Digest December 2022

SOUTHEND & DISTRICT PENSIONER’S CAMPAIGN
“Digest “ December, 2022
The perks of getting older:
“You’ve finally got your number of brain cells
down to manageable size.”
“You’ve got nothing left to learn the hard
way.”
Merry Christmas to all our readers!
Our Member, Mr Brian Hill, kindly asked us to
remind you that the old postage stamps may
now be used until the end of July 2023.
Recent envelopes received in the mail still
advise that you need to use the new stamps
from the end of next January. This is incorrect
and grossly misleading.
ID requirements for voting.
The government seem determined to require
voters to have photographic ID when they go
to vote. This will have the effect of depressing
the number of people able to exercise their
right to vote. One way to proceed is to apply
for a postal vote, which will solve any
problems. If you don’t hold any photographic
ID you will need a free voter identification
form from the local Council. Council Officers
are worried they won’t be ready for next
year’s local elections next May with some
residents being unable to vote.
In Committee.
We agreed the details for our December
Meeting where Peter Wilkins will give a short
talk about his life. After a short business
meeting, we shall relax into party mood with a
festive social. Please bring your preferred
tipple. Our fees for the Balmoral Centre will
increase slightly from next year, but they will
not be a problem. Jean updated us on our
campaign to introduce an effective
Community Transport Service across the City.
Southend City Council are funding a
Community Investment Board which holds
£1.5 million to be distributed over 5 years by
SAVS for funding local projects. It is in the
process of making Community Transport a
priority. We will keep you updated on any
future progress.
Joke. I am grateful to a friend for this unusual
recipe for a “Vodka Cake”.
Lovely Christmas cake recipe…..
1 cup sugar, 1 tsp. baking powder, 1 cup
water, 1 tsp. salt , 1 cup brown sugar, Lemon
juice, 4 large eggs, Nuts, 1…bottle Vodka,2
cups dried fruit.
Sample a cup of Vodka to check quality. Take
a large bowl, check the Vodka again to be
sure it is of the highest quality then Repeat.
Turn on the electric mixer. Beat one cup of
butter in a large fluffy bowl. Add 1 teaspoon of
sugar. Beat again. At this point, it is best to
make sure the Vodka is still OK. Try another
cup of vodka just in case. Turn off the mixerer
thingy. Break 2 eegs and add to the bowl and
chuck in the cup of dried fruit. Pick the fruit up
off the floor, wash it and put it in the bowl a
piece at a time trying to count it. Mix on the
turner. If the fried druit getas stuck in the
beaterers, just pry it loose with a drewscriver
Sample the Vodka to test for tonsisticity. Next,
sift 2 cups of salt, or something. Check the
Vodka. Now shit shift the lemon juice and
strain your nuts. Add one table. Add a spoon
of sugar, or somefink. Whatever you can find.
Greash the oven. Turn the cake tin 360
degrees and try not to fall over. Don’t forget to
beat off the turner. Finally, throw the bowl
through the window. Finish the Vodka and
wipe the counter with the dog. Enjoy!
Essex Police.
I attended the December Local Community
Meeting (LCM), with Essex Police on Monday,
5
th December, at St. Andrew’s Church,
Southview Drive, Westcliff. They now meet
only quarterly, and this meeting covered all 9
Wards in Southend West. The Police Officers
no longer give updates on crime statistics, so
the public and Councillors highlight the
concerns in their area, and ask questions.
Statistics are available online of course. Main
concerns were traffic speeding, and drug
activity. Major fraud is handled by a specialist
team based in Chelmsford, while more minor
fraud is handled locally.
News from SAVS.
Southend Community Connectors
Programme
Delivered in partnership by SAVS and Health
watch Southend
Do you have Chronic Respiratory Obstructive
Disease (COPD)?
or do you care for someone living with
COPD?
My role as a Community Connector Coordinator is to work in Southend with a focus
on engaging and collaborating with residents
who have, or care for a person with Chronic
Respiratory Obstructive Disease (COPD) to
become Community Connectors.
The Community Connectors will be able to
help inform the decision makers to have a
better understanding of the drivers of health
inequalities experienced by communities and
the barriers to living healthy lives in
Southend.
Community Connectors will be able to share
their lived experiences to help improve care
and reduce health inequalities. Community
Connectors will have the opportunity to
access training workshops, coaching support
and have access to an advisory group.
If you would like to be involved in this unique
opportunity or learn more please contact me.
Sara Hadden
Mobile – 07944 056 547
Email – shadden@savs-southend.co.uk

Pride of Britain life- time Achievement
Award by Jill Allen-King O.B.E.
“On September 15th I was visited at home by
a television crew of 3 to film me for a special
programme.
They had filmed me from 9am until 7pm, but it
was not until 6pm they told me that I had won
Pride of Britain Award for the lifetime
achievement Award.
The following day I was contacted by a lady
from the Daily Mirror to tell me all the details.
My daughter Jacqueline and I would be
picked up by car on October 23rd and taken
for 2 nights at the Hilton Hotel in London. On
the Monday evening we would go to the
Grosvenor Park Hotel for the Pride of Britain
Award event.
On the Sunday night we met the other 12
people who were also receiving awards.
Ashley Banjo sat next to me at the dinner,
and I had found out the week before that he
has just bought the old
Westcliff United Reformed Church close to
where I live. This is now his dance studio.
I was taken on to the stage by Ashley and Mo
Farrow. I was presented with my award by
Paul O’gradey. My guide- dog “Jagger” also
received a Pride of Britain medal with his
name on it. The event went out on October
27th and I took part in 3 live morning
television programmes.
I am still doing interviews with various
charities.
It was nice to be recognised for all the
campaigns I have done since I went totally
blind in 1964.
Since returning home I have had a blood clot
on my lung so have got to slow down a bit if I
can.
I should like to thank everyone who has
helped me over these 58 years, as without a
lot of help I could not have achieved this
award.”
Dates for your Diary:
Live Jazz concerts most Saturday
afternoons. 2pm –4pm. £10-£15. At The Jazz
Centre UK, Beecroft Art Gallery, Victoria
Avenue, Southend.
Wednesday 4th January 2023. Fund Raising
Lunch “Strawberry Fields”, Tesco
Roundabout. 12.30pm £15 for two courses.
Call Jean on 01702 341047 if you would like
to join us.
Wednesday, 18th January.2023 Members
Meeting. Doris Jones the future of care
service. 2pm. Balmoral Centre, Salisbury
Avenue, Westcliff on Sea. SS0 7AU.
Friday, 20th January 2023. Southend City
Council Concert Series: Concert. At
Southend Christian Fellowship Plaza Centre,
600, Southchurch Road, Southend. SS1 2PT.
Clarinet and Piano. Music by Brahms,
Poulenc, Debussy and Luciano. £10.
Bob Howes. Tel: 01702 341047
howes01702@outlook.com
www.southendpensioners.org.uk