/01/13 Winter Quiz 26/02/13 How to Run a Pub

Keith Hunter CHAIRMAN 01622 746792 Methodist Church Centre, Brewer Street, Maidstone Second Monday of the month at 2pm 10/12/12 Christmas Party with Entertainment by ‘Young at Heart’ singers 14/01/13 AGM followed by Fish & Chips 11/02/13 TBA

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 19/11/12 Australasia - illustrated talk 17/12/12 Christmas Party 21/01/13 AGM and Quiz 18/02/13 Life in the 1950s - talk

Mrs Doris Bending SECRETARY 020 8863 3240 St. Albans Church Hall, Norwood Drive, North Harrow Last Tuesday of the month at 2pm (except Dec) 27/11/12 The History of Whitefriars Glass illustrated talk by Mike Beech 29/01/13 Coffee Morning 26/02/13 Octavia Hill, founder of The National Trust - talk by N Savage

London - Eltham Phyllis Duignan CHAIR 020 8265 0810 phyllis.duignan@gmail.com United Reformed Church,Sherard Hall, Court Road, Eltham

Orpington Peter Standen VICE CHAIRMAN 01689 833358 The Memorial Hall, Methodist Church, Sevenoaks Road, Orpington

First Friday in the month at 1.45pm 04/01/13 Quiz 01/02/13 AGM

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 12/12/12 Plays, Parts and Poems - talk by Michael Claughton followed by Xmas Lunch, Lathe Barn 09/01/13 AGM and Social Time 13/02/13 Tax, Care and Toyboys - Collective Legal Solutions

Sanderstead & Selsdon Ralph Perryman SECRETARY 020 8657 3487 ralph.perryman172@btinternet.com Selsdon Centre for the Retired, 132 Addington Road, Selsdon, South Croydon Second Thursday of the month at 2.30pm 13/12/12 Christmas Party 10/01/13 Visit by Phyllis Duignan, CSRF Board of Directors 14/02/13 AGM

South East Middlesex Mrs June Brown SECRETARY 020 8891 4680 junebrownuk@hotmail.com Various venues. Various dates and times 11/12/12 Christmas Lunch at Cole Court, London Road, Twickenham (details from Mrs June Brown 020 8891 4680) 20/02/13 Katie Cox Lunch at All Hallow’s Church Hall, Erncroft Way, Twickenham (details from Mrs Joan Tyers 020 8890 3740)

Staines Dorothy Dib SECRETARY 01784 441990 Various restaurants for lunch. New members always welcome.

Third Tuesday of each month

Sutton Pam Davis SOCIAL SECRETARY 020 8641 2114 Friends Meeting House, 10 Cedar Road, Sutton Last Monday of the month at 2-3.45pm (except Dec).

26/11/12 An American Supper - aka a Bring & Eat 01/12/12 Theatre outing to the Secombe Centre to see 42nd Street 03/12/12 Christmas Lunch at Carshalton College 14/01/13 Informal Lunch (TBC) 28/01/13 AGM and Social Afternoon 13/02/13 Informal Lunch (TBC) 25/02/13 Violetta Szabo GC, World War 2 Heroine and Secret Agent - talk by Daphne Marchant

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) 03/12/12 Our ever popular Christmas Lunch at the H G Wells 07/01/13 From Burns Night to Hogmanay - a programme of Scottish music presented by Sandra Winter 04/02/13 The pre-Raphaelites at Worcester Park Farm - talk by local historian, George Crawford, followed by AGM

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

61

the last word

My

favourite things…

Actress Gwen Taylor has appeared in many of our best-loved television programmes, including Z-Cars, Murder Most Horrid, Yes, Prime Minister, Inspector Morse, Midsomer Murders and Belonging. She also played Amy Pearce in the popular 1980s sitcom Duty Free and Peggy Armstrong on Heartbeat from 2005-2009. Her appearance on Coronation Street last year as the murderous Anne Foster added ‘soap villain’ to her already impressive CV. Gwen is currently appearing in the stage production of Driving Miss Daisy touring the UK and it was from there she found time to share her favourite things…

1

Painting

Christina’s World by Andrew Wyeth

It tells a huge story and is beautifully achieved. I’m afraid I love art that looks almost like photographs.

2

Novel

The Madness of a Seduced Woman

by Susan Fromberg Schaeffer.

This is an epic story with a woman at the centre that is told using elements of her own background. A great story that should certainly be made into a film.

3

Piece of Music

Bailero - Chants D’ Auvergne

This song is one of the best known of this collection of folk songs that originate from the Auvergne region of France. I’ve picked it, as it is both lyrical and beautiful to listen to.

Film

The Misfits The reason I picked this movie is because of how Marilyn embodied Arthur Miller’s introduction in the published script that read....

“Enter - a golden girl”..

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WINTER 2012 www.csrf.org.uk

5 6

Quotation

“Hollywood is no place for

anyone with a vagina & opinions” (Sharon Stone)

City

I can’t just pick one here –

it would have to be Paris for a holiday but Belfast and Derby for families.

7 8

COLOUR

This is a difficult one as it changes

every week. At the moment though my favourite colour is lilac.

ANIMAL

My favourite animal is definitely

the Pig. Anyone who knows me knows I have hundreds!! My grandfather had two during the war and that’s where my love of them began.

Ed’s Note – Gwen likes the pig as do we. Don’t forget you can help us raise funds by buying one of the Fellowship piggies for a minimum donation of just £5 – donate online at www.csrf.org. uk or send in your cheque made payable to ‘The CSRF’ to the Fellowship Office address at the front of the magazine.

9

Historical Figure

This would have to be Eleanor of Aquitaine who was one of the most powerful women in Europe during the Middle Ages. She was a really a tough figure who suffered for her spirit.

10

Flower

Corn flowers. Come to

think of it, the dark blue colour of cornflowers may now be my new favourite colour.

Driving Miss Daisy is touring the UK until December – for more information visit the website at www.drivingmissdaisyontour.com