Digest September 2023
SOUTHEND & DISTRICT PENSIONER’S CAMPAIGN
“Digest “- September 2023
“I enjoy waking up and not having to go to work so I do it three or four times a day”
Bob Howes
Change of Address: Our email address has changed to
southenddistrictpensioners@gmail.com Please use this address, and respond to a message to ensure that all future messages go straight into your inbox.
Website Development and IT Management
Further to last month’s news, Jean has now arranged to meet with Roger Savage of SAVS and a digital marketing company to seek assistance on the development of our Website and help with a social media presence.
Last Month’s Meeting.
Many thanks go to Jim Folwell and Alan Grubb in particular for the running of our August Meeting. Other Members are also to be thanked for their assistance in helping to make the meeting go well. Our Speaker, historian Brian Billins gave the second of his talks on “Essex Smugglers”, and answered questions from the audience. The feed-back was positive.
In Committee
We still await replies from the Southend City Council Leader following our letters to him regarding the need for an Older Person’s Champion, and for news of the future City Travel Centre. Our Secretary, Jean has now written to the Chief Executive and Town Clerk in the hope that this will produce some response. We discussed the delays we have suffered in receiving replies from Councillors and believe this is becoming a major problem for our City residents and is in breach of the Council’s Charter. We have received returned mail from a relative of Maureen King, a long- time Member who sadly died recently. Our Treasurer, Bob reported that the August accounts showed a balance carried forward from July as £3,160.52.
SDPC event at Southend Tennis and Leisure Centre
We shallbe having a stall at the “Sportaneous” event at a Community Marketplace on Saturday, 30th. September. 10am till 12 noon. We shall be marketing the Campaign for the first time since the pandemic. Please do come and join us even if it’s for only half an hour.
Getting a blood test?
We are grateful to our Member, Maurice Smithson who was unable to attend the meeting on the 16th August due to a medical issue.
He has experienced just how hard it is to get a blood test marked urgent at the walk-in blood test clinic run by Pathology First at Southend Hospital. Twice he was turned away at 8.00 a.m., when it opens because the 20 slots available for the next two hours had already been filled. He arrived at the blood test clinic at 7.00 a.m. next morning, second in the queue. The doors to the clinic were opened at 7.20 a.m. and all was well for him. But for people arriving at the advertised opening time of 8.00 a.m. there does not seen to be a guarantee that you will be seen. It would seem doctors and consultants are generally not aware of this situation. A bit of an issue to discuss perhaps.
The other thing that he noticed in using the NHS in the past few weeks is that he encountered 6 difference private businesses providing subcontracted services for the NHS. Creeping privatisation perhaps.
Obsolete Stamps
Friends of Bone Cancer Research Trust are having a stamp appeal. They can raise funds from any unwanted obsolete postage stamps They are raising funds throughout the UK to help mostly children, teenagers, young adults and the elderly. So your help is much required and appreciated.
They can be sent with your other used stamps and collections to Friends Of BCRT, 20 Bowers Road, Benfleet, Essex SS7 5PZ.
Or email charitystampappeal@gmail.com for more information.
Thanks to Sue Stacey for the above article.
Dates for Your Diary:
Jazz Centre UK. Live concerts on most Saturday afternoons. 2pm till 4pm. Beecroft Art Gallery, Victoria Avenue, Southend. Tickets £10-15.
Southend Central Museum. Victoria Avenue, Southend. Free. A stunning display of recent finds from the “London” wreck is now on show permanently from Wednesday to Sunday each week, from 11am till 5pm.
Music in the Park. Live music at the Bandstand in Priory Park, Victoria Avenue, Southend will continue until Sunday, 1st. October. Free, from 3pm till 4.30pm every Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holiday. Why not take a chair, and rain wear. Restricted parking.
Southend Council Concert Series. Monthly serious music concerts continue at Plaza Centre, 600 Southchurch Road, Southend. SS1 2PT. From 8pm. International professional musicians. £10 per person.
Seafront Fireworks. Every Saturday from 30th September to 18th November. From 8 pm till 8.15pm
Focal Point Gallery. The Forum, Southend, SS1 1ND. Open Wednesday to Saturday, 11am to 5pm. Exhibition: “Storm Warning“ What does climate change mean for coastal communities? 4th October till 6th January, 2024.
Southend Jazz Festival 2nd -8th October. At various venues throughout the city. To book tickets ring 07512 252699
SDPC Lunch: Wednesday, 4th. October. From 12.30pm. Brewers Fayre, Eastern Esplanade, Southend. £15 for two courses. Please ring Jean to book a place on 01702. 341047.
Good Time Jazz Saturday 7th October. The Jazz Centre UK 2-4pm. Tickets £15 to book visit www.thejazzcentre.co.uk
Southend Symphony Orchestra. Concert on Saturday, 14th. October, at Highlands Methodist Church, Sutherland Boulevard, Leigh on Sea. SS9 3PT. From 7.30pm. Beethoven, Gounod and Dvorak.
SDPC Meeting: Wednesday, 18th, October. Ladybirds Song group From 2pm to 4pm.
Annie Riley at Variety Lunches. Monday, 27th November, 2023. “Jingle Bell Rock”. At Chalkwell Park Rooms, London road, Westcliff on Sea. SS0 8NB. All tickets £20 each including two-course meal, Tea/Coffee and a show! Please contact Margaret Haydon on 01702. 295008 or 07814 714937to express your interest. Margaret has already ordered 20 tickets for her other group. Why not join them?
Editor’s request.
If you would like contribute any items to your “Digest”, please send your articles, poems, or jokes to me at 91, Brightwell Avenue, Westcliff on Sea, Essex. SS0 9EG, or email howes01702@outlook.com. Many thanks.