Digest January 2023
SOUTHEND & DISTRICT PENSIONER’S CAMPAIGN
“Digest “- January, 2023.
“Retirement must be a wonderful thing. I mean, you can suck in your stomach for only so long.” (Burt Reynolds)
Happy New Year to all our Member’s!
Last month’s Meeting.
We enjoyed hearing about the life of Peter Wilkins who was a quad born blind who became a close friend of Jill Allen-King.
In Committee.
Our full committee await further developments
on our campaign to introduce an effective Community Transport Service across the City.
The paperwork for our AGM on Wednesday, February 15th was approved, and the lunch has been ordered. Our future programme of speakers for this year is almost complete, while sadly, we have to report the unexpected death of one of our regular speakers, Ann Hardy. Ann spoke to us in April about her career as a costumier working in theatre and cinema.
We continue to welcome any articles for this monthly “Digest”, and still seek more members to join our Committee which meets for 2 hours each month. We also need another delegate who would be interested in attending the quarterly NPC London Region
Council Meetings in London. Travelling expenses would be reimbursed.
We are grateful to our Chair, Jill for sending us the following article.
Memories of 1953.
It was January 31st. 1953. I was 12 years old and living in Benfleet. I was woken up early in the morning to be told that Canvey Island had been flooded and that many people had been drowned.
As it turned out that, 2 of these people were my Auntie and Uncle who lived in Newlands road, just near to where the sea wall had broken. My Uncle Bernard who lived next door to my Aunt and Uncle had been at a dance that night at the Memorial Hall, where he was the Master of Ceremonies. This was the opening night of this hall. Bernard had stayed late to clear up. When hearing the flood alarm he went out in a boat to try and rescue my aunt and Uncle. It was no use as their bungalow had been submerged. Fortunately my Grandmother was at home in in Enfield as my school, Kings John was being used for refugees,
I spent 3 weeks helping with the flood washing in the British Legion Hall on Canvey. Wearing my Girls Life Brigade uniform I spent my 13th birthday there and my grandmother visited me and gave me a clock. I will never forget the smell of that washing and the very sad stories I was told of that night. My Grandmother moved to live on Canvey until she died in 1972 at the age of 89. My Uncle Bernard Griffith carried on his Voluntary Life Boat work until his death in 2000 at the age of 85. He was awarded the M.B.E. and the Life Boat Gold award. I hope to go to the 70th anniversary on February 1st. on Canvey Island. from Jill Allen-King O.B. E.ne Griffith
LSE Research Study on Housing and Adult Care.
Jean, as secretary, recently received a call from the London School of Economics about a study into housing and adult care services. This is a taster to give you all a rough idea of the study before a member of the project team visits us at our AGM on 15th February to explain the project in more detail and fix up interviews.
There is a huge gap in the evidence on how housing circumstances experienced by older people influence the need for care services. This study is the first major attempt to bridge that gap. Most research on housing, ageing and care focuses on care homes and nursing homes whereas this study is entirely targeted on mainstream housing where the vast majority of people live. The LSE are also interested to interview not just older people with care needs but individuals providing informal care for their partner, friend or a neighbour.
Most older people wish to live in their own homes as they age and to have choice over their housing and care situation. However, currently many older people’s own homes are not accessible (for example, people cannot move around them or use all the facilities easily or safely) or are in poor condition. This may affect whether, how soon, and how quickly social care needs such as difficulties with mobility develop. Older people’s housing may also affect whether they can receive care at home, who they receive this care from, and how long they can live independently in the community.
LSE would welcome participation from members of Southend District Pensioner’s Campaign in the interviews as Southend is very different to the other localities participating in the study which are very large urban areas. Your Committee, very much welcome SDPC being involved in this study. All people interviewed will receive a £40 voucher.
Dates for your diary
Live Jazz concerts most Saturday afternoons from 2pm -4pm. £10 to £15. At
The Jazz Centre UK, Beecroft Art Gallery, Victoria Avenue, Southend.
Wednesday, 18th January. Members Meeting. Doris Jones the future of care service. 2pm. Balmoral Centre, Salisbury Avenue, Westcliff on Sea. SS0 7AU.
Trust Links. Wassailing. St. Laurence Orchard. Sunday, 22nd January. 2pm-3pm.
Holocaust Memorial Day. Service of commemoration. Civic Centre, Southend. 3pm. Sunday, 29th January.
Emma Rawicz. Rising star Jazz saxophonist and composer. Playing with
her trio at Twenty One, Southend Esplanade near the Pier. Sunday, 29th. January, at 5.30pm. Tickets online at £12 plus a booking fee of £1.01.
Fund Raising Lunch at Shorehouse, Harvester, Ness Rd Shoebury Wednesday 1st February at 12.30pm £15 for two course lunch. Call Jill 01702 477899 to book your place.
Trust Links.
Seed Potato Day. Rochford.
Saturday, 4th February. 11am-2pm
Wednesday 15th February Members Meeting, AGM and Lunch. Plus LSE study briefing.
LuminoCity (2) Southend. The Southend city BID team are presenting another amazing 3 day lighting event in the centre of the City. Thursday, 16th February to Saturday, 18th.
Southend Symphony Orchestra. Mozart overture, Dittersdorf Double Bass Concerto, Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 6. Kings Road URC, Westcliff. SS0 8LH. Saturday, 25th February. At 7.30 pm. Adults £12 Concessions £10. Under 18’s £1.
Bob Howes. Tel:017023410howes01702@outlook.com www.southendpensioners.org.uk