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Newsletter

Extracts from the March 2020 Newsletter

Message from the Editor – John Adam

Dear Friends

As I have said in recent editions of the Newsletter the changing climate and its daily manifestations in our weather has come to dominate the news headlines and our daily lives. Significant areas of the country have recently been badly affected by record levels of rainfall and widespread flooding. The damage and disruption to those communities affected has been both physically damaging and emotionally distressing and I trust that none of you have been seriously affected by what appear to be almost uncontrollable events.
However, we are now confronted by another significant event that seems to be spreading across the world at a worrying pace —Corona virus. As I write we are advised that the UK is moving from the Containment stage to the Delay stage whist the amount of cases in Europe is increasing daily, particularly in Italy which has a significant impact for me personally as I have a 3 week trip planned to Tuscany in early June including my niece’s wedding. So anxious times for us all – particularly as most of us will fall within the age group which the Government classifies as high risk. Let’s hope the worst scenario forecasts don’t come to fruition.
One of the sad things about producing the Newsletter is the regular reporting of the passing away of members. It has therefore been most pleasing to have received and able to include in this edition an article about one of our members, Philip Hillier, celebrating his 100th birthday- and still receiving his PO pension!
This edition of the Newsletter also includes the annual reports from the Treasurer, Secretary and myself the Editor as required by our rules and constitution.
I reported in the last edition that Joe Harris has had to step down as Secretary of our North West Group for health reasons. Could I ask members of the Group to let me know if there is anyone willing to take on this role. The NW has historically been one of our most active group, with well attended regular meetings and it would be a shame if this were not to continue.

CELEBRATION: P(Philip) Hillier ex Woking. 100 YEARS NOT OUT

Philip (Phil) Hillier was born in Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, in 1920. On leaving Huntingdon Grammar School, Phil joined the Biggleswade Post Office in 1936 as a Sorting Clerk and Telegraphist.

In 1940 Phil was called up and served the duration of the War with the 14th Army HQ and 7th Indian Signals Division in India and Burma.

Following demob in 1945 he returned to Biggleswade Post Office, where he was soon to meet  Audrey Littlefield, a Telegraphist working at Old Stevenage Post Office. In October 1947 they married and moved first to Farnham (Surrey) and then Potters Bar as Phil was transferred to Home Counties Regional HQ in London followed by two years travelling as a Postal Traffic Superintendent.

In 1962 he was appointed Head Postmaster Newport, Isle of Wight. A place he, in his words ‘Grew to love’ and still does.

Phil was appointed Assistant Head Postmaster Guildford in 1971, becoming Head Postmaster at Woking in 1975 until retirement in 1980.

Phil’s focus throughout life has been his family, friends, the Post Office, Church, and service in the community. Becoming a Server in Ely Cathedral at the age of 13, Phil went on to sit on a number of PCC’s and undertake duties of Churchwarden. Subsequently he became Treasurer of Godalming Deanery Synod, member of the Guildford Diocesan Board of Finance and Diocesan Day Schools Committee. In retirement, he became a School Governor in Godalming, Vice Chairman of Governor’s and Chairman of Finance Committee of St Bartholomew’s Middle School and later St. Barts Primary School in Haslemere, where Phil and Audrey had moved after leaving Godalming. The St. Barts School Library is named after him.

In retirement, whilst continuing with his many voluntary roles, Phil enjoyed developing his artistic talents and life with Audrey, pursuing their many interests, holidays and time with family. They enjoyed a long and happy marriage spanning 67 years and had two daughters, Susan and Rosemary, two grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

Audrey’s father was a Head Postmaster and both she, and her Mother before her, were Telegraph and Counter Clerks in the Post Office, meaning the Post Office has always played a very significant role in our family.

Looking at a two page article in the Isle of Wight County Press 5/10/1968 when Dad was asked to address complaints about the new ‘Two Tier Postal System’ he did so by inviting  the reporter to experience a day in the life of Newport Post Office ensuring an understanding of just what is involved in the journey of a letter/parcel.

After a very informative full day the reporter concluded the article having noticed large clocks in every room, with the Post Office unofficial motto “We live by the Clocks”. Dad always rose at 5.30 and to this day ensures that his Watch and clocks keep the right time!

Phil and Audrey moved from Haslemere in 2013 to take up residence in a Nursing Home in Chichester. Sadly Audrey passed away in 2016, however Phil continues to still takes pleasure being taken into Chichester through the lovely Bishops Palace Gardens.

Phil enjoyed celebrating his 100th Birthday on January 28th with family and friends in Chichester.

Phil with a good collection of greeting cards. Is that a “telegram” from Her Majesty the Queen on the top of the pile?

I am most grateful to Phil’s daughter, Susan, in advising me of this wonderful event and for producing this article for our Newsletter.


NEWS FROM THE GROUPS

Note:  All Group functions have been cancelled / postponed due to Government restriction during the Covid-19 outbreak.

SOUTH EAST: John Polglass

Whereas I had expected 18 members to attend the Xmas lunch at Reigate Manor Hotel, due to the misfortune of illness only 16 attended. However, that was still a reasonable number. We had decided on a much earlier date than usual for the lunch (27th November) in an attempt to miss the congestion we had experienced the previous year. If anything the carpark was even more congested. As a consequence and as the result of a suggestion by a member I am looking into the possibility of arranging the next lunch due on 22nd April at Denbies Wine Estate near Dorking.

The 16 who attended the Xmas lunch were; Jim and Joyce Anderson, David Brownfield, Roger Baynes, Ron Clatworthy , Dennis Hurkett,  Pat and Caroline Nield, John and Joan Polglass, Derek and Jill Reeves, Bryan and Chris Roberts, Drew Robertson, and John Tolley.

SOUTH WEST: Ray Stockall

I have booked our, next lunch at Tortworth Court hotel, for Wednesday 22nd April 2020. I have checked with the Devon & Cornwall Fellowship group to make sure that we do not clash, as several members like to attend both lunches.

It would be very good to see more members at our lunch to which they would be most welcome.

DEVON and CORNWALL: Keith Baldry

The annual Devon and Cornwall get together will be on Wednesday 29th April from noon at the Dartmoor Lodge Hotel and Restaurant, Pear Tree Cross, Ashburton. TQ13 7JW. Just off the A38. Tel: 01364 652232

NORTH EAST: Stuart Scoffins

17 Members and their guests met at The Ripon Spa Hotel at noon on 29 November 2019 for their Festive Lunch. The numbers had been reduced by four over night following excessive discomfort from knee replacement surgery (verified by member attending on the day, so no disciplinary action considered) and emergency grandparental duties.

Members assembled to enjoy fellowship in front of a roaring fire in the hotel’s   lounge, register their options from a well presented menu and, somewhat strangely, to debate as to whether or not there is a k in cocktail. We find that our meetings are taking us down some strange and unexpected paths these days!

The Chairman was delighted to welcome Peter and Anne Lamb who had recently joined the North East Chapter following their relocation from Tottington to Harrogate (no surprises there). The customary initiation ceremony followed.

As members and guests took their seats in their private dining room, the statutory Christmas Quiz, stolen shamelessly from the internet, was distributed to one and all. Pam Little’s absence meant that someone else got to win this year’s tin of shortbread.  That winner turned out to be the Chairman (sorry Chairperson ) Dave Wilcock who was clearly delighted to receive a M&S product of the finest quality.

As always, the meal was excellent value for the £21 per head, and included 3 courses, mince pies and coffee. However, the crackers fell somewhat short of the usual standard requiring a super human effort to achieve a bang and the hats were well below par leaving diners looking somewhat pathetic.

As well as the meal the other high spot was an excellent presentation by Bryan Orange the ex NEPR’s Engineer in Chief. Bryan, like many RM retirees, finds himself working as hard on voluntary vocational matters as he did when “in harness”.   Bryan’s passion is the renovation and management of steam trains and he is involved with a number of steam train societies in the region.

One particular one which was the subject of his presentation, is the famous North Yorkshire Moors Railway which many readers will have heard of (and possibly seen in a recent TV series or have visited). It is a 50-year-old self-supporting community charity run, largely, by volunteers like Bryan who pool their various skills and talents to provide the biggest heritage attraction in the National Park, attracting in excess of 300,000 travelers each year.

Very few of the travelers will ever consider the amount of work needed behind the scenes to maintain the legislative and safety dimensions let alone the day to day operational management effort demanded to operate what is an extremely successful semi commercial enterprise and highly regarded community asset. Bryan’s presentation gave us a forensic insight into the entire undertaking including the highly prized learning centre which provides learning experiences for both school and adult groups.

Bryan takes a leading role in the recruitment and training of 16 fully employed apprentices who typically find full time employment at the end of their apprenticeship with either the railway or the North. Yorkshire Moors National Park.  He is also responsible for the operation and maintenance of the “Lineside” including bridges.

Bryan’s presentation rounded off another highly successful day which also involved attendees purchasing scented hearts made by Bryan’s wife Julie for Alzheimer Research; a total of £63 was raised on the day.

ATTENDEES: Tony and Pat Clifton, Tony and Sue Fawcett, Denis Ferry, Terry and Denise Healy, Peter and Anne Lamb, Gerrard Nosowski, Brian Orange, Stuart & Ruth Scoffins, Alan and Chris Shires, Geraldine and Dave Wilcock.

DATE OF NEXT MEETING:  30 April 2020


MIDLANDS: Geoff Ellis

Once again, the sun was shining when 16 of us gathered for lunch at the Holiday Inn Kenilworth on 4th December. After the traditional carol singing by the local school choir, we enjoyed a festive lunch washed down by wine once again provided by Len Clifford. The meeting turned into a very woke affair when I was admonished for greeting everyone with the term ladies and gentleman. Clearly this is no longer politically correct and in this age of self-identifying one of the group stated that at Christmas it was ok to self-identify as a reindeer whereupon John Leaviss stated that he often had the urge to be a Christmas pudding as he liked the idea of having loads of brandy poured over him.

Present: Brian and Janet Moore, Len and Kath Clifford, Colin Render, Terry and Chris Dougan, John Leaviss, Tom and Chris Clay, Ray and Christine Stockall, Peter and Jenifer Green, John Cole and Geoff Ellis.

Apologies: Syd Creed, Jonathan Evans, David Bramham, Roger Carter, Keith Webb, Ian Cameron, Rick Williamson, Paul Berwick, Jim Pigg, Seamus and Chris Taggart, Neil and Gill Sutton.


SOUTH WALES: Peter Walters

At the Group’s Christmas meeting there was a general agreement to meet in Swansea around April/May as a gesture to those who live west of Cardiff. Whether this was the comfort of a good meal and some refreshment talking, or complete unawareness of the amount of holidaying many of us do, one cannot say.

Martin Sharples kindly researched and recommended the chosen location but then only a maximum of five people volunteered to attend on any of the days offered, so an arbitrary decision had to be taken by the group secretary to forget this once again, at least for now.

The next meeting will therefore be near late November in a location to be decided. That is unless there is a grassroots upsurge to continue with a further west location at a nearer date.!


SCOTLAND: Cathy Way.

I’m pleased to say the Scottish Group will next meet on Tuesday 21st April at Edinburgh Mail Centre. Ian Bett and John Manson will be joining us to tell us about working recently in the Middle East on postal consultancy projects. More details on the way by email if I have your details, or please feel free to contact me on mobile 07702 251124


Annual Report from Derek Reeves – Treasurer and Webmaster

The 2019 year-end Accounts have been reviewed by our two appointed examiners – Jim Anderson and John Polglass.  These accounts show our income from Annual and Life Subscriptions continues to provide the financial lifeline we need to survive the next few years.  Our major spend is the Newsletter where we have contained our costs a little. This is broken down into Printing and Fulfilment £1,030 and Postage £659.  For future years this will shown separately in the accounts summary as this significantly identifies the cost to the Fellowship of the loss of financial support by The Royal Mail.

Our overall deficit for the year was £435.  The September Newsletter cost us £350 of which Postage was £194 for a very slim edition.  Plans for the current year are to provide an Email copy of the Newsletter and to add the details online.  It is realised that this will miss a large number of our members (we have some 220 Email addresses) but we must find a way to contain our costs.

 

If you have any comments or questions on the accounts, please advise at the postal address on the last page or by email to derek@rmgf.net.

Turning to the Website and Email Database, I have been including extracts from the Newsletter together with Diary of Events information after each publication.  It would help if Group Secretaries updated me on their ‘lunch bookings’ for immediate inclusion in the website.

The major activity has continued with the development of the Email database.  In February, an Email was sent out to all on the list asking for agreement to hold the address.  This has flushed out some problems which at the time of writing are still being addressed.  The company being used for this mailing process is Mailchimp – there is no cost to the Fellowship.  As mentioned above, any extra Email addresses would be greatly appreciated.  I must add that all the addresses are securely held under the GDPR Act.  Hopefully when complete the system will provide an easy way to communicate with our members.

So, if there are any more email addresses to share, let me know.


Annual Report from Maggie McGrath: Secretary

1.  Membership

2019
2018
Members
330
335
Widows
98
100
Total
428
435

Since the last report (June 2019) a total of 7 members and 2 widows have sadly passed away.
Additionally we have gained 3 new Life Members and we have had one resignation.

We are now in the process of verifying the list of widows to ensure that our information is up to date.

2. Resolutions and amendments to the Constitution:

None received


Annual Report from John Adam: Editor

Four quarterly editions of the Newsletter were produced in 2019 varying from 24 pages to 8 – the second year in succession for our September edition.

As previously explained Group meeting activity is low during the summer months and as a result there is little to report. The cost structure of printing and distributing the Newsletter, with a high fixed set up cost, means that the cost per page for the September edition has been significantly higher than the other three editions.

As a result, it has been decided not to produce a hard copy of the September edition in future years, although an edition will be available to access on our website.

We are also in the midst of an exercise to validate our address database, removing members or widows who no longer wish to receive the Newsletter. We expect this to reduce our annual postage cost by a considerable amount.

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