Digest- January 2025
Southend & District Pensioner’s Campaign
“Digest” – January, 2025
Joke
I hear that Kia, the car manufacturers, are producing a new model. It’s called The Starmer. (The Kia Starmer). It’s a very strange car. It only does U-Turns and when it reaches 65 the heater cuts out. Revd. Ron Wiffen
Last month’s Meeting:
We enjoyed a good social get-together
over a very good buffet tea just before the Christmas break.
In Committee:
Your Committee had a busy Meeting where we decided to agree the various Officers’ Annual Reports for distribution to all Members. Our 40th Anniversary celebration due in October was discussed and we hope to have a guest speaker from the NPC attending. Jill Allen King confirmed that she has asked the new Mayor for 2025/6 to attend as well. The purchase of a new projector has been put on hold for the time being. Bob Howes and Jim Folwell will be attending the Age Concern (Southend) AGM on Friday, 10th. January, from 2pm. There is a Coffee Morning at Kent Elms Library where we could set-up our display board if some Members are able to collect the board from 91, Brightwell Avenue, Westcliff and attend to market our Campaign. It was agreed that Jean Howes will continue to arrange our future Speakers.
`Marketing SDPC:
If you know of any local charity or voluntary organisation who may host an indoor community networking event or an Open Day, please let us know. We would be keen to attend to advertise our Campaign and meet other campaigning groups in the area.
Campaigning:
While Southend City Council are absorbed with finalising next year’s Budget, and also discussing the government’s proposals to completely reorganise our local government system, The Editor will be writing to the local media later than planned regarding our campaign to have an Older Person’s Champion on the Southend Council.
NPC Report:
We are grateful to Issy Isaacs for keeping us informed of some of the work going on at Executive level of the NPC. Izzy sits on the Executive Committee which gives him access to news which our London Region Council delegates Bob Howes and Jim Folwell don’t receive. The next London Council Meeting will be on Thursday, 30th. January with the AGM being held in March. Hopefully, we shall hear soon how progress is being made on the Incorporation of the NPC as a Company, Limited by Guarantee.
Leader Comment: (By the Editor).
Social Care Reform:
The crises in our NHS will be impossible to deal with until the social care issue is properly dealt with on a cross-Party basis. It is clear that the government needs to start urgently working towards the nationalisation of the care sector in order to provide enough suitable places for those who need care after leaving hospital. Care workers need higher status and salaries, together with improved training and career progression.
The Economy:
The UK economy has been set back since we left the EU Single Market and the Customs Union. Over 60% of British people now regret our decision to leave. We cannot obtain better international trade deals as a small group of islands just off Continental Europe than we did as a full Member of the EU. Over 36,000 of our small and medium enterprises have stopped exporting to Continental Europe since we left.
We need to work towards re-joining at the earliest opportunity.
The Assisted Dying Bill.
Personally, I do not believe this Bill will be passed. Due to the dangers which it would cause, and the difficulty in finding the clinical resources needed, I think that it will not pass through the Committee Stages in the Commons or the Lords.
(These are my own views, and not necessarily the views of the NPC).
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.
Southend Council Concert Series. Monthly serious music concerts continue, but the venues now alternate. Friday evenings. From 8pm.Book by phone 01702. 215011
60th Essex Open Art Exhibition From now till Sunday, 9 February 2025. Beecroft Art Gallery, Victoria Avenue, Southend.
Sunday, 19th. January. Trust Links. Wassailing. St. Laurence Orchard. 2pm to 3pm.
Tuesday, 21st. January. Coffee Morning at Kent Elms Library from 10am to 12 noon.
Wednesday, 5th. February, SDPC Lunch: Toby Carvery, Eastern Esplanade, Southend. 12.30pm Contact Margaret Haydon to book. Mob: 07814 714 937.
Wednesday, 19th February, SDPC Meeting. AGM 2pm till 4pm. Balmoral Centre, SalisburyAvenue, Westcliff, SS0 7AU.
Wednesday 15th October 40th Anniversary of Southend District Pensioners Campaign
Please send me any news, stories, poems or jokes relating to British OAP’s. Bob Howes, (Editor), 91, Brightwell Avenue, Westcliff on Sea, SS0 9EG. Email: howes01702@outlook .com