Winter 2013 Issue Avanti Magazine

THE MAGAZINE FOR MEMBERS OF THE CIVIL SERVICE RETIREMENT FELLOWSHIP WINTER 2013 www.csrf.org.uk

MAGAZINE

Days of Christmas

How to make the most of the festive season.

Peace to All Men

The history of WWI’s Christmas truce

The forgotten disease

Focus on Dementia

On LocatioN

Find out where some of our favourite TV shows are filmed

NATURE’S Magic Spotting and helping wildlife during winter

PLUS: SARA STEWART • FESTIVE FUN • BOOK CLUB • THEATRE • GROUP NEWS • POSTBAG • FILMS

Editor’s Letter The Civil Service Retirement Fellowship Suite 2, 80A Blackheath Road, London SE10 8DA t: 020 8691 7411 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

Reading Gareth Southwell’s article about pseudonyms took me on a trip down memory lane. During my editorial career I have often deployed the use of aliases, although mine were not as creative as those used by the writers mentioned in the feature. For articles with a sombre tone I used ‘David Graham’ and for those that were more colourful I had the name ‘Brad Storm’ (something I should perhaps use on my letter as I’m writing it the week the storms swept through Southern England).

David supporting the CSRF at an event at HMRC in Luton

Elsewhere this issue we have features that focus on wellbeing (how to make the most of Christmas), health (a look at Dementia) and travel (a look at UK locations for television shows). Ahead of next year’s centenary of the start of World War I we have a fascinating piece that deconstructs the famous Christmas Truce. The CSRF is one of many organisations that have signed up to support the Centenary Partnership, being led by The Imperial War Museum and there will certainly be other articles supporting the initiative appearing next year.

As is customary at this time of year I’d like to say a big thank you to all the team who work on the magazine - a lot of work goes into producing each issue and their input makes all the difference to the finished product. Editing your magazine is both a privilege and a pleasure and I hope you continue to keep in touch with us throughout 2014.

Wishing you all a very Happy Christmas and a wonderful New Year,

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, Janet Tester Contact the Editor By mail: Use the CSRF address above Email: avanti@square7media.co.uk Tel: 020 8691 7411 Designer: Charlotte Morgan

Golden Jubilee Appeal update, news from Fellowship Office and the Chief Executive’s report.

14 The 12 Days of Christmas Our hints and tips to how to make the most of the festive season.

18 Remembering the forgotten disease Gareth Southwell looks at Dementia.

22 Peace to All Men David Porteous recounts the history of the Christmas truce during World War I.

26 On Location ©2013. avanti Magazine is published by Square7 Media Ltd on behalf of the Civil Service Retirement Fellowship (CSRF).

All rights reserved. The 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 The 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. The 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 The CSRF.

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Fancy seeing the location of some of your favourite television shows? Check out our handy travel guide.

30 Winter Wildlife Make the most of the winter and enjoy some of nature’s magic.

34 Leisure Life The latest book, theatre, film and culture reviews.

38 What’s In a Name?

Gareth Southwell looks at why writers use pseudonyms.

42 Coffee Time We’ve got a bumper puzzle and quiz section this issue – plenty to keep you entertained throughout Christmas and New Year.

48 Postbag Your letters and views.

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

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

62 My Favourite Things With actress Sara Stewart.

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front desk

The latest news from Fellowship Office

from the chief executive Words by Jean Cooper

Dear Friends, Through the generosity of our subscribers over £100,000 in donations has been raised so far, a fantastic start to our campaign to raise £250,000. We’ve still a way to go to meet our target, so those who haven’t yet made a donation, please consider helping us to meet our goal.

It’s been a very busy year for the team here at Fellowship office, they have provided useful support, information and advice to our beneficiaries and our volunteers who organise and run the local group network. So far this year two new groups were opened, a real achievement ably supported by the new volunteers who now run them.

The new National Visitors Network is beginning to take off and the Fellowship thanks the Civil Service Insurance Society Charity Fund for their support in funding the work required to get it off the ground.

Our work in building closer working relationships with CS departments continues which includes organising awareness/recruitment exhibitions in departments and participating in preretirement courses.

I was so sorry to learn that Kate Losinska, OBE passed away recently.

Kate was a true supporter of the Fellowship and will be greatly missed by those who knew her both in her working life which included Presidency of the PCS and in her retirement years as ViceChairman and latterly a Vice-President of the Fellowship.

We said a fond farewell to Richard Hornsby who after 10 years excellent service at the age of 77 years young retired from his role as the Fellowship’s Finance Manager. The Team join me in wishing him all the very best. However,

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Jean with David Tickner at a staff event held at No 10 Downing Street

Richard will not be lost to us he has very kindly offered to help us out during our busy times especially around the year end during audit time.

Next year is the very last time the Fellowship receives a civil service grant in aid (reduced to £52k) and we all must renew our efforts to fundraise nationwide.

With the support of the group network and by recruiting new members we will be able to bring in much needed revenue to enable the Fellowship to carry out its work and provide additional benefits too.

We have quite a bit to do to achieve our goals, but with the support of all who really care about this organisation we will succeed. If you can help us to raise funds please do get in touch. We can help support and publicise any individual or group who intends to organise a fundraising event.

The storms have subsided, Halloween has gone and Christmas is beckoning.

I hope that your Christmas will be enjoyable and full of good cheer. Most of our groups organise Christmas events from tea parties to festive lunches so do take the time to check out the group planner and get in touch with your local contact.

Thank you so much to our fantastic group of volunteers who do such excellent

work to support our many beneficiaries by visiting, calling, welcoming and befriending at local group meetings.

Don’t forget about our Phone Buddy and Visitor Network schemes highlighted on pages 8 and 9.

I’d also like to say a special thank you to the great team here at Fellowship Office for their commitment and enthusiasm throughout the year. To the Board of Directors who volunteer their time to govern the Fellowship and also to our friends at the Charity for Civil Servants and the Civil Service Pensioners Alliance who have helped promote our work.

I’d also like to thank the Civil Service Insurance Society Charity Fund for the support of our work for many years. Also special thanks to Square7 Media our publishers who work hard to produce a super magazine.

I hope you enjoy this issue of avanti, thank you for reading it and giving your feedback, keep those letters coming and look out for some new and exciting articles next year.

Happy Christmas and New Year wishes to our readers and supporters.

NEWS

STOP PRESS : STOP PRESS STOP PRESS : STOP PRESS

Expanding our options If you’d like to sign up as a Life We’re very pleased to announce the Member or switch your existing reinstatement of our life membership membership please contact Fellowship category that was returned by popular Office on 020 8691 7411 or you can sign demand at this year’s Annual General up by selecting the Life Member option Meeting following a successfully tabled on the Join Us page of the CSRF website, resolution by the North Hampshire www.csrf.org.uk branch.

By bringing back this category we’re increasing the choice on offer to new members to sign up to support us and any existing annual subscriber is also eligible to transfer their membership to become a Life Member at the end of their year’s subscription.

Please note that with effect from 1 January Joining as Life Member will 2014 our membership rates will be as follows: bring valuable funds into the £27.00 for a single membership (1 year) organisation and help us to £45.00 for a joint membership (1 year) maintain and expand our existing If you are making payments via deduction range of member benefits. The from pay or pension, the new monthly new rates are as follows: rates will be £2.25 (for single) and £3.75 (for joint).

- £250.00 for a single membership - £350.00 for a joint membership

Membership rates for 2014

Au Revoir to Richard After ten years of dedicated service to the Fellowship Richard Hornsby announced his retirement at the end of August.

Richard remains a member of the Fellowship and will continue to keep in touch with the team at the office. He is looking forward to putting his feet up and enjoying some well earned R&R.

STOP PRESS : STOP PRESS STOP PRESS : STOP PRESS We’re pleased to to announce that David Tickner has been appointed Deputy Chief Executive of the CSRF

Age UK launches ‘Donate a Coat’ appeal

Over 200 older people die needlessly in Britain every day in winter months because of the effects of cold weather. So help Age UK spread a little warmth by donating a coat or two to their annual appeal to help raise funds for older people in winter. Coats can be donated to Age UK’s 440+ shops across the country or any participating local Age UK.

The Civil Service Club celebrates its Diamond anniversary

Congratulations to our friends at the Civil Service Club on a very successful 60th anniversary in 2013. The club has been running a whole range of activities to promote membership and celebrate their diamond jubilee.

For more information on membership call 020 7930 4881, visit www.civilserviceclub.org.uk or email: membership@civilserviceclub.org.uk

SCPSW Writing competition

The annual writing competition run by the Society of Civil & Public Service Writers is now open for entries. There are two categories: short stories and poems. Short stories should not be more than 3000 words; poems not more than 40 lines. To enter you have to be a member of the SCPSW (for membership criteria visit www.scpsw. co.uk) and your entries should be sent to Competition Secretary Nina Mattar (details on website) before 28 February 2014.

Explore your Archive

The National Archives launches Explore Your Archive this month, its biggest public awareness campaign to encourage everyone to learn more about the breadth of the collections held in the archives and to realise the skill and expertise of the people who work there. So be inspired and visit www.explorearchive.org

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FUNDRAISING E: fundraising@csrf.org.uk

T: 020 8691 7411

Our first

Golden Group!

Members of the Caerphilly group held a Bring & Buy sale and raised £40 for the Golden Jubilee Appeal in October. Board Director Sylvia Edgell was guest of honour for the day and group members cooked up some special goodies (Piggy and CSRF branded cakes) to sell that were much enjoyed by all those attending.

If your group is planning a fundraising event or if you have any ideas for fun activities to help raise money then the working group would love to hear from you – please keep your suggestions coming to Sophia Hill at Fellowship Office or email: fundraising@csrf.org.uk

ABOVE AND RIGHT: Some tasty pig and CSRF cakes; FAR RIGHT: Sylvia Edgell at the group meeting

Please Support OUR Golden Appeal As we approach the end of the first year of our three year fundraising appeal we have already succeeded in raising £101,940.60 from the generous support of over 4000 subscribers, sales from our Flower Cards and the Piggy donation boxes. We’ve still got a long way to go to hit our target of £250,000. Every penny counts towards helping to maintain and extend the services we provide so if you’ve not made a donation yet your support would be very much appreciated.

How to make a donation You can donate by cheque, direct debit or by making a credit/debit card payment online. Send your cheque (made payable to ‘The CSRF’) to Golden Appeal, The CSRF, FREEPOST SE4414, London SE10 8BP. Alternatively you can donate online at www.csrf.org.uk or by signing up to a direct debit or deduction from your Civil Service Pension. If you wish to set up a regular donation you can download a direct debit form online at www.csrf.org.uk or call Fellowship Office on 020 8691 7411 to request a copy. Don’t forget if you are a tax payer the Fellowship can benefit from an additional 25% of your donation at no cost to you.

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Flower Cards Our flower card sales are continuing steadily so if you are looking for a nice Christmas gift for a friend or need to top up on your notelets then why not buy a set. The cards feature five paintings by CSRF member Jenny Grundy who is an experienced painter and Fellow of the Linnean Society. Jenny donated five of her flower paintings for us to use and the feedback we’ve received from those of you who’ve bought them has been very positive. Each card is left blank for any message and come individually wrapped with an envelope.

Cards are priced at £4 for a set of five and price includes p&p to any UK address (minimum order – 1 set). They are available to order via the online payment form on the CSRF website or by sending a cheque made payable to ‘The CSRF’ for your order to Fellowship Office with your name, address and telephone number.

Quite a few of you have already requested one of our Piggy donation boxes. They’re easy to put together and a fun way for you to help towards our fundraising goal. Fill up the box with your coins and once it’s full you can either send us a cheque for the sum you have collected or make the payment online at www.csrf.org.uk using a credit/debit card. Alternatively you can complete the donation form on the back of your box and send it in with a cheque for the amount you’ve raised.

Call 020 8691 7411 or email fundraising@csrf.org.uk and we’ll send you one free of charge

Poinsettia

Orchid

Iris Germanica

Camellia

Blue Himalayan Poppy

Leaving a Legacy

Legacy giving is an important income stream to our charity as it enables us to safeguard the services and good works we provide to all beneficiaries. It’s not difficult to add a legacy to a will so if you have a will then why not speak to our national legal partners, McClures Solicitors about how you can do it. There are two ways you can leave a gift to charity: - A pecuniary gift – when you leave a specific amount of money - A residuary gift – when you leave a percentage of your estate McClures have a team of expert advisers who are able to guide you through the process over the phone or they can arrange a suitable time to visit you at home.

For more information on wills and legacies call the Later Life legal helpline on 0845 1800 939 or email: csrf@mcclure-solicitors.co.uk. Alternatively the CSRF has a free information sheet giving information on legacies. You can download this from within the members’ area of the website or call 020 8691 7411 to request your copy

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VOLUNTEERING Contact: Gonul Irfan

E: volunteering@csrf.org.uk

T: 020 8469 9195

Home Friendship The first home visits started last month on our new National Visitors Network so if you fancy a bit of company then don’t forget our volunteer visitor service is here for you. This might be of particular interest during the festive season when a lot of regular local activities take a Christmas and New Year break.

We currently have trained visitors in London, Berkshire, Essex, Kent, East & West Sussex, Middlesex, Surrey and Hertfordshire and are adding new volunteers to the programme regularly. But if you live in any of these counties and would like to find out if there is a visitor

available then please give us a ring.

Alternatively if you are interested in volunteering to become a visitor then we’d love to hear from you. The process is simple and smooth.

After expressing an initial interest we’ll send you out a couple of simple forms to complete and then book you into an introductory seminar that will give you some useful advice and information about the role of a visitor. Once you’ve completed the seminar you will receive a visitor pack and certificate along with your photo I.D. card. Once you begin your visits we will reimburse out of pocket expenses.

: STOP PRESS S S E R P P O T S : ST S PRESS : STOP PRESS STOP PRESOP : STOP PRESS The first two London based training seminars took place at the end of October (pictures shown here). Twenty three volunteers attended the 1 day event and have now started visiting those who have requested a visit.

We are running training seminars in London, the South East and the North West and you can select the town most convenient to you on registration. The feedback from our first training events has been very positive with 87% rating the seminar as excellent/very good.

TRAINING FEEDBACK

These are a few of the comments received from those who attended our London training events in October:

“Informative, well presented and refreshing” “Well done CSRF. A good tie up with the Samaritans, the presenter was first class” “Excellent Presentation”

To register

If you’d like to sign up for the National Visitors Network then the first step is to contact us (in confidence). Simply call Gonul Irfan on 020 8469 9195, email (to: visiting@csrf.org.uk) or use the registration form online at the CSRF website.

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Real Lives Changed Our telephone befriending service continues to make a positive impact on the lives of those participating.

We recently completed our bi annual satisfaction survey that helps us to monitor and evaluate how the scheme is working and if necessary make the appropriate changes. Feedback has been very positive. Results show that 71% of users rate the service as excellent (with

N WA

21% scoring it ‘good’). 68% of calls last over 30 minutes and 60% make a call once a fortnight (36% call once a week) and 100% of responses indicated they would recommend the Buddy scheme to others.

We also contacted a number of our volunteers and beneficiaries to ask them to share their own personal experiences of the Phone Buddy scheme:

T A BU D D Y

B E A U D DY B

Pat, a befriender

Margaret, a call recipient

Sometimes in life you take everything for granted. It wasn’t until I joined the Phone Buddy scheme that I realised how lonely people can be.

My call recipient is new to her area and doesn’t know many people, so our regular chats are a real lifeline for her. Although I’m not lonely, I derive great pleasure from hearing how happy she is when we talk.

I was so happy when I read about the Buddy scheme in the magazine.

Nowadays it is very difficult to talk to someone and trust them and so I was very excited about the service as it meant I could talk to someone without having to disclose my age, address or other personal details. I find it very easy to talk to my buddy and we hit it off straight away. Now that winter is approaching it is going to be even more difficult to go out and about, so talking to my buddy on the phone will help me to feel less lonely and have something to look forward to.

Three easy ways to register

John, a call recipient When my wife died I tried to keep in touch with friends and family by phoning them regularly but never once did I get a call back. When I found out about the phone buddy scheme I was very happy. I care for my disabled stepson I am at home most of the time. My buddy has made my day-to-day life a lot easier and has had a positive impact on my health and general wellbeing as I have someone to share my feelings with.

June, a befriender I’m a very active woman and rarely feel lonely. I joined the Buddy scheme because I know there are many people who do. I enjoy talking to my call recipient and we’ve been buddies now for over a year. Being a buddy has made a lot of difference to me in my day-to-day life. I consider my buddy a very good friend and would be upset if the conversation stopped.

1

Call 020 8691 7411 (in confidence)

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Email: phonebuddy@csrf.org.uk

3

Register online at www.csrf.org.uk

Find out more about all of our volunteering opportunities, call Gonul for an informal chat on 020 8469 9195, email volunteering@csrf.org.uk or fill out the volunteer registration form online at www.csrf.org.uk

These are just a few of the personal stories we’ve heard from those participating.

So if you’d like to volunteer or receive a call, pick up the phone and give us a ring.

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MEMBER SERVICES Don’t forget that as a member you are able to take advantage of a range of member helplines and discount clubs that are set up for your benefit

Legal Advice Helpline Operated by McClures Solicitors Offers advice on setting up a Legacy, Wills, Lasting Powers of Attorney, Care Costs, Probate Costs or Funeral Plans.

Telephone: 08451 800 939 (only operates between 9am-5pm weekdays) Email: csrf@mcclure-solicitors.co.uk Please note: McClures will also visit any local CSRF group and offer a talk on legal issues at no cost to the group. If you’d like to request a group visit use the helpline number to book your speaker.

TheatrE Club

The Travel Club Operated by The UK Holiday Group Our new holiday club is proving to be a hit with members with quite a number of you booking holidays already. There are some great holiday offers available for the next quarter including offers for travel to Jersey

by Air, some super ocean cruising offers including a Springtime Cruise to the world

famous Keukenhof Bulb fields, a British Isles Discovery cruise around the Scottish Highlands, Ireland and Guernsey and a Fjordland Cruise around Norway. You can also save up to 35% on Self Drive holidays with Grand UK hotels. Call the dedicated hotline below or email to request the full list of great holiday offers available.

Telephone: 0844 264 2422 Email: csrftravelclub@theukholidaygroup.com Post: The CSRF Travel Club, c/o The UK Holiday Group, The Old Bakery, Queens Road, Norwich, NR1 3PL

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Enjoy regularly updated deals and discounts on shows, hotels and restaurants. To access the theatre club log in to the Members’ area of the CSRF website and you will see it listed on the member home page. Click on the relevant link and view all the latest offers and discounts.

If you experience any difficulties logging into the website then call 020 8691 7411 for assistance

SPECIAL INTEREST Book Club: bookclub@csrf.org.uk Golf Tour: golftour@csrf.org.uk Photography: photography@csrf.org.uk The CSRF and NHSRF are grateful to the support received from The Civil Service Insurance Society (www.csis.co.uk) towards all the special interest activities

Seniors’ Golf Tour 2013 The Old Course at St Pierre in Chepstow was the venue for the second annual CSRF/NHSRF Senior Golf Tour which attracted a record 66 players (an increase of 34% on the 2012 event) from throughout the UK to play golf on a venue famous for having hosted both national and international classics such as the Epson Grand Prix and the Dunlop Masters and to walk in the footsteps of iconic world class golfers like Seve Ballesteros, Greg Norman and Tony Jacklin.

John Brown was the winner of the second Seniors Golf Tour Championship and also took home the CSIS sponsored Crystal Bowl which was awarded for 31 points just one ahead of Hugh Ross who came a very creditable second with 30 points. The team event was won

by Hugh Ross, Mark Kingston, Paul Nicholls and Nick Wood with 78 points. The Fellowship Chairman and Tournament Captain John Barker, a keen golfer, participated in the event and thanked all organisers and sponsors during the prize giving ceremony.

A joint initiative by the CSRF and the NHSRF, the tournament is specifically designed and developed as an important membership benefit with the aim of

Photography Competition ABOVE: The CSIS Perpetual Trophy; LEFT: CSRF Chairman and Tournament Captain John Barker

encouraging retired men and women from both organisations together with their relatives and friends to come together to share a golf game, make new friends and renew old acquaintances.

By popular demand, the event will return to St Pierre, Hotel Golf and Country Club on the Thursday 11 September 2014 – to register please call Fellowship Office or email: golftour@csrf.org.uk

There is still time to submit prints for the photography competition, “Wildlife and Pets” that ends on 30 November 2013.

Judging will take place in December and winners informed in time for Christmas.

Our second competition is on the theme of Seasonal Colours and members have until 31 May 2014 to send in their entries for this one. The CSRF and NHSRF winner from both competitions will each receive a prize of £200; the winning prints will go forward to be judged in the summer of 2014 for an overall winner’s prize of £200.

To join the group and receive newsletters and information about the competitions, contact the coordinator, Anthea Graham, Glais Bheinn, Lochcarron, Ross-shire IV54 8YB, email photography@nhsrf.org.uk or telephone 01520 722951

Book Club

The 2014 book list is currently being finalised and it is our intention thanks to the support of the Civil Service Insurance Society that all the books on the list for next year will be provided free.

If you’re interested in registering for the book club (it’s free to any national CSRF member) then email: bookclub@csrf.org.uk or call 020 8691 7411 for more information

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NEWS

Car maintenance Essential car maintenance doesn’t stop at the all-important MOT. Also ensure that you: • Regularly check the tyre pressure.

• Keep your oil, water and windscreen washer topped up at all times.

• Keep your car clean: all windows as well as the windscreen and headlights must be grime-free for maximum visibility.

Protecting against winter risks

Our insurance friends at the Civil Service Insurance Society have put together some useful hints to help you cope with bad weather driving conditions Driving in severe weather conditions, such as driving on ice, can tax the most experienced of drivers. In the winter months, it is vital that all motorists follow tried and tested procedures to ensure their own safety and the well-being of other motorists on the road.

The Met office issues general advice and severe weather warnings so we recommend that motorists regularly check weather reports and updates, particularly if they are planning to drive long distances or to remote areas in poor weather conditions.

Driving safety tips Whether you’re on a motorway or in a rural area, reducing your speed is the golden rule. Remember that, when driving on ice, in snow or heavy rain, your stopping distance can be ten times longer.

It is vital you ensure all your manoeuvres,

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such as braking, steering and accelerating, are gentle and controlled.

Key tips: • Poor weather can dramatically reduce visibility, even in the daytime.

Switch on your headlights so you can see and be seen.

• But don’t blind other drivers with your fog lights; only switch them on when visibility is very low.

• Leave a bigger gap between you and the car in front of you to allow you more stopping time.

• Accelerate slowly. Pulling away in second gear is a safe way to increase your amount of wheel traction.

• Continue to drive in low gears to help maintain traction, especially on hills, and use gears to restrain speed on downhill sections rather than using your brakes.

It’s also a good idea to: • Take a road map as well as a sat nav.

If you breakdown, this will help you identify junctions and landmarks, to assist the breakdown service to find you quickly.

• Ensure that your mobile phone is fully charged before you set off.

• Always tell someone where you are heading and estimated time of arrival if you are driving long distances to rural areas.

If you are unfortunate and have an accident make certain you take all relevant details of the other driver (take photos of the damage and the site if possible) and contact your Insurance provider straight away. Always try to obtain a witness statement.

If the worst happens you can trust CSIS to provide you with a quality policy at a competitive price to get you going again.

For a motor insurance quotation call CSIS at 0845 6077444 or visit www.csis.co.uk.

We also offer great value Home insurance.

The Civil Service Insurance Society were voted The UK’s Most Trusted Motor Insurance Provider 2013 in the Moneywise Customer Service Awards

Christmas doesn’t have to be a depressing time if you are on your own. We’ve put together some handy hints on how to make the best of the festive season

B

eing alone at Christmas can be a difficult experience, and emotional when remembering loved ones that are no longer here. Often friends and family are too far away, on holiday

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or too spread about to meet up.

By taking control of your day, and making the most of the festive season, even if you are to be alone at Christmas, you need not feel lonely.

1. Plan your days Perhaps it’s a day out, organising your TV viewing and looking forward to settling down to view the Christmas specials.

Maybe its just doing the things that are important to you, or meeting up with people when possible. We need to look after ourselves and focus on the positives.

2. Keep busy The Christmas season seems to begin earlier every year, but it doesn’t have to take over every aspect of your life. Think about what you most enjoy doing and make time to do it. If you are mourning the loss of a friend or family member, perhaps you could include some act of remembrance of them in the season. Many hospices and funeral directors will send out a decoration to hang on your tree to put them at the centre of the festivities.

Perhaps you would prefer to make your own, or have your own ritual. The process is not about having a good time and ignoring them; it is about accepting the change, but not forgetting what they brought to your life. You could also use the time to do any new activities that you’d like to try.

3. Say Yes to invitations You have the opportunity to enhance your Christmas and other peoples.

Remember that you need only go for a short time, but do try and get out and about during the festive season and don’t be frightened to mingle and meet new people.

6. Eat and drink well Traditional Christmas food and drink can often be excessive and make you feel lethargic. Healthy eating with plenty of fruit and vegetables can give you more energy and improve your general wellbeing.

Loneliness and isolation in the United Kingdom Research carried out over the last few decades has consistently shown that between 6% and 13% of older people say they feel always or very lonely. If approximately 10% of the population aged over 65 is chronically lonely, this equates to over 860,000 people in England (Office for National Statistics, 2012). Almost 5 million older people say that the television is their main form of company (Harrop and Jopling, 2009).

The CSRF supports the Campaign to End Loneliness, a network of national, regional and local organisations and people whose common aim is to create the right conditions to reduce loneliness in later life.

5. Get your heart pumping 4. Be a volunteer Many charities and organisations need help at Christmas. If you have spare time, you could spend a few hours working as a volunteer. For information on local volunteering opportunities, visit Do-it (www.do-it.org.uk).

The website gives a list of all known volunteering schemes within 5 miles of your postcode.

Alternatively, ask at your local library or look for adverts in the local paper. Don’t forget the CSRF has two befriending services, the National Visitors Network and Phone Buddy scheme (for more information on how to register see the ideas panel within this feature). If you don’t have access to the Internet ask a friend or neighbour or get in touch with the team here at Fellowship Office.

7. Find a listening ear

Physical exercise has been proved to reduce stress and enhance your mood. Find something that works for you, whether it’s going to the gym, swimming or wrapping up warm and going outside for some fresh air. Just getting off the sofa and going outdoors should make you feel better.

The Ramblers and the National Trust hold winter-themed activities.

Christmas is a good time to be sociable, so it can help to speak to someone completely removed from your situation. Some organisations, such as Mind or the Samaritans offer confidential support over the phone or become a CSRF Phone Buddy.

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8. Local Events/ Activities Scout your local paper, community centre, church and library for any events that might be taking place – there are usually plenty of community Christmas events such as carol concerts, the town Christmas fair and church services which are all great ways to enjoy yourself.

9.

Meet other CSRF Members Look at the Planner (starts on page 54) and see what your local CSRF group is doing. If you’ve never been along before that doesn’t matter as everyone is welcome. So be brave and take the plunge! Call the local group contact and they’ll be delighted to tell you all about local activities.

10. Building Bridges Christmas is the perfect time to extend an olive branch and repair broken fences if you’ve had an argument with a friend, neighbour or family member so why not make the first move.

reetings G s n o s a e S However you choose to spend the festive season we hope it’s a happy one for you and on behalf of the avanti team we wish you all a peaceful Christmas and a very happy New Year.

If you already have access to the Internet there are many ways to meet people (register for social media sites like Facebook or Twitter, download Skype or Facetime if you have an Ipad) and you can chat for free to friends the other side of the world. If you don’t have one then why not buy yourself a computer tablet such as an Ipad or the new Kindle Fire as an early Christmas present and find out what you’re missing. There are some good deals regularly offered on the high street.

11. Get Connected

Friendship services

12. Be Neighbourly Use the festive season as a reason to strike up a conversation with your neighbours – pop a Christmas card round or if you’re feeling brave invite them over for a seasonal drink or treat.

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The Phone Buddy Scheme The CSRF has been running this very popular befriending service for almost two years now. It’s simple to register for and will automatically give you some companionship over the telephone by matching you up with a buddy (telephone friend) who rings you on a regular basis. It’s completely confidential and has already provided friendship and happiness to many members. So pick up your phone and call 020 8691 7411 or email: phonebuddy@csrf.org.uk and sign up today.

The National Visitors Network Launched by the CSRF earlier this year, the National Visitors Network offers home friendship visits. The service is

available in certain areas of the country at the moment and already has a number of trained volunteer visitors who are ready to be matched up to you. Find out whether we have a visitor in your area and call 020 8691 7411 or email: visiting@csrf.org.uk Companionship at Christmas This popular service is run by Abbeyfield and provides free festive lunches and overnight stays to older people during the Christmas period. In 2012 over 100 houses and care homes participated in the campaign. The only requirements for eligibility are that you are over 55, alone over Christmas and currently living independently. For more information call 01727 857536 or visit www.abbeyfield.com

Feature

Words: Gareth Southwell

A

lthough none of us is getting any younger, we are on average living longer. With advances in medicine and healthcare, increased standards of living, better understanding of diet and exercise, and other factors, the average person in the UK can expect to live into his or her late seventies—slightly longer, if you’re a woman. However, there is also a downside to this. As society ages, and senior citizens come to make up a greater percentage of the population, there are increased costs associated with the care of the elderly and the treatment of the diseases associated with ageing.

Chief among such diseases is dementia.

This December, the UK will host the first G8 dementia summit, bringing together eight of the world’s largest economies in an attempt to begin to address the social problems that stem from the condition. By 2020, government figures estimate that the number of people with dementia in the UK will reach one million, approximately

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1.5% of the country’s population at that time. According to a report produced for the Alzheimer’s Research Trust in 2010, dementia costs in the UK were around £23 billion at last count. To take a global perspective, the World Health Organisation estimates the current cost of dementia care to be over $600 billion (approximately £375 billion), which, if it were a country, would make it the eighteenth largest economy in the world; if it were a company, it would have the biggest revenue even exceeding that of Wal-Mart.

Dementia, then, is an urgent concern, but it is also a comparatively neglected one. While it represents one of the top four diseases in the UK, responsible for more than half our total healthcare costs—more than cancer, stroke or heart disease yet receives a disproportionately low percentage of funding. For instance, according to the same 2010 report, of the combined research funding provided by UK government and charities in 2007/8,

dementia received a paltry 6%, in third place behind cancer (71%) and chronic heart disease (20%)—this despite the fact that dementia’s £23 billion cost is more than cancer (£12 billion) and heart disease (£8 billion) combined.

But what is the explanation for this situation? There would seem to be a number of reasons. As Professor Julie Williams of Cardiff University points out (‘Funding for Dementia Research is Dangerously Low’, The Telegraph, 9th February, 2011), the causes of certain forms of dementia—for instance, why Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s develops in the first place—are still not fully understood.

So, while dementia is as potentially curable or treatable as cancer will one day hopefully prove to be, the latter receives more funding and scientific attention simply because the prospect of a breakthrough is seen as greater. There is also perhaps a psychological factor at work here. None of us likes to think about

ageing, and there is a common assumption that dementia is simply an inevitable consequence of getting old. However, this is false. It’s true that we do lose a degree of mental sharpness as we age—brain cells die off at a quicker rate; our brain chemistry alters, making it more difficult to form new neural pathways; and so forth—but this is not the same as having dementia. Could it be then that among the root causes of the apparent blind spot we seem to have in relation to dementia are fear and misunderstanding?

As well as the false belief that dementia is inevitable, there are a number of others that need to be addressed. A related misconception is that the disease only affects old people. Again, this is incorrect, for while senile dementia is the most common form, people may develop dementia at any age (as with early-onset or juvenile dementia). This is because—and here is another common confusion—dementia is not a single thing,

but a condition that may be caused by various diseases. As such, it is not simply another name for Alzheimer’s disease (although that is the most common cause), but may also stem from vascular dementia, frontotemporal dementia, dementia with Lewy bodies, or as a consequence of Parkinson’s disease, and many other forms, or it may even come from a mixture of causes. Dementia, then, is a general term for the (usually) progressive deterioration of the brain in such a way as to disrupt normal mental functioning. As such, it may impair memory and the ability to reason, impede communication skills, disrupt movement and motor skills, result in changes in behaviour and emotional disturbance, and even undermine our sense of identity.

This all makes dementia sound somewhat frightening and it can be, both for those affected and their families and friends. Someone diagnosed with dementia can find it more difficult to perform

everyday tasks, can experience confusion and increased levels of anxiety, and often become distressed upon noticing the loss of mental function. Those who know people who develop dementia can find the progress of the disease upsetting, and can struggle to adjust as the person undergoes personality changes. For these reasons, it is important that all concerned be reassured that it is possible to live with dementia, and that there is support and guidance available that can enable everyone involved to cope with the consequences of the condition.

First of all, it is important to be fully informed as to what the diagnosis means.

As already stated, there are many different forms of dementia, some of which are relatively mild and others that may be to a degree alleviated with prescribed medication. There are also support networks—both for persons with dementia and their carers and families—and a range of services provided by the NHS, social

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Feature

New pilot scheme launched The Charity for Civil Servants is planning a pilot project to assist people affected by dementia – they will be working closely with Dementia UK and Friends of the Elderly to provide services that will include telephone and online advice and support across the UK as well as access to Admiral Nursing.

The new service will extend the Charity’s successful caring services channel under the wellbeing banner.

Evidence shows that carers are very challenged by dementia issues and it is an area where it is very difficult to access all but the most superficial of services.

The 6 month pilot will initially be available to people in the Surrey area

services, private organisations and charities, all of which can help reduce the increased emotional and psychological strain. But most of all it is important to remember that, on one level, dementia is the same as any other disease, and it can be managed and its symptoms diminished by a number of simple everyday coping mechanisms that allow those affected to continue to live independently for longer.

Clocks and automatic calendars can help those with dementia keep track of the time and date, as can establishing routines concerning meals, rising and going to bed, family visits and activities, the watching of favourite TV or radio programmes, and so on. There are also a range of technological aids: GPS tracking devices that tell a carer exactly where the person is, or help the person get home; alarms that sound or send a message when the person leaves the house, leaves a chair or gets out of bed; audio monitors or webcams that can be used to listen and watch the person when they are in another room.

Professional care for dementia is also evolving, developing in innovative new ways. There is an increased awareness of the function of the care environment in helping patients. This can involve such things as the design of care units, making them easier to navigate, where the doors to patient’s rooms are distinguished by

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familiar personal items; or the provision of ‘sensory gardens’ that help to relax patients, relieving their anxieties and engaging their senses. Hogewey, a nursing home near Amsterdam, has even gone so far as to imitate a small village, complete with supermarket, cinema, hairdressers and restaurants, and where patients are treated as ‘residents’ by the care staff (who also double as shop workers and neighbours).

Whatever specific methods are adopted, it can be seen that the emphasis is on attempting to help patients maintain connection with their lives—their routines, their favourite things and activities—for this also helps them to preserve their sense of self, identity and normality.

The attitude to dementia is gradually changing. Public awareness is rising and misconceptions concerning the disease are being addressed. Hopefully, this, together with government initiatives and the influence of charities and other concerned organisations, will begin to see dementia care and research receive its fair share of funding. With such developments, as Professor Williams also argues, there is no reason why we should not begin to see considerable advances in the understanding and treatment of dementia by 2025. By then, we might also hope that dementia will have ceased to be the feared, forgotten and neglected disease that it has become.

and is likely to be available from early March next year. It complements the CSRF’s National Visitors Network which is returning to its roots and providing support to the most vulnerable members of the retired community. It is hoped that by working in partnership the two services will ensure both those who suffer from dementia and those who care for them are properly supported.

Depending on the demand/success of the service and the availability of Admiral Nurses, the Charity will look at extending the service across the country over the course of 2014.

Further Information The Dementia Guide provides information on dementia, its nature and causes, and details available support for persons with dementia and their families. It can be downloaded or ordered from the Alzheimer’s Society website (www.alzheimers.org.uk).

The Alzheimer’s Society also provides a helpline for dementia information and support: 0300 222 11 22

The 2010 Alzheimer’s Research UK report on dementia (its social and economic costs, the level of research funding, etc) is available from www.dementia2010.org.

Feature

peace

TO ALL MEN In the season of goodwill British and German soldiers spontaneously laid down their arms and clambered out of the trenches to fraternise with each other. The Christmas Truce of 1914 has been revered ever since as a testament to humanity amid the slaughter of the First World War. David Porteous recounts what happened, including that legendary football match in No Man’s Land.

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I

t was the Germans who launched the opening salvo – not of artillery but a rendition of ‘Stille Nacht’ (‘Silent Night’). The British in the line facing them retaliated with ‘The First Noel’. The enemy fired back with ‘O Tannenbaum’. When the Tommies began to sing ‘O Come All Ye Faithful’, the Germans joined in this time, singing the same hymn in Latin to the words of ‘Adeste Fideles’.

Opposing soldiers singing carols to each other and sometimes the same song together, men who hitherto had been trying to kill each other, was the first sign a remarkable, unforeseen peace was about to descend on the Western Front that Christmas Eve night 1914.

A combination of factors made the truce possible, one of which was the basic nature of trench warfare in Belgium and France.

Men were positioned in trenches typically only a hundred yards apart, in some cases as little as 30 yards. Tommy and Fritz could call out to each other and in this way it was not unheard of for temporary ceasefires to be brokered after a battle so the dead could be given a decent burial.

During December the British Expeditionary Force mounted a number of futile attacks on the German lines that were beaten back with heavy casualties. With the arrival of cards and gifts from home, the increasingly homesick soldiers on both sides longed for a lull in the fighting.

Another factor was a change in the weather. There was above average rainfall that winter, leaving many soldiers wallowing in mud as their trenches flooded. But in time for Christmas the ground froze and the battlefield was transformed by a dazzling white hoar frost, causing the men who witnessed it to reflect on the time of year and think of home all the more.

The festive scene was made complete by the candle-lit Christmas trees and paper lanterns that the Germans placed on

top of their trenches. The lights briefly attracted small arms fire from the astonished British infantry who saw the spectacle, thinking it was a prelude to an attack.

“Light after light sprang up along the German front,” recalled Private Frederick Heath, of the 13th London Regiment, whose letter home paints one of the most vivid accounts of the events that unfolded. “Then quite near our dug-outs, so near as to make me start and clutch my rifle, I heard a voice: ‘English soldier, English soldier, a merry Christmas, a merry Christmas!’.”

When Christmas Day dawned, soldiers threw rations to each other and exchanged more greetings and offers for a ceasefire.

Tentatively, men raised their heads above the parapet of their trenches. No shots were fired. The more adventurous then ventured out into No Man’s Land and started walking towards the enemy lines. “A few of us advanced to meet the oncoming Germans,” wrote Private Heath.

“Out went the hands and tightened in the grip of friendship. Christmas had made the bitterest foes friends.”

They gave each other food, cigarettes and drink, and traded badges and buttons.

The most prized souvenir for the British was a spiked Pickelhaube helmet; for the Germans it was a plum pudding. They were able to strike up conversations as some of the Germans spoke English having worked in London before the war.

The men swapped addresses and showed each other pictures of their sweethearts and families. They stood shoulder to shoulder to have their

photographs taken, which remain to this day among the most enduring images taken during the entire conflict. Joint burial parties recovered the bodies of fallen comrades. All was quiet as the guns remained silent.

The truce was fundamentally an expression of kinship between ordinary soldiers from similar social backgrounds.

Officers were initially uncertain how to react while others took a pragmatic view, welcoming the opportunity to bury the dead and carry out trench repairs. But their letters also show that many were enthusiastic participants.

When the respective high commands heard their forces were fraternising with the enemy, they ordered an immediate end to the unofficial armistice. Even so, the truce was observed for over a week in places, lasting into the New Year. Furious British generals threatened to court-martial anyone who took part but in the end no action was taken against any unit or officer.

The truce is believed to have occurred over at least half of the 27-mile British front (and in parts of the line held by the Belgians and the French), but it was not universal. One regiment that refused to participate was the Seaforth Highlanders, who threatened to shoot any German who tried to get friendly with them.

There are also reports of men who, upon leaving their trenches to greet the soldiers opposite them, were shot by snipers along the line unaware of what was happening. In one instance, the Germans apologised when a British soldier was killed. Elsewhere, the war continued as normal and one battalion, the 2nd Grenadier Guards, suffered several casualties in a fierce skirmish on Christmas Day. FAR LEFT: Second Lieutenant Cyril Drummond took this photograph of soldiers from the Royal Warwickshire Regiment talking happily with men from the 134th Saxon Regiment, Boxing Day, 1914. LEFT: Plum pudding and a German spiked Pickelhaube helmet

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Feature

Further Information

RIGHT: Truce Memorial in Frelinghien, France

Historian Alan Cleaver is behind a project called Operation Plum Puddings that is creating a digital archive of letters from British soldiers in which they describe their experiences of the Christmas Truce. “All the Tommies realised they had taken part in something quite extraordinary and wanted to write home about it,” he says.

“While the romantic in us today wants us to believe the truce was a great ‘what if’ moment in history that could have ended the war, the letters of the soldiers who were there reveal they understood it would only be a brief period of peace until the fighting started again. The reality was they knew they still had a job to do.”

Eventually, as the weather became less seasonal, the mood of the soldiers changed again and the fraternisation gradually ceased. In a last act of camaraderie, there were often arrangements to signal the resumption of hostilities by firing well over the heads of the enemy. The war resumed its bloody course and there would be no truce like it again.

Perhaps the most famous legend attached to the Christmas Truce is the story of a game of football between the British and the Germans. Like schoolboys marking goalposts with their jumpers, according to a description penned by a German officer, the soldiers instead used their hats and helmets.

The final score was 3-2 to the Germans.

For further information about the Christmas Truce and events to mark its centenary, visit the following websites: Operation Plum Puddings www.christmastruce.co.uk

Imperial War Museum www.iwm.org.uk Some have questioned whether it ever really happened but the letters sent home by British soldiers in fact contain numerous references to impromptu kickabouts on Christmas Day and Boxing Day. There are also mentions of a match in the war diaries of the Cheshire Regiment and 133rd Saxon Regiment.

Next year will see the start of a fouryear nationwide programme of events to mark the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War. While official acts of commemoration will focus on major battles such as the Somme, Passchendaele, Gallipoli and Jutland, the Christmas Truce of 1914 will be remembered, too.

The National Children’s Football Alliance is planning a series of games between British and German schoolchildren, and possibly a televised fixture involving David Beckham and star players from the past such as Bobby Charlton and Franz Beckenbauer, to pay tribute to the soldiers who played football with each other on a Flanders field 100 years ago.

Director Ernie Brennan says: “In 1914 young men reverted back to childhood to play a game of football in order to forget the horrors of war. It’s fitting we celebrate that moment of peace and reconciliation because it could be argued it was the most important football match ever played.”

National Children’s Football Alliance www.childrensfootballalliance.com

The Civil Service Retirement Fellowship is pleased to support the First World War Centenary (led by the Imperial War Museum). For more information visit www.1914.org

Do you have some memories of Christmas during wartime or during your military service? Do you have any treasured letters from soldiers or medical staff who served, we would love to hear them and print excerpts in future magazines next year.

Write to the Fellowship Office address at the front of the magazine or email: avanti@square7media.co.uk

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Feature

avanti rounds up some of the best filming locations in the land that will allow viewers to follow in the footsteps of some of television’s biggest heroes set to grace our screens this winter and get a taste of life on the small screen.

T

he runaway success of Downton Abbey has seen many a head of household yearning for the days gone by of the Edwardian era to bring one’s family into line. Others simply wish to sample the opulent costumes of the day and enjoy the effortless elegance of evening dining with the Crawley family followed by candle lit dance.

A visit to Highclere Castle in Berkshire is an absolute must for Downton Abbey fans, eager to get a taste of the scandal behind the curtains and see how the other half really lived.

The stately home was used for filming for both exterior and interior scenes in the four seasons, with writer Julian Fellowes revealing that he had the Castle in mind while penning the show.

The Castle is the residence of the Earl and Countess of Carnarvon, whose

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family have owned the estate since 1679. The Countess has also recently published a book revealing the hidden story of the Castle entitled Lady Catherine and the Real Downton Abbey, which promises a shocker or two to rival the fictional scandal that has made her home recognisable across the globe.

The Castle is to host a Christmas Fair on the 4th and 5th December with two public open days following on the 7th and 8th December, allowing visitors to tread the boards of household names such as Maggie Smith, Hugh Bonneville and Elizabeth McGovern.

Whodunnit in Dorset?

Earlier in the year a dream pairing of David Tenant and Olivia Coleman had over 8 million households on the edge of their seats as they unearthed the mystery surrounding the murder

of a young boy in the ultimate whodunnit of Broadchurch.

Set in a fictional coastal Dorset town of the same name, viewers were treated to sweeping views across West Bay and the Jurassic Coast. Dorset’s south coast made a stunning backdrop for the law enforcing duo, who were busy investigating every avenue of exploration to hunt the boy’s killer.

There is much speculation about a follow up series, which is expected to air in the New Year, although producers are currently remaining tight-lipped about it.

Offering a comprehensive guide to all of the sites featured in the eightpart drama, ‘Visit Dorset’ has put together a Broadchurch Trail Guide, which is available from their website. It provides all of the information needed to discover some of the key filming

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: the Library at Highclere; Last Tango in Halifax; the Six Bells, Warborough; Dorset.

locations and see the stunning scenery that stole the show, as well as the distinctive Broadchurch Police Station, which can be found at the Folly in West Quay. As for the second series? That will require further investigation.

It takes two to tango for a second series

Romance returns to the moors of Yorkshire this winter as BBC 1 catches up with later-in-life lovebirds Celia Dawson and Alan Buttershaw in a second series of Last Tango in Halifax.

Last year viewers were touched by the couple’s heart-warming story of being reunited through the internet after decades apart and embarking on a whirlwind romance behind the wheel of a red sports car, much to the dismay of their adult children. Filmed in and around Halifax, as well as small

holdings up on the moors, a journey up the east coast to the moors places visitors in a world apart, which makes it easy to understand the director’s choice of filming location. Tea rooms are a-plenty, while Hoghton Tower in Lancashire, which is expected to make an appearance in the second round of the couple’s escapades, is well worth a visit, although visitors are urged to take extra caution not to get locked in overnight.

Murderous Intent

It’s a wonder that house prices remain so high in the fictional county of Midsomer given the townfolk’s murderous streak. But for the past 16 years viewers have watched in delight as first DCI Tom Barnaby and now his younger cousin DCI John Barnaby seek to restore order to the villages

surrounding the fictional county town of Causton, which enjoys a murder rate estimated at 32 per million; around double that of London.

The series has been filmed at various locations throughout Oxfordshire and Hertfordshire, but to enjoy some liquid refreshment alongside the Barnabys, a visit to The Six Bells in Warborough, Oxfordshire, should seem familiar to viewers as it makes regular appearances in the show as the Black Swan in the Midsomer village of Badger’s Drift.

The series, which began life as a series of books by Caroline Graham, take their inspiration from the Somerset village of Midsomer Norton, near Wells, which Avon and Somerset Police Force are delighted to report has nowhere near the same crime figures as its ITV counterpart.

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A Guide to Winter Viewing Broadchurch, ITV 1 – expected early 2014 www.itv.com To visit West Bay and download the Broadchurch Trail Guide visit www.visit-dorset.com or call 01305 252241 Doctor Who: Twelfth Night, BBC1 Christmas Day. www.bbc.co.uk www.doctorwhoexperience.com or call 0844 801 3663 Downton Abbey, CHRISTMAS DAY SPECIAL www.itv.com/downtonabbey To find out more about the real Downton Abbey visit www.highclerecastle.co.uk or call 01635 253210

Shrouded in mystery

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s most infamous creation is set to return to our screens once again this winter in this modern day adaptation. Last year saw stars of BBC1’s Sherlock Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock Holmes and Martin Freeman as Doctor John Watson journey from modern day London to the wilds of Dartmoor, which proved equally as suitable a setting for this modern adaptation of The Hound of the Baskervilles as when Conan Doyle first put pen to paper back in Queen Victoria’s reign.

But a visit to Dartmoor during daylight hours is a world apart from the spooky, mist-filled scenes of Sherlock’s quest to unearth the mystery of the ravenous hound. Nestled amongst the ancient tors are a number of secluded inns offering a hearty menu of westcountry cuisine to invigorate visitors before setting off again to explore even more of the region’s finest terrain.

Another World

Few television shows can hope to create as much furore as Dr Who did earlier this

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CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE: Cardiff Castle; Trotter’s Reliant Regal van; River Lyd in Dartmoor.

summer with the announcement of the new doctor, who will blast his way onto our screens this Christmas for the first time.

But for those who can’t wait for the latest chapter of the legacy to unfold, a visit to the Dr Who Experience in Cardiff may well be in order. A veritable Tardis within the Welsh capital city, this indoor attraction gives visitors a sense of what it is like to time travel and explore a whole other universe.

But no Christmas viewing would be complete without the Great British comedy staple of Only Fools and Horses or the slapstick antics of Mr Bean. Stealing the show in both these early nineties comedies were a yellow Reliant Regal van and a lime green Mini. Both these vintage vehicles form part of a star attraction at the Beaulieu Motor Museum in the heart of the New Forest alongside some of the most recognisable four-wheeled stars of the small and silver screen.

Last Tango in Halifax, BBC1 – expected late 2013 www.bbc.co.uk Fore more information on some of the locations used for filming visit www.yorkshire.com Midsomer Murders, ITV1 – expected Christmas Day. www.itv.com Sherlock, BBC1 – expected New Year’s Day 2014 www.bbc.co.uk For more information on some of the locations used to film last year’s Hound of The Baskerville visit www.dartmoor.co.uk or call 01837 52200 To visit Beaulieu’s stars of the screen exhibition visit www.beaulieu.co.uk or call 01590 612345 For the most up to date television listings, specific to region, visit www.radiotimes.com

Feature

winter

WILDLIFE Winter wildlife in the UK can be just as magical and spectacular as in the warmer seasons, we offer some handy advice and tips on how you can see and enjoy some of them (and help the animals survive the harsher conditions)

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CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: Tawny Owl; an Oak tree in winter; Deer; fox.

A

s winter arrives much of our wildlife retreats into the shadows to take shelter and hide from the worst of the cold weather. Don’t let this put you off though, as chilly weather brings some species out into the open as much as it forces others to hide away.

Winter sounds

While winter is a time of hunkering down for many species, it’s also the mating season for others.

A most iconic sound of the season is that of screaming foxes in the night. These calls let other individuals know of their whereabouts, helping them to find a mate or deter intruding competition. Urban foxes can be seen and heard in most towns and cities and their screams can be haunting to those not in the know.

Tawny owls pair up in winter and the iconic “twit twoo” we hear is actually commonly a combination of calls from the courting male and female. Listen out for tawnys at dusk and through the night in woodlands around farmland. They often perch in large deciduous trees.

Also worth a winter eavesdrop are whistling wigeon (a medium sized duck with a round head and a small bill), honking whooper swans, screeching snipe and the lovely lapwing peewit.

Read the signs

If it snows in winter then use the ‘white blanket’ to look for evidence of any wildlife visitors during the night.

Throughout the autumn some animals have been hoarding food. Look out for nibbled nuts in winter as these hoards are raided (not always by their owner!).

Squirrels, jays, nuthatches and coal tits are some of our busiest hoarders. The People’s Trust for Endangered Species has some very interactive resources available on their website that can help you identify any nibblers! You can also help them with their annual survey, The Great Nut Hunt, which helps their conservation action to protect the hazel dormouse.

Another sign often seen in woodland areas at this time of year are deer antlers. As the rut ends, deer drop their antlers in winter. Keep an eye out for these but don’t take them away as deer gnaw on them to try to recover calcium.

especially hard for them if it snows, as the small mammals they feed on become even harder to find.

Barn owls suffer particularly badly in the winter. They don’t have waterproofing in their feathers and so don’t fly in the rain and wind also poses a problem as they rely heavily on their hearing for hunting.

Prolonged rainfall can be deadly to a hungry barn owl.

They are therefore forced to hunt on clear days during ongoing bad weather. So get out on crisp winter days after the rain

Observing Owls

Winter is a great time to see owls as they struggle to survive in the cold. It can be

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Tips for watching migrating birds

Bird Migration This is a perfect time of year to watch some of nature’s amazing bird spectacles.

It was from September that birds wstarted arriving back from the Arctic and Iceland, whilst others such as Swallows and House Martins began their journey south, flying off to warmer weather in Africa.

Migration involves the large scale seasonal movement of birds from one location to another, sometimes involving a journey of thousands of miles.

Huge numbers of birds fly south, east and west around the British Isles, providing sensational sights for bird watchers. Watch out for the return of Brent, Barnacle and Pink-footed Geese as well as Bewick and Whooper Swans.

The routes which birds follow on their journeys are often very well defined, with some species preferring to stick close to coastal areas, only crossing seas at their shortest point.

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Islands and coastal areas are excellent places to watch migratory birds pick good vantage points such as promontories and headlands.

The Isles of Scilly are brilliant for spotting rare birds from North America, Europe or Asia which have been blown off-course by bad weather. Many areas around Britain’s coastline have bird observatories where you’re guaranteed a great bird watching experience.

Estuaries are also great locations for wildfowl and waders due to their complex ecosystems.

High tides in estuaries push wading birds closer and closer towards the shoreline as they feed during the autumn, creating a bird’s eye view for nature watchers.

Visit your local Wildlife and Wetlands Trust or RSPB nature reserve to watch some great seasonal spectacles including huge flocks of wading birds such as Knot visiting for the winter. Some nature reserves run feeding sessions including Slimbridge, Caerlaverock and other WWT sites.

Choose your time of day carefully - the best time to watch geese is first thing in the morning and at dusk when the birds leave and subsequently return to their roosts. Sea watching can be rewarding in late summer and early autumn look for birds such as Gannets, Terns and Manx Shearwater leaving their breeding grounds.

Don’t forget to pack your binoculars or a scope and a bird identification guide.

Keep a record of birds arriving and departing for the winter. Send your bird sightings to county recorders and local bird clubs. Patience is a virtue when it comes to birding and wildlife watching - but it can be very rewarding and sociable, especially if you join a club.

It’s also free to do, and a fantastic hobby to embark upon in retirement.

TOP: Brent goose.

BELOW: Knot bird.

has stopped to spot them over fields and moors.

According to some conservationists three quarters of British barn owls live in man-made nest boxes. So if you know they are in your area then why not put up a barn owl nest box. The Barn Owl Trust has some useful guides on how to build your own nest box on its website.

Wild Owls can be fed on voles, shrews, mice, small birds, nestling rabbits and moles. If you have a cat and it brings any animals in these can be used too (so long as no rat or mouse poisons have been used nearby).

Seasonal ‘Clothing’

It’s mating season for ducks through the colder months. They’re busy showing off their best plumage so a visit to your local pond, lake, wetland or estuary will enable you to see the ‘dapper ducks.

The RSPB offers information on the best places to see mandarin, red-breasted merganser, shoveller, wigeon, teal, pochard, and goldeneye.

In winter the moors of Scotland turn from heathery brown to snowy white and the local wildlife have to put on their best winter wear to keep camouflaged.

Mountain hare, ptarmigan and stoats all change into their ermine coats and the

Winter watch advice and sites If you are interested in finding out more about winter nature initiatives you can become involved in, the internet is always a good place to start. Here are just a few examples of what you can find…

Winter Rabbit Care Guide The RSPCA is one of the best sources of advice for animals of all shapes and sizes. They have an excellent winter care guide for Rabbits which owners will find incredibly useful for helping their furry friends survive the cold season ahead.

For more information visit www.rspca.org.uk or call 0300 1234 999 Identifying winter trees Winter just doesn’t affect only birds and animals, of course, trees undergoes great changes as the seasons change. Here, the BBC have put together a useful guide on how to tell your oaks from your ashes in the chilly months.

For more information: www.bbc.co.uk/ nature/animals/wildbritain

Cairngorms in the Scottish highlands are the best place to spot these beautiful animals.

The Isle of Man and the Peak District also have small populations of mountain hare, which moult from brown to white.

Appreciate the trees

As the cold weather arrives our deciduous trees are laid bare, making it the best time of year to really appreciate the silhouettes of our woodlands.

If you think you know your common woodland trees try identifying them now their leaves are gone. Old nests and drays will also be visible so look out for the telltale twig bunches of rookeries in tall trees.

The Woodland Trust is creating a map of ancient trees throughout the country and is keen to know of any ancient trees near you. You can help them record the trees by logging on to www.ancient-tree-hunt.org.uk and recording any you know of.

Feeding Time

Supplementary feeding is a contentious issue as many people are rightly concerned about animals becoming dependent on handouts. Both the RSPB and British Trust for Ornithology do suggest that you should feed your garden birds through the winter months, as they will be struggling to find food.

FROM TOP LEFT: Grey squirrel; teal duck.

ABOVE: A stoat with ermine coat

But the key is to avoid providing too much food and it’s best to try to encourage natural foods for wildlife in your garden.

Don’t forget you can provide water too.

Birds and mammals will appreciate your efforts as their usual sources freeze over.

Feeder hygiene is also important so please pay special attention to your feeders. The RSPB offers some very handy advice on feeder hygiene and vital precautions.

If you are an avid lover of wildlife then there’s still time to enter this year’s Photography competition which has a theme of wildlife. See page 11 for more information.

But we’d love to hear from you about what wildlife visit your garden, the more unusual the better! Send your letters marked for the attention of the Editor to the Fellowship Office address at the front of the magazine or email: avanti@square7media.co.uk

Hedgehog Hibernation Fact Sheet If you have ever wondered why hedgehogs hibernate, this is the place to go, including everything you could possibly want to know about the hoglet’s winter hideaway.

For more information visit www.sttiggywinkles.org.uk or call 01844 292292 Giving Nature a Home You’ve probably seen the RSPB’s new campaign to encourage us to make our gardens friendlier to wildlife on television. So why not sign up to receive their helpful guide on how to adapt your garden. For more information visit www.rspb.org.uk or call 01767 693690 The People’s Trust for Endangered Species This charity has been helping to ensure a future for many endangered species throughout the world since 1977.

For more information visit www.ptes.org or call 020 7498 4533 The Barn Owl Trust Helping to conserve the barn owl and its environment. For more information visit www.barnowltrust.org.uk or call 01364 653026

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entertainment

Our regular mix of books, culture and entertainment Refusal A Dick Francis Novel

An Officer and a Spy

By Robert Harris (Hutchinson) ISBN 9780091944551

By Felix Francis (Michael Joseph) ISBN 978 0 718 15936 8

The new Sid Halley thriller is a tremendous read. This will be no surprise to the countless fans who eagerly await the new publication each September and Felix Francis has carried on the high standards set by his father, Dick.

Sid Halley, ex-jockey and, as he supposed, ex investigator, is asked by Sir Richard Stewart, chairman of the British Horseracing Authority, to look at some suspicious race results. Sid is more than reluctant – he has made many enemies while bringing crooks to justice, lost his hand in one particularly vicious beating, and most importantly, he now has a new wife and a daughter who are the loves of his life. Then Sir Richard is found dead in suspicious circumstances and Sid’s six-year old daughter is kidnapped.

He is forced to act and the enemy is out to get him.

Masterly writing and a plot that will keep the reader guessing until the end make this book a must for all Dick Francis enthusiasts.

Using the techniques of a novel to retell a true story requires excellent research, fine writing and a delicate balance between fact and fiction. Robert Harris has achieved all these criteria with a very compelling book based on the Dreyfus affair, perhaps the greatest political scandal and miscarriage of justice in history.

Set in the 1890s in France and told from the perspective of army officer Georges Picquart, the story opens with convicted spy Captain Alfred Dreyfus being publicly humiliated in front of thousands of spectators baying ‘Death to the Jew!’ Picquart is made the French army’s youngest colonel in command of the ‘Statistical Section’ a shadowy intelligence unit and Dreyfus is shipped off to solitary confinement on Devil’s Island.

Gradually Picquart comes to believe that Dreyfus is innocent, that another German spy is operating unchecked by the authorities and he finds his own position more and more unstable. There are frightening parallels to modern society where intelligence agencies become corrupted and those in power cover up their crimes.

books

New releases reviewed

by Janet Tester

Silent Night

By Jack Sheffield (Transworld) Jack Sheffield’s charming Teacher series will warm the heart and put a smile on the face with its tales of the adventures of the staff and children of a North Yorkshire village school.

Drawing on his own experiences as a head teacher of two schools in North Yorkshire Jack Sheffield takes the reader with unerring accuracy into the heart of village life in the early 1980s. It’s 1984 and some of the children of Ragley-on-the-Forest school have been selected to sing a carol in a church in York and be on the television! The excitement reaches fever pitch for both the children and their parents. Silent Night is Jack Sheffield’s eighth novel and it overflows with amusing anecdotes and perceptive insights.

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Bus-Pass Britain Rides Again

Published by Bradt ISBN 9781841624655

This book is the result of a communitywriting initiative in which members of the public were invited to write about their favourite bus routes. A sequel to the very popular Bus-Pass Britain another fifty favourite routes written by those who really know, offer a chance of adventure albeit at a slower pace for the devotees of bus travel.

From classic rural rides to urban explorations, in England, Scotland or Wales, even the armchair traveller can derive a great deal of pleasure from these varied excursions. Small enough to slip easily into the pocket, this guide contains a wealth of information.

film Saving Mr Banks

Disney Pictures (released on 29 November)

Peas and Queues The Minefield of Modern Manners

By Sandi Toksvig (Profile Books)

Sandi Toksvig is guaranteed to be witty and entertaining and her guide to avoiding the worst social pitfalls and how to sail through every phase of life from christening to condolence letters with style and panache is funny, informative and often very wise. The press release says ‘she highlights decency rather than convention’ and perhaps that is what makes this such an endearing read.

Stars: Emma Thompson, Tom Hanks, Paul Giamatti Author P. L. Travers (who wrote Mary Poppins) reflects on her difficult childhood while meeting with filmmaker Walt Disney during production for the adaptation of her eponymous novel.

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

Warner Bros (released 13 December)

Stars: Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen, Richard Armitage, Benedict Cumberbatch, Luke Evans The Dwarves, Bilbo and Gandalf have successfully escaped the Misty Mountains, and Bilbo has gained the One Ring.

They all continue their journey to get their gold back from the Dragon, Smaug. If the second part of Peter Jackson’s trilogy follows his Lord of the Rings work, this should be the best of the three – so expect to be impressed!

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

Twentieth Century Fox (released 26 December)

England’s 100 Best Views

by Simon Jenkins, in association with National Trust (Profile Books) This lovely volume could probably best be described as a small coffeetable book – dip into it on any page to delight in the beauty that England’s best views contain. Profile books are always beautiful in their own right and with content such as this, will be an essential companion to those who love English landscapes. Simon Jenkins has also published England’s Thousand Best Churches – another lovely book!

Stars: Ben Stiller, Kirsten Wiig, Sean Penn An office worker who lives inside fantasy worlds where he gets to live an adventurous life while romancing his co-worker sets off a global journey to fix things when both of their jobs are threatened.

Jack Ryan

Paramount Pictures (released 26 December) Stars: Chris Pine, Kevin Costner, Keira Knightley The late Tom Clancy’s most famous creation Jack Ryan is shown here as a young covert CIA analyst who uncovers a Russian plot to crash the U.S. economy with a terrorist attack.

The Book Thief

Twentieth Century Fox (released 31 January 2014) Stars: Emily Watson, Geoffrey Rush, Sophie Nélisse While subjected to the horrors of WWII Germany, young Liesel finds solace by stealing books and sharing them with others. Meanwhile under the stairs in her home a Jewish refugee is being sheltered by her adoptive parents.

Many of the national cinema chains offer special discounts for afternoon screenings for older people. Check your local press for further information www.csrf.org.uk WINTER 2013

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Panto Special Jack And The Beanstalk

Assembly Rooms, Market Place, Derby, DE1 3AH 4th Dec 2013 to 5th Jan 2014

Starring X-Factor’s Marcus Collins as Jack, with Derby favourite Mike McClean as Simple Simon and Crackerjack’s Don Maclean as Dame Trott.

For more information call the Box Office on 01332 255800 or visit www.derbylive.co.uk

Aladdin

Pavilion Theatre, Westover Road, Bournemouth, BH1 2BU 7th Dec 2013 to 5th Jan 2014

Starring Scott Maslen (Eastenders), Bobby Crush and Cbeebies’ Chris Jarvis who also directs the show.

For more information call the Box Office on 0844 576 3000 or visit www.bic.co.uk

Dick Whittington

White Rock Theatre, White Rock, Hastings, TN34 1JX 13th Dec 2013 to 1st Jan 2014

Sheila Reid, best known to millions of television viewers for her role as ‘Madge’ in the awardwinning ITV hit sitcom Benidorm, will play the role of Fairy Bowbells.

For more information call the Box Office on 01424 462288 or visit www.whiterocktheatre.org.uk

Cinderella

The Orchard Theatre, Home Gardens, Dartford, Kent DA1 1ED 14th Dec 2013 to 4th Jan 2014

Starring Bradley Walsh (The Chase).

Packed with audience participation, this will be a truly magical staging of the beautiful rags-to-riches fairy-tale.

For more information call the Box Office on 01322 220000 or visit www.orchardtheatre.co.uk

Peter Pan

FM’s Leanne Campbell as Tiger Lily.

For more information call the Box Office on 0844 871 3017 or visit www.liverpoolempire.org.uk

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

Birmingham Hippodrome, Hurst Street, Birmingham, B5 4TB 19th Dec 2013 to 2nd Feb 2014

Starring Gok Wan as the Man in the Mirror, Gary Wilmot and Stephanie Beacham.

With the Magnificent Seven as you’ve never seen them before, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs will be a pantomime you won’t want to miss!

For more information call the Box Office on 0844 338 5000 or visit www.birminghamhippodrome.com

The New Magical Adventures of Pinocchio

Pavilion Theatre Glasgow, 121 Renfield Street, Glasgow G2 3AX 27th Nov 2013 to 19th Jan 2014

The story of the little wooden boy comes alive in this hilarious production. Starring Michelle McManus, Dean Park, Stephen Purdon, Joyce Falconer & full supporting cast.

For more information call the Box Office on 0141 332 1846 or visit www.pavilionpanto.com

Sleeping Beauty

Grand Opera House, Great Victoria Street, Belfast, BT2 7HR 30th Nov 2013 to 19th Jan 2014 May McFettridge, will lead the cast of this year’s unmissable pantomime in the role of Queen May, and is joined by TV star Lorraine Chase as Carabosse, the Wicked Fairy.

For more information call the Box Office on 028 9024 1919 or visit www.goh.co.uk

Liverpool Empire, Lime Street, Liverpool, L1 1JE 13th Dec 2013 to 5th Jan 2014

Ray Quinn (Grease, Dancing on Ice) stars as the boy who never grew up, Peter Pan, alongside Brookside’s Louis Emerick as Captain Hook, Juice For some great deals on theatre tickets, why not try the avanti theatre club. Call 020 7492 1566 or log into the members’ area of the CSRF website

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theatre

Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2013 Exhibition

Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London Until 23 March 2014

This world-renowned annual exhibition opened its doors last month. It shines a spotlight on the rarely seen wonders of the natural world. 100 images have been selected from tens of thousands of international entries and are displayed in the exhibition gallery to dramatic effect on sleek backlit installations.

Tickets priced £12 (£6 concessions), for more information call 020 7942 5000 or visit www.nhm.ac.uk

ABOVE LEFT: Mother’s little headful, © Udayan Rao Pawar; ABOVE: Dive buddy, © Luis Javier Sandoval/ Wildlife Photographer of the Year

culture New Acquisitions at the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art

Scottish Gallery of Modern Art, Belford Road, Edinburgh Until 1 March 2014

Facing the Modern: The Portrait in Vienna

Sainsbury Wing, National Gallery, Trafalgar Square, London Until 12 January 2014 ABOVE: Posthumous Portrait of Ria Munk III, Gustav Klimt, 1917-18, Property of The Lewis Collection; ABOVE RIGHT: Blue Self Portrait, Arnold Schönberg, 1910, Belmont Music Publishers, Pacific Palisades/CA. Courtesy Arnold Schönberg Center

The exhibition traces the distinctive flourishing of modern art in Vienna in the years before 1918, which saw the end of the First World War, the collapse of the empire, and the deaths of both Klimt and Schiele.

Tickets priced £12.50 (£10 concessions), for more information call 0844 847 2409 or visit www.nationalgallery.org.uk

This display, which occupies the whole top floor of Modern One, highlights some fabulous recent additions to the National Galleries Collection. Among the new acquisitions are a major bequest from the collection of the late Henry and Sula Walton of prints by Picasso, Cézanne, and Hockney and paintings by Joan Eardley and other works

by Michael Craig-Martin.

Admission free; for more information call 0131 624 6200 or visit www.nationalgalleries.org

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Feature

_______ Gareth Southwell looks at why writers use pseudonyms

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H

ave you ever read a book by Samuel L. Clemens? Are you familiar with anything by David Cornwell? Mary Ann Evans? What about Robert Galbraith? The latter, author of recent crime novel The Cuckoo’s Calling, has lately been revealed as the pseudonym of Harry Potter author J. K. Rowling, and you may know the others by their more familiar noms de plume: Mark Twain, John le Carré and George Eliot. But why do certain authors feel the need to conceal their true identities? As you will see, it is a practice with a long pedigree, and through history the desire for anonymity has been motivated by various factors.

Of all authors, ‘Anonymous’ has had the longest and most prolific career. Especially concerning works from antiquity, this is often because the author’s name hasn’t been preserved; the Anglo-Saxon epic Beowulf and the Arthurian medieval romance Sir Gawain and the Green Knight are both by unknown poets. As with religious scripture, fairy tales and myths, anonymity here reflects the text’s link with long-standing traditions to which no one author could lay claim, or that its origins are obscure or unknown.

In modern times, anonymity and pseudonym have often been employed either to protect the author’s reputation or to safeguard his or her actual person. Thus, in less liberal climates, authors whose work questions authority and the status quo have often chosen to protect their identity out of fear of reprisal—imprisonment, torture or even death. Common Sense, a pamphlet written by English-American revolutionary writer Thomas Paine, first appeared in 1775 without the author’s name because, in arguing for the independence of the American colonies from British rule, it was effectively treasonous. Pseudonyms can afford similar protection to corporate or government whistleblowers—think of ‘Deep Throat’ in the Watergate scandal that led to President Nixon’s impeachment in 1974—or even

protect those working for the authorities— ‘Andy McNab’, author of military-themed thrillers and non-fiction, is a former SAS serviceman whose pseudonym protects him from being targeted by terrorist groups.

Authors have also frequently resorted to pseudonym in order to disguise their gender. Charlotte, Emily and Anne Brontë published respectively as Currer, Ellis and Acton Bell (preserving anonymity whilst retaining their initials). Like George Eliot, the intention here was to escape the prevalent prejudice against women authors, as well as the social stigma of being a female writer (considered, at the time, an

One of the most common uses of pseudonymS is when a successful author swaps genres ‘unfitting’ profession for genteel lady-folk!).

Even Jane Austen, whose novels were much admired by her contemporaries, published as ‘A Lady’, or (later) ‘the Author of Sense and Sensibility’. Interestingly, though we like to think that we live in less sexist times, Joanne Rowling was advised to publish as J. K. Rowling (even though she has no middle name) simply because it was thought a more fitting, less feminine name for the male-dominated fantasy genre (e.g.

J. R. R. Tolkien, George R. R. Martin). Does Rowling’s choice of a male pseudonym for Cuckoo’s Calling suggest a prejudice against female authors exists in crime fiction too?

Of course, gender swapping can also allow male writers to enter genres typically associated with women (such as romantic fiction), or simply aid them in adopting a different mindset and perspective.

Pseudonyms can provide an appearance of continuity between different authors, as with Carolyn Keene, ‘author’ of the Nancy Drew series of

teenage mystery books, which are actually the product of the Stratemeyer Syndicate, a collective of ghostwriters—male and female—that have contributed to the series over the years. Works of jointauthorship may also use pseudonym, as with ‘Ellie Campbell’, the name chosen by contemporary authors (and sisters) Pam Burks and Lorraine Campbell when they decided to collaborate on a series of novels.

One of the most common uses of pseudonyms is when a successful author swaps genres. Scottish writer Iain Banks (sadly, recently deceased) distinguished his science-fiction from his works of mainstream fiction by publishing the former as Iain M. Banks, not to hide his true identity, but merely to provide a means of helping readers to distinguish between his different types of output. There have been countless genre-crossing authors: romance author Nora Roberts has written sci-fi as J. D. Robb; mystery writer Ruth Rendell used Barbara Vine to write more mainstream fiction; fantasy/horror writer Anne Rice, author of Interview with the Vampire, chose Anne Rampling and A. N. Roquelare under which to publish erotic fiction. And of course, in disguising her erotic fiction, Rice joins the ranks of many well-known writers, such as science-fiction author Harlan Ellison, writing as Cordwainer Bird, and mystery writer Lawrence Block, who wrote more than one hundred erotic works as Jill Emerson. In fact, the subject of sex is still a common reason for disguising authorship—from neighbours, friends and family, employers and colleagues,

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_______ _______ Who’s who: some authors and their pen names

or even the authorities—and pseudonym is a common mask not only for racy fiction but also non-fiction—autobiographical accounts of debauchery and hedonistic excess, illicit memoirs and lurid and shamefaced confessions.

Other successful authors use pseudonyms not to cross genres, but simply to free themselves of the expectations associated with their name. Horror writer Stephen King wrote as Richard Bachman (The Running Man being the most well-known novel) mainly because his publishers didn’t want him to saturate the market with books by Stephen King! It also allowed King—like Rowling—to test whether his success was based on luck or talent: did his books sell on the back of his earlier (possibly fortunate) successes, or because he was a good writer? We’d like to think that we’d recognise famous and respected authors even incognito, that—in Shakespeare’s words—“a rose by any other name would smell as sweet”, but this may not be the case. Richard Bachman, like Robert Galbraith, sold quite modestly until the true author was revealed (thus spoiling the experiment). Back in 1982, celebrated writer (and subsequent Nobel Laureate) Doris Lessing submitted two novels to various publishers (including her own) under the pseudonym Jane Somers; both were rejected. Lessing cited this as proof of the difficulties faced by new writers, where reputation and market value counted for more than talent. A similar point was made

by British author David Lassman in 2007, when he submitted slightly updated and disguised versions of Jane Austen’s novels under the name ‘Alison Laydee’ (a pun on Austen’s nom de plume, ‘A Lady’); all but one of the publishers—which included Penguin and Bloomsbury—failed to recognise them (even though his version of Pride and Prejudice kept its famous

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PEN NAME Barbara Vine Boz Currer Bell Isak Dinesen James Herriot John Le Carré Lemony Snicket C. S. Forester George Eliot George Orwell

REAL NAME Ruth Rendell Charles Dickens Charlotte Brontë Karen Blixen James Alfred Wight David Cornwell Daniel Handler Cecil Smith Mary Ann Evans Eric Arthur Blair

_______ opening line!), and all rejected them. But perhaps such experiments are misleading; publishers arguably aren’t looking for Jane Austen or Doris Lessing clones, and rejected the books as they were not representing anything new. But, given the star status that certain authors acquire, and the general consumer’s reliance upon respected brand names, Lassman’s and Lessing’s experiments do suggest that publishing is no different to other businesses, where reputation and renown influence us more than we’d like to think.

By far the humblest motive for pseudonym is privacy. Not all authors seek the spotlight, especially in today’s mediasaturated world where it’s increasingly hard for anyone to remain private. It used to be that, while film stars and singers were mobbed, authors could walk the streets unrecognised, but—with the need to publicise and market their work, to engage with fans—anonymity is becoming more and more difficult. American novelists Thomas Pynchon and J. D. Salinger are two noted recluses; Salinger retreated from the world and ceased publishing after the overwhelming success of Catcher in the Rye, while the notoriously camera-shy Pynchon never gives interviews. But such shyness seems only to increase the desire in both public and press to know more, and in this case even bred the

wild theory that Pynchon was a pseudonym used by Salinger himself!

(This possibility was ultimately ruled out

by Pynchon’s continued literary output after Salinger’s death.)

Our continued fascination with pseudonyms—both with hiding behind them and unmasking them—is itself interesting. Centuries after Shakespeare’s death, despite lack of conclusive evidence, people continue to argue that the plays and poems were actually the work of Sir Francis Bacon, or the Earl of Oxford, or some other candidate. Partly, then, pseudonyms continue to fascinate us because we like mysteries and conspiracies, a whodunnit that stretches beyond the mere words on the page. For the author, on the other hand, practical concerns aside, a pseudonym may provide a means of escape or reinvention, a fresh start or a new challenge. However, there is also a subtler point to be made here: all authorship is really a type of mask; whether creating fictional characters and narratives, or even just writing a memoir, an author creates a persona, perhaps many. Therefore, even the ‘I’ of autobiography may be no more ‘real’ than a character in a novel; it is a performance, a construction. In this sense, no matter who the ‘true’ author is, readers and writers are always really playing a game of hide and seek.

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

CAROL trivia One of the traditions most synonymous with Christmas is carol singing. But what are the origins and history of some of our favourite Christmas songs?

Away in a Manger

This very popular carol was originally published in 1885 in a Lutheran Sunday school book and this created the misconception that the lyrics of Away in a Manger were actually written by Martin Luther himself. The author is unknown but the music was composed by William J. Kirkpatrick in 1895.

Hark the Herald Angels sing

Merry Christmas tries say How do other coun Merry Christmas?

This carol was written by Charles Wesley, brother of John Wesley founder of the Methodist church in 1739. A sombre man, he requested slow and solemn music for his lyrics and thus “Hark the herald angels sing” was sung to a different tune initially. Over a hundred years later Felix Mendelssohn (18091847) composed a cantata in 1840 to commemorate Johann Gutenberg’s invention of the printing press. English musician William H. Cummings adapted Mendelssohn’s music to fit the lyrics of “Hark the herald angels sing” already written by Wesley.

O Christmas Tree

Farsi: Cristmas-e-shoma mobarak bashad Finnish: Hyvaa joulua French: Joyeux Noel German: Fröhliche Weihnachten Chinese: (Mandarin) Sheng Dan Kuai Le Croatian: Sretan Bozic Czech: Prejeme Vam Vesele Vanoce a stastny Novy Rok Danish: Glædelig Jul Dutch: Vrolijk Kerstfeest en een Gelukkig Nieuwjaar! or Zalig Kerstfeast

Meri Kirihimri ete Mao

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Greek: Kala Christouyenna!

Hungarian: Boldog Karácsonyt

This is a traditional German Carol although the author of the lyrics and the composer are unknown. The lyrics highlight the tradition of bringing a tree inside and decorating it with candy, baubles and bells, which was started in the nineteenth century.

O Come All Ye Faithful

The text to this carol was originally written in Latin (Adeste Fideles) and was intended to be a hymn. It is attributed to Englishman John Wade with the music composed by John Reading in the early 1700s. The tune was first published in a collection known as “Cantus Diversi” in 1751. In 1841 Rev. Frederick Oakley is reputed to have worked on the familiar translation of O Come All Ye Faithful, which replaced the older Latin lyrics “Adeste Fideles”.

Icelandic: Gledileg Jol Irish: Nollaig Shona Dhuit, or Nodlaig mhaith chugnat Korean: Sung Tan Chuk Ha Norwegian: God Jul, or Gledelig Jul Portuguese: Feliz Natal Spanish: Feliz Navidad Welsh: Nadolig Llawen

Silent Night

The origin of carol was a poem that was written in 1816 by an Austrian priest called Joseph Mohr. On Christmas Eve in 1818 in the small alpine village called Oberndorf it is reputed that the organ at St. Nicholas Church had broken.

Joseph Mohr gave the poem of Silent Night (Stille Nacht) to his friend Franz Xavier Gruber and the melody for Silent Night was composed with this in mind. The music to Silent Night was therefore intended for a guitar and the simple score was finished in time for Midnight Mass.

catwalker / Shutterstock.com

1 W hich political party won this year’s German election?

2 A group of which birds is known as a Murder?

3 Sphagnum is what type of plant?

4 What does the Latin phrase ‘Volens et potens’ translate to in English?

5 Which explorer took three ships, Nina, Pinta and Santa Maria on his journey to the New World?

6 ‘Arundells’ was the home of which British Prime Minister?

7 Which elected President of Egypt was removed from power in July?

8 What is the 22nd letter of the Greek alphabet?

9 What are the bars or wire rods called which connect the hub of a wheel to its rim?

10 Who plays Police Inspector Javert in the 2012 film ‘Les Miserables’ 11 Who was British Poet Laureate 1850 to 1892, the longest tenure of any British laureate?

12 What is the title of the only opera written by Beethoven?

13 What is the full name of the new son of the Duke & Duchess of Cambridge?

14 Which 1851 novel has the alternative title ‘The Whale’?

15 Who won this year’s general election in Australia?

16 Gingerbread men were first attributed to which English monarch, who allegedly served them to foreign dignitaries?

17 Which element has the atomic number 1?

18 Holden Caulfield is the anti-hero in which novel by J D Salinger?

Have fun and keep your mind active with our giant general knowledge quiz 19 Which British former Junior Health Minister claimed that Northerners were dying of ‘ignorance and chips’?

20 Charlotte Bronte wrote the novel Jane Eyre under which pen name?

21 A ‘what’ song is the final performance or activity of a person’s career?

22 Unicum, Fusilier, Black Parrot and Zurel are all varieties of which garden flower?

23 The Miller, Reeve, Wife of Bath and Man of Law are all storytellers in which collection?

24 Terra is another name for which planet in our solar system?

25 What is the name of the dog in Enid Blyton’s ‘Famous Five’?

26 Which word replaced ‘Bachelor’ and ‘Spinster’ on UK marriage certificates?

27 Which meat is traditionally used in a Stroganoff dish?

28 Mr Grainger, Mr Humphries and Captain Peacock are all characters in which UK television series?

29 The Benwood, known as one of the most dived shipwrecks in the world, lies off which US state?

30 Ereuthophobia is the irrational fear of which colour?

31 How many London Underground stations lie outside the M25 London Orbital motorway?

32 What is the county town of Kent, England?

33 Charles Ryder and Sebastian Flyte are characters in which 1980s television drama series?

34 Which 1886 novel by Thomas Hardy is subtitled ‘The Life and Death of a Man of Character’?

35 Which animal is the subject of the 1984 film ‘A Private Function’?

36 Which of Agatha Christie’s novels was the first to feature Miss Marple?

37 Parkin cake is traditionally eaten on which night of the year?

38 Manor Farm at Dingley Dell features in which novel by Charles Dickens?

39 Which scientist is credited with saying ‘The one who follows the crowd will usually get further than the crowd. Those who walk alone are likely to find themselves in places no one has ever been before’?

40 The Chromatic Scale is a musical scale with how many pitches or notes?

41 Who was the French monarch during the Battle of Agincourt in 1415?

42 Cathays, Splott and Fairwater are all areas of which British city?

43 Which was the first planet in our solar system to be discovered by telescope?

44 In computing, what does SQL stand for?

45 Which English city is known as ‘The Merry City’?

46 Which playing card is known as ‘The Curse of Mexico’?

47 Bovinophobia is the irrational fear of which animals?

48 What is the national bird of India?

49 What is the cube root of 1,000?

50 How many points are there on a compass?

How did you do?

Check your answers on Page 46

www.csrf.org.uk WINTER 2013

43

CODED WORD PUZZLE Each number appearing in the squares below relates to a letter. As you fill each word into the grid you will unlock more letters and be able to fill in more of the grid. Starter clue: Number 19 is the letter ‘H’

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Your letters 12

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SUDOKU

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WINTER 2013 www.csrf.org.uk

EASY

MEDIUM

ahem amnesia bad debts closely compromise deviant emmer ethyl gin rummy hibachi ice age llano lymphs marquee maximum meteor midriff mood Odysseus osmosis ravioli revenge roof rack showjumping smear traffic jam varied Xanadu zodiac

HARD

GIANT CHRISTMAS WORD SEARCH Find the festive words hidden in the grid

Advent calendar angelic angels baby bells Bethlehem birth brandy bread camel

candles candy card carol cedar child Christ comet crib crowds Cupid

Dancer Dasher divine dolls donkey Donner eggnog elves excited festival fir

flock Frosty Gift gold goodwill gravy green ham happy holly holy

inn ivy Jesus jolly Joseph Joy lights Lord Magi manger Mary

mass merry myrrh Noel O Come, O Come, Emmanuel party pie pine port potato

Prancer present prophecy punch red roast Sales sauce sausage Scrooge season

sherry shopping sing sled sleigh snowman Sprouts St. Nick stable star stuffing

tidings tinsel toast toys Vixen winter Xmas yule

www.csrf.org.uk WINTER 2013

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festive

Prize Crossword

Congratulations to Mrs E Farley from Northampton who was our lucky winner of the free weekend for two.

Send in this issue’s crossword and you could win a £100 worth of M&S vouchers to spend in the New Year.

Across

6 “Gladiator” setting (5) 7 Away from the view of the audience (8) 10 Characteristic of the countryside (7) 11 Mechanism to pipe neutral chemical substance (3,4) 12 Balkan state (7) 13 Person who provides helpful information (7) 14 Menu appetizer (4,7) 19 Dorothy’s transport to Oz (7) 21 Unhealthy condition (7) 23 The force created by a pressure differential (7) 25 A berry like fruit (7) 26 Pertinent, linked to the matter in hand (8) 27 Furnished; filled (5)

Down

1 Used for drying dishes (3,5) 2 Small pill (6) 3 Hanging by a thread (5,3,2) 4 Big hair style (4) 5 Exit (6) 6 The rank and rights of a clergy position (6) 8 Israeli seaside city (3, 4) 9 Impolite dinner sound (5) 13 Better (10) 15 To grasp and understand clearly (7) 16 Animal with trunk (8) 17 Hiding place (5) 18 Certain crustacean (6) 20 Perfect for Bonfire Night (6) 22 In conclusion (6) 24 Close by (4)

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: 6 January 2014

NAME: ADDRESS:

POSTCODE:

EMAIL:

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

WINTER 2013 www.csrf.org.uk

6 8

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4

18

1. Christian Democratic Party, 2. Crows, 3. Moss, 4. Willing and able, 5. Christopher Columbus, 6. Edward Heath, 7. Mohamed Morsi, 8. Chi, 9. Spokes, 10. Russell Crowe, 11. Alfred Tennyson, 12. Fidelio, 13. George Alexander Louis, 14. Moby Dick, 15. Tony Abbott, 16. Elizabeth I, 17. Hydrogen, 18. Catcher in

the Rye, 19. Edwina Currie, 20. Currer Bell, 21. Swan, 22. Tulip, 23. The Canterbury Tales, 24. Earth, 25. Timmy, 26. Single, 27. Beef, 28. Are you being served?, 29. Five, 30. Red, 31. Florida, 32. Maidstone, 33. Brideshead Revisited, 34. The Mayor of Casterbridge, 35. A pig, 36. The Murder at the Vicarage, 37. Bonfire Night,

How many did you get right?

Less than 20:

Prize turkey!

21-30:

31-40:

Santa's little helper!

Head elf!

38. The Pickwick Papers, 39. Albert Einstein, 40. 12, 41. Charles VI, 42. Cardiff, 43. Uranus, 44. Structured Query Language, 45.

Wakefield, 46. Two of Spades, 47. Cows/Cattle, 48. Peacock, 49. 10, 50. 32

41+:

A Chrisetrm! as crack

www.csrf.org.uk WINTER 2013

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postbag

POSTbag CIVIL SERVICE HOSTELS Dear Postbag, Like earlier correspondents, following success in a Civil Service Open Competition, I was posted to London in 1962 to work in the Ministry of Transport in Southwark St, SE1. Accommodation was arranged in 3 Hyde Park Gate, a London Hostels Association property close to The Albert Hall and housing over 200 females. I shared with 4 other girls but after a couple of years 3 of us moved to a more expensive triple room. Although somewhat spartan I loved it. Meals prepared, hot baths and a personal wedge of butter to last you the week when you paid your ‘rent’ on a Friday evening. Miss Chant, the Housekeeper, kept us all in order and many a young lady might have gone astray without her intervention in the lounge and along the railings outside after dark! The LHA Sports and Social

Organisation (LHASSO) arranged lots of inter-hostel sporting (table tennis, athletics, swimming, hockey, netball, London to Brighton Walk etc) and social events so there was always plenty to do and it was a bonus to be within walking distance of many famous sights, museums, shops etc. Every weekend I went off to the then vibrant Civil Service Sports Ground at Chiswick for hockey in the winter and cricket in the summer. I met lots of fellow sports minded civil servants who are friends to this day. Eventually we 3 moved to a flat in Shepherds Bush before I married the Secretary of the LHASSO some 49 years ago!

Anne Coward (by email) Dear Postbag, Although I left the Civil Service in 1963, my husband Mike completed his full service with Customs & Excise retiring in 2000. Mike joined Customs in 1959 and was in 75

Your letters and STORIES

Onslow Gardens. I went to 71 Princes Gate in 1960 and transferred with the admiralty to Llangennech, South Wales in December 1962. We met in 1960 through the Hostels Association and have been married since 1963 (we celebrated our 50th anniversary in October). We both enjoyed hostel life and made many good friends while we were in London. I stayed at Princes Gate for the whole time, but Mike moved into a bedsit during the time we were there.

I recently took our oldest grandson who has just finished his GCSEs for a trip to London to show him our old haunts and we were all very impressed with the Onslow Garden venue now.

Thank you for the magazine!

Mo Smith, Wickford, Essex Dear Postbag, Reading Ian Forsyth’s letter about Onslow Gardens Hostel brought back memories. I

ART FOR ART’S SAKE Dear Postbag, An exceptionally astute article by Gareth Southwell and on a subject that is as old as mankind when on a cave wall or in the sand, someone scratched a crude likeness of an animal or homo sapien: what a far distance – back in time, from those exquisite paintings depicted in this article but which are in themselves now as far distant from what we term ‘the modern world’ in which – for a brief period of time, we live.

Yet nothing has changed: only those mediums by which we all now communicate with each other. Fine paintings will never be repeated, we have lost our way together with skills and talents known to a lost age.

But alas, propaganda, the art of deception, has proliferated and is now a weapon so powerful that ‘truth’ is no longer believable, viable currency, used as it is throughout the entire media and so called civilised communities of the world.

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WINTER 2013 www.csrf.org.uk

Recourse to canvas, paper, pen and paint brush are becoming the stuff of a bygone age whilst oratory is a lost, defunct art by which to impart truly worthy words that might just make good sense or reason to those who will come after us and when even avanti will only remain, as it has done for hundreds of years, an Italian word in a dictionary!

Peter Mahoney, Hayle, Cornwall

FLOWER CARDS Thanks for sending the cards through – they are lovely and will be very useful. I am unable to get to the shops to select my own cards and these will serve for birthdays and many other occasions. I hope you will get a good response from members as apart from the designs being delightful, the cause is such a good one!

Mary Collins, London

Ed’s Note – thank you for your lovely note Mary, the feedback to the flower cards has been very positive so far and I hope more members buy some sets to help with our fundraising. If you’d like to order a set of flower cards please see page XX

too joined the Civil Service (Customs & Excise) in March 1959 and my first posting was to Bricklayers Arms Goods Depot on the Old Kent Road. I also stayed in the hostel at 75 Onslow Gardens and shared a six bed dormitory.

Although we were all frequently hard up on the meagre wages we still managed to have a social life. I remember trips to the Cadogan Arms, the Odeon, Classic and Forum cinemas. There were also dances at Kensington Town Hall. Alternatively you could sit for hours over a coffee in one of the many coffee bars.

I met my future wife, who was in Princes Gate Hostel on a blind date and we celebrated our Golden Wedding anniversary on 5 October this year.

Mike Neller, Wickford, Essex

Ed’s Note – Many congratulations to you both from the team here at Fellowship Office

ENTENTE CORDIALE Dear Postbag, We in the London Borough of Ealing can’t beat the 4 twinning links of Olive Peddlesden from the Hastings & St Leonard’s branch but we can offer a variety of activities with our European friends.

We link with Marcq en Baroeul - a suburb of Lille - and hence hugely advantageous to hopping on the Eurostar at St Pancras International - we are in

Lille in less than 2 hours. We offer a range of activities between Ealing-ites and Les Marcquois - intensive French and English courses, annual picnics, walking weekends, cultural weekends - alternating annually between England and France. And believe it or not we don’t have to take our French friends up to London to experience a wide variety of theatre, music, country houses - you name it, you will find it. Strong longterm friendships have been forged with Les Amis since some families participated in the school links with Marcq en Baroeul many years ago and families now attend each other’s family weddings and show off their ‘granny’s boasting book’ with their French friends.

The French twinning link is the most active, but we also have links with Bielany - a suburb of Warsaw, which focuses on commercial links of best practice between England and Poland; this is actively supported by our local councillors and the Ealing Chamber of Commerce.

Audio avanti is

free

If you are finding it difficult to read the magazine, then sign up to receive our FREE audio version which includes all the main features, news and information that are contained in the printed version. It comes on a CD (produced by Kent Association for the Blind) and is posted out to you just after publication of the print version.

And last but not least, we have a swimming link - mainly for young people - between Ealing and Kreis Steinfurt in Germany. So all I can say is ‘long live town twinning’. Our dream is now to set up a link with a Spanish-speaking city.

Anyone interested please contact me via the West and Central Middlesex Branch.

Jane Cocking (by email)

Ed’s Note – Can anyone beat Ealing?

Send your recommendations in to Fellowship Office using the address at the front of the magazine or email: avanti@square7media.co.uk

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

www.csrf.org.uk WINTER 2013

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group news

GROUPFOCUS News from across the group network, with main reporting by David Tickner (DT)

Firemen call on Weston Super Mare

1 August

Middlesbrough group members posing for David’s camera

Magazines in Middlesbrough

24 SEPTEMBER

A round trip of 600 miles was more than worth it to spend an afternoon with members of the Middlesbrough group. The group attracts interest from across the area with members coming in from Redcar and Darlington to enjoy the lively programme on offer.

Middlesbrough group meets monthly at the very conveniently located St Mary’s Centre on Corporation Road.

The Centre is beautifully run and serves as local community point for the many and varied organisations on offer to locals. Dynamic duo Lillian and Gordon

Lloyd are the long-standing guardians of the group and their dedicated stewardship for over 20 years is clearly a key contributor to its longevity.

After a talk about publishing and magazines, members participated in a festive ‘Talking Heads’ for the winter issue of avanti before we had a wellearned refreshment break. It’s always a great pleasure to meet the members and see first-hand (once again) just how much the group network contributes towards the fulfilment of the aims and objectives of the charity. (DT)

Members of Avon Fire & Rescue Service, along with one of their fire engines, visited the group coffee morning to give a talk about fire safety in the home and their work locally. They provided a very entertaining and engaging talk and answered a number of questions from members about all aspects of fire safety before posing with members for some pictures.

Members of the group with firemen from Avon Fire & Rescue Service

Lost & Found in Eltham

Eltham group members with Sophia Hill (seated right), visiting speaker Barrie McKay (seated centre) and Eltham group Vice Chair Pat Pearce (seated left)

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WINTER 2013 www.csrf.org.uk

Group & Branch Support Officer Belinda Stalker took advantage of a long-standing invitation from the Eltham Group to introduce new recruit Sophia Hill to the group network. Sophia has just been appointed to the role of PA to Chief Executive Jean Cooper.

Eltham is an excellent model for the network and runs with an almost military precision. From the ‘meet and greet’ volunteers, raffle ladies and outings

26 SEPTEMBER

organisers to the supremely efficient ‘Tea and Coffee squad’ the committee makes sure that the whole experience is a positive one for any visitor.

The visiting speaker was Barrie McKay who delivered an interesting and entertaining talk about the “Lost Railway of Crystal Palace” which focused on the efforts of enthusiasts to uncover the railway on the site of the Crystal Palace in Sydenham.

Christmas

Out & About

Sleaford & Ancaster group Various dates, various locations Those intrepid members of the Sleaford & Ancaster group continue to brave all the elements in their pursuit of leisure activities. In the past few months they’ve clocked up visits to the Newark RAF Association Club followed by a cruise on the River Trent, a trip to the Lincolnshire Wolds Railway and visit to Harlaxton Manor.

Members of the Middlesbrough group shared a few of their festive wishes (what they’d like Santa to bring them!!) with avanti Editor David Tickner during his visit in September – we asked the following question – “This year, I’d like Santa to bring me…” and as you can see we had a very mixed and varied response…

A lucky Lottery ticket Enid Donnelly

A nice family visitor Jean Tiffany

My Memory Betty Brown A Holiday Nicola Matthews

Happiness June Allen

Anything at all!

Joyce Banks

Group members out and about enjoying their various visits

A year of good health!

Alan Turner

A Dolly and Pram Betsy Thomas A good gardener Shiela Scott Anderson

Fun, frolics and peace Lillian Lloyd The ability not to worry Stanley Ansell World Peace Gordon Lloyd / Ruby Johnson Good Health Iris Denney Judith Richardson Brian Richardson Audrey Bullock Edward Brown www.csrf.org.uk WINTER 2013

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3

in pictures

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1. WESTCLIFF-ON-SEA Some of the group on their summer break to Herne Bay. 2. BOGNOR REGIS & CHICHESTER To celebrate their second meeting as a group, members enjoyed a wonderful strawberry cream tea.

3. DUMFRIES & KIRKCUDBRIGHT Members enjoyed days out to Castle Douglas and the Glasgow Transport Museum.

4. STEVENAGE & BALDOCK Group members at a lunch earlier this year.

5. NORTHERN IRELAND BRANCH Lillian Nesbitt stepped down as Branch Chair in October after over 20 years of service. She was presented with some leaving gifts and a floral tribute by incoming Chair Michael Wailes.

8 7

6. WEYMOUTH Members enjoying their group holiday in Makarska, Croatia in October.

11

7. TAMAR TAVY Members of the group joined up with the Princetown group to enjoy some summer trips in their area.

8. BANBURY Group members enjoyed a trip to Bletchley Park in August that included a visit to the Polish Memorial within the Park.

After the tour the group members enjoyed lunch and a walk around the lake.

12

9. HERTFORD Members posing outside the Trouville Hotel in the Isle of Wight during their holiday in July 2013.

16

10. HIGHLAND BRANCH Members pictured at the RSPB’s Loch Garten Osprey Centre during a recent group day out.

11. GRANTHAM Members got together to enjoy a ‘last of the summer barbecue’.

12. SCARBOROUGH Group secretary Pamela Mawson was presented with a Certificate of Merit by Branch representative Michael Parrott.

13. SOUTHSEA Pic 1Mrs Sue Jorimann (seated) at the celebration held for her 100th Birthday in September. Pic 2 – Mrs Joan Eddings was awarded the M.B.E. by the Princess Royal in recognition of her services to the community.

15 18

14. LANCASTER & MORECAMBE Group members enjoyed a slap up lunch during a visit to Holker Hall in August.

15. MIDDLESBROUGH Group member Shiela Scott Anderson modelling a sari (she’d volunteered to help the visiting speaker) at a recent meeting.

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WINTER 2013 www.csrf.org.uk

19

news in brief

5 4

6

If you’ve not been to your local group for a while then why not go along and show your support.

A lot of time and effort goes into to arranging local activities so check out the full group listings in the Planner section and plan your visit today. Don’t forget you can visit any group throughout the UK, just get in touch with the contact listed, pop along and enjoy the experience.

9 13 10 14 13

17 16. WESTON-SUPER-MARE Group members made an exhibition of themselves at the Senior Community Link Festival at the Winter Gardens in Weston-Super-Mare in October. The Festival was a free, one-day event to showcase services and organizations for retired people in the town and was sponsored by North Somerset Council and Age UK. 17. SUTTON Group members enjoying an outing to Fulham Palace.

18. TAMAR/TAVY Group members enjoyed a trip to A La Ronde, a National Trust property in Exmouth, Devon.

Pop along and say hello

Certificates of Merit/ Appreciation

If you’d like to nominate someone you feel deserves recognition within your group then these certificates are a good way to do it. Requests should normally come from either a branch or group committee member. The certificates are free and there are no forms to fill out either but please allow plenty of time for the certificate request to be processed, signed and sent out.

For any requests, please contact Sophia Hill on 020 8469 9192 or email: sophia.hill@csrf.org.uk

19. SKEGNESS Certificates of Merit were presented to four members of the group. Pictured from left to right are Gordon Montgomery, Brian Peacock, Dyllis Peacock and Kevin Horrigan.

20. BOURNEMOUTH BRANCH Certificates of Merit were presented to Ray White, Bournemouth Branch Chairman and to Gill White, Branch Treasurer. (From left to right) Paul Tabor, Branch Vice-Chairman; Sandy Whittaker, New Forest; Gill and Ray; John Hill, Boscombe and Southbourne; Eric Basire and Jim Bascombe, Wimborne and Ferndown.

www.csrf.org.uk WINTER 2013

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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 Doreen Beck on 01387 268824.

04/12/13 Christmas Lunch at The Queensberry Arms Hotel, Annan (assemble at 12.00 noon)

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 (October-April) at 2.00 pm for speakers etc. We run walks (jointly with Corstorphine Group) throughout the year, meet at Lakeland, corner of George Street/ Hanover Street at 1.30pm on the first Friday of each month. Organiser: Trudy Thomas 17/12/13 Christmas Event - Mixed Spice Music and Song 21/01/14 Speaker from Hospital Chaplaincy 18/02/14 Monthly Meeting. Branch and Group AGM

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

Third Thursday of each month October-April at 10.30-11.45am (except Dec). We run walks (jointly with Central Group) throughout the year, meet at Lakeland, corner of George Street/ Hanover Street at 1.30pm on the first Friday of each month. Organiser: Trudy Thomas

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. Lunch Club on selected Fridays throughout the summer.

04/12/13 Christmas Lunch 05/02/14 AGM

Rosneath William Lauchlan SECRETARY 01436 842723 The Howie Pavillion, Rosneath First Monday of the month at 1.30pm Nov 2013 Annual Dinner at Ardencaple Hotel (date to be confirmed) 02/12/13 Monthly Meeting 06/01/14 Monthly Meeting 07/01/14 Pantomime - Peter Pan 03/02/14 AGM and Monthly Meeting

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

54

WINTER 2013 www.csrf.org.uk

WINTER PLANNER

Our group network operates across the country and provides a mix of leisure, social and welfare activities for your benefit and enjoyment. So why not show your support by popping along and making some new friends?

Banbridge Adrian Howlett SECRETARY 028 4062 7979 3rd Floor, Old Tech Building, Downshire Road First Wednesday of each month at 2pm 04/12/13 Christmas Lunch at the Belmont Hotel, Banbridge 07/12/13 Christmas Concert at The Waterfront, Belfast 08/01/14 Gordon’s The Chemists - talk 14/01/14 Pantomime, Sleeping Beauty, at the Grand Opera House, Belfast 05/02/14 Fane Valley Dairies - talk by Jim Henning

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 Victory Hall, 61 Salacre Lane, Upton, Wirral First Tuesday of the month at 2.00pm (except Jan)

Bury Gerald Beadling CHAIRMAN 01706 633674 The Mosses Community Centre, Cecil Street Each Wednesday at 2.15pm (except any events listed below)

13/01/14 Group AGM 10/02/14 Tour of the BBC Building in Belfast

Penrith Richard Roscoe CHAIRMAN 01697 472383 A local hostelry each quarter First Tuesday of the quarter (Mar, Jun & Sep) at 12.30pm for lunch and in December for a Christmas Lunch

Southport Mrs E Milne CHAIRPERSON 01704 560850 Conservative Club, Bath Street, Southport Third Thursday of each month at 2pm onwards 19/12/13 Monthly Get Together 16/01/14 Monthly Get Together 20/02/14 AGM

Stockport/Grove Park Joan Broadbent SOCIAL SECRETARY 01625 873740 Brookdale Club, Bridge Lane, Bramhall First Thursday of each month at 2.15pm 28/11/13 Christmas Lunch 05/12/13 Audio Visual Show - Alaister 02/01/14 Quiz Afternoon 06/02/13 AGM

Waterloo (Merseyside) Mrs Joyce Nicholls SECRETARY 0151 931 5265 nichollsjoyce@yahoo.com Mersey Road Methodist Church, Mersey Road, Crosby, Liverpool Second Tuesday of each month at 10.30am (except Jan)

NORTH EAST ENGLAND

Craigavon

Blaydon

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

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

Crewe Miss Grace Harding CHAIRMAN 01270 250677 Wells Green Methodist Church Hall, Brooklands Avenue, Wistaston, Crewe First Tuesday of each month at 2pm (unless otherwise stated) 03/12/13 Christmas Party 07/01/14 Nantwich in Colour - illustrated talk

by John White 04/02/14 Thomas Brassey, Cheshire Tenant Farmer’s Son - talk by Doug Haines

Lisburn Ann Allen SECRETARY 028 9266 1943 Bridge Community Centre, 50 Railway Street, Lisburn Second Monday of each month at 2.30pm 09/12/13 Christmas Lunch at Mulberry Tree, Seaford, County Down

Boston Spa/Wetherby Mrs Janet Walker RECORDS SECRETARY 01937 842216 Deepdale Community Centre, Deepdale Lane, Boston Spa, Wetherby Second Tuesday of the month at 2.00pm (except Jan) 10/12/13 Social Afternoon 14/01/14 No meeting 11/02/14 Swinging the Lamp - talk by Mr P Gosling

Bradford Mr N Griffiths SECRETARY 01274 586410 Conference Room, Centenary Court, St Blaise Way Third Tuesday of each month at 2pm (except Dec) 10/12/13 Christmas Lunch (1.00pm) 21/01/14 AGM 16/02/14 TBA

Gateshead Elsa Jackson CHAIRMAN 0191 267 4728 Gateshead Legion Club, 142 Coatsworth Road, Gateshead (please note new venue) First Thursday of the month from 10am - 12 noon 05/12/13 Bran Tub and Tombola 12/12/13 Christmas Lunch

Harrogate & Ripon Margaret Terry SECRETARY 01423 885297 Wesley Chapel (Lower Hall), Oxford Street Third Thursday of each month at 2.15pm 19/12/13 Christmas Lunch at Ascot House, Kings Road, Harrogate (details from Secretary) 16/01/14 AGM 20/02/14 TBA

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

Last Tuesday of each month at 12.30pm

Hull Colin Bielby SECRETARY 01482 782930 Age UK Healthy Living Centre, Porter Street, Hull Third Tuesday of the month at 2.15pm 17/12/13 Mince Pie Day 21/01/14 AGM 18/02/14 Disposal of our Waste - talk by Neil Abbott

Middlesbrough Lilian Lloyd SECRETARY 01642 315439 St. Marys Centre, 82-90 Corporation Road, Middlesbrough Last Tuesday of the month at 2pm (except Dec) 26/11/13 Christmas Party

Newcastle West Mrs E Jackson CHAIRMAN 0191 267 4728 Bentinck Social Club, Bentinck Road, Newcastle upon Tyne Second Wednesday of each month at 10am - 12 Noon 04/12/13 Christmas Lunch 11/12/13 Christmas Social 08/01/14 Beetle Drive 12/02/14 AGM and Quiz

Sunderland & Washington Ivan Bell SECRETARY 0191 549 4130 Age UK, Bradbury House, Stockton Road, Sunderland (1st Floor Room) First Monday of each month 2.00-3.30pm (except Jan) 02/12/13 Group Christmas Tea Jan 2014 Late Christmas Lunch (date and venue tba) 03/02/14 AGM

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

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 10.30am

10/12/13 Christmas Coffee Morning with a Christmas themed Desert Island Discs 14/01/14 Swan Rescue - illustrated talk by Peter Martin 11/02/14 AGM

03/12/13 Group Carol Service in the Trinity Chapel. St. Marys 11/12/13 Group Christmas Lunch at Sketty Hall 31/01/14 AGM and Social Afternoon 28/02/14 Hearing Aids and Information - talk

by S Russell

Church Stretton

Whitchurch (Cardiff)

John Brewer SECRETARY 01694 722965 johnbrewer1@talktalk.net Mayfair Community Centre, Easthope Road, Church Stretton First Friday of the month at 2.30pm 05/12/13 Christmas Lunch at The White House, Affcot 03/01/14 12th Night Lunch at The Bucks Head, Church Stretton 07/02/14 TBA

Mrs Mary Minty SECRETARY 029 2061 4445 Ararat Baptist Church, Plas Treoda, Whitchurch, Cardiff Second Wednesday of the month at 10am 09/12/13 Christmas Lunch 11/12/13 Carols 08/01/14 Bring & Buy 11/02/14 AGM

Llandudno Mrs B A Rennie ASSISTANT SECRETARY 01492 876238 Queen’s Hotel, The Promenade, Llandudno First Tuesday of each month at 10.30am 09/12/13 Christmas Lunch and Party at The Queens Hotel 21/01/14 Lunch at Afon Conwy followed by a walk (weather permitting) 18/02/14 Lunch at Afon Conwy followed by a walk (weather permitting)

Llanishen (Cardiff) Bernard Pearce CHAIRPERSON 029 2075 1493 Park End Presbyterian Church Hall, Rhyd-y-Penau Road, Cardiff CF14 0NZ First Tuesday of each month at 10.00am

Ludlow 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) 28/11/13 Talk by Older Persons’ Commissioner for Wales 03/12/13 Carol Service with Swansea Group at St. Marys Church, Swansea 12/12/13 Group Christmas Lunch at Blanco’s, Port Talbot 29/01/14 AGM and Tea Party 26/02/14 Speaker (TBA)

Oswestry Ruth Haile CHAIRMAN 01691 650993 The Wynnstay Hotel, Church Street, Oswestry First Tuesday of each month at 10.30am 03/12/13 Christmas Lunch at The Wynnstay Hotel 07/01/14 AGM and Lunch at The Wynnstay Hotel 04/02/14 My Chaplaincy at Stoke Heath Young Offenders Institute - talk by Father McKenna

Swansea Mrs Sylvia Edgell CHAIRMAN/SECRETARY 01792 851125 sylviaedgell@btinternet.com The Vestry Hall, St Mary’s Church, Swansea Last Friday of each month at 2pm (except Dec) 29/11/13 Famous Composers - talk by Clive Williams

Ynys Mon (Anglesey) Mr Eric Maynard CHAIRMAN 01407 720146 Please contact the Chairman for venue details.

Second Tuesday of each month at 12.30pm for lunch

MIDDLE ENGLAND Amersham Lavinia Syson SECRETARY 01763 884992 michelsyson267@btinternet.com 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 on 01494 713249 for details.

04/12/13 Antarctica - talk by Geoff Selley

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 10/12/13 Christmas Cheer - ‘Impromptu’, Raffle, Lucky Dip, Sherry and Mince Pies 19/12/13 Christmas Lunch at Wroxton House Hotel 14/01/14 Social Afternoon - Refreshments, Raffle, Quiz and Chat 11/02/14 Talk by local Travel Agent, Ronnie Johnson, of Star Travel

Bedford Patricia Waters SECRETARY 01234 347443 Bunyan Meeting, Mill Street, Bedford First Tuesday of each month at 10am

Birmingham June Oakley CHAIRMAN 01952 604922 Please note all meetings will now take place at 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 www.csrf.org.uk WINTER 2013

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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) 21/01/14 Later Life Issues - talk by CSRF Legal Partners, W W & J McClure 18/02/14 Talk by David Tickner, Deputy Chief Executive of the CSRF

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 04/12/13 Christmas Party - Bran Tub, Finger Buffet, Music and Christmas Table 10/12/13 Christmas Lunch at The Old Palace Lodge. Fine food, raffle, great company and a lucky draw ticket.

08/01/14 Wild Islands - Creatures of Wind and Wave - film presentation by John.

Raffle and Book Table. (Note: this is 2nd Weds) 05/02/14 AGM followed by Quiz, Bring & Buy, Raffle and Book Table

Evesham

27/11/13 04/12/13 08/01/14 05/02/14

Christmas Luncheon Christmas Bites - Bring and Share Coffee Morning and Bring & Buy AGM

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) 02/12/13 Mince Pies and Entertainment by Delphine (Hand Bell Ringing) 06/01/14 No meeting 03/02/14 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

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. We hold tea/coffee mornings on these dates and occasionally have lunch afterwards.

Pamela White SECRETARY 01908 677289 Centrecom, 602 North Row, Secklow Gate West First Monday of each month at 1.30pm (second Monday if first is a Bank Holiday) 02/12/13 Christmas Party 13/01/14 Cheese & Nibbles and Quiz 03/02/14 AGM

Grantham

Northampton

Mr Maurice Whincup CHAIRMAN 01476 572425 mewhincup@gmailc.om 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 05/12/13 Christmas Celebration Tea 12/12/13 Christmas Lunch at Hatherley Manor Hotel 07/01/14 A Look at Stained Glass - talk by Richard Cann 06/02/14 Ghosts of the Severn Way - talk by Gill Garrett

Kidderminster Pam Hussey LOCAL CONTACT 01562 755632 Various venues Third Wednesday of each month at 11am (except when lunching out) 11/12/13 Christmas Lunch at Stone Manor Hotel at 12.30 15/01/14 Coffee Morning 19/02/14 Coffee Morning

Mrs Betna Bradley SECRETARY 01604 454501 Holy Sepulchre Church Rooms, Church Lane, Northampton Alternate Thursday mornings at 10.00am 11/12/13 Christmas Lunch at The Conservative Club, Northampton

Nottingham 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 11/12/13 Christmas Party

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 for coffee mornings.

Rutland Mrs Peggy Brown CHAIRMAN 01780 480314 Various locations for pub lunches Third Wednesday of each month

17/12/13 Shared Lunch 21/01/14 Musical Quiz 18/02/14 AGM plus Bring & Buy

Skegness Ray Morris SECRETARY 01754 762060 ray@bermond.co.uk Phillip Grove Community Rooms, Church Road South, Skegness First Thursday of each month from 10am 12 noon 05/12/13 Christmas Party - gifts, puzzles, games and lotto 02/01/14 General meeting with refreshments, fun and games

Sleaford & Ancaster Mike Smith CHAIRMAN 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 04/12/13 Christmas Lunch, Sleaford

Solihull Margaret Smith SECRETARY 0121 744 6150 me.smith@talktalk.net Solihull Assembly Rooms, Poplar Road, Solihull Second Monday of each month at 10am

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

Wellington Emrys Jones CHAIRMAN 01952 254252 emjones7wizard@yahoo.co.uk Belmont Community Hall, New Street, Wellington, Telford First Thursday of the month from 10am 12 noon

Wigston Mrs J Collins VICE CHAIRMAN 0116 288 7802 The Elms Social & Ex-Service Club (formerly Royal British Legion), Launceston Road, Wigston Second and fourth Mondays of each month from 1.30 - 4.00pm (Bank Holidays permitting) 25/11/13 Cheeses - talk by Ian Rogerson 09/12/13 Christmas Party 13/01/14 Murder Most Foul Part 2 - talk by Mrs Caroline Roberts 27/01/14 Lunch at Ullesthorpe Court 10/02/14 NGS Leicestershire: Open gardens for Charity - talk by Mrs Mary Hayward 24/02/14 Bring & Buy

Worcester Leigh Watkins SECRETARY 01905 774034 Perdiswell Young Peoples Leisure Centre, (A38) Droitwich Road (opp. Checketts Lane) Second Wednesday of each month at 1.00pm

EASTERN ENGLAND & EAST ANGLIA

Lincoln City

Shefford

Attleborough

Jannette Hook SECRETARY 01522 803412 Mothers Union Centre, St. Benedicts Church, St. Benedicts Square, Lincoln First Wednesday of the month at 10.30am

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

Mrs D Parker SECRETARY 01953 456958 Methodist Church Hall, London Road, Attleborough Third Thursday of the month from 10am - 12 noon

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19/12/13 Christmas Party 16/01/14 Age UK 20/02/14 AGM

Aylsham & District Pam Bailey SOCIAL SECRETARY 01263 731421 Friends Meeting House, Peggs Yard, Red Lion Street, Aylsham Second Monday of each month at 10am (unless it’s a Bank Holiday)

Ipswich Eva Stevens SECRETARY 01473 688040 evajs@yahoo.co.uk Museum Street Methodist Church Hall, Blackhorse Lane, Ipswich First Wednesday of each month at 2pm 04/12/13 Christmas Lunch followed by Carols 08/01/14 The Ipswich Mayor’s Sergeant at Arms - talk 05/02/14 AGM and Bring & Buy

Billericay

Loughton

Mr J R Smith LOCAL CONTACT 01277 622156 Various venues for lunches at 12.30pm

Eric Adams CHAIRMAN 020 8508 7207 Jazz Archive Room, Loughton Library, Traps Hill, Loughton Third Monday of each month at 2pm 16/12/13 Christmas Social 20/01/14 Discussion on Care in the Community 17/02/14 How to raise money

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 11/12/13 Festive Celebrations 17/12/13 Xmas Lunch 08/01/14 Magna Carta - talk by John Saunders 12/02/14 AGM followed by Two Boys - talk by David Bowden

Colchester Joan Gomer SECRETARY 01206 794656 Straight Road Community Centre, 329 Straight Road, Colchester Third Monday each month at 2pm 10/12/13 Christmas Meal 16/12/13 No meeting 20/01/14 Fred Pearce - A Quiz 17/02/14 AGM

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.

Harlow Mrs Edna McNaughton SECRETARY 01279 865102 edian.mcnaughton@tesco.net Toby Carvery, Harlow First Friday of the month at 12 noon Dec 2013 Christmas Meal in London and locally (dates to be confirmed)

Lowestoft Kate McNamara TREASURER/SECRETARY 01502 714380 kate_mcn@talktalk.net Victoria Hotel, Kirkley Cliff, Lowestoft and ExServicemens’ Club, Lowestoft First (at Victoria Hotel) and Third Wednesday (Ex-Servicemens’ Club) of each month at 10.30am

Mildenhall Alan Benton CHAIRMAN 01638 715492 Mildenhall Social Club, Recreation Way First Tuesday of every month Nov-Feb at 1.30pm and Mar-Oct at 2.00pm 03/12/13 Christmas Tea and Entertainment 07/01/14 Post-Christmas Meal at local hotel (please call if you are interested) 04/02/14 Monthly Meeting

Newmarket Mike Hastings CHAIRMAN 01638 661065 michaelhastings@mypostoffice.co.uk St. John Training Centre, Newmarket Hospital, Exning Road Second Wednesday of each month at 2.15pm 11/12/13 Christmas Party

Norwich

19/12/13 Christmas Social 16/01/14 New Year Lunch 20/02/14 Norway - talk by Tony Curtis

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.

Shoeburyness Mrs F Cohen SOCIAL SECRETARY 01702 342426 The Salvation Army Hall, Frobisher Road, Shoeburyness First Tuesday of each month from 2.00-4.00pm 03/12/13 Christmas Social 07/01/14 No meeting 04/02/14 Norway - talk by Tony Curtis

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 05/12/13 Later Life Issues - talk by McClures (CSRF Legal Partners) 11/12/13 Christmas Lunch (muct be prebooked) 09/01/14 New Year Party (note this is 2nd Tuesday) 06/02/14 AGM

Swaffham David Moore CHAIRMAN 01760 723740 Methodist Church Hall, London Street, Swaffham Third Tuesday of each month at 10.15am

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 - 4pm 27/11/13 PALS - talk 11/12/13 Christmas Social and Choir 22/01/14 Variety - talk by Bob Dulgarno 26/02/14 Illustrated talk by Tony Curtis

Mr Tony Thomson GROUP REPRESENTATIVE 01582 713250

Mary Weatherhead SECRETARY 01603 410821 Reading Room, Doughty’s Hospital, Golden Dog Lane Second Monday of each month at 10am for 10.30am 04/12/13 Christmas Lunch 09/12/13 Christmas Party 13/01/14 Members’ Meeting and Bring & Buy Sale 10/02/14 AGM

Hertford

Radlett

Mrs Olive Smith CHAIRMAN 01992 550753 Methodist Church Hall, Ware Road, Hertford First Monday of each month at 2-4pm (except Bank Holidays) 02/12/13 Bygone Items No.4 - talk by Ian Torrance 10/12/13 Christmas Lunch 06/01/14 Social Afternoon, Quiz and Cream Cakes 03/02/14 AGM

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

SOUTHERN ENGLAND

Rayleigh

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

Harpenden

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)

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 05/12/13 Christmas Social 02/01/14 No meeting 06/02/14 Norway - talk by Tony Curtis

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

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

Aldershot

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 www.csrf.org.uk WINTER 2013

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Ascot & Sunningdale John Cook CHAIRMAN 01344 429391 johnwgc@btinternet.com De Vere Venues, Sunningdale Park, Larch Avenue, Ascot Third Friday of each month at 12 noon 13/12/13 Christmas Lunch 17/01/14 Titanic “Waiting for Orders” - talk by Philip Littlejohn 21/02/14 Quiz Afternoon - John & Beryl Bailes

Basingstoke David Cowling PUBLICITY OFFICER 01256 327806 Brookvale Village Hall, Lower Brook Street, Basingstoke First Wednesday of each month at 10.00am 28/11/13 Swindon Shopping Outlet and Steam Museum 04/12/13 The Greywell Ringers - talk by Margaret Shaw 12/12/13 Christmas Lunch 08/01/14 Retirement Lifestyles - McCarthy & Stone - talk by Jenny Pearcy 05/02/14 Hackwood House, Sale of the Century - talk by Brian Spicer

Bexhill Hilary Markham SECRETARY 01424 210985 Bexhill Sailing Club, Marina, Bexhill-on-Sea Fourth Tuesday of each month at 10am (except Dec) 26/11/13 Coffee Morning with Speaker on the MBE 13/12/13 Christmas Lunch at Hydro Hotel, Eastbourne 28/01/14 Coffee Morning with Quiz 25/02/14 AGM

Bognor Regis & Chichester Heather Olive CHAIRMAN 01903 778543 Jeneses Community Arts Centre, 45 Linden Road, Bognor Regis Last Thursday of each month at 2.00-4.00pm 28/11/13 Christmas Party/Quiz/Music 26/12/13 No meeting 30/01/14 Memories of D-Day - talk by Dr Ken Tout 27/02/14 Speaker (TBA)

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 04/12/13 Christmas Eats and Quiz 16/01/14 Annual Lunch 05/02/14 Entertainers at War - talk by John Symonds

Bournemouth - Central Alan Carter 01202 292720

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

Bournemouth - New Forest 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)

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WINTER 2013 www.csrf.org.uk

10/12/13 Tommy Cooper - talk by Clive Greenaway 14/01/14 Forensic Science - talk by Edward Home 11/02/14 Northern Israel - The Teeming Streets with Steaming Treats - talk

by Eric Watson

Bournemouth Ringwood & District Ron Fisher CHAIRMAN 01202 896315 ronf. nottington@homecall.co.uk Greyfriars Community Centre, Ringwood First Friday of each month at 10am 26/11/13 Annual Lunch 06/12/13 Christmas Celebration 03/01/14 The Martyrs of Tolpuddle - talk by Mrs Anne King 21/01/14 Pub Lunch (details from Ron Fisher) 07/02/14 Corsica: Mountains in the Mediterranean - talk by Mike Read 18/02/14 Pub Lunch (details from Ron Fisher)

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) 27/11/13 Coffee Morning and Marjorie’s Travel Quiz 04/12/13 Christmas Lunch at The Greyhound, Keymer - contact Mike Mason 18/12/13 Coffee Morning and Christmas Social 22/01/14 Coffee Morning and Group AGM 26/02/14 Coffee Morning and Scrabble

Chandlers Ford Ken Willcocks CHAIRMAN 023 8076 0102 Chandlers Ford Community Centre, Hursley Road, Chandlers Ford First Friday of the month at 10am 06/12/13 Nat King Cole - talk by Chris Walker 17/12/13 Xmas Lunch at Keats Restaurant, Ampfield 03/01/14 Violets Britannic Escape - talk by Jane Glennie 07/02/14 Reflections of a Five Piece Bedroom Suite - talk by Marion Emery

Crawley Jim Piercey CHAIRMAN 01293 409332 Bill Buck Room, Crawley Library, Southgate Avenue, Crawley Fourth Friday of the month at 2pm (except Dec) 24/01/14 Talk by Jim Piercey 28/02/14 AGM

Emsworth & Havant Ralph Whitehouse CHAIRMAN 01243 374081 Emsworth Community Centre, Church Path, Emsworth First Friday of each month at 10am (except Jan & Dec) 06/12/13 Christmas Lunch at Brookfield Hotel, Emsworth

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) 07/12/13 Christmas Lunch at The Wheatsheaf, Little Common 21/01/14 Talk by John Hall (subject tbc) 18/02/14 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 02/12/13 Christmas Lunch at Checkers Hotel 09/12/13 Christmas Party 13/01/14 AGM 03/02/14 Committee Meeting, Broadway House at 2.15pm 10/02/14 Canine Partners - talk

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 unless otherwise stated

Southsea Mrs Emily Kitching SECRETARY 023 92 785427 emilyshiels@hotmail.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 27/11/13 Scottish Ceilidh led by Kathy Lawman and Southsea Reel Club 11/12/13 Christmas Coffee Morning - sherry, mince pies and gifts 18/12/13 Christmas Lunch at The Royal Beach Hotel 08/01/14 Coffee Morning and After Christmas Sale 22/01/14 Edda Rea reminisces about her years in tourism followed by tea and cakes 12/02/14 Coffee Morning and AGM 26/02/14 Story of the Beneficial School and the Groundlings Theatre

Stubbington Peter Stilwell SECRETARY 023 92 527346 amy_stilwell@hotmail.com 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.

Tadley Mr D MacLean CHAIRMAN 0118 970 1290 Tadley Community Centre, Newchurch Road, Tadley

First Thursday of each month at 1.15pm for 1.45pm (excepting in unusual circumstances when advance notice is given to our members) 05/12/13 Are you sitting comfortably? - talk by Gwen Appleton 09/01/14 Talk by Council Representative and New Year Party 06/02/14 Trains - talk by David Canning

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.

05/12/13 Christmas Lunch (venue 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) 10/12/13 Christmas Lunch

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) 03/12/13 Christmas Tea 17/12/13 Christmas Dinner at the Royal Oak, Wishford 07/01/14 WW1 - talk by Col. Graham Parker 21/01/14 New Year Lunch at the George Hotel, Amesbury 04/02/14 Valentine’s Tea with Melksham Pearlies

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

Bath Roy Burnett CHAIRMAN 01225 426583 St. John’s Parish Hall, South Parade, Bath First Thursday of each month at 10.30am for coffee mornings (except in Jan when it may be 2nd Thursday) as well as events listed below.

Short Mat Bowls held every Friday at 2pm at The Scout Hut, The Avenue, Bath 05/12/13 Christmas Coffee Morning 07/01/14 Committee Meeting 09/01/14 New Year Coffee Morning 06/02/14 AGM 25/02/14 Committee Meeting

Bideford Griggs Close Community Centre, Northam, Bideford Second Friday in the month at 10.30am. Please contact Fellowship Office for further information on 020 8691 7411.

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 09/12/13 Christmas Lunch at Leigh Park Hotel 13/01/14 New Year Party - Members entertain 10/02/14 AGM followed by Quiz

Brixham

08/01/14 Coffee Morning (Note: this is 2nd Weds) 05/02/14 Coffee Morning 14/02/14 Annual Lunch at The Manor Hotel

Liskeard & Pensilva Shirley Waye CHAIRMAN & SECRETARY 01579 346089 shirleywaye@gmail.com Refreshment Rooms, Liskeard Town Hall, 3 West Street, Liskeard Last Wednesday of each month at 10am (except Dec) 27/11/13 Sounds of Yesterday – talk by Chris Blount (Radio Cornwall) 09/12/13 Christmas Lunch at Trethorne Leisure 29/01/14 AGM

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.

Minehead

Burnham-on-Sea

Princetown

Joyce Beard SECRETARY/TREASURER 01278 782650 ohbejoyful2003@yahoo.co.uk Burnham Area Youth Centre, Cassis Close, Burnham on Sea Fourth Tuesday in each month from 10.30am (except Dec) 26/11/13 Coffee Morning followed by Battle of the River Plate - talk by Jim Lambard 28/01/14 Meet at Crossways Inn, West Huntspill at 12.30pm for meal followed by AGM

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

Crediton Miss M Steer CHAIRMAN 01363 866256 Various venues - contact the Chairman for details.

We mostly meet at The Rose & Crown, Sandford, Crediton First Friday of each month at 12 Noon for lunch when there is a trip planned. Trips are announced in the local paper.

Isabel Dobson 01643 703199 Foxes Hotel, The Esplanade, Minehead Coffee mornings on the last Tuesday of the month at 10.15am (except Dec)

Mike Fitzpatrick SECRETARY 01822 890799 mikeandkate3@talktalk.net Prince of Wales, Tavistock Road, Princetown First Thursday of the month at 12.30pm 05/12/13 Monthly Meeting with Guest Speaker, Brian Dingle, Curator of HM Prison Dartmoor Museum 19/12/13 Christmas Lunch, Grand Draw and Party - Entertainment provided by Geoff Lakeman and ‘Speakeasy’ 03/01/14 Monthly Meeting with Guest Speaker, Tom Sobey, talking about Wartime Memories and Songs 25/01/14 Burns Night with Haggis, Neeps and Champit Tatties for Supper and Scottish Airs played on the Pipes 06/02/14 Monthly Meeting with Guest Speaker, Stephen Fryer, talking about RAF Harrowbeer

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 17/12/13 Christms Lunch and Draw 21/01/14 New Year Finger Buffet and Party 18/02/14 AGM

Sidmouth

Mrs M Carter SECRETARY 01626 888275 The Manor House, Old Town Street Second Friday of each month at 2pm 13/12/13 Christmas Lunch 10/01/14 AGM 14/02/14 TBA

Margaret Adams CHAIRMAN 01395 577622 rjadams39@waitrose.com Sidholme Hotel, Elysian Fields, Temple Street Second Wednesday of each month at 10.25am 26/11/13 Lunch at the Kingswood & Devoran Hotel, Sidmouth (12.30pm) 11/12/13 Lunch at Sidmouth Golf Club (12.30pm)

Dorchester

Somerton

Mike Rogers CHAIRMAN/TREASURER 01308 420755 michael@mikerogers3.plus.com Dorset Youth HQ, Lubbecke Way, Dorchester Third Thursday of the month at 10.15am for 10.30am - 12.30-1.00pm 19/12/13 Christmas Party

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

Dawlish

Exmouth Carol Brett SECRETARY 01395 442671 Wings Club (formerly RAFA), Imperial Road, Exmouth First Wednesday of each month at 10am Dec 13 Christmas Coffee Morning (note this will be either the 4th or 11th - date to be confirmed)

Tamar/Tavy (Tavistock) David Askew SECRETARY 01822 612274 daveandjennyaskew@gmail.com Burrator Inn, Princetown Road, Dousland, Yelverton Second Thursday of the month at 12.30pm 12/12/13 Annual Christmas Lunch 09/01/14 The Work of the Customs – talk by Andy Stewart 13/02/14 The Jobber’s Route on Dartmoor – talk

by Tom Sobey www.csrf.org.uk WINTER 2013

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Taunton Mick Grigg CHAIRMAN 01823 272046 mfgrigg@talktalk.net Lawns Social Club (formerly Royal British Legion Club), St. Mary Street, Taunton Second Friday of the month at 10.30am (unless Public Holiday in which case third Friday) 13/12/13 Christmas Party 10/01/14 Bring & Buy (unwanted Christmas presents) and general chat 14/02/14 AGM

Trowbridge Peter Collins SECRETARY 01225 340580 csrftrow@which.net Old Manor Hotel, Trowle, Trowbridge/ Trowbridge Cricket Club, The County Ground, Lower Court, Trowbridge First Wednesday of each month at 10.30am (Old Manor Hotel) & third Wednesday of each month at 2pm (Trowbridge Cricket Club) 04/12/13 Coffee Morning at the Old Manor Hotel 18/12/13 Christmas Party Lunch 01/01/14 Coffee Morning at the Old Manor Hotel 15/01/14 AGM 05/02/14 Coffee Morning at the Old Manor Hotel 19/02/14 Monthly Meeting - Speaker (tbc)

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) 16/12/13 Christmas Party 02/01/14 New Year Lunch at Standerwick Centre 17/02/14 AGM

Westbury-on-Trym Beryl Webb SECRETARY 01454 614451 Studland Court, Henleaze Road, Henleaze First Thursday of each month at 2pm 05/12/13 Christmas Lunch at The Westbury Tavern, Henleaze (pre-booking essential) 02/01/14 Afternoon Tea and DVD 06/02/14 AGM and Quiz

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) 05/12/13 Coffee Morning 10/12/13 Christmas Lunch at the Commodore Hotel, Sand Bay 19/12/13 Coffee Morning 16/01/14 Coffee Morning with a Demonstration/Presentation by Wiltshire Farm Foods 06/02/14 Coffee Morning 11/02/14 Coach Outing to Hereford 20/02/14 Coffee Morning

Weymouth Geoff Greenstreet SECRETARY 01305 832432 St. Nicholas Church, Buxton Road, Weymouth Second Thursday of each month at 2.30pm and fourth Wednesday of the month for Coffee Mornings 27/11/13 Coffee Morning

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12/12/13 Christmas Lunch at the Lodmoor 09/01/14 Speaker (TBA) 22/01/14 New Year Lunch at the Beefeater 13/02/14 Military Badges - talk by Tony Phillips 26/02/14 Coffee Morning

Yate & District Donald Kirkham CHAIRMAN 01454 317242 donald@kirkham3.orangehome.co.uk Yate Parish Hall, Station Road, Yate Fourth Tuesday of each month at 2pm (except Dec) 26/11/13 Curious & Curiouser - talk by Cyril Routledge 10/12/13 Christmas Party, Al ‘n’ Del Duo 28/01/14 St. Peters Hospice Bristol - talk by Alison Spurrell followed by AGM 25/02/14 Tracing Family History - talk by Shirley Hodgson

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).

26/11/13 Coffee Morning and Quiz Dec 2013 Christmas Lunch (date to be arranged) 28/01/14 Coffee Morning and Quiz 25/02/14 Coffee Morning and Quiz

Beckenham Eileen Morgan CHAIRMAN 020 8650 8784 Beckenham Public Hall, 4 Bromley Road, Beckenham First Tuesday of each month at 2pm 03/12/13 Christmas Nibbles 07/01/14 AGM 04/02/14 Dial-a-Ride - talk

Bexleyheath Brian O’Brien-Wheeler CHAIRMAN 020 8311 1608 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.

27/11/13 Christmas Lunch at The Moorings, Pevensey Bay 04/12/13 Talk by Pauline Bennett 17/12/13 Christmas Social 08/01/14 New Year Get Together with Nibbles 15/01/14 Passage Day Centre - talk by Leslie Trueman 22/01/14 AGM and Social Afternoon 05/02/14 Golden Moments in Song - Chris McLeod 12/02/14 Social Afternoon and Chairman’s Quiz

Camberley Anne Morris SECRETARY 01344 772419 anne.morris@btinternet.com High Cross Church, Knoll Road, Camberley Fourth Tuesday of each month at 2pm (except Dec) 26/11/13 RMA Sandhurst - talk 17/12/13 Christmas Lunch 28/01/14 Air Ambulance Service - talk 25/02/14 Arundel Cathedral Choir - talk

Edgware & Stanmore Ray Broom SECRETARY 020 8427 8659 St. Lawrence’s Church Hall, Whitchurch Lane, Edgware Second Monday of each month at 2pm 09/12/13 Christmas Social 13/01/14 TBA 10/02/14 TBA

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) 02/12/13 Christmas Party and Buffet 06/01/14 Northumberland - illustrated talk by Brenda Brown 03/02/14 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) 10/12/13 Christmas Lunch

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.

17/12/13 A Musical Afternoon, Sing-a-long with Vic 21/01/14 Visit to Bushy Park and the Diana Fountain 18/02/14 Surrey Air Ambulance Service - talk

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 06/12/13 Christmas Meeting 03/01/14 Bookham in World War II - talk by Michael Anderson 07/02/14 Honey for Tea, Beekeeping - talk by Mike Wigley

London - Catford & Lewisham Doreen Hughes SECRETARY 020 8461 4800 St. Laurence Church Hall, Bromley Road, Catford Second Tuesday of the month at 10am 10/12/13 Christmas Social 19/12/13 Christmas Lunch 15/01/14 AGM 12/02/14 Coffee Morning

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 lunch - for details please contact the Secretary

London - Dulwich & Norwood Miss M J Bacon SECRETARY 020 8761 2158 Railway Club, Selhurst Station Approach Fourth Tuesday of each month at 10.30am (except Dec)

26/11/13 Christmas Event 28/01/14 Winter Quiz - Marilyn Bacon 25/02/14 The Royal British Legion Welfare talk by Geoff Spencer

London - Edmonton Mrs Sheila Lamonte CHAIRPERSON 020 8886 7873 Ambassador Room, Millfield House, Silver Street, London N18 Third Monday of each month from 10am - 12 noon 16/12/13 Christmas Party 20/01/14 AGM 17/02/14 The Real Big Society - talk by Mike Daligan

London - Eltham Phyllis Duignan CHAIR 020 8265 0810 phyllis.duignan@gmail.com United Reformed Church,Sherard Hall, Court Road, Eltham Fourth Thursday of each month at 10am - 12 noon 28/11/13 Coffee Morning followed by a talk by Brian D’Arcy on ‘The Crown Jewels and the Royal Regalia’ 05/12/13 Coffee Morning followed by a Christmas Raffle, Cards and Mince Pies 12/12/13 Christmas Lunch at the Horse & Groom, Sidcup - cost £18 14/12/13 ‘Sing-along Christmas Carols’ at the Royal Albert Hall - cost £16 09/01/14 Coach outing to Rose & Crown pub at Dunton Green for lunch 23/01/14 Coffee Morning followed by a talk by Rev. Draycock on the Olympics (he was an Olympic Volunteer) 13/02/14 Coach Outing to Park Gate Inn at Hollingbourne for Lunch 27/02/14 Coffee Morning followed by a talk by John Freestone on ‘London Nautical to the Diamond Jubilee’ (he was the Royal Barge Captain)

London Fulham SW5, SW6 & SW10 Mrs Grace Phillipson CHAIRMAN Waterford House, Waterford Road, Fulham First Wednesday of the month at 10.15am.

Please contact Fellowship Office (020 8691 7411) for further details.

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

London Southbank SE17 Joy Creamer CHAIRPERSON 020 7407 2332 Penrose Tenants Hall, Penrose Estate, Walworth Second Wednesday of each month at 10am

London Stockwell SW8 & SW9 Mr D Stannard SECRETARY 020 7720 0982 Job Centre Plus Offices, 246 Stockwell Road, Brixton Fourth Thursday of each month at 2pm (except Dec)

London - Streatham & Norbury - SW16 Mrs J E Winter SECRETARY 020 8764 6450

The Glebe Sheltered Housing Complex, Prentis Road, Streatham SW16 1QR Second Tuesday of each month at 2pm 10/12/13 Christmas Party - an afternoon to enjoy singing some favourite Christmas Carols (cost £3.50 per head) 14/01/14 New year Party with drinks, mince pies and nibbles followed by tea 11/02/14 Quiz Afternoon (don’t worry it’s just a bit of fun!)

Maidstone Keith Hunter CHAIRMAN 01622 746792 Methodist Church Centre, Brewer Street, Maidstone Second Monday of the month at 2pm Nov/Dec 13 Christmas Lunch at The Bull, Penenden Heath (date tbc) 09/12/13 Christmas Celebration Party with Musical Accompaniment 13/01/14 ‘Surprise’ talk by one of our Members 10/02/14 AGM and Fish & Chips

North/South Harrow Mrs Doris Bending SECRETARY 020 8863 3240 St. Albans Church Hall, Norwood Drive, North Harrow Last Tuesday of the month at 2pm (except Dec) 26/11/13 The Flying Doctor - illustrated talk

by Graham Laurie 31/12/13 No meeting 28/01/14 Quiz Party - a fun afternoon to test the memory with snacks to follow 25/02/14 Ghana - with Tim & Marion Cox followed by AGM

Orpington Peter Standen VICE CHAIRMAN 01689 833358 The Memorial Hall, Methodist Church, Sevenoaks Road, Orpington First Friday in the month at 1.45pm

Romney Marsh Mrs Win Owen CHAIR 01797 362598 winefride@aol.com The Assembly Rooms, Church Approach, New Romney Second Wednesday of each month at 10am 11/12/13 Xmas Meeting after which we will go for dinner at Dr Syn’s, Dymchurch 08/01/14 Annual Meeting. Social Time with Quizzes 12/01/14 The Living Landscape - talk by Kristina Boulden

Sanderstead & Selsdon Ralph Perryman LOCAL CONTACT 020 8657 3487 ralph.perryman172@btinernet.com The Selsdon Centre for the Retired (Sainsbury’s Supermarket), 132 Addington Road, South Croydon Second Thursday of each month at 3.00pm 12/12/13 Afternoon Tea 09/01/14 Afternoon Tea 13/02/14 Afternoon Tea

South East Middlesex Mrs June Brown SECRETARY 020 8891 4680 junebrownuk@hotmail.com Various venues Various dates and times 11/12/13 Christmas Lunch at Cole Court, Twickenham

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).

25/11/13 Monthly Meeting - An American Supper 16/12/13 Christmas Lunch at The Prince of Wales, Cheam Village 13/01/14 Informal Lunch (TBC) 27/01/14 Monthly Meeting - Talk by CSRF Legal Partners, McClures Solicitors 10/02/14 Informal Lunch (TBC) 24/02/14 AGM and Social Afternoon

Whitstable & Herne Bay (inc. Canterbury) Linda Swift LOCAL CONTACT 01227 276583 lindaswift2@sky.com Swalecliffe & Chestfield Community Centre, St. Johns Road, Whitstable Fourth Thursday of the month at 2.00pm (except Dec) 28/11/13 Flying for Fun - talk 19/12/13 Christmas Lunch 23/01/14 Landscapes of the British Isles slide presentation 27/02/14 TBA

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) 02/12/13 Christmas Lunch at The Plough in Worcester Park 06/01/14 I’m a Brown Owl - get me out of here! - talk by Jean Vesey 03/02/13 The Real Dad’s Army - the Home Guard - talk by Mike Brown

NO GROUP IN YOUR AREA? Then we’d like to help you establish one. If you’d be interested in working with us to open up a new group for your area then contact David or Belinda at Fellowship Office on 020 8691 7411. www.csrf.org.uk WINTER 2013

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the last word

My

favourite things…

Sara Stewart grew up in Edinburgh, the daughter of Americans. She has appeared in a diverse range of stage and screen productions, from Gwyneth Paltrow’s overbearing sister in Proof, at the Donmar – to Martha Wayne in Batman Begins. Some of her most memorable roles include: Stella in the channel 4 series Sugar Rush, Patricia in Sky’s The Take, and Professor Jean Shales in Fresh Meat. She is in the soon to be released film Philomena, the next season of Mr Selfridge, and a new BBC period drama with Gabriel Byrne, called Quirke, which should be screening this month. She is also one of the ambassadors promoting the National Archives new Explore Your Archive campaign and these are her favourite things…

1

PAINTING

Tricky... I love the Scottish

colourists, and Cezanne.... but what comes to mind is Van Gogh’s The Starry Night (enhanced by James Taylor’s soundtrack). There is such vibrant energy behind each stroke that it never fails to stir me.

2

NOVEL

Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides.

We’re on the same page and I love his quirky, frank and darkly life-affirming take on everything.

3

Piece of music

A Change is gonna Come, Sam Cooke. That’s the one I’ve picked today, I couldn’t really say I have a favourite... so many blistering artists out there, but that song speaks of hope and courage, and today that resonates with me.

Film

5

QUOTATION

Nelson Mandela – “The greatest

glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.”

From the Long Walk to Freedom.

6

CITY

I really love London, where I live.

What an extraordinary place... nowhere else on the planet can match it for theatre, and exciting new writing, which is a passion of mine. So diverse, and multi cultural, it’s an ever shifting, ever evolving, individual & tolerant metropolis.

I’ve lived here for 22 yrs now, and I’m still discovering new things!

7

COLOUR

There’s a shade of grey blue, that I find soothing and pleasing.

It’s a close call, but I’m going to choose Cinema Paradiso. It has charm, magic, and heart... in fact it’s high time I watched it again.

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8

ANIMAL

My favourite animal is my dog

Maisie. She’s only 15 months old, and still full of puppy beans... a funny little clown, full of love. Dogs are amazing... I like that saying we should all aspire to be more like our dogs! Tigers wander through my dreams... I don’t know what that means.

9

Historical Figure

Einstein. I’d love to have him explain things to me. I don’t know if it’s true, but I was told he sat up on his deathbed and spoke for 20 minutes before lying down to die. He spoke German and the nurse present didn’t. Oh to go back to that moment, with a tape recorder!

10

FLOWER

The Peony as it’s bold and fragile all at once. Wild flowers growing in unexpected places make my heart sing too.

The National Archives new awareness campaign, Explore Your Archive, launched this month. It encourages everyone to learn more about the collections held in the archives and to realise the skill and expertise of the people who work there. Find out more and visit www.explorearchive.org