Digest August 23
SOUTHEND & DISTRICT PENSIONER’S CAMPAIGN
“Digest “- August 2023
“Youth would be an ideal state if it came a little later in life” (Herbert Henry Asquith)
Please help at our next Meeting.
On Wednesday, 16th August we have four of our Committee Members who will be absent. It’s the “silly season” when many holidays are taken, and the Committee will be discussing whether to continue to meet in August. Consequently we would appreciate members arriving early to help set-up the hall , with tables and chairs etc., from about 1.15pm
Change of Address:
Our email address has changed to:-
southenddistrictpensioners@gmail.com
We used to have three members who had training on updating our website, but since the death of David Stansfield, we only have two. We need more IT support in order be able to keep the site effective, so if you know anyone who could spare a little time each month to help-out, please let Jean know. Roger Savage of SAVS will try to find someone also.
Last month’s Meeting.
Our speaker Michael Holland gave an interesting talk with slides on the history of the start of policing from the 14th century through to 1829 when the Metropolitan Police were formed. In 1361 the Peace Act was passed, and under King Charles 1, watchmen were introduced. We saw amazing details of the various riots which took place in Essex, due to the poverty of agricultural workers who dominated most of county’s workforce. Later on, crimes were reported to JP’s and Parish Constables were elected every year. It cost money to report crimes. Chief Constables were elected for 7 years. In Colchester, the first Prosecution Association was set-up in 1765. They still meet today! There was a famine from 1795 till 1800 which was followed by a famous riot by farm labourers in May, 1800. Michael’s talk prompted many questions from our members.
The rail station ticket office closures
The Rail Delivery Group have extended the deadline for their consultation to the end of August. Please respond by going to the Transport Focus website and clicking on Consultation response form. Or, you may send your views to this address: – Freepost, RTEH-XAGE-BYKZ, Transport Focus, PO Box 5594, Southend on Sea, SS1 9PZ. If you need assistance, please phone 0300 123 2350. The opposition to these plans has become huge, with a Baroness in the Lord’s suggesting that there should be Judicial Review of the idea. Also, the Mayor of Greater Manchester and others are seeking legal advice to see if it is legal.
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 news of the future City Travel Centre. We decided to write as a Campaign group to Travel Focus about the plans to close most of our rail station ticket offices, and Jill offered to do it. Jim, our new Committee Member, has agreed to be note taker at our meetings. Bob reported the July accounts showed a balance carried forward from June of £3, 214. 24.
The NHS in danger.
I am grateful to our Member, Mr. Majzoub Ali for a copy of the Summer issue of “Health Campaigns Together” which headlined on the NHS facing it’s greatest danger as it becomes 75 years old. With so-called “reforms” over the past 11 years, we have seen the focus being on forcing more services being contracted out to profit – seeking private providers.
This huge and expensive reorganisation fragmented services, undermined the finances of NHS Trusts, and raised spending on private contractors. This was made worse by the increased privatising of more mental health services. All this despite the often poor quality of private sector provision. Our NHS continues to decline.
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 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 music musicians. £10 per person.
Friday, 18th and Saturday, 19th August, at Leigh Library Gardens, Southend Craft Beer Festival. 7pm to 10pm.
Wednesday, 23rd. August, 2023. TrustLinks, Thundersley. Kiln Road, Benfleet. SS7 1TF. Tea Party from 2pm -4pm. With the “Lady Bird Song Choir”. Suggested donation £
Friday, 1st. September till Sunday, 3rd. Southend City Jam. High Street. International Street Art Festival. 10am till 5pm.
Herd in the City. A free family Art Trail. Now until 4th September.
Bookstart Storyrhymes. For children up to 5 years. Check at your local Library to book.
Wednesday 6th September SDPC Lunch 12.30pm. Shorehouse Harvester Shoeburyness.£15 for two courses. Ring Jean to book your place. 01702 341047.
Saturday, 9th. September, 2023. TrustLinks “Walking Together”. Shoeburyness to Westcliff. Tel. 01702 213134.
Wednesday 20th September SDPC Meeting. 2-4pm Balmoral Community Centre. Lee Bagnall “ Folks like us- reaching out to the lonely and isolated.”
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 with 2 course meal, Tea/coffee and a Show! Contact Margaret Haydon 01702 295008 or 07814 714937 to express your interest, she has already ordered 20 tickets for her 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