Autumn/Winter 2021 Fellowship News

The newsletter for the Civil Service Retirement Fellowship

Fellowship News AUTUMN / WINTER 2021

Welcome Back

It’s been a long time coming but we’re finally able to celebrate the restart of many of our local groups.

Since August our groups have been given the green light to prepare for the resumption of their local activities and many of them have already restarted welcoming back their regular attendees with coffee mornings, a considerable amount of cake, prize raffles and lunches.

At the time of going to press there

are still some groups that have yet to restart but it is hoped that by the end of the year most will be ‘open for business’!

The impact of the pandemic has seen a drop in attendance at many group meetings so it is extra important that we support our groups wherever we can. All our group leaders have taken a lot of time to prepare for re-opening and have made sure that their venues

provide a safe environment for meetings. So, if you have a group in your area then pop along, enjoy their activities and show them some support. You can find a complete listing of all our groups in the planner section at the back of the newsletter.

Pictures from meetings of (clockwise from top left) Basingstoke group, Greenwich Riverside, WestonSuper-Mare, Bradford-on-Avon and Edinburgh

A huge thank you to everyone who has donated to this year’s fundraising appeal which is aiming to raise £20,000 to support our national befriending schemes.

Thanks to your generosity we have reached just over £15,000 so are not far from achieving our target.

The befriending services provide friendship by telephone and/ or home visit to any beneficiary who fancies some companionship and are provided by our team of dedicated volunteer befrienders.

For more information on how to donate turn to page 11

Talk to Us: Retired Civil Servant Joyce Neville shares her memories of working during World War II - see pages 12-13

IMAGES: © FABIAN BLANK

2021 Fundraising Appeal hits £15k

Chief Executive’s Message

L

earning woodwork, reading, growing vegetables, dancing, decluttering and rediscovering arts and crafts. Just a few of the things I’ve been told that helped you through the last 18 months!

Yes, it’s been long time coming but I’ve finally been able to get out again and enjoy catching up with old friends (and new) at some group meetings around the UK. From the beginning of August our Board of Directors gave the green light for our groups and befrienders to start their plans for restarting both local group meetings and our home visiting service.

As I write this, we’ve heard from over 80% of our groups about their plans for the coming months. Not all have restarted yet

The Civil Service Retirement Fellowship Unit 11, Pepys House, Greenwich Quay, Clarence Road, LONDON SE8 3EY t: 020 8691 7411 e: enquiries@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 ©2021. Fellowship News is published by 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 The CSRF. The CSRF accepts 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.

but I’m hopeful that by the end of the year most will be open again. I would like to take this opportunity to say a personal thank you to group leaders for their patience and support during the last 18 months. The same note of thanks also goes to our volunteer home befrienders who have in many cases kept in touch with the person they visit by telephone throughout the pandemic. I have been touched by some of the experiences shared with me of the enjoyment felt by both parties now that visits have resumed.

As we look ahead to next year, we should not underestimate the challenges we face in the delivery of our charitable services. It will

take some time for our groups to rebuild their attendance at meetings and we have seen a drop in the numbers of people using our befriending services. That’s why it has been particularly helpful to have the active support of our Chair Madeleine Alessandri CMG and newly appointed Board Director (and our Civil Service Champion) Dame Elizabeth Gardiner DCB, QC (Hons) in our ongoing campaign to raise awareness of our organisation and its services across the Civil Service.

Our focus on strengthening our income streams through subscriptions and donations remains ever more important.

I hope you enjoy this issue of Fellowship News and don’t forget that we are here to help you if you need us.

David Tickner, Chief Executive

New Board Directors and changes to Board structure Our Civil Service Champion, Dame Elizabeth Gardiner DCB, QC (Hon) and Robert McIntyre were elected to the Board of Directors by Company Members during this year’s postal Annual General Meeting in July. In addition, a set of resolutions to restructure the Board of Directors also received the required approval to be implemented in our Articles of Association.

The changes reduce the number of Board posts elected from within the group network from 3 to 2, abolish the Associate Director posts and create two new Board roles, one to represent the befriending schemes and the other a candidate with skills and knowledge of later life issues. Elections for the two new posts will take place at the 2022 Annual General Meeting.

New Board Directors Dame Elizabeth Gardiner DCB QC (Hons) and Robert McIntyre

News

Helping others participate and engage (HOPE) in Wales The HOPE project is a partnership project between Age Cymru, Age Cymru local partners and Age Connects Wales partners across the whole of Wales. It will enable older people and carers to engage with professionals, participate in their communities, understand their rights as an older person, access information to make informed choices and, at the end of the day, have their voices heard. It is recruiting and training communitybased volunteers all over Wales to

provide independent advocacy support to local older people and carers so they can help shape the key decisions affecting their lives and avoid getting into a crisis situation. Volunteers will be providing support over the phone or via video call, where available, due to the current Covid-19 situation.

Age Cymru wants to ensure the safety of all its staff and volunteers and is following Welsh Government and Public Health Wales Guidance.

To find out more about HOPE and how you can be trained to become a Volunteer Advocate and support people in your community, email: Bryony.Darke@agecymru.org.uk or visit our website: www.agecymru.org.uk/advocacy

Remap London South is currently looking for volunteers The charity makes bespoke items of equipment to help disabled people overcome everyday challenges and achieve their aims of independence.

Their volunteers, primarily engineers and practical people, give their time free and find it hugely satisfying to use their skills in this way, helping others. They are looking for someone with the necessary experience to help with the recruitment and support of volunteers in the South or Southeast London area. This would suit someone, perhaps retired, who has excellent people and organisational skills and a background in a relevant field (recruitment, HR, team management).

They are also now recruiting for volunteers who can make things, such as engineers, good DIYers, model-makers, people who can work with metal, electronics, wood etc.

If you’d like more information, you can contact Remap London South by phone on 07780 366130 or email: LondonSouth.Chairman@remapgroups. org.uk or visit their website at https://londonsouth.remap.org.uk/

Making a gift aid declaration If you pay tax, then we can claim gift aid on your subscription or donation. You may already have signed a gift aid declaration form but if not, we can send you one to complete and return.

You can check your status by emailing: enquiries@csrf.org.uk or calling us on 020 8691 7411.

New Operations Manager joins Fellowship Office We’re pleased to extend a friendly ‘hello and welcome’ to our new part-time Operations Manager Hazel Scarlett. Hazel joined the team in September and has had a very varied background working within homelessness and mental health. This has included roles in coordination of services, frontline service support and various other administrative type roles. She has a keen interest in health and wellbeing and loves to attend various retreat type activities, nature walks and running.

Changes to our Legal Helpline and offers on funeral plans We need to make you aware of some changes to the existing subscriber service relationships we have had in a place for a number of years. Our legal partner, McClure Solicitors went into administration and was taken over by a larger firm earlier in the year. They are no longer able to provide the services we were offering and as such we have decided to bring this partnership to a conclusion. Our working partnership with Golden Charter, who were providing discounted funeral plans to subscribers, has also come to an end. So if you have a leaflet or details of either of these organisations please discard the information.

For information on all the CSRF’s services visit www.csrf.org.uk

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News

© absolutvision

A Joyful offer for you!

Reporting Scams

Sadly, with an ever-increasing number of scams circulating knowing how to report them remains important. We’ve reprinted a set of useful numbers for you to keep to hand and use if you are worried about a scam or want to report it: England & Wales REPORT: contact Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040.

ADVICE: contact Citizens Advice on 0808 223 1133 or for a Welsh speaking advisor, call 0808 223 1144.

It was mentioned at our Virtual Conference in July as a useful retirement resource.

The Joy Club is a membership website that provides inspiration for a joyful retirement, with online member events every weekday, exciting offers from partners and uplifting content. It’s free to sign up with the option of switching to a ‘premium’ option for £5 per month.

Special Offer

only b to offer you an exclusive online We’ve teamed up with The Joy Clu of top bership free for 3 months (on offer to sample their Premium Mem cial spe the y offer). You need to use the standard 1-month free trial the 1. eemable until 31 December 202 red is code CSRFJOY21 and the code

To sign up To redeem the offer, go to https://thejoyclub.com/ and click on the ‘sign up’ button and you will then be to a registration page. There, enter your details (name, email, DoB, etc.) and you will have the opportunity to enter the promo code in the box where it says, “Add a gift code or promotional code (optional)”.

After clicking the ‘Next step’ button at the bottom, you will be able to select their interests and complete their registration.

If you need assistance logging in (or with anything on the website) you can contact our Member Experience team on hello@thejoyclub.com or 0808 169 6460.

Northern Ireland REPORT: contact Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or call the police on 101.

ADVICE: contact Consumerline on 0300 123 6262.

If you get a scam text You can report spam texts directly to your mobile phone provider. All operators now use 7726 as the short code to report spam texts, which is free of charge.

If you get a scam email Forward the email to report@ phishing.gov.uk. It will go to the National Cyber Security Centre - they might be able to stop other people being scammed.

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Reading Online!

We currently have two book groups that meet via Zoom each month to discuss a different book. We’d like to start up some new ones so if you love reading and fancy connecting to discuss a title then use the contact information that follows to register your interest. Titles coming up for discussion include The Architect’s Apprentice by Elif

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Shafak, All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr, The Overstory by Richard Powers and Reservoir 13 by Jon McGregor.

You can use Zoom whether you have a computer or a telephone so if you were interested in getting involved with a book group then give us a call on 020 8691 7411 or email: david.tickner@csrf.org.uk

© annie-spratt

Scotland REPORT: call Police Scotland on 101.

ADVICE: contact Advice Direct Scotland on 0808 164 6000.

Theatre Offers straight into your inbox

Court Volunteering with the Witness Service Giving evidence as a witness can be daunting and the court process can be complicated and difficult to understand. The Witness Service provides free and independent support for prosecution and defence witnesses in every criminal court in England and Wales.

Their trained volunteers provide practical information about the court process as well as emotional support to help witnesses feel more confident when giving evidence.

In a recent survey of those they supported: • 98% of witnesses said they were helped to feel welcomed and supported in court • 96% said they were helped to feel safe • 96% said they were helped to

feel more informed about the court process They are looking for volunteers who have a friendly and empathetic manner towards others. You need to have good listening and verbal communication skills. The role involves supporting people from all walks of life, so you’ll need to be non-judgemental, able to remain impartial and also have the confidence to support vulnerable people and those with specific needs.

If you enjoy the theatre then you should take advantage of our theatre club offers by signing up to receive the monthly e-bulletin from WestEnd Theatre (who run the service). Their bulletins keep you regularly updated with ticket discounts on many shows in London and you can book online securely via their website. Please note: this service is online only.

For more information visit www.westendtheatre.com/ club/csrf/

To find out which courts are recruiting volunteers, or to apply, email acacia.wideman@ citizensadvice.org.uk or visit the website: www.citizensadvice.org.uk/ about-us/support-us/volunteering/ volunteer-with-our-witness-service/

Promoting Digital Awareness in 2022 Improving awareness and use of digital technology was one of the areas for development that was identified from a change management survey carried out by the Board of Directors and staff during lockdown. It led to the creation of a working group to identify ways in which this might be achieved and as a result of the work of Board Director Patrick Gallagher and other members of the group we will be running a series of events from March to May 2022.

These will include some ‘group tech sessions’ (that will work with our local groups in South East London), a Befriending Services seminar for volunteers and a virtual Technology Conference that will be run via zoom.

If you like to find out more about the plans or get involved with the arrangements then we’d love to hear from you. You can email: enquiries@csrf.org.uk or call us on 020 8619 7411.

For information on all the CSRF’s services visit www.csrf.org.uk

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Befriending Services

Here for You Our three befriending schemes provide friendship by telephone, home visit or by letter

Volunteers needed for home visiting We are looking to recruit some new volunteer befrienders to join our home visiting scheme. All befrienders are subject to a DBS Check and training before being admitted to the scheme and we reimburse reasonable expenses for the undertaking of home visits. Whilst we are happy to welcome interest from anyone wanting to volunteer, we are particularly looking for people who could visit a beneficiary in the following areas: ASHFORD (Middlesex), BEARSTED (Kent), CHESTERFIELD (Derbyshire), EVESHAM (Worcestershire) HIGH WYCOMBE (Buckinghamshire), LANCASTER (Lancashire), LYMINGTON (Hampshire), NORWICH (Norfolk), PLYMOUTH (Devon), RAYLEIGH (Essex) and READING (Berkshire)

Pen Pal Scheme We’ve promoted the virtues of pen pals over the years but never formalised the idea into a scheme until now.

Following the suggestion by one of our volunteers earlier in the year we have added the option of becoming a pen pal to the befriending schemes. To register is simple, just contact us via the form on the opposite page and we’ll send you a registration form to complete.

If you are interested in volunteering, please complete the form opposite and return to us (using the address shown at the bottom of the form).

Do you live in these areas and fancy a home visit?

We have several befrienders who are currently not visiting anyone so if you live in one of these areas and fancy enjoying a regular friendship visit use the form opposite to register your interest. We currently have befrienders in the following areas: ENGLAND: Bristol, Horncastle (Lincs), Haywards Heath (West Sussex), Lichfield (Staffs), Luton (Bedfordshire), Nottingham (Notts), Sewerby (East Riding), Soham (Cambs) and Walsall. SCOTLAND: Ayr, Ellon and Glasgow.

If you are interested in registering to receive a visit, please complete the form opposite and return to us (using the address shown at the bottom of the form).

You can find out more about all our Befriending schemes online at www.csrf.org.uk or by calling 020 8691 7411 or by email to befriending@csrf.org.uk 6

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BEFRIENDING SERVICES INTEREST FORM You can use this form to register your interest in our befriending services – please clearly indicate which service you are interested in by ticking the relevant box.

Return the completed form to: The CSRF, Unit 11, Pepys House, Greenwich Quay, Clarence Road, London SE8 3EY. On receipt we will contact you directly to progress your enquiry.

Befriending Services (Please clearly tick the box (es) relevant to your enquiry) I am interested in volunteering for the home visiting service I am interested in volunteering for the telephone befriending service I am interested in receiving a visit from the home visiting service I am interested in receiving a call on the telephone befriending service I am interested in becoming a Pen Pal

Name: Address:

Post Code: Tel Number: Email:

Fancy some friendship?

Why not register for one of our befriending schemes and enjoy some regular companionship.

Give us a call on 020 8691 7411 or email: enquiries@csrf.org. uk to request a registration form. You can find out more about our befriending schemes by watching our animation video online at www.csrf.org.uk

Civil Service Partners News

Planning for the future

© tierra mallorca

New Chief Executive Wendy Hilder reflects on the impact the pandemic has had on the Civil Service Insurance Society (CSIS) and how it will help shape their future services

I

joined The Civil Service Insurance Society as Chief Executive in June 2020. I have been in the industry for over 30 years in a variety of Management and Leadership roles.

When I started the interview process and met the Board initially, no one had heard of COVID, and I could never have imagined that my first 6 months would be mainly working from home trying to get to know the people and the CSIS business! Thankfully we are all now back in the office and life is returning to normal for CSIS. It has been a real privilege to get to know the people and the history of CSIS, which has such a long and successful past. The Civil Service Insurance Society was founded in 1890 to enable civil servants to purchase life assurance on advantageous terms to help provide valuable protection for their widows and orphans. The life assurance business was eventually replaced by Home, Motor and Travel insurance products. It was also extended to all

serving, retired and former civil and public servants and partners.

Throughout the last century CSIS has maintained a ‘Not for Profit’ status, and so after meeting the expenses of carrying on the business, donates all the remaining annual surplus to deserving charities within the Civil and Public Service through the CSIS Charity.

The primary role of the Civil Service Insurance Society Charity Fund is to support civil and public service charities and the CSRF has been the recipient of grants to its befriending services.

As we emerge from the last 18 months or so of unprecedented challenges, the great team at CSIS are looking to develop and grow the business whilst always retaining our focus on the provision of quality insurance products and a close personal relationship between the client and CSIS team. Our plans include reviewing our product range, refreshing our brand and developing some Online services.

However, we will not forget that so many of our customers like to talk to us on the phone and that service remains the cornerstone of what CSIS is about.

We will also be moving offices, within the Maidstone area after 20 years in our current home. An exciting period for CSIS.

Want to know more?

Please do consider us when thinking about Home, Motor and Travel Insurance you can obtain full details of our products on our website www.csis.co.uk/CSRF or you can call us on 01622 766960 to request a quote.

You can find out more about the work of the Civil Service Insurance Society Charity Fund and the organisations it supports online at www.csischarityfund.org

For information on all the CSRF’s services visit www.csrf.org.uk

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Fundraising

How you can help us Register free with Amazon Smile

Register free with Giveasyoulive

If you shop on Amazon, you can switch your profile to an ‘AmazonSmile’ account (at no cost) and by nominating the Civil Service Retirement Fellowship as your chosen charity we’ll receive a donation from Amazon every time you shop!

Find out more online at https://smile.amazon.co.uk

Donation platform Giveasyoulive gives access to thousands of online retailers who will make a free donation to us every time you shop! You can register and nominate us as your chosen charity and each time you shop online just go through the platform and they’ll do the rest.

Find out more online at www.giveasyoulive.com/join/csrf

1 2 3 4 We still have some supplies of our LimitedEdition blank notelets that are available for sale.

Each set is priced at £5 and includes 5 different travel pictures. You can order sets by using the form on the page opposite or you can order online via the Shop section of our website at www.csrf.org.uk

Buy some CSRF Notelets

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We’re still hoping to raise £20k for our befriending schemes this year and are well over halfway to our target. You can donate using the form opposite or online at www.csrf.org.uk

Donate to our 2021 Appeal

IMAGES: john jennings / denisse leon / pawel czerwinski / brooke lark

There are many ways you can help support the services we provide – here are four for your consideration

MAKE A DONATION Please use this form to make a donation and/or order some CSRF notelets.

General Donation

CSRF Notelets (£5 per set)

Indicate the number of sets you want

Return the completed form including your donation to: The CSRF, Unit 11, Pepys House, Greenwich Quay, Clarence Road, LONDON SE8 3EY Cheques should be made payable to ‘The CSRF’.

Alternatively you can make a donation online at www.csrf.org.uk

Please accept my gift of:

£5 £10 £20 £50 £250 Other £ £100

CSRF Notelets (£5 a set)

How would you like us to acknowledge your donation?

By Post

By Email

I do not wish to receive an acknowledgement We are extremely grateful for all donations we receive; you can help us save money by ticking the box to opt not to receive an acknowledgment

We still have a supply of limited edition notelets available for sale. Each set has five blank cards & envelopes and feature travel images. Please use the box above to indicate how many sets you would like to order.

Price includes post & package.

Name: Address:

Post Code: Tel Number: Email:

Set up a Direct Debit If you would like to make a regular donation you can do so by setting up a direct debit. This can be done via our website, www.csrf.org.uk by clicking on the ‘donate’ button and then ‘make a regular payment’. Or if you would prefer you can request a direct debit form by ringing Fellowship Office on 020 8691 7411 or email: enquiries@csrf.org.uk

Make your gift worth a quarter more at no extra cost to you!

If you are a UK taxpayer The CSRF can reclaim the tax you’ve paid on your donation.

Please tick the Gift Aid declaration box below I want to Gift Aid this donation and any donations I make in the future or have made in the past 4 years. I am a UK taxpayer and understand that if I pay less Income Tax and/or Capital Gains Tax than the amount of Gift Aid claimed on all my donations in that tax year it is my responsibility to pay any difference.

If you pay Income Tax at the higher or additional rate and want to receive the additional tax relief due to you, you must include all your Gift Aid donations on your Self-Assessment tax return or ask HM Revenue and Customs to adjust your tax code. Please notify us if you want to cancel this declaration, change your name or home address or no longer pay sufficient tax on your income and/or capital gains.

Real Stories

Wartime Memories Basingstoke group regular Joyce Neville shares her memories of becoming a civil servant in London at the beginning of the Second World War I grew up in a poor part of Southeast London and was lucky to get to grammar school. The teachers were mostly graduates and dedicated and the school was strongly supported by the L.C.C. Our headmistress said to us, “whatever you do, don’t go into the civil service. The hours are short, but you will be bored!”

I left school at the beginning of

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World War 2 when I was just 16 and had gained a matriculation which would have entitled me to higher education, but I didn’t know the word university at the time and as my school was being evacuated to Worthing, I didn’t want to leave home.

My first job interview was at a solicitor’s office in a street called Crutched Friars in the City of

London and I was not successful because I hadn’t learnt shorthand and typing. However, because of the outbreak of war there were vacancies in Government offices, so I was accepted immediately and started work with a salary of 12/6d per week which after a year went up to 21 shillings.

My office was the Public Trustee in Kingsway, next to the Stoll Picture Theatre; the Department was the Custodian of Enemy Property which looked after assets belonging to the enemy. The department grew as more countries were taken over by Germany. The work was only filing but as we were all girls straight from school, we enjoyed the work and I made friends which I had not done at school. Before the war the hours had been very short but that soon changed and we worked 9-5pm. We were all temporary Clerical Assistants as there were no permanent positions during the war and we were allowed to wear trousers for the first time! My journey to work was short, just threepence on the No1 bus over Waterloo Bridge and then I walked up Aldwych into Kingsway. The Barrage balloons were in the sky and we had all been issued with gas masks and there was an Anderson Shelter dug in the tiny garden.

The first year of the War was quiet but in September 1940 the Blitz began and all around us houses were being destroyed. We spent some nights in the Anderson Shelter but then decided to evacuate to Thames Ditton in Surrey where my two aunts had moved just before the war. From then on, I used to travel to work by train via Surbiton to Waterloo although that was shortlived as Waterloo was targeted and out of action for most of the time which meant I had to vary my route in to work (sometimes a bus from Clapham Junction or on the tube from Wimbledon). I often used to meet a friend at Waterloo and we walked together over the bridge.

One nice thing was to be greeted at

ABOVE: Joyce Neville the station by martial music!

Our offices were close to the ‘Old Curiosity Shop’ with Lincolns Inn Fields at the back. The Stoll Picture Theatre was next door and we often used to sit in ‘the Gods’ for sixpence.

I remember watching the first ‘Road To’ film with Bob Hope and Bing Crosby and we didn’t stop laughing.

We would also do fire-watching on the roof. All the girls also loved the ballet at the New Theatre (one of two theatres to remain open) and we would often go and watch our favourite dancers such as Robert Helpman and Margot Fonteyn. They were the pop stars of the day!

We found a small house in Tolworth to rent where we had a Morrison Shelter under the dining room table and I would regular cycle from Tolworth to Thames Ditton to visit my aunts. There was a lot of devastation all over London due to the doodlebugs and the V2 rockets and I found out that our home had been damaged by a bomb although luckily it had missed the full effect.

My Dad said that he’d ended up with the window frame around his neck and escaped with only a slight injury to his nose.

One of the most memorable parts of the war for me was seeing all the little boats based in Thames Ditton that were involved in the Dunkirk evacuation. D-Day was also very exciting as we did not work but had the radio playing (I remember it played a lot of Beethoven’s 7th Symphony).

When the war ended there were an influx of ex-servicemen who joined the department and didn’t take kindly to be bossed about by the older women who were in charge!

We had quite a few characters in our office and I remember one rather posh chap who used to spend a lot of time sitting and reading the Daily Worker newspaper. He had been in the Navy but was always sick when he went to sea although he had been awarded a lot of medals for his service.

We were eventually transferred to the Board of Trade and I worked in Import Licensing. At the time all canned foods coming into the country had to be licensed and we had small machines to work out the quotas. At this time, I was engaged to one of the ex-servicemen and I remained temporary as I took a marriage gratuity and then went down a grade and worked in Whitehall passing papers for two principals. I was eventually made redundant and move to Old Basing in Hampshire. Some years later, when several government offices moved to Basingstoke, I returned, repaid the marriage gratuity and regained my establishment and worked on benefits.

When I retired, I worked for War Pensioners and I was given a ticket for one of the Buckingham Palace Garden parties that were run every year by the Not Forgotten Association, so that was a nice ending!

ta lk TO us If you would like to share your memories of working in the Civil Service, then we would love to hear from you – you can send your story to us as a letter (write to the address shown on Page 2) or email to: enquiries@csrf.org.uk

For information on all the CSRF’s services visit www.csrf.org.uk

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Real Stories

JUST GO FOR IT! Former Civil Servant Dr Charles M Lansley remembers a career that took him from GCHQ & MOD to Charles Darwin & the Isle of Wight

I left school at the age of sixteen in 1967 with a clutch of Certificate of Secondary Education (CSE) certificates joining GCHQ in Cheltenham as a Clerical Assistant (today’s E2). Not having done particularly well at school and having failed the 11+ examination to go to Grammar School, I followed my father’s footsteps by joining the Civil Service and aiming for security.

Fortunately because of my age and the support GCHQ gave to educational development for the under eighteens, I was given day release to attend the local technical college and within two years I obtained sufficient GCEs to become a Clerical Officer (today’s E1). Those years of further education and development gave me a thirst for learning such that I used all my breaks at work to read up on Socrates, Plato, Sartre and Dostoyevsky. I knew I had to go to university to read Philosophy so I left GCHQ in 1971 to go to technical college to obtain my A levels. However, when I left I missed the morning tea breaks when I had to go round and collect the orders for the sticky buns.

I also missed the long journey down to the bun shop deep in the basement, and the long chats to all the other young members of Staff in the long queue. This was indeed a long tea break even before the tea break had started.

And then of course there were the Christmas parties, the camaraderie and the air of mystery and secrecy surrounding one’s own workplace – you never knew exactly what the office next door or on the next floor were up to. Of course, at 14

this time, apart from a computer section, all the work I was involved in was mainly done using pen, paper and the telephone. We did, however, have a wonderful vacuum tube system in which we could send messages in a canister up a tube – when they arrived they made a wonderful sound just like the arrival of a London underground train. Looking back I would say that my four years there were very beneficial for my development. All my managers were very supportive in helping me get on.

After technical college I went on to obtain a BA (Hons) in Philosophy (University of London).

I then went on to obtain a Post Graduate Certificate in Education specializing in Liberal Studies in Further Education (University of Leicester). Rather than teaching in the UK I somehow ended up teaching English in Denmark for five years, then the best part of a year in Germany and then three years working for the British Council in Oman, both in Salalah and Muscat. I remember one time there when I was a British Council guest at a National Day celebration; I somehow ended up mingling with the departing VIP dignitaries on their way to their armoured cars and saw many Middle Eastern Presidents and Royalty. I was so close I could almost touch them – such was the security at that time.

After Oman I returned to the UK and obtained an MA in Language and Linguistics from the University of Southampton which then enabled me to join the Defence School of Languages

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at Beaconsfield as a Lecturer where I taught Military English to pre-Staff College and preOfficer Cadet students. We had a number of young Middle Eastern Royal cadets who were really not very keen on being there, some of whom managed to rent hotel penthouse suites rather than slum it in the barracks. Consequently they struggled with their fitness

into a book. This turned out to be a lot harder than the PhD itself and took me two years to complete, finally getting it published in August 2018.

Being at a loose end after this project, and having come across my late father’s notebooks and anecdotes on the Isle of Wight in the 1920s, as well as having ancestral connections to the Island to inspire my interest, I then set about editing the notebooks and adding additional research.

My father had always wanted to get his manuscript published but never got around to it so this seemed a good opportunity to use my research and writing skills to finally make this happen – and to make it a memorial to my father’s memory. Unlike my first book which is academic, this book will appeal to those interested in the Isle of Wight and what childhood was like in the 1920s.

I teamed up with a local Isle of Wight publisher, Beachy Books, who published it on 29 April 2021.

So having just celebrated my 70th birthday, I’ll now have to think of another project to keep me going!

I think what I have learned from my life so far is that you have to go for what you are interested in and don’t let age or education become a barrier. Just go for it, whatever it is.

but were very generous in inviting Chartered Institute of Personnel staff over to their hotel suites and Development. After two and with whole carcasses of deer, a half years I returned to the MOD pork and lamb on offer (the deer and took up a number of roles was obtained from their shooting in HR finally ending up with a parties). It would have been Training and Development considered very rude post at the Defence to have refused such Academy. invitations!

I retired in 2010 but I think what I have From the Defence having developed an learned from my life School of Languages interest in language so far is that you I benefited from development and have to go for what an Interchange its associated link you are interested posting in which I was to human evolution, attached to a disability I embarked upon a in charity helping people part-time PhD into the with disabilities obtain influences of the Romantics employment. This was of huge on Charles Darwin. I was awarded developmental benefit and with my PhD by Winchester University extra training enabled me to in 2016 and was approached by become a qualified Fellow of the the publisher Peter Lang to turn it

© mayur gala

Pon My Puff! A Childhood in 1920s Isle of Wight by Peter Stark Lansley is published by Beachy Books (ISBN: 978-1-913894-01-6)

For information on all the CSRF’s services visit www.csrf.org.uk

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Feature

How to Age Joyfully Former Civil Servant Maggy Pigott CBE has more than made the most of her retirement. She was a guest speaker at our national virtual conference this year and kindly shares her experiences of retirement and how she’s ‘ageing joyfully’

In 2011 aged 59, after months of ill health, I reluctantly retired from a 37-year career in the Ministry of Justice; in 1974, when I joined, it was the very much smaller Lord Chancellor’s Department. After eight years working full time, I was privileged to work part-time and then job-share for 23 years in seven different jobs. We were among the first job-sharers in the Civil Service.

My final post was joint CEO at the Judicial Studies Board, a job I loved. I had wanted to continue for a few more years, so retiring was an unplanned and unwelcome change. My retired colleagues told me how wonderful life would be, but I found retirement extremely hard, having lost my purpose, fulfilment, colleagues, and part of my identity. I suddenly found myself with a totally empty diary apart from medical appointments.

My poor health didn’t help and I confess there wasn’t much joy in those early days. Gradually I adjusted and slowly I also started to get better but then my husband suffered a stroke. There followed a difficult couple of years until ‘good enough’ health - and with it joy was restored to us both. I believe that physical and mental health are our most valuable possessions and only truly appreciated once lost. As I aged, I started to accumulate diseases and pills, as many do, but have learned to live with them. As Jackie Mason, the comedian who died aged 93, said “It’s no longer a question of staying healthy. It’s a question of finding a 16

sickness you like!” small theatres. I would highly One positive, arising from our recommend any non-dancers situation, was that it prevented me reading this to give it a try, two from rushing to fill my days with left feet or not. Moving to music, outside commitments. That time however it’s achieved and at and space enabled me to pause whatever age, releases the brain’s and reassess what was important. ‘happy chemicals’, it can be done I realised, as Shakespeare wrote, in all weathers, and it’s far more that the world really was my fun than the gym. There are classes oyster. I could start afresh, develop for all abilities online and now, completely new skills and interests happily, face to face. and meet new people. Luckily, my Second, I became more involved civil service pension meant I did in volunteering for causes I’m not have to seek paid employment. passionate about - ageing better, In my sixties, along with promoting dance opportunities for improving health, various all, flexible working, and helping to developments have contributed recognise and reward the amazing to this becoming the best of times. contribution of so many people, My colleagues were right and through my membership research also confirms that of the Public Service happiness increases after Honours Committee. I middle age. Recently I I’ve absolutely loved know, in all my roles, joyously, and proudly, I gain far more than trying to learn new celebrated turning 70.

I give. things, continuing The first activity Third, in my mid - thanks to Zoom that has brought me 60s I discovered great happiness is I loved writing for throughout taking up dancing in pleasure, rather than lockdown later life. Dancing (badly, the countless papers, but enthusiastically) has been submissions and other life-changing: physically, mentally work-related documents I’ve and socially. Research shows that drafted. Getting my first ever dancing brings enormous benefits book, ‘How to Age Joyfully: Eight to our health, wellbeing and Steps to a Happier, Fuller Life’, social connections. I’ve enjoyed published at 68 was as wonderful experimenting with a range of as it was incredible. It has led styles from hip-hop to swing, to many exciting opportunities although my favourites are Latin as well as raising some money dance, Argentine tango and ballet. for Open Age, where I am Vice And, becoming a member of two Chair. This charity helps those companies for older dancers has aged 50 to 100+ to age joyfully; provided the thrilling, if nerveits members partly inspired my wracking, bonus of performing decision to write a book. Recently, in venues from hospitals to I’ve started on a second book,

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© tim mossholder

perhaps unsurprisingly, on dance and its benefits. I’m keeping fingers crossed it too may find a publisher and raise a little for dance charities.

Fourth, I’ve absolutely loved trying to learn new things, continuing - thanks to Zoom - throughout lockdown. For example, I’ve dabbled in singing (which I adore despite being as bad a singer as I’m a dancer) and art on the I Pad (David Hockney has nothing to fear, but I love it).

I’ve just started a beginners’ course in sculpture which is exciting, if daunting. There’s a wish list of further activities, if time permits, although my diary has gone from those empty pages in 2011 to rarely a free day in 2021!

Last, but certainly not least, I’ve found spending more time with friends and family has contributed enormously to my happiness. I’ve made new friends through my various pursuits, and I cherish my

‘old’ ones. According to research, good relationships are key to living happily and longer.

I appreciate how lucky I am and that many, despite their best endeavours, live in circumstances that make ageing joyfully hard.

But I do believe, from my personal experience and the research I’ve read, that our actions and attitude to life can make a significant, positive difference. So, I’m trying my best to live joyfully and healthily for as long as possible through physical activity, eating well, having a purpose and social connections, lifelong learning, giving, being grateful and staying positive - my eight steps.

“Ageing is not lost youth but a new stage of opportunity and strength” (Betty Friedan). I have certainly found that to be true, and I’m excited about what the future may hold. I hope you too are enjoying retirement in good health and happiness.

Want to know more?

There is plenty more information about Maggy on her website, www.howtoagejoyfully.com.

If you use social media, you can follow her on Twitter: Age Joyfully @AgeingBetter; Maggy Pigott @ MaggyPigott.

Her book, How to Age Joyfully, is published by Summersdale and is available to order online at Amazon priced £9.45.

For information on all the CSRF’s services visit www.csrf.org.uk

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Autumn/Winter 2021 Group Listings We have a local community group network that operates across the country and you can find details of them in this section of our newsletter. We are always happy to work with volunteers who are interested in helping to establish a group in their area so if you’d like to find out more then contact the Chief Executive at Fellowship Office on 020 8691 7411 or email: enquiries@csrf.org.uk

SCOTLAND Edinburgh

Liz Beedie Secretary T: 0131 229 7422 St Johns Cafe, Princes Street, Edinburgh EH2 4BJ Third Tuesday of each month at 2pm (except January (Winter Lunch) and September (Summer Lunch). We run walks throughout the year and meet at Lakeland, corner of George Street/ Hanover Street at 1.30pm on the first Friday of each month (except June, July & August). Organiser: Francis Valentine (Tel: 0131 228 3243).

16 Nov Coffee Meeting at St Johns Cafe, 2pm 03 Dec Walk 21 Dec Meeting TBC 07 Jan 2022 Walk 19 Jan Winter Lunch at the French Bistro (Corner of the Royal Mile & George IV Bridge), 12.30pm. Cost £10 for members (subsidised by Edinburgh Group) 04 Feb Walk 15 Feb AGM at St John’s Church, 2pm (will be held in a private room)

Highland Mrs Pam Barnet T: 01463 790265 Macdougall Clansman Hotel 103 Church Street Inverness IV1 1ES First and third Wednesday of each month, Coffee morning at 11am

NORTHERN IRELAND Banbridge

Margaret Hassan Secretary T:07884 073401 E: hassanmargaret@yahoo.co.uk Bannside Presbyterian Church Hall 21 Castlewellan Road Banbridge BT32 4AX First Wednesday of each month at 2pm (No meetings in July or Aug) 01 Dec Christmas Lunch Belmont Hotel, 1pm

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Belfast Miss Wynne O’Neill Secretary T: 028 9067 1157 Mcelhinney Room The Pavillion Stormont Estate Upper Newtownards Road Belfast BT4 3TA First Monday of each month at 2.00pm (except June, July and August)

Craigavon George McConnell Secretary T: 028 8676 4395 E: joannearcher1@hotmail.co.uk Portadown Town Hall, 15 Edward St, Portadown, Craigavon BT62 3LX First Tuesday of the month at 2.30pm

Lisburn Mrs R Hope Secretary T: 028 9268 3610 Bridge Community Centre 50 Railway Street Lisburn County Antrim BT28 1XP Second Monday of each month at 2.30pm (except Jul & Aug)

NORTH OF ENGLAND Crewe & Nantwich

Mr M Fox Chairman T: 01270 650265 Wells Green Methodist Church Hall Brookland Avenue Wistaston Crewe CW2 8EJ First Tuesday of each month at 2pm

Gateshead Mrs M Turner Chairman T: 0191 431 1527 Gateshead Community Fire Station Dryden Road Low Fell Gateshead NE9 5BU First Thursday of the month at 10am to 12 noon

Horsforth, Rawdon & District Mrs M J Taylor T: 0113 267 8110 margaret_taylor7@icloud.com We meet in different local hostelries for lunch. Please contact Mrs Taylor for more details. We are a friendly group and new members are always welcome The last Tuesday in the month at 12.30pm (except December)

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WALES AND WELSH BORDERS Caerphilly

Mrs Linda Leach, Tel: 01873 881022 E: brian_leach253@btinternet.com No.2 Meeting Room Caerphilly New Library The Twyn Caerphilly CF83 1JL Second Monday of every month at 10.15am (except Aug)

Cardiff Jane Lewis Secretary T: 029 20 757174 Ararat Baptist Church Plas Treoda Whitchurch Cardiff South Glamorgan CF14 1PT Second Wednesday of the month at 10am

Church Stretton John Brewer Secretary T: 01694 722965 E: johnbrewer1@talktalk.net Mayfair Community Centre Easthope Road Church Stretton SY6 6BL First Friday of the month at 2.30pm

Llandudno Mrs Beryl Rennie Assistant Secretary T: 01492 876238 Queens Hotel, Llandudno, LL30 2LE First Tuesday of the month at 10.30am.

On the Third Tuesday of most months the group enjoys a pub lunch followed by a walk – the details of which are decided at the previous meeting

Neath & Port Talbot Mr W Pugh Chairman T: 01792 864299 The Mayor’s Parlour The Old Town Hall Church Place Neath SA11 3LL Last Wednesday of each month at 2pm

Oswestry Mrs J Stokes Chairman T: 01691 654380 The Wynnstay Hotel Church Street Oswestry SY11 2SZ First Tuesday of each month at 10.30am

07 Dec Christmas Meal 11 Jan 2022 AGM and meal 02 Feb Talk: The Romance of the Rose 01 Mar Talk: More than Willow 05 Apr Talk: Herberiam

MIDDLE ENGLAND Banbury

Mrs S Atherton Chairperson T: 01295 252304 Hanwell Fields Community Centre Rotary Way Banbury OX16 1ER Second Tuesday of each month at 2.30pm 11 Nov Renewable Energy without the Hot Air Talk

by Robin Stafford-Allen 16 Dec Christmas Cheer (Secret Santa, Sherry & Mincepies) Impromptu Singers

Coalville & Ashby Terry Watson Chairman T: 01530 835373 Thringstone Community Centre The Green Thringstone Coalville LE67 8NR Third Wednesday each month 2pm to 4pm

Dunstable & Leighton Buzzard Christine Mardlin Chairman T: 01296 688331 E: christine.mardlin@btinternet.com Scout HQ Grovebury Road Leighton Buzzard LU7 4SW First Wednesday of the month at 2pm (No meeting in Jan)

Gloucester/Hucclecote Mrs J Neale, Chairman T: 01452 506949 Christchurch, Heron Way, Abbeydale, Gloucester GL4 5EQ First Thursday of the month at 2pm 02 Dec Christmas Party 06 Jan 2022 Comedy Monologues by Paul Evans 03 Feb Tales of the Levant by Elizabeth Hayes 03 Mar Annual General Meeting

Nuneaton Rachel Homer Secretary T: 024 76 385845 E: homer351@btinternet.com Tea & Chat Café, 2 Chapel Sreet, Nuneaton CV11 5QH First Tuesday of each month at 11am for coffee mornings

Sleaford & Ancaster

Ipswich

Mike Smith Chairman T: 01526 833273 E: mjs_consultation@hotmail.com Bristol Bowls Club Boston Road Sleaford NG34 7HH First Thursday of the month from 10am12noon 02 Dec Social Meeting followed by Christmas lunch 06 Jan 2022 Social Meeting followed by lunch 03 Feb Social Meeting followed by lunch 03 Mar Social Meeting followed by lunch 07 Apr Social Meeting followed by lunch

Eva Stevens Secretary T: 07765 588467 E: evajs@yahoo.co.uk Museum Street Methodist Church Hall Blackhorse Lane Ipswich IP1 2EF First Wednesday of the month at 2pm

Wigston Mrs J Collins Vice Chairman T: 0116 288 7802 Ad Hoc meetings in various venues – please contact the Vice Chair for more information

Worcester Helen Connelly Chair T: 01905 830451 Perdiswell Young Peoples’ Leisure Club Droitwich Road (opposite Checketts Lane) Worcester WR3 7SN Second Wednesday of the month at 1pm 10 Nov Talk - Elgar in Worcestershire 08 Dec Christmas Buffet at Perdiswell Young Peoples Leisure Club 12 Jan 2022 TBA 09 Feb TBA 09 Mar TBA

EASTERN ENGLAND & EAST ANGLIA Colchester

Joan Gomer Secretary T: 01206 794656 Hythe Community Centre, 1 Ventura Drive, Colchester CO1 2FE Third Monday of each month at 2pm (except December) 15 Nov High Stewards of Colchester - Sir Bob Russell Dec Christmas Lunch (date/ venue tbc) 17 Jan 2022 Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards in the 1960s Joan Gomer 21 Feb Annual General Meeting 21 Mar A History of Colchester Cemetery - Sharon Mooney

Lowestoft Mike Chester T: 01502 476629 E: mikewc10@gmail.com Ex-Servicemen’s Club Gordon Road Town Centre Lowestoft NR32 1DY and Victoria Hotel Kirkley Cliff Lowestoft NR33 0BZ 1st Wednesday of the month at 11am - Victoria Hotel 3rd Wednesday of the month at 12 noon - Ex-Servicemen’s Occasional social events throughout the year – contact the Contact for more information

Norwich Mary Weatherhead Secretary T: 01603 410821 Martineau Hall, 21a Colgate, Norwich NR3 1BN Second Monday of each month at 10am for 10.30am

St. Albans Mrs S Finlayson Chairperson T: 01727 868029 E: sheila@finlaysons.eclipse.co.uk Friends Meeting House Upper Lattimore Road St. Albans AL1 3UD First Thursday of the month at 10.15am

Swaffham David Moore Chairman T: 01760 723740 Meeting at various local locations – contact the Chairman for more information Third Tuesday of the month at 10.15am

Wickford Peter Blake Chairman & Secretary T: 01268 583060 For more information on meetings call the Chairman We meet informally during the year

For information on all the CSRF’s services visit www.csrf.org.uk

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SOUTHERN ENGLAND Ascot & Sunningdale

Maureen Browne Secretary T: 01344 626494 E: chris_browne@lineone.net Lynwood Village, Rise Road, Sunninghill, Ascot SL5 0AJ Third Friday of each month at 12 noon to 4pm (No meeting in August)

Basingstoke Tony Brazier Secretary T: 01256 418770 E: bjmapbr@ntlworld.com Brookvale Community Association Hall Lower Brook Street Basingstoke RG21 7SD First Wednesday of each month at 10am.

05 Jan 2022 Cycling in Different Countries (Barbara Cummins) Feb Visit to a local theatre 02 Feb Amateur Dramatics (Mike Brooks) 02 Mar AGM followed by talk from CIS followed by lunch at the Conservative Club 23 Mar Dorney Court followed by Lunch 01 Apr A Day at the Races 06 Apr Getting to Good – a School’s Journey (Daniel Cowling) 28 Apr Afternoon Tea at BCoT

Bexhill & Hastings Elizabeth Leahy Secretary T: 01424 214042 Bexhill Sailing Club Marina Bexhill-onsea TN40 1LA Fourth Tuesday of each month at 10am 23 Nov Quiz 25 Jan 2022 Talk ‘Reminiscences of Africa’ by our Treasurer Phyl McEwan 22 Feb AGM 22 Mar Quiz/or talk (TBA) 26 Apr Quiz/or talk (TBA)

Chandlers Ford Ken Willcocks Chairman T: 023 8076 0102 Chandlers Ford Community Centre Hursley Road Chandlers Ford Eastleigh Hampshire SO53 2FT First Friday of the month at 10am

Mid Sussex Keith Sullens Chairman T: 01444 233288 E: sullenskeith@gmail.com

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The Hassocks Room The King’s Centre Victoria Road Burgess Hill RH15 9LR Fourth Wednesday of each month from 2-4pm

New Forest Les Mondry-Flesch Vice Chairman E: jmondry12@gmail.com Social gatherings around the New Forest area - for more information contact the Vice Chair

Portsmouth & Southsea Michael Barrow, Chairman/Secretary T: 023 928 29552 E: m.barrow4@ntlworld.com St. Simon’s Church Hall Waverley Road Southsea PO5 2PW Second Wednesday of the month at 10.30am and fourth Wednesday of the month at 2.30pm (except Aug)

Stubbington Peter Stilwell Secretary T: 023 92 527346 E: amy_stilwell@hotmail.com Catholic Church Hall Bells Lane Stubbington Hampshire PO14 2PL Second Thursday of each month at 2pm

Tadley Mr D MacLean Chairman T: 0118 970 1290 Tadley Community Centre Newchurch Road Tadley RG26 4HN First Thursday of each month at 1.15pm for 1.45pm 06 Jan 2022 Talk by Co-Op Legal Services 03 Feb Lemurs of Madagascar - Ian McEroy 03 Mar AGM & Tadley Town Council 07 Apr Mystery of Stonehenge - Mr G Loxton-Best 05 May Windsor Castle - Mr L Groot 02 Jun Garden Therapy for the Handicapped - talk by Thrive

SOUTH WEST ENGLAND Bradford-on-Avon

Mr M Wickham Secretary T: 01225 864541, 07368 222 088 E: lindamorgan1975@sky.com United Reformed Church Hall St. Margarets Street Bradford-on-avon BA15 1DD Second Monday of each month at 2.15pm (except August)

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Chippenham David Gardner Chairman T: 01249 658431 Chippenham Museum 10 Market Place Chippenham SN15 3HF First Wednesday of each month at 2pm (except Aug) 01 Dec Christmas Lunch (venue tba) 02 Jan 2022 No meeting 02 Feb Beauty & the Beast - talk

by Bob Rogers 02 Mar Down the Bramaputra: a journey -talk by Eddy Lane

Liskeard & Pensilva Shirley Waye Chair/Secretary T: 01579 346089 E: shirleywaye@gmail.com Liskeard Public Hall (the Long Room) West Street Liskeard Cornwall PL14 6BW Last Wednesday of each month at 10am

Princetown Mike Fitzpatrick Secretary T: 01822 890799 E: mikeandkate132@gmail.com Prince Of Wales Hotel Tavistock Road Princetown PL20 6QF First Thursday of the month at 12.30pm 02 Dec Talk: Alphabetical Dartmoor by Tom Soby 06 Jan 2022 Talk: Undersea Archaeology & Wrecks

by Ron Howell 03 Feb Talk: Tavistock’s Policing Past by Simon Dell 03 Mar Talk: Curious Cornwall by Tom Soby

Salisbury Plain Mr Roy German Secretary T: 01980 653446 E: royandvi@live.co.uk The Village Hall High Street Durrington Salisbury SP4 8AD Third Tuesday of each month at 2.30pm (except Aug)

Sidmouth Joyce Johnson Social Secretary T: 01395 578966 E: brumasj@icloud.com Sidholme Hotel Elysian Fields Sidmouth EX10 8UJ Second Wednesday of each month at 10.25am and lunches listed as follows (12 for 12.30pm)

Tamar/Tavy (Tavistock) Shirley Banks Treasurer T: 01752 769586, E: shirley.banks@talktalk.net Yelverton Golf Club, Golf Links Rd, Yelverton PL20 6BN Second Thursday of the month at 12.30pm

06 Jan 2022 Coffee Morning 20 Jan Coffee Morning 03 Feb Coffee Morning 17 Feb Coffee Morning & Group Lunch 03 Mar Coffee Morning 08 Mar Outing: TBA 17 Mar Coffee Morning

Trowbridge

Weymouth

Sue Arnold Secretary T: 01225 761627 E: suearnoldwfh@blueyonder.co.uk 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of the month at The Wiltshire Yeoman, Chilmark Road, Trowbridge. BA14 9DD at 10.30am (It is advised to call to confirm the group is on) 17 Nov Coffee Morning 1 Dec Coffee Morning 8 Dec Christmas Lunch (venue tbc) 15 Dec Coffee Morning 5 Jan 2022 Coffee Morning 19 Jan Coffee Morning 2 Feb Coffee Morning 16 Feb Coffee Morning 2 Mar Coffee Morning 16 Mar Coffee Morning

Geoff Greenstreet Secretary T: 01305 832432.

E: geoff.marion@btinternet.com Weymouth Bay Methodist Church, 23 Melcombe Avenue, Weymouth, DT4 7TH Fourth Wednesday for Coffee mornings at 10.30am 24 Nov Coffee Morning 26 Jan 2022 Coffee Morning 23 Feb Coffee Morning 23 Mar Coffee Morning

Westbury (Wiltshire) Mrs P Clark Secretary T: 01373 822892 Paragon Hall Haynes Road Westbury Wiltshire BA13 3HA Third Monday of each month at 1.45pm for 2pm

Westbury-On-Trym Mr P McKenna Secretary T: 0117 950 2059 Studland Court Henleaze Road Henleaze BS9 4JY First Thursday of each month at 2pm (no meeting in Aug)

Weston-super-Mare Margaret Cole Chairperson T: 01934 514309 E: margaretcole@btinternet.com Friends Meeting House High Street Weston-super-Mare BS23 1JF First and third Thursday of the month at 10am as well as outings shown here 08 Nov Outing: Worcester 18 Nov Coffee Morning 02 Dec Coffee Morning 14 Dec Christmas Lunch 16 Dec Coffee Morning

Yate & District Val Gannaway Treasurer T: 01454 317968 Yate Parish Hall Station Road Yate BS37 4PQ Fourth Tuesday of the month from 1.30pm-4.30pm. December meeting 1-5pm 23 Nov Yoga Sitting on a Chair at Talk by Beth Taylor 14 Dec Christmas Party with the Ukulele Ladies

LONDON & SOUTH EAST ENGLAND Enfield

Mrs Sue Simms Chair T: 020 8245 4723 The Jolly Farmers, 2 Enfield Road, Enfield EN2 7QS First Monday of the month at 12 noon (1st Tuesday if a Bank Holiday) 06 Dec Lunch 04 Jan 2022 Lunch 07 Feb Lunch (and AGM at 10.30am, venue tbc) 07 Mar Lunch 04 Apr Lunch

Hounslow Roy Woods Chairman T: 020 8230 5533 United Reformed Church Hall 114 Hanworth Road Hounslow TW3 1UF Second Tuesday of the each month 1.30pm for 2pm

Kingston & District Miss Helen Stanley Secretary T: 020 8946 2768

Kingston Methodist Church Hall Avenue Road Kingston KT1 2UJ Third Tuesday of each month at 2pm

Leatherhead Anne Thomson Secretary T: 01372 373258 E: anner.thomson@talktalk.net John Rumble Hall Fetcham Village Hall The Street Fetcham KT22 9QS First Friday of each month at 10am 01 Dec Christmas Fun, 12pm2pm

London - Catford & Lewisham Doreen Hughes Secretary T: 020 8461 4800 St Laurence Church Hall 37 Bromley Road Catford London SE6 2TS Second Tuesday of every month at 10am. We have a table top sale at each coffee morning - all donations will be gratefully received.

London – Croydon, Dulwich & Norwood Hilary Waterhouse Secretary T: 020 8239 9814 E: hilary.waterhouse@virginmedia.com Railway Club Selhurst Station Approach Selhurst SE25 5PL Fourth Thursday of each month at 10.30am (not December) 25 Nov Christmas Buffet Celebrations

London - East & South West Essex Les Barnett Chair T: 020 8550 5878 The Great Spoon of Ilford, 114-116 Cranbrook Road, Ilford IG2 4LZ Third Monday of the month at 2pm

London - Eltham Phyllis Duignan Chair/Treasurer T: 020 8265 0810 E: phyllis.duignan@gmail.com United Reformed Church Sherard Hall Court Road Eltham SE9 5AD Fourth Thursday of each month from 10am to 12 noon 25 Nov Coffee Morning & Talk by Melanie Gibson Barton on “The Life and Times of Edith Cavell” 09 Dec Coffee Morning with cards, bumper raffle & mince pies with entertainment from Martin Charles

For information on all the CSRF’s services visit www.csrf.org.uk

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12 Dec Airedales Holiday Chatsworth at Christmas, 3 days, 2 nights (cost £289) 16 Dec Christmas lunch at Sophie’s Choice Restaurant

London – Greenwich Riverside Jean Fisher Chair T: 020 8691 7411 The Forum, Trafalgar Road, Greenwich, London SE10 9EQ Third Tuesday of the month from 11am to 1pm - from 2022 we will run monthly Friendship Lunches in venues in Greenwich at 12noon. For venue details contact the Chair.

16 Nov Coffee Morning at the Forum 18 Jan 2022 Friendship Lunch 15 Feb Friendship Lunch 15 Mar Friendship Lunch 26 Apr Friendship Lunch

Methodist Church Centre Brewer Street Maidstone ME14 1RU Second Monday of the month at 2pm

Sanderstead & Selsdon Ralph Perryman Local Contact T: 020 8657 3487 E: ralph.perryman172@btinternet.com Various venues for lunch, please contact Ralph Perryman for confirmation of lunch details

Richmond & Twickenham Philip Blow Secretary T: 020 8748 7477 E: p.blow1@btinternet.com Various venues in and around Twickenham. Please contact the Secretary for further details.

Staines Dorothy Dib Secretary T: 01932 788129 Lunch in restaurants in and around Staines Third Tuesday of each month

Maidstone

Sutton

Yvonne Morgan Vice Chair & Secretary T: 01634 362644 E: y.morgan2@virginmedia.com

Hazel Hoare Secretary & Social Secretary T: 020 8642 8328 E: hazel-hoare@hotmail.co.uk

Friends Meeting House, 10 Cedar Road, Sutton SM2 5DA Last Monday of the month at 1.45 3.30pm (except August and December.)

Worcester Park John Wright Secretary T: 020 8337 8965 E: johnandglenisw@gmail.com Old Malden Scout Hall 411 Malden Road Worcester Park KT4 7NY First Monday each month from 2pm to 4pm (if the first Monday is a Bank Holiday then meeting will be held on the second Monday) 06 Dec Christmas Lunch (venue tbc)

GROUPS ONLINE For the most up to date listing of local group activities you can visit our website, www.csrf.org.uk

SPRING/SUMMER Puzzle SolutionS Quiz Time 1. Benny Hill 2. Long Beach, California 3. A cat 4. Man Friday 5. Dec 1941 (7 Dec just before 0800 hrs) 6. A Dolphin 7. A Manse 8. The Major Oak 9. Archimedes 10. Chocolate 11. A kiln 12. A steward’s enquiry 13. False. Lawrence Stephen 1887-1976 14. A dummy run 15. Waterloo

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16. Yes one (The Great Pyramid of Giza) 17. The Hundred Days 18. 1970’s 19. Cartwright 20. Washington 21. Bedlam 22. A crossword 23. Sleep walking 24. Lundy Island 25. Olive Oyl 26. K2 27. A hassock 28. Roddick 29. A Hacienda 30. Tenor

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Answers to Three Words to a Story Crossword: (ACROSS) 1. The Godfather, 2. Little Women, 3. Peter Pan, 4. Paddington (DOWN) 5. Cinderella, 6. The Lion King, 7. James Bond, 8. Mamma Mia

Anagram Answers: Easter Egg, Simnel Cake, Easter Bonnet, Paschal Lamb, Good Friday, Hot Cross Bun

ABERDEEN BLACKPOOL BRISTOL CHESTER COVENTRY COLWYN BAY DARLINGTON DERBY DERRY DOVER EXETER HEREFORD HIGH WYCOMBE MAIDENHEAD SWINDON TRURO

© fukayamamo

HELP US US TO TO START HELP START NEW NEW FORUMS FOR FORUMS FOR friendship FRIENDSHIP The pandemic has shown us just how important friendship is.

We’d like our local group network to grow but to support that we need to recruit new local volunteers willing to work with us to establish and run new groups.

To find out how you can get involved call 0800 160 1075 or email: enquiries@csrf.org.uk