Founded 1980
Chair:
Secretary:
Treasurer:
Graham Smith
Jan Thompson
Graham Mumby-Croft
Graham Smith JP
Issue No. 84 SPRING 2021
From the Chair
Greetings from Meltham on the West Yorkshire Pennines which are covered in falling snow as I write. Welcome to this 84th edition of the RPGA newsletter which is edited by Graham Mumby-Croft and Roger Outram
as our regular Editor Paul Laxton takes a break. Thanks to both of them for stepping in.
as our regular Editor Paul Laxton takes a break. Thanks to both of them for stepping in.I was just reading my newsletter entry from the Anniversary edition last autumn and there is a picture of me with a cycle in warm sunshine down Devon way not knowing what testing times were ahead of us and they have been testing for many in our Association and local communities. We have all
learnt how to do things differently. How have you and your families managed the lockdown that impacts so much on our daily lives? Write and let us know at rpga.org.uk.
There is a difference in the air, and that difference is hope. It was a fleeting moment whilst food shopping at the
weekend that I noticed a lightness in everyone’s mood. Previous weeks had been heavy with tiredness, and a weary approach to a task that should carry no real emotion. But there was a tangible difference.
Caution seems to be the watch word, yet there are those who want to push yet again. It is no wonder that I fail to understand the constant back and forth between those in Government and politics, and those who advise. Too slow to lockdown! Not quick enough to open up again! Those were the prevalent comments in the media this weekend: and for those wondering I am not hurrying out to book a summer holiday! Someone reminded me this week that being a politician is not a profession – there is no training to do the job and certainly no manual on how to deal with a pandemic. I suppose I am still naive enough to believe they know best; after all we voted for them to make the decisions. But we voted for the rhetoric, for the speech maker, the personality, the party to get things done! Dependent on what you wanted doing of course! I suppose we would all have done things differently and better in the same position!
I am beginning to realise that I don’t understand at all and I wonder whether that is where we all are at the moment. Watching the pandemic unfold and the world’s commentary on every Government’s handling of it has been fascinating. What I am certain of though, is that sense of hope that I believe we are all feeling.
"Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness. – Desmond Tutu"
I feel that I have come through the isolation fairly well apart from a lost season of holidays, cricket and football as well as a quiet Christmas and loss of family contact. We now have a different daily routine and have at least had excellent home cooked sensible food and long daily walks which has all contributed to a 20 pound weight loss by yours truly. How about yourselves? We have learnt the value of family and friends and to a certain extent eating out is not so important as we thought. I still have a load of clothes I do not need and can’t donate the surplus as the charity shops are closed too.
The virtual AGM went ahead 10th November 2020 as planned via the now popular ZOOM application. The headlines are that we are financially sound, membership is steady and I am pleased to report that I, Ray London and Jan Thompson were re-elected to your RPGA committee. We will be doing our level best to ensure the RPGA continues to develop.
I hope that the next time I write this column we will have moved on and got a grip of what has been a horrendous and stressful time for all, keep safe and look after each other.
The impact of Covid-19
There are not many things that could impact on our members all equally and with such terrible consequences as the Covid-19 virus, and thank goodness we are getting a grip of it and returning to some control of our lives. It has been particularly bad for our age group, and our vulnerability as senior folk, who are trying to enjoy retirement after long service to the Crown. Additionally it has prevented us from planning our future activities through doubt and uncertainty.
I hope you have kept safe, had the first jab and can see the oncoming light at the end of the preverbal tunnel. Things are improving as I write, and when we look back I think we will all have learnt something about ourselves, and our resilience to the threats we definitely faced. Thank goodness we didn’t run out of toilet rolls, pasta and tinned tomatoes, or did you?
So I ask you how have you dealt with the last 12 months or so? Did something good come out of it that you can use for the future? I would like you to write and share a few lines on your feelings and the impact Covid-19 has had on you and your families and send to our letters editor Roger Outram at roger@rsoutram.co.ukfor the next newsletter. We will all learn from each other.
Graham Smith RPGA Chairman
