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Secretary:
Treasurer:
Graham Smith
Jan Thompson
Graham Mumby-Croft
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Graham Smith JP
Issue No. 89 Autumn 2023
From the Chair
Hello and welcome to the autumn edition of the RPGA newsletter edited and produced by Paul Laxton, our thanks to Paul as ever. It does not seem that long since the Spring edition. Your contributions always welcome.
I write this mid-September and you will want to know the weather up here on the Pennines is wet and windy a typical day in these parts. Still the cricket was good this year *we was robbed at Old Trafford+ and Huddersfield Town have hit the ground running.
We were in the middle of the Atlantic cruising to New York when Sky News reported a certain young man legged it from Wandsworth prison thus embarrassing the minister and I suspect the subsequent inquiry will find that staff didn’t follow their own procedures. There was no mention of the Service's excellent delivery on escapes in recent years. No change there then!
I want to mention the “Civil Service Pensioners’ Alliance” *CSPA+ which the RPGA established a formal link with a few years ago. Harry Brett and Paul Laxton both hold area positions in the CSPA and this benefits the RPGA by keeping us informed on current issues and campaigns affecting retired civil servants. The CSPA autumn magazine covers issues such as the Triple-lock, which ensured our 10.1% rise in pensions this year, social care policy and the establishing of a “Pensioners’ Manifesto” etc. Have a look at their website and think about joining.
The RPGA AGM is due to be held 9th October in tandem with the PGA Conference and I hope a few members may attend in person or on line. Our thanks to the PGA for facilitating our event again. I expect the current committee will as necessary stand again for election and we always welcome new committee members if you would like to join us call me 07788430702. A special formal welcome to the committee for Kevin Billson and a thank you to Ray London who has had to retire from the committee for health reasons after a number of years as RPGA secretary. Well done and best wishes Ray, Jan Thompson picks up the role.
Keep safe and have fun.
GRAHAM SMITH, RPGA CHAIRMAN
