We need your views on the governments autumn statement

The Autumn Statement is a key moment in the Parliamentary calendar as the Chancellor takes centre stage to update MPs on the government's taxation and spending plans, based on the economic projections provided by the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) - a body set up in 2010 to provide independent economic forecasts.
This year’s Autumn Statement will be the most important in years. It is the first set-piece event for new Chancellor Philip Hammond MP, and will be a key opportunity for the new Government to outline it’s economic plans and priorities for the coming years.
We are already hearing some rumours emerging in the newspapers, and MPs are beginning to press their views upon the Chancellor.
Later Life Ambitions wants to know what our members want to see in the Autumn Statement:
 
Do you believe universal benefits should be protected for all pensioners after Britain has exited the European Union?
Do you agree that better off pensioners should not be entitled to winter fuel payments, TV licences and bus passes?
Which universal benefit do you value the most?
 
We have created a short survey where members can tell us their views. We want to use your ideas and opinions to form the basis of the Later Life Ambitions response to the Autumn Statement and share this information with MPs, Peers and the Government.
The survey should take no longer than 5 minutes to complete, and can be filled out online by using this link:
 
https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/LaterLifeAmbitions
 
The survey will remain open until Wednesday 16 November, and we’d be very grateful for your participation.
It is also posted on our website at: http://www.narpo.org/index.php/notices.html
Please circulate to members for completion.
Regards
                  
Steve Edwards
Chief Executive Officer
01924 331 251
www.narpo.org

Death of a retired Police Officer : Chief Superintendent Don Moody

It is with regret that we have to announce the death of a retired Police Officer :  Chief Superintendent  Don Moody, who died on 9^th November, 2016 aged 79 years.
Mr Moody leaves widow Ann Moody, and their two sons Ian and John.
Mr Moody started his policing career in March 1958 and served until the 31^st December, 1988.
Whilst working for Durham Constabulary Mr Moody served in various locations across the North East such as Durham, Billingham and Hartlepool. His proudest achievement was his initiative to create the Darlington Independent Advisory Group which was launched in June 1985.
The service will be held at Elmridge Methodist Church on Thursday 17^th November at 12.45pm, followed by cremation which will take place at 1.45pm at Darlington Crematorium.  This service is not private and friends are invited to join family to a reception being held at The Spotted Dog, High Coniscliffe , Darlington afterwards.
The family have requested family flowers only, however, donations if so desired can be made to the Pulmonary Hypertension Association Ltd (PHA).
Our thoughts are with the family at this sad time.

Winter 2016 Durham Peeler now online

Durham Peeler editor Alan Watson has been keeping himself busy over the last few months to produce the Winter 2016 edition of the Durham Peeler.

To view this latest edition of the magazine online, please click on the image.

If you would like to view other editions of the Durham Peeler please Click Here

Hard copies of the magazine will be distributed to members soon

Remembrance Day

Remembrance Day is also known as Poppy Day.

It was first observed in 1919, however until 1945 it was called Armistice Day. Traditionally there is two minutes of silence at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month because that was the time (in Britain) when the armistice became effective in 1918.
Today, in the UK Remembrance Sunday is also observed on the Sunday nearest to November 11th. So, in the United Kingdom, two minutes' silence is observed on November 11 itself, and on the second Sunday of November. Remembrance Sunday, ceremonies are held at War Memorials, all over the UK and over the years it has become a day to commemorate not just the sacrifice of servicemen and women but the suffering of civilians in times of war.

Remembrance Sunday is commemorated by church services around the UK and a parade of ex-service personnel in London’s Whitehall. Wreaths of poppies are placed on war memorials from the Cenotaph, a war memorial in Whitehall, to the tiniest war memorials in villages all over Britain. Small wooden crosses are placed in Gardens of Remembrance as private acts of remembering individual losses and suffering and people pin poppies to their coat or jacket.

History states that it was the poem 'In Flanders Fields' written in 1915 by Colonel John McCrae, a Canadian Medical Officer, that captured the imagination of the British people in the dark days of trench warfare on the Western Front when so many young soldiers failed to return. Six months before the Armistice, McCrae was brought on a stretcher to a big hospital on the French coast and saw the cliffs of Dover from his room. He died that night and was buried in a cemetery above Wimereux. Before he died, he said to the doctor: "Tell them this . . . If ye break faith with us who die, we shall not sleep." An American woman, Miss Moina Michael, wrote a moving poem in reply and bought 25 red poppies, wearing one herself as a way to keep faith with the war dead; a French woman, Madame Guerin, came up with the practical idea of making and selling artificial poppies to help ex-service men and their dependents in need.

Britain's first Poppy Day was held in 1921 and the money raised helped children in war-devastated areas. The Royal British Legion opened its own poppy factory in London in 1922 to give practical help in time of need to all who have served in the armed forces and their widows and dependents. The paper poppies that are worn today are made by ex-service personnel and are sold by representatives of the Royal British Legion, an organisation of ex-servicemen and women. Today, they make more than 35 million poppies and 65,000 wreaths for the annual poppy appeal. Poppies grew in great abundance in the shell-torn fields of Flanders during the War. Because of its abundance it became the symbol of remembrance of two world wars.

Death of a retired Police Officer : PC 1181 John Stoker

It is with regret that we have to announce the death of a retired Police Officer : PC 1181 John Stoker, who died on 28^th October, 2016 aged 88 years.
John was appointed to Durham Constabulary on 13^th November 1948 and went on to serve at Chester-le-Street, Birtley, CID crime cars, Motor patrols at HQ then at West Hartlepool, Chester-le-Street, then back to motor patrols until he retired on 8^th February 1981.
The funeral will take place on Wednesday 9^th November, 2016 at 11.30am at Durham Crematorium. The family welcome friends to join this service.
The family have requested that instead of flowers, donations if so desired can be made to Bowburn Nursing Home.
Our thoughts are with the family at this sad time.

"Please wear a poppy"

"Please wear a poppy", the lady said
And held one forth, but I shook my head.
Then I stopped and watched as she offered them there,
And her face was old and lined with care;
But beneath the scars the years had made
There remained a smile that refused to fade.
A boy came whistling down the street,
Bouncing along on carefree feet.
His smile was full of joy and fun,
"Lady", said he, "may I have one"?
When she'd pinned it on he turned to say,
"Why do we wear a poppy today"?
The lady smiled in her wistful way
And answered, "This is Remembrance Day,
And the poppy there is the symbol for
The gallant men who died in war.
And because they did, you and I are free –
That's why we wear a poppy, you see.
"I had a boy about your size,
With golden hair and big blue eyes.
He loved to play and jump and shout,
Free as a bird he would race about.
As the years went by he learned and grew
And became a man – as you will, too.
"He was fine and strong, with a boyish smile,
But he'd seemed with us such a little while.
When war broke out and he went away
I still remember his face that day.
When he smiled at me and said, Goodbye,
I'll be back soon, Mum, so please don't cry.
"But the war went on and he had to stay,
And all I could do was wait and pray.
His letters told of the awful fight,
(I can see it still in my dreams at night).
With the tanks and guns and cruel barbed wire,
And the mines and bullets, the bombs and fire
"Till at last, at last, the war was won –
And that's why we wear a poppy son".
The small boy turned as if to go,
Then said, "Thanks, lady, I'm glad to know.
That sure did sound like an awful fight,
But your son – did he come back all right"?
A tear rolled down each faded cheek,
She shook her head, but didn't speak.
I slunk away in a sort of shame,
And if you were me you'd have done the same,
For our thanks, in giving, if oft delayed,
Though our freedom was bought – and
Thousands paid!
And so when we see a poppy worn,
Let us reflect on the burden borne,
By those who gave their very all.
When asked to answer their country's call
That we at home in peace might live.
Them wear a poppy!  Remember – and give!
 
 
WEAR A POPPY

Death of a retired Police Officer : Supt. 261 Harry Leathard

It is with regret that we have to advise you of the death of a retired Police Officer : Supt. 261 Harry Leathard who died on October 23^rd, peacefully in hospital aged 88 years.
Harry retired in 1984 and spent much of his police career in Traffic.
Harry leaves two sons David and Jeffrey and will be much missed by his family and friends.
Friends are asked to please meet for service in Durham Crematorium on Monday, November 7^th, at 11.30am.
Family flowers only, donations in lieu are being made to St Cuthbert’s Hospice, Durham.
Our thoughts are with them at this sad time

Reunion reminder….

Billy Walker & Alan Courtney are organizing a reunion of staff from Bishop Auckland, Newton Aycliffe & Spennymoor offices on :

Thursday 3^rd November,2016 at the Oak Leaf, Sports Complex Newton Aycliffe from 4.30pm onwards

Food can be purchased, if required, from the bar i.e. beefburgers, pizza, chips etc.
Alan and Bill are looking forward to meeting old colleagues and having a bit craick and a laugh over a few beers.
In order that they have some idea of numbers attending could you either email: alancourtney1947@talktalk.net or william620walker@btinternet.com .
If this is a success, they are thinking of making it a yearly event

Part time work : Pet Amigos

“Dear Sir
I came across your organisation whilst doing some research in relation to our recruiting needs, as we are in need of two additional part time staff (we currently have three part time staff, consisting of a retired civil servant, retured nurse and retired travel agency manager).
Due to the nature of the trust our customers have in us, we are careful about who we recruit, hence this e-mail to yourself.
With the above in mind, do you think and of your members who reside in, or close to Durham City may be interested in working for us?
More info about what we do can be found on our website at www.petamigos.co.uk
Kind regards”
Ian Clayton (ian@petamigos.co.uk)
www.petamigos.co.uk