Digest- February 2025
Southend & District Pensioner’s Campaign
“Digest” – February, 2025
Most of the OAP’s on our recent cruise thought that AI stood for All Inclusive!
We pensioners could have our own acronyms. Any ideas?
Last month’s Meeting:
In January, we hosted four managers from the Italian owned train and station operators C2C. They didn’t have a presentation as such, but each of them
gave a talk on their own particular role within the company. They answered some question during the talks, and stressed that they were currently focussed a good deal on recruiting new staff and with training them in various roles. They seemed proud of what they were doing as a company to improve the rail service, and the stations from Shoeburyness to West Horndon and on the Tilbury Line in Essex. They are soon expecting to become nationalised.
Jill Allen-King and Alvin King.
Last week, Jill suffered difficulty breathing and an ambulance took her to Southend General Hospital for further tests. We had messages from her friend Peter Wilkins and Alvin’s carer, and the latest news is that Jill is home recuperating. .. Jill has been using her phone a lot as you may imagine, and has access to radio. Alvin King has severe Alzheimer’s disease, and was eventually moved to a rest home in Westcliff on Sea for respite care for at least 2 weeks.
In Committee:
Issy Isaacs took the Chair in Jill’s absence.
Issy Isaacs was unable to attend Kent Elms Library, so we were not able to be represented at their coffee morning. We do need more support for our outreach events, which we know can be difficult on Saturdays. Jean Howes met Roger Savage from SAVS to discuss how students from the South Essex College may help us with our IT skills and we wait to hear back from Roger. We decided to propose that we cease to send birthday cards by post, due partly to the high cost of postage. Instead we would announce Members’ birthday anniversary’s at the relevant monthly Meetings. We shall wait to see if we may be able to claim money from our link with Southend Councils Co-production in the City Pilot in order to purchase a projector.
Marketing SDPC:
If you know of any local charity or voluntary organisation who may host an indoor community networking event or an Open Day, please let us know. We would be keen to attend to advertise our Campaign and meet other campaigning groups in the area.
Campaigning:
Bob Howes wrote to the “Echo” and “Leigh News” to tell the residents of Southend about the Council failing to reinstate the role of “Champion of Older People” fromthe current Members of the Council. As Bob was on holiday soon after writing, he doesn’t know if either paper published it. We need to discuss what other issues we might wish to campaign on.
NPC Report:
Issy Isaacs is busy attending more Meetings than usual in London as the NPC struggles financially. Several Trade Union groups have unaffiliated from the organisation in recent times, which hasn’t helped. We wait to hear more about the plan to become a company, Limited by Guarantee.
Co-Production in the City:
Inaugural meeting on 27 January 2025 – Civic Centre, Southend on Sea. Chaired by Lucie Babbington, Co-Production Lead, Communities. SDPC has been invited to join this initiative to work with Southend Council to improve services by listening to the voices of the service users and make a difference to the community of Southend. Those with lived experiences and an active role for residents. Your current representatives are Jean Howes, Margaret Haydon, and Sue Stacey. A number of further meetings have been arranged yet to be confirmed. The meetings are for your representatives who will relay the information at members meetings, etc. and are asking that if you have any concerns, please let one of your representatives know so that they can take to the various meetings this coming year. Feedback and experiences will be treated in confidence and can be anonymous. The first meeting held as above, was an introductory session. Meetings will be held face-to-face and on-line. Jean has just signed the Grant Agreement for financial support.
Essex Police Dispatches:
Clampdown on e-scooters and illegal e-bikes It is illegal to use an e-scooter or an illegally adapted e-bike in a public place. These are widely available but very few seem to be aware of the legal requirements and limitations to their use. We are constantly receiving complaints about their use and we are alert to the dangers they pose. Therefore we will no longer be educating users about their use and will instead be enforcing the law and seizing them. The same applies to illegal e-bikes.
Dates for your Diary:
Jazz Centre UK. Live concerts on most Saturday afternoons. 2pm till 4pm. Beecroft Art Gallery, Victoria Avenue, Southend. SS2. Tickets £10-£15.
Southend Central Museum. Victoria Avenue, Southend. The Princely Burial. A permanent exhibition.
Southend Council Concert Series. Monthly serious music concerts continue, but the venues now alternate. Friday evenings. From 8pm.Book by phone 01702. 215011
Wednesday, 5th. .March. SDPC Lunch. Harvester Pub, Shoeburyness. 12.30pm. Call Margaret on 07814 714937 to book your place.
Saturday, March, 8th. 7.30pm Southend Symphony Orchestra. Concert. Salvation Army Hadleigh
Wednesday, 19th, March. SDPC Speaker Tim Watts from Leigh Lions Meeting. 2pm – 4pm. Balmoral Centre, Salisbury Avenue, Westcliff on Sea, SS07AU.
Sunday, March, 23rd. Trust Links Cycle Challenge Fundraiser to improve people’s mental health.. www. trustlinks.org for further details
Please send me any news, stories, poems or jokes relating to British OAP’s. Bob Howes, (Editor) Email:howes01702@outlook .com