Digest- September
SOUTHEND & DISTRICT PENSIONER’S CAMPAIGN
September Digest 2022
“The greatest problem about old age is the
fear that it might go on too long.”
(A.J.P.Taylor).
Queen Elizabeth II
Southend & District Pensioner’s Campaign
are deeply saddened by the death of
Queen Elizabeth II, and the President,
Committee and Members join the
Kingdom, Commonwealth and Realms in
mourning. We send our deep sympathy to
the whole Royal Family at this difficult
time.
Last month’s meeting.
The Ladybird song group entertained us with
songs old and new, and Members sang along
when they knew the words.
Alvin surprised Jill by asking her to dance!
They are now an Internet sensation being
mentioned on the Balmoral Facebook page!!!
In Committee
We have received thank you letters from
Harp and Independent Age following our
donations in memory of David Stansfield, our
past Treasurer.
Thanks are due to both Brigitte and Izzy as
they have both agreed to become signatories
on our bank account to make life easier as at
the moment only Jean, Margaret and I can
sign cheques. Slow progress is being made
with the Co-op Bank; they have finally sent
cheque and paying-in books. We are
maintaining our accounts at a very basic level
i.e., keeping a record of payments out and in.
Dickens would understand!
The Committee were very pleased to elect Jill
Allen-King as Chair, and Bob Howes as
Treasurer of SDPC. They will take office from
October, after the annual accounts have been
examined and agreed. Your committee are
relieved that these crucial positions are filled
by experienced committee members.
However, we still need to boost the
number of Committee Members, which
only entails one Meeting a month for two
hours.
Lottery starts again at October’s meeting, £12
for twelve tickets. Application forms available
from Margaret on the day or via her email
address margarethaydon18@gmail.com or
call her on 01702 295008.
Barbara Armitage, our past Chair, is now
comfortable and being cared for in a home.
Jean and I visited recently, and she still
remembers things from long ago. Such as
she and John accompanied Jill and Alvin on
their honeymoon!
New Energy Price Guarantee.
Recently, “Which?” together with Martin
Lewis of www.moneysavingexpert.com have
both published some details of the £2,500
price cap.
Unit rates will be fixed for 2 years for domestic
customers and include all households.
Electricity: 34p per kWh with a
standing charge of 46p per day
Gas: 10.3p per kWh with a standing
charge of 28p per day
All households will receive £67 discount on
their October bill, this will be the first
instalment of six such payments.
Winter Fuel Allowance will be £500 for all
Pensioners to cover some of the extra costs.
“Which?” recommend that you wait for your
provider to contact you, explaining exactly
what you will be paying.
Meanwhile, we have to wait until Friday,
23rd September for the Chancellor’s
Autumn Statement when he will include
the actual details of all the various support
package’s which will apply from October.
Members Contributions .
I, as editor welcome contributions from
members, this is from Michael Merriman.
Can you do better?
A school Inspector is sent to access a Year 4
class in a local Brisbane State School. He is
introduced to the class by the teacher. She
says to the class, “Let’s show the Inspector
just how clever you are by allowing him to ask
you a question “.
The Inspector reasons that normally class
starts with religious instruction, so he will ask
a biblical question. He asks: “Class, who
broke down the walls of Jericho?” For a full
minute there is absolute silence. Eventually,
little Billy raises his hand. Billy stands up and
replies: “Sir, I do not know who broke down
the walls of Jericho, but I can assure you it
wasn’t me “.
Of course the Inspector is shocked by
the answer and the lack of knowledge of the
famous bible story and he looks at the
teacher for an explanation. Realising that he
is perturbed, the teacher says: “Well, I’ve
known Billy since the start of the year, and I
believe that if he says that he didn’t do it then
he didn’t do it “.
The Inspector is even more shocked at
this and storms down to the principal’s office
and tells him what happened, to which the
principal replies: “I don’t know the boy, but I
believe his teacher. If she feels that the boy is
innocent, then he must be innocent “. I
The Inspector can’t believe what he is
hearing. He grabs the phone on the
principal’s desk and in a rage, dials Julia
Gillard (The Prime Minister of Australia) and
rattles off the entire occurrence to her and
asks her what she thinks of the education
standard in the State. The PM sighs heavily
and replies: I don’t know the boy, the teacher
or the principal, but just get three quotes and
have the bloody wall fixed!
Stop Press.
Jean has been in contact with Brian Billins,
one of our regular speakers and she reports
that he is now feeling fit again, and is eager to
get onto the speakers trail.
NPC London Region.
We have now paid our Affiliation Fee to NPC.
The next London Region Council Meeting is
due to be held on Thursday, 29th September,
Izzy and I attend on a regular basis as they
are an excellent campaigning Region.
Dates for your Diary.
Live Jazz most Saturdays 2pm -4pm at The
Jazz Centre UK, “Beecroft Art Gallery,
Victoria Avenue, Southend. SS2 6EX.
Friday, 30th September: For the Mayors
charities. Macmillan Coffee Morning at
Porters Civic House, Southchurch Road,
Southend SS1 2LT. from 10.30 am. Book
your place phone 0300 102 1557 or
events@southendmayorscharity.net
Saturday, 1st. October: Apple Day – Trust
Links. 11am-2pm. St. Laurence Orchard, 129
Eastwoodbury Lane, SS2 6YU. Refreshments
available. Number 9 Bus from Southend.
Wednesday, 5
th. October: Fundraising lunch
at the Toby Carvery on the seafront. Noon.
Register with Jean. 01702 341047, 07952
546810
19th October : Members meeting. Talk by
Bob Dalgarno on the River Thames 2pm.
Balmoral Centre, Salisbury Road, Westcliff
Bob Howes Tel: 01702 341047
howes01702@outlook.com
www.southendpensioners.org.uk