Digest- October
SOUTHEND & DISTRICT PENSIONER’S CAMPAIGN
October Digest 2022
“The trouble with retirement is that you never get a day off”. (Abe Lemons).
Last month’s meeting.
Our President, David Norman joined
us to welcome His Worship the Mayor
and Mayoress of Southend, Cllr. Kevin Robinson with his wife Debbie. Kevin gave an interesting talk about the urgent task’s surrounding the implementation of “Operation London Bridge” following the death of Queen Elizabeth II on 8th September. They had to cancel a Council Meeting due to be held at 6.30pm that evening, and start making many arrangements for the city to be led in mourning. Kevin spoke of his having to fit his mayoral duties around his nursing career, and family life.
In Committee.
We enjoyed a busy meeting this month, discussing a range of issues. The Southend City Council Health and Wellbeing Board, has offered us a seat on a new Community Panel.
Jill Allen-King volunteered.
SAVS (Southend Association of Voluntary Services) will hold their AGM on Tuesday, 1st November.
We have further strengthened our Committee by electing Issy Isaacs as our Vice-Chair. We are looking at a couple of issues which we would like to campaign on in the near future.
Alan felt particularly aggrieved that when the Travel Centre is full of buses, other buses have to park in the road leaving passengers struggling to get to the pavement safely. Your Committee felt that our Chairman should write to the City Council on our behalf and get them to sort it out.
Margaret raised the issue of getting GP appointments face to face, also Jean mentioned that she had been trying to get through to her surgery for over 2 weeks, gave up and is now self-medicating.
Issy encouraged everyone to get their Autumn Covid booster and Flue Jab.
Issy gave a report from the NPC London Regional Council Meeting held in September.
We have a Fund-Raising Lunch on Wednesday, 2nd November at the Toby Carvery, (Half-Way House) Eastern Esplanade, Southend. Meet at 12 noon. Two-course meal for £15. Please contact Jean (Tel: 01702 341047) to book a seat.
Members Contributions
Please do send me any contributions you think may be of interest or amusement for inclusion in “Digest”. Thank you.
I am grateful to Jean Howes spotting this story on Facebook.
Joke.
A pensioner drove his brand new BMW to 100 mph, looking in his rear view mirror, he saw a
police car behind him. He floored it to 140, then 150, then 155.Suddenly he thought,
“I’m too old for this nonsense!”
So he pulled over to the side of the road and waited for the police car to catch up with him.
The officer walked up to him, looked at his watch and said,
“Sir, my shift ends in ten minutes. Today is Friday and I’m taking off for the weekend with my family. If you can give me a good reason that I’ve never heard before, why you were speeding… I’ll let you go.”
The man looked very seriously at the police man, and replied:-
“Years ago, my wife ran off with a policeman, I thought you were bringing her back.”!!!
The Cop left saying, “Have a good day, Sir”.
Community Hubs
“Turning Tides” have hubs across the City called Folk like us: breaking loneliness and isolation for the over 55s.
Anyone can drop in and have a chat, meet other people, and learn about local services.
Central Hub Open Mon-Fri 10.00am to 2pm. SAVS Centre 29-31 Alexandra Street, Southend.
Shoebury Hub Open Mon 10am – 2.00pm. 151, West Road, Shoebury.
Paying for Car Parks in Southend
Izzy recently shared his concern about paying for car parks within Southend at our last Members meeting, and members shared his concern. He referenced an article in
the Southend “Echo” in which it claimed that our City Council were considering an option to make all the borough car park’s pay machines cash-less.
Many senior citizens do not have any access to smart-phones or internet. It’s about 15% of the population, who rely on cash or cheques to pay for everything. So I contacted one of the Councillor’s in the Cabinet and very promptly received this helpful response from Cllr. Paul Collins.
“The Council will maintain a cash payment option in its main car parks. It will be one machine against one or more that take contactless payment, which by your stats, 85% of us carry. It is not expense free to collect cash from machines ” Success! ”
State Pensions.
The “Southend Echo” reported that “State pensions could rise to more than £200 a week next year.
Millions could see the amount they get in retirement increase under the triple lock system which Prime Minister Liz Truss has hinted at bringing back.
Under the system, pensions either rise by 2.5 per cent, in line with average earnings published in September, or in line with the Consumer Price Index inflation figure, depending on which is highest.
The state pensions went up by 3.1 per cent in April.
Dates for your Diary.
Live Jazz most Saturdays 2pm -4pm at The Jazz Centre UK, “Beecroft Art Gallery, Victoria Avenue, Southend. SS2 6EX.
Wednesday, 19th October: Members Meeting. Talk by Age Concern- Havens Hub 2pm. Balmoral Centre, Salisbury Avenue, Westcliff on Sea.
SAVS AGM. 10.00 to 2.00pm Tuesday, 1st November.
Sunday, 30th October. British Summer Time ends.
Monday, 31st October. All Hallows Eve.
Saturday, 5th November, 7.30 pm. Concert. Brahms. A German Requiem. Southend Festival Chorus conducted by Dr. Joseph Fort. At Kings Road URC, 91, Kings Road, Westcliff on Sea, SS0 8LH.
Stop Press:
Southend City Council have just announced that they have started planning to set-up “WARM BANKS” across the City. These will be designated areas within Libraries and shopping centres, which will be available for people to keep warm and save on their heating costs at home.
Please encourage your local community centre or church to be involved.
Bob Howes Tel: 01702 341047
howes01702@outlook.com www.southendpensioners.org.uk