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BEXLEY AND DISTRICT NHS RETIREMENT FELLOWSHIP
NEWSLETTER Issue No 34 February 2015
Happy New Year to you all.
Once again our seasonal lunch was a
great success. Many thanks to Brenda
Williams for organising all this and to
Paul Ramberan for his singing and
getting everyone to join in.
As I mentioned at the New Year lunch,
this is my last year as Chairman. I have
enjoyed all my twenty years in the job
and hope our next Chairman will do the
same.
Edna Wightman
It would be remiss of me not to mention
that our Chairman Edna Wightman will
be in her final throes of office when
the next Newsletter will be published.
Back in October 1994 Edna took over
the reins of Chair from Sidney Dunmall
and has rarely missed a Branch or
Executive meeting in that time. Over
this twenty years Edna has worked
tirelessly to keep the branch alive and
active. She has well represented us at
regional and national level on a number
of issues.
I wish to thank Edna for all her hard
work, and long service to us all, and best
wishes in her retirement!
Tom Owen.
It is with deep regret to announce the
death’s of two of our members.
Beryl Ramlakan passed away on the
1st December 2014. In the last couple of
months of her life she had gone to stay
in Woking to be with her daughter and
family. A number of members from the
branch attended her funeral.
Our thoughts go out at this time to
family and friends.
Joan Horrell previously Joan Card died
on the 24th January 2015 in Tunbridge
Wells. She had moved there from
Bexleyheath and not long after suffered
a severe stroke in July 2014.
Carol Rowe had visited her in a nursing
home in November when she was not so
well.
Our thoughts go out at this time to
family and friends.
From our Chairman
CONTENTS
Page
From our Chairman 1
Obituaries 1
Editor’s letter 1
Tower of London poppies 2/3
Tour of BBC 4
Branch web site 4
Outing 4
Membership 4
AGM June 4
OBITUARIES
Editor’s Letter
Page 1
Tower of London Poppies
Last year was the centenary of the start of the First World War. A number of our
members went to the Tower of London to remember this occasion and here is
Pat Chandler’s memories of the event.
As just three of over 8,000 volunteers, my sister Phil, daughter Helen and myself,
were privileged to help put together and plant some of the 888,246 ceramic poppies
at the Tower of London. Before we left home, we were warned to prepare ourselves
for bad weather, so we set off in clothing appropriate for a tropical monsoon,
rather than a spot of ‘gardening’! In the end the weather turned out fine. The rain
that fell the day before had helped us as the ground was softer to plant each poppy.
It was demanding but very rewarding work, especially in the company of the other
volunteers in our group. The camaraderie made a difficult task much easier.
I first went to see the poppies in August, during the weekend of ‘Ride London’. It
was wonderful to be able to walk to the Tower from the South Bank along roads
free of all traffic. No noise or pollution, it was a special afternoon with a rare
opportunity to enjoy London without cars, taxis and buses. I have returned several
times since that day, each time marvelling at the progress being made with
thousands of poppies being added throughout late Summer and early Autumn. The
final effect was stunning.
Page 2
‘Blood swept lands and seas of red. An installation by ceramic artist, Paul Cummins.’
The origins of the Poppy as a symbol of remembrance
Written by John McCrae, a Canadian physician who served in the conflict, the
inspiration for the poem came upon the death of a friend and colleague who died in
the second battle of Ypres. He began to include poppies in his poems on noticing
how quickly they grew around the graves of fallen soldiers. Later Moina Michael
recognised the significance of the poppy and raised funds for former US Service-
men by selling artificial poppies. A French woman, Madame Guerin, also took up the
idea, which enabled her to raise funds to rebuild areas of France destroyed by the
war
“At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them.”
“In Flanders Fields, the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row.
That mark our place and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below”
Extract from
“In Flanders Fields”
by Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae
Page 3
This tour arranged by Pat Chandler
will take place on Tuesday 7th April
2015. Gail McKensie will collect £ 12
per person at the February branch
meeting from those people who have
already given their names to Pat.
This tour requires money to be paid in
advance.
We commence the walk from Charing
Cross station at 11:30 am. Please meet
in the station by the waiting room
opposite Burger King. The BBC tour will
take 1.5 hrs. If anyone is unable to walk
there please meet at Broadcasting
House, Portland Place, at the top end of
Regent Street by 12:30. Nearest tube
station is Oxford Circus (5 mins)
(Bakerloo, Victoria, Central). Buses 88,
453 & C2. Other buses to Oxford
Circus. There is a café inside for light
snacks, hot and cold drinks. We need to
arrive at least 15 mins before the tour
starts as there are security checks.
Please make sure you have no sharp
objects in your bags.
The Branch site is now live on the
Internet. You can access it in one of
two ways. Firstly type in Bexley &
District NHS Retirement Fellowship
and then click on Branch website link.
This is our Head Office web page for
the branch. Secondly a direct link by
typing.
www.bexleynhsrf.btck.co.uk
“Downton Abbey”
( Highclere Castle)
House and grounds
on
Tuesday 21st July 2015
Book your seats now on the
coach with Brenda Williams
our Social Secretary
very limited availability
Price £25
A reminder to let you know please
renew your membership at the April
branch meeting. Pay our Treasurer Val
Bamber £12.50p preferably in cash.
Thank you.
It is not too early to be thinking about
the Annual General Meeting in June
when all the Branch Officer’s and
Committee posts come up for election.
It is always refreshing to see newer and
younger members wishing to take over
the baton and giving it a try.
Please consider how you may help.
Editor.
Branch News
Tour of BBC
Branch Web Site
Outing
Membership
A.G.M June
Page 4