Founded 1980
Chair:        
Secretary: 
Treasurer: 

Graham Smith
Jan Thompson
Graham Mumby-Croft


 Issue No. 77 Autumn 2017
I chaired the Retired Prison Governors Association AGM held in Hinckley on the 14th June 2017 and it was pleasing to see a number of new faces including Gordon Tweedie, Don Webb, Terry Bone and Roger Outram. There were also 14 apologies. The meeting benefitted from an update on PGA NEC current issues from Dave Hoskins and Kevin Billson along with Don Makepeace from the Civil Servants Pensioners Alliance (CSPA) who came to support the possible formal link between themselves and the RPGA, see below.

As I write the national news is headlining with stories of turmoil in the Prison Service and the comments from the PGA chair Andrea AlbuƩ in PGA bulletin 724 show deep concerns for the safety of her members and prisoner care with a number of prisons experiencing disruption and staff assaults. For those of us who were in the Service during the 70’s and 80’s we can relate to the stress and anxiety that they are having to endure in these difficult times. It all sounds so familiar – policy v operational strategies, overcrowding, staff shortages, budget cuts and too many PSI’s, we have been here before. David and Kevin spoke of all these things and more and they sounded very frustrated with their aƩempts to get any progress from those who direct HMPPS. They were able to answer questions from our members and yes I know many of our members want to leave it all behind but for those of us who maintain an interest, it was very informative. I am perhaps like you glad to be out of the firing line but it doesn’t stop us empathising with those who are.

Don Makepeace gave an informed overview of current initiatives by the CSPA and I was pleased that the RPGA agreed at the AGM to a formal link with them as the basis for future cooperation. Harry Brett and Paul Laxton, who are both active members of the CSPA at the local level, are going to liaise and work with their CSPA counterparts on areas such as recruitment and campaigns relating to retired civil servants. CSPA already have links with retired police, BT retirees and Royal Mail etc. The RPGA now has a link with a large and powerful lobby group from which we are bound to benefit. Have a look at the CSPA website for more information about their current priorities and whilst you are at it look at ours via the PGA site.

The AGM went well and financially though we made a loss last year we are still showing a cash balance of £9267 with the benevolent fund of £5578. On that subject, I would remind members that the benevolent fund is available for cases of hardship and applications are via the RPGA secretary. Membership is lower by 17 at 426 and that is despite valiant efforts by Harry BreƩ during the year but we hope to access more through advertising through the CSPA magazine. Paul Laxton continues to edit the newsleƩer which is as popular as ever and one of the cornerstones of the RPGA, with a big plea for articles from members to keep it relevant. I was pleased the re-election of our current committee members went through so we keep Harry Brett, Graham Mumby-Croft, Paul Laxton, Jenny Adams-Young and Dave Taylor.

As ever we discussed the format of future Reunions and AGM’s as we have tried a number of approaches during the past few years including hotels, Newbold Revel and this year a smaller venue in Hinckley. Next year we propose to go to Stratford-on – Avon to see if we can encourage members with partners to attend the AGM/reunion with an overnight stay to make it more attractive as a night or 2 away, watch out or further detail in the Spring 2018 newsletter.

I want to assure members that their RPGA committee are committed to moving the association forward in the coming year and we are always open to ideas and suggestions that will improve and benefit our members. Thank you for your continued support and I hope that you will at least consider joining us in Stratford-on-Avon 6th June 2018.


Graham Smith RPGA Chairman

Graham Smith JP