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YOUR LETTERS
BOB DUNCAN and ROGER OUTRAM
Dear Reader
Here I am again bringing you just Bob Duncan’s correspondence which for years has formed the backbone of this section of the newsletter. It is disappointing that our readers and colleagues don’t find time to drop us a line. By “us” I mean all of you reading and hopefully enjoying this section.
I have been an avid reader of the Newsletter since my retirement 20 years ago, and the letters section has always been the first section I have turned to when the Newsletter arrives. The only regular correspondence is from Bob and as you read his contribution, which has always been topical and interesting, this season you will read that he is running out of colleagues to report on. He is also worried about his personal capacity to continue.
What the letter section needs is some input from the newer members who are not known to many of us old guys who are interested to hear what is happening to you. It appears to me that without the wonderful contributions from Bob the letter section of your letters section is doomed to be lost.
I will continue to publish Bob’s contributions for as long as he sends them in but I fear from his own comments that this will, sooner rather than later, be another footnote in history.
Roger O
YOUR CORRESPONDENCE
I had a text to inform me that I had a health check up with the nurse at the Doctors. I arrived in good time and booked in but I also had a specimen and prescription to hand in. I also asked if the nurse wanted the specimen or would they take it. They took and so I went sat down to await my turn.
Fortunately I had my newspaper with me. There are always a lot us to be seen on these ‘check ups’. After waiting 50 minutes I began to wonder if I had got the wrong day, so went to the desk to enquire. ‘Oh,’ said the receptionist, ‘I thought you had gone home, so you are not booked in, I will see if they can fit you in.’ They could not, but wanted to take a blood whilst I was there. Suddenly I had two nurses looking after me, they extracted the blood, and then they arranged another appointment both with them and with the Doctor.
When I saw the Doctor he told me I was in good shape medically for my age. So I asked why my brain did not tell my body that. He said in reply, ‘you have another 10 years to live.’ I replied‘ that is good but I want be in better health if that is the case.’ He said he would review my prescription.
He also gave me a memory test, which I failed, proving it was so.
The Reverend Kit and Kate Jarman are well, but getting more wobbly on their feet, as are so many of us.
Phil Wheatley is still travelling to various destinations and is an ardent photographer of historic buildings and scenic views which he shares on the internet. Very informative and the quality gives one a boost to the day.
The same goes for Alan Scott who also shares his very good photography in and around Scotland.
News from Shelia & Jim Blakey who are well but ageing like all of us. A little quote from their card: (But though the busy weeks and months go slipping through our fingers. On days like this, we realize, time flies but friendship lingers.)
Ron & Sue Curtis write that Ron reached 80 in March. To mark the occasion, along with Brother Mick (82) and Simon & Daniel, he climbed to the top of Schiehallion. Celebrations followed in Scotland with family and later friends. Their grandsons, Joe and Matthew; Joe completed the walk from Land’s End to John O‘Groats, just over 1000 miles, in 55 days early in the year. Matthew followed up in the autumn by walking the Ireland Way, some 600 Miles from Cork in the South to Portrush in the north.
I remain in touch with Mike Poselay; he states the Courts are in a mess with a huge backlog of cases and no plan to tackle it. He still enjoys his role as a Defence Barrister.
I am in touch with Colin Tanswell; his daughter married an American and lives there now so they are always trying to arrange flights out there to see the grand children in particular.
More dear colleagues have sadly departed this year, which results in my list of contacts diminishing; I know few of the current Governors. In addition those who recently joined RPGA would probably not know some of the colleagues I do mention. I have been contributing now for 25 years, but my memory and energy are not so good. So my role of supporting Roger is gradually going to decline considerably. So do keep contacting Roger.
There was an awful fuss when one prisoner escaped from Wandsworth Prison. To put it in perspective; at the Pademba Road Prison in Sierra Leone, a total of 1,890 prisoners, including 155 lifers, escaped on Sunday, November 26, most of who disappeared into the jungle.
News from Veronica Bird who has had a very busy year supporting Ukrainian families up and down the country. Her talks have gone down extremely well, too well when she gave 5 in one day! She has managed some holidays, including, Italy, Poland Cyprus, and Ireland. Veronica is going on a cruise around Scotland later this year.
BOB DUNCAN
As ever please take time to write something that will be of interest to all your retired friends and colleagues and send them to me. Nice short chatty letters will be published in this section of the newsletter longer with more specific content will be considered for a separate entry in the Newsletter.
Address to use is roger@rsoutram.co.uk or Roger Outram, 12 Grove Park, Magazine Lane, Wisbech, PE13 1LF
Issue 90 Autumn 2024
Members Letters - Edited by Roger Outram.
My thanks to all contributors and as ever please take time to write something that will be of interest to all your retired friends and colleagues and send them to me. Nice short chatty letters will be published in this section of the newsletter longer with more specific content will be considered for a separate entry in the Newsletter.
Address to use is roger@rsoutram.co.uk or Roger Outram, 12 Grove Park, Magazine Lane, Wisbech, PE13 1LF.
Roger O
Please send Letters to: Roger Outram, 12 Grove Park, Magazine Lane, Wisbech, PE13 1LF
E-mail: roger@rsoutram.co.uk
Other contact: Telephone 01945 582624
