“Digest”. – August, 2026
“What is our task? To make Britain a fit country for heroes to live in”. David Lloyd George. (1863-1945).
Last month’s Meeting:
We enjoyed an interesting “Romp through the History of Old Leigh” in July from our speaker, Carole Mulroney.
Carole displayed many old photographs of historic scenes and local characters to give us an insight into how the town has developed over many decades. Amusing stories of some larger than life local trades-people and fisher folk kept us amused and sometimes amazed. Her own family were featured as local tradesmen in the Broadway, and Carole keeps a data-base of about 30,000 names of people with Leigh connections.
In Committee:
We welcome Neil Bennett onto our Committee.
The replacement of our laptop has its security extended for another year.
Our Chair, Jean Howes reported that she will order more flyers for us to deliver from our original supplier. Planning for our programme of speakers for next year is progressing well, and we agreed to invite Cllr. Christine Webster annually. Age Concern Southend have invited us to attend regular Coffee Mornings at their hub in Hamlet Court Road on Mondays and Thursdays. Will need at least four Members to attend to promote our Campaign.
Jamie from SAVS has offered us a place in the Victoria shopping centre, with a date in October to be confirmed
Volunteer Fair: The Forum Library. Tuesday, 8th, September. A table will be
provided for us from 10.30am till 2.30pm. Committee Members will attend with updated Boards. The job descriptions for a Community and Social Media Officer and a Treasurer have been sent to SAVS for inclusion in their volunteer role Register. Thanks to Tricia Cowdrey for formulating a job description for the Social Media role.
Our Secretary, Sue Stacey, has been busy attending various local organisations on our behalf. She has been discussing with Committee Members the need for Public Liability Insurance, and we have discovered that we do need it. We will have to use caterers for our events. Jean Howes has accepted a quote from Zurich Insurance and we have paid the annual premium of £111.15 with the cover starting on 1st. September this year.
Lorraine Coman ASDA Community Rep. confirmed they will supply a raffle prize each month.
Live Well – Age well have an event at Salvation Army, Clarence Road, Southend on Tuesday, 27th. October, from 11am till 1pm. Sue and others will attend with our Boards and flyers and give a short talk about SDPC.
Our Treasurer Bob Howes reported a healthy balance in the accounts which are stable. We hope to find someone to take over his role for next year. We are trying to add Sue Stacey as a signatory at the Co-op Bank.
Margaret Haydon, our Lottery Officer expects that our Lottery will close down at the end of September. Thank you to all those who have generously supported it over the years.
Campaigning
We are still hopeful that the Southend City Council will elect one of their Members to be an Older Persons Champion for all of the pensioner’s across our City.
On Thursday, 23rd, July, most of our Committee met with Cllr. Christine Webster at the Civic Centre. Christine is a retired Head Teacher, and is the Council’s Portfolio Holder for Education. She explained that she is the appointed Councillor for Southend District Pensioners Campaign, but that she has someone younger in mind to be the Champion for the Older Person across the City. Chris will be coming to introduce herself at our Open Forum Meeting on the 19th, August.
NPC Report:
Issy Isaacs, our Vice –Chair gave a short update on the on-going issues at the National Pensioners Convention. He said the Unite Union Pensioners group has set up a Social Care Campaign. Issy will find out more, and report to the next Meeting.
Two Funerals
On Monday, 3rd. August, a few of our Committee attended the funeral service in Basildon of Jan Merriman who was a regular attendee at our Friendly Lunches. It was led by the Minister from St. Mary’s Church in Prittlewell, who also took the service for Jan’s husband Michael two and half years ago. A well led service indeed.
On Monday, 10th. August, a few of us attended the funeral service in Southend of Alvin King, our President’s husband.
Alvin had been ill for some time and was in a care home in Westcliff. We had a good celebration of his life in the service and the wake afterwards. We will have a one minute silence before our Meeting starts.
Sale of the PA System:
We have sold our PA system to the St. Barbaras (LAA) Greek Orthodox Christian Church, which is next door to the Balmoral Centre where we meet. They are delighted, as it will help them with their plans to develop their ministry.in the local community.
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. Free.
Southend Council Concert Series. Monthly serious music concerts continue, but the venues now alternate. Friday evenings. From 8pm. Book by phone 01702. 215011.
Now until 27th September: Music in the Park. Concerts in Priory Park at the Southend Bandstand every weekend and Bank Holiday. From 3pm till 4.30 pm. various bands and groups. Take your own chairs and blankets if you wish.
Until 23rd. August. The State of Her. A retrospective by Heidi Wigmore. At The Beecroft Art Gallery, Victoria Avenue, Southend on Sea, Essex.
Wednesday, 2nd. September. SDPC Friendship Lunch: at Harvester, Shorehouse from12.30pm. £18. Contact Margaret Haydon on 07814 714 937 to book your place.
Wednesday, 16th September. SDPC Monthly Meeting: 2pm to 4pm. Age Concern Southend Balmoral Centre, Salisbury Avenue, Westcliff on Sea, SS0 7AU
Please send any items for publication in your “Digest” to Bob Howes (Editor) Email: howes01702@outlook.com