Branch Officers and Committee 2015-16

President Pearl Morton 263252

Vice President Yvonne Hayes 578306

Chairman Dorinda Richardson 330824

Vice Chair Trevor Caunt 705681

Secretary Jean Close 01775 720265

Assist Secretary Delores Gatehouse 264955

Committee Minute Secretary Yvonne Hayes 578306

Branch Minute Secretary Irene Amos 332260

Treasurer Jean Close 01775 720265

Asst Treas. & Sales Organiser Jean Lawson 572980

Membership Secretary Mike Collins 559095

Assist Membership Secretary Sandy Collins 559095

Welfare Officer Irene Amos 332260

Outings Secretary Yvonne Hayes 578306

Asst Outings Secretary Hazel Black 370694

Asst Outings Secretary Yvonne Taylor 577287

Birthday Club Irene Amos 332260

Speaker Host/Lunch Club Pearl Morton 263252

New Member Hostess Delores Gatehouse 264955

Monthly News Editor Trevor Caunt 705681

Branch First Aider Dorinda Richardson

Other committee members Sandra Parker

Margaret Inglett

Application forms for help from the National Benevolent Fund are

available from Central Office by ringing 01305 361317. Complete the

form and return as directed. If the Welfare Officer is not available please

contact any committee member should the need arise.

Trevor Caunt, Editor.

John Rostill, NHSRF Director, 07427571816

Patron: Mr Ken Jarrold CBE Registered Charity

No. 287936

Picture from Hazel and

Dee’s holiday in the Netherlands

Visit our Website: www.nhsrf-pboro.com National Website : www.nhsrf.org.uk Contact the Editor: E.mail: trevor.caunt@ntlworld.com Snail mail: 54 Thorpe Lea Road, Peterborough, PE3 6BZ Tel : 01733 705681

Peterborough & District Branch NHS Retirement Fellowship

CHAIRMAN. Well here we are half way through the year. As we approach the longest day this week, we have had the Queens official birthday and what a spectacular parade it was! I think the horses are magnificent and we should still be proud to have troops who turn out looking so smart. Those of you who saw the parade must have smiled as I

did when little Prince George appeared on the balcony and stole the show. Isn’t he gorgeous! On Thursday we had our village pudding club and this is held

Issue no 6

JUNE

2015

PLEASE READ

SPECIAL NOTE

ON PAGE 8.

every eight weeks in our village hall and is open to everyone. I made a sticky toffee pudding as it was a pudding eaten by the Monks during the time of the Magna Carta. Today is Sunday June 14th, and we all meet for the Liberteas. This is something the Parishes have organised to get people together for one hour, from 3pm to 4pm, to celebrate the Magna Carta. This will mean some more baking as we will have Tea and Cake together. Well I think that is enough from me for now. To those who are going, I hope you enjoy your lunch at the prison. Be good and take care, Dorinda

Clues:

Across: 1. A liqueur.(8). 7. Type of car. (5). 8. South African people. (5). 9. What

you are doing. (6). 10. Check for errors. (4). 12. We don’t do this anymore!. (4).

14. Drakes ships. (6). 17. Party goer (5). 18. Mild curry. (5). 19. Blackberry

bushes. (8).

Down: 1. Used by blacksmiths. (5). 2. Parts of poems. (6). 3. Taxis. (4). 4. Skin

condition (5). 5. This is one. (9) 6. Dorinda went here. (9) 11. 8 across lifestyle. (6).

13. The Nene is one. (5). 15. A car has two. (5). 16. Work for exams. (4).

Answers from May Crossword.

Across: 1. Medicine. 7. Korma. 8. Agent. 9. Title. 10. Asks. 12. Pear.

14. Apollo. 17. Rhyme. 18. Outre. 19. Ascorbic.

Down: 1. Merit. 2. Diaper. 3. Chat. 4. Needs. 5. Skatepark. 6. Otoscopes.

11. Aplomb. 13. Abyss. 15. Lytic. 16. Zero.

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7 8

9 10

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12 13 14 15

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17 18

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EDITORIAL We had a good holiday in Austria, all the

arrangements went well as we decided not to use a travel

agent due to various problems last year. The usual wel-

come awaited us at the hotel, which together with some

nice warm weather made it memorable. During the

weekend we were there, there was a parade of Huntsmen

on each day making it a spectacle to remember. If I have

some room I will put a couple of photos to show the uniforms and the ladies

dresses. See page 8.

I am glad that you had a good AGM and look forward to this next year,

making our fellowship a place of friendship and happiness.

I am grateful for the items you have sent, several of which are in this

issue, please keep them coming.

Trevor.

Thoughts to ponder.

Don’t worry about old age; it doesn’t last long.

All of us could take a lesson from the weather. It pays

no notice of criticism.

Good health is merely the slowest rate at which one can

die

ANNUAL CONFERENCE/HOLIDAY

JULY 3rd to 6th

At the Queens Hotel Leeds

Subsidised package £250 per person sharing, £300 per person single.

Insurance at £15 per person.

Price includes dinner, bed & breakfast from Friday evening

to Monday breakfast.

See Yvonne for more details and to book your places.

THORPE HALL AFTERNOON TEA

Thursday 30th July. Cost £8.50.

See Yvonne to book your places and book early to avoid disappointment.

THE BEST WAY TO HAVE A FRIEND IS TO BE ONE.

10 3

LUNCH GROUP DATES FOR 2015 PETERBOROUGH: Thurs. July 16th: Fri. Aug. 14th: Thurs. Sept. 17th:

Fri. Oct 16th: Thurs. 12th Nov:

BOURNE & DEEPINGS: Thurs. July 23rd: Fri. Aug. 21st:

Thurs. Sept 24th: Fri. Oct 23rd: Thurs. Nov 19th:

I hope people will support these lunches and look forward to seeing old

and new members there. The actual places for these lunches are announced at

the monthly meetings.

Please note that these are subject to change depending on members’

availability, particularly car drivers. Please contact me one week prior to the

lunch date if you are interesting in joining either group and to confirm venues

and changes.

Pearl Morton

Tel 01733 263252 OR pearl.morton@ntlworld.com

PULSE DIARY DATES

27th July Annual Public Meeting at PCH.

7th October Members Meeting at Stamford Hospital.

BRANCH MEETINGS Are held on the last Wednesday of each month

July and August will be held in

Paston Church Hall

Bartram Gate, Paston, Peterborough. and members must not go into the hall until vacated

by the previous users.

NEXT MEETING

Wednesday, JULY 29th

BIRDS OF PREY Jeff Knott

Doors open 2pm, refreshments (50p) from 2.15pm, meeting

2.30pm

The usual sales table and Raffle. Talk to Yvonne to book your outings.

TRIP TO THE NETHERLANDS

Dee and I have just arrived home after a short break on the

Continent.

We left Peterborough at 6.30am, no traffic jams and the sea

crossing was very calm. We arrived at our hotel at about 6pm, The Apollo

at Papendrect, not far from Amsterdam.

Next morning we left the hotel at about 9.30am for the trip to the

Keukenhof Gardens. The gardens were spectacular, the colours and

designs were amazing, the weather was hot and sunny.

The next day, the weather was dull and cool, off we went to a clog

making factory and then a cheese making farm. On the way back to the

hotel we called at a large market selling bulbs and plants, all very cheap,

so everyone on the coach bought loads of everything.

The final day we left the hotel for the return journey back home, the

weather was hot and sunny. On the way home we stopped off in Bruges

for three hours, which was very interesting. We arrived back in

Peterborough at about 8pm, having had a very pleasant few days.

Hazel and Dee.

Two more pictures from Dee from

their holiday.

Editors note; When I read Hazel and Dee’s report of their trip it reminded

me of June and my trip to Kuekenhof many years ago and it was just as

beautiful then.

PETERBOROUGH MALE VOICE CHOIR

Cont from page 5.

The choir have performed with Lesley Garrett for ‘Sing for

Heroes’, also the late Bernie Nolan for ‘Sing for Life’, plus the award

winning Grimethorpe Colliery Band.

The next concert is on Saturday 6th September, a Classical

Spectacular with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, tickets from Peter-

borough Visitor Info Centre Tel 0336663366 or online at

www.peterboroughmvchoir.org.uk

Editors note:-

Further to the above report which Mick gave me last October he

has also given me the following as an update on one the Choirs exploits

this year.

On April 25th the Choir were in Bangor, Northern Ireland for the

Bangor Choral Competition and won a cup for the best male voice choir,

and a glass rose bowl for the best choir outside Ireland in the

competition. The competition was extremely high and the choir were

very pleased with the result.

While we were in Ireland we visited the Titanic Experience,

Bushmills Distillery, the Giants Causeway, and the Rope Bridge at

Carrick, which was fantastic. (not all singing then).

Mick Collins.

You will see this only once in your lifetime. Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa

1 2

3 4 5 6 7 8 9

10 11 12 13 14 15 16

17 18 19 20 21 22 23

24 25 26 27 28 29 30

31

August, in 2015, will have five Fridays, five Saturdays,

and five Sundays. This happens only once every 823 years. The Chinese

call it ‘Silver Pockets Full’.

Good luck to you all.

4 9

BRANCH MEETINGS.

Due to the refurbishment of St Andrew’s Hall commencing in July, we

will be meeting in the PASTON CHURCH HALL FOR JULY AND

AUGUST. From September we will return to meeting in St Andrew’s hall

as usual. There will be other times in the future when this work will

continue but we will let you know when this will be.

Paston Church Hall is situated on Bartram Gate, just off Fulbridge

Road. A number 2 bus from the bus station will take you there, if you ask

for Paston Ridings when you get on the bus the driver should let you know,

but you will see the Church Spire long before you get there and the bus

stops right outside the Church Hall. To return you get on at the same stop

as the bus does a circular trip.

We hope that this will not cause members too much inconvenience

and that you will continue to support us.

If you have any problems please talk to a committee member.

For the two meetings (July and August) the Committee will organise

some directions to help you get from the bus to the Hall.

Correction.

In April’s newsletter it was reported that the Burma Star Association

was closing, within the notes of the previous meeting. This is an erroneous

statement as it is not closing down nationally or locally, and it still has a

benevolent fund for members.

Jean Lawson, Secretary, Peterborough and District Branch,

Burma Star Association.

Two photos of the parade. The one on the left taken from our bedroom

window, the other a close up of the ladies

dresses. Trevor.

8 5

PETERBOROUGH MALE VOICE CHOIR

I am the membership secretary for the Fellowship and also the first

tenor manager for the Peterborough Male Voice Choir.

This was formed in 1935 by workers at Peterborough’s old sugar beet

factory. For over 75 years it has been part of the musical life of the region,

staging frequent concerts, winning countless competitions and raising many

thousands of pounds for good causes.

Renewed success came with the appointment of William Prideaux as

musical director in January 2010. The choir has increased in size and now in-

cludes many younger men.

In 2011 the choir won two England wide arts prizes including the EPIC

award from Voluntary Arts (UK), where judges recognised the outstanding

success in reviving the choir. The choir have been placed third in two choral

competitions in Cornwall, achieved three first places including winning the

open choral class against thirteen other choirs.

Cont on page 9.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE FOLLOWING MEMBERS FOR JULY 2015.

03 Jean Close 03 Carmel Owens 08 Robert Hodgson 08 Hazel Sibthopre 09 Marjorie Peck 14 Marguerite Walpole 15 Eric Robinson 16 Margaret Fordham 16 Pamela Wilkinson 20 Barbara Roughton +++ 20 Lorna Jarvis 22 Patricia West 23 Daphne Hulme 25 Yvonne Goodale 28 Sheila Middleton +++ Denotes Special Birthday

7

If you require help, know of a member who is ill, admitted to Hospital or re-

quires help in any way, please inform Irene using the telephone number on the

back page. If Irene is not contactable you can let a committee member know

and they will pass it on. Irene will take whatever action is needed.

At the June Committee meeting Irene reported on members who were

not well and needed our thoughts.

We wish all members who have been ill a speedy recovery.

SCAMS I received a scam letter allegedly from ‘Health Lottery UK’ saying I had

won a large amount of money. It was a very plausible letter with a Liverpool

address at the top. However I have never entered a lottery but the way they got

round that was to say ‘Participants in this programme were randomly

selected by computer from a database of the NHS number resident in the UK’

I did not believe it was genuine as for one thing it said to call a phone number

which is a premium number. I checked on line at a site called ‘Scam Call

Fighters’ and it identified this number and also the name of the sender Dr D

Duke of Ashmore Investments to be involved in other scams not just the one I

received. It was a well presented letter which also stated ‘Your claims com-

pany will be paid 5% of the award price as commission AFTER you have re-

ceived your money’ It also said at the bottom of the letter ‘Ashmore

Investment is a Government-Licensed Lottery Service Agency’

I emailed the real Health Lottery who said it was not from them and said

it was a scam and warned not to send any money or give them any bank

Details which I would not have done anyway to anyone.

What did concern me was that they alleged they knew my NHS number

and of course they had my address to be able to send the letter out. I found it

rather worrying.

Pamela Wilkinson. Thought for the month.

When you were born, you cried and the world rejoiced.

Live your life in such a way that when you die,

the world cries and you rejoice.

An Indian Proverb.

6

MAY 27th.

Following on from the AGM refreshments were served - free of

charge - then Dorinda spoke about general matters appertaining to the

Branch.

On Welfare matters, Irene reported that Lavinia Faulkner has settled

into her new environment and was participating in a number of activities,

which included joining a gym! Mr Joyce has been unwell, but is now good

making progress.

Social Activities - The ‘Lunch Behind Bars’ on Thursday June 18th,

Keith issued forms for the participants to complete and a list of items not

allowed to be taken into the prison. The three course lunch costs £7.50 in-

cluding tea or coffee.

Yvonne had four vacancies for the afternoon tea at Thorpe Hall

on Thursday 30th July. There is now one space left so, please get this

booked but I am sure that Yvonne will be organising further visits.

Dorinda announced that due to refurbishment of the hall, our meetings

for July and August ONLY would be held at Paston Church Hall. Details of

travel are on page 8. It was noted that Ethel Armstrong, current President of

the National Federation will be attending our August Meeting. Ethel will be

retiring from this post at the AGM to be held in Leeds from July 3rd.

Dorinda gave details of Thorpe Hall Hospice opening times for the

public to view the new premises, but the only date now relevant would be

Thursday 25th June 5pm to 9pm.

Sadly we have had a complaint about one of our speakers. Dorinda

pointed out the difficulties our Speaker Hostess has in finding good speakers

and asked the membership to let Pearl have the names and contact details if

they know or hear of any good speakers. Also, she asked members to voice

their opinions on the activities of the Branch so that the committee can take

note and rectify any problems.

The raffle was drawn with 7 prizes.

Dorinda thanked everyone for attending and wished them a good trip

home.