May 2012 Newsletter

Customs & Excise & Revenue Staff Association (CERRSA) Southend

Chairman :          Jan Hales                                           Secretary :           Daphne Amos- Pugh

                              6 Overcliffe                                                                     261 Station Road
                              Manor Road                                                                   Leigh-on-Sea
                              Westcliff-on-Sea                                                           Essex
                              Essex SSO 7SE                                                                 SS9 3BP
Tel;- 01702 352443                                                       Tel:-  01702 711492

Email;-                 j.hales@btinternet.com                                               nick.pugh2@btopenworld.com   

5/05/2012

 Dear friend and member,

Time for another letter to you now that May is here, but not the weather we expected in May.  Let’s hope for a lovely warm summer on its way, so much for a drought!  Seven of us from Southend Cerrsa drove to Matlock in Derbyshire for the Reunion and AGM of Cerrsa’s. We all had a pleasant stay in the New Bath Hotel.  Like everywhere else we saw plenty of rain but it was kind to us on the Tuesday for the planned walks, still soggy underfoot.  It is nice to renew friendships again, but a reminder that the years are passing by too quickly. Next year it will be in Ironbridge, near Telford Shropshire. We have been busy preparing some more outings for anyone interested.  Don’t forget that Essex RCSL Social Section also offer very discounted coach and theatre trips from Southend to enhance our lives.  Jan Hales or Pat Parker will give you more info if required as they are both on the committee, looking after our interests.We had a very interesting walk with the RSPB round part of Wat Tyler Park on 19 April.  They do this walk every Thursday morning at 10.20 and find so much bird life there that the 2 hours just fly by.  I know that Nick and I will be going back again with the grandchildren next time.  This week we also had a walk round the Cockle Spit at Bradwell, once again not a good day for the weather but as we were properly clothed we all enjoyed it.  The low mist was a pain as we should have seen Mersea and the land over the Blackwater.  However the meal at the King’s Head made up for it, superb value.

Our next outing is superb value too.  On Tuesday 19th June we will visit Brightlingsea with Barry driving a 15 seat mini-bus.  If necessary we have cars for extra transport but it is on a first come basis as the cost is only £5 p.p.  This town has a centre and a harbour where visitors should be able to take a ferry to Point Clear and East Mersea.  Plenty of places to walk and eat, all we need is good weather.  Please send Pat Parker, 4 Birch Road, Canewdon SS4 3PE Tel: 01702 258689 a cheque and where you would like to be picked up on the day.  The mini-bus will start from Futures College, Southchurch Boulevard, at 9.30am.then Sainsbury’s, Cricketer’s, Hamlet Court Road, Plough, Chalkwell Park, Elms, Thames Drive, Hadleigh Church, Victoria House Corner and Tarpots as required.

Two walks are planned but we still need to finalise our instructions for you.  In other words walk them first!  Firstly, on Tuesday 12 July at Galleywood, Chelmsford and the Rodings, meeting at 10am at the car park on Galleywood Common just off the A12.  Turn off the A130 towards London on to the A12, take the first exit and turn right towards Galleywood  then take the first left to the Common car park.  The walk is 5 miles through countryside. We will look for a good eating place when we walk it out. The second walk is on Tuesday 18 September to Flitch Way, Great Notley Park, Braintree.  This walk is approx 2 miles.  Once again put this in your diary as it still has to be walked out but more details will be given in the next letter. 

Our bowling is back on the agenda as the Kursaal have reopened for business again.  We still bowl on the 2^nd Wed of each month meeting at 10.30am.  9 May, 13 June, 11 July.  No August as it is school holidays, very noisy and busy.  We need more bowlers to make two teams.  It is social occasion!
As a change from our usual activities we thought we you may enjoy a social evening on Thursday 5 July at the Wellstead Gardens Sports Club, where Carol Braithwaite, a Jazz singer, will be singing from 8-10,30pm.  The club is in Wellstead Gardens off Prittlewell Chase. If coming from Southend pass the Hospital and Chase School, two traffic lights and Wellstead Gardens is first turning on the left,. The Club is half way down on the right and there is plenty ofparking.  It would be nice to see some of you there, cost is £4 p.p.  More details from Jan if required.
At the AGM Jennifer Treasure spoke of an afternoon tea tasting at the Cult Cafe in Leigh opposite the Library.  The cost is £7 p.p. and this gives you various flavours of tea, plus some tasty cakes to sample.  This lasts 2 hrs and requires a group to be interested for us to make booking 7 days in advance.  If you are interested could you please ring me with a date and time you prefer and I will sort it out from there.
I hope this doesn’t bore you too much and that you find something that will interest you.  This weather one needs something else to look forward to, so hope this is it!
Kind regards to you all and hope to see you soon,    Daphne

  

   

AGM MINUTES 2012

CERRSA SOUTHEND BRANCH        Web-site: www.focersa.org.uk

MINUTES OF THE 14th ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING HELD IN THORPE BAY YACHT CLUB, SOUTHEND ON WED 14 MARCH 2012 @ 1200HRS.

Present:- Jan Hales, Daphne Amos Pugh, Val Maynard, Mary Godridge, Val Mountford, Jean and Tom McCleave, Terry Marshall, Jennifer Treasure, Sylvia and Peter Kingston, Christine and John Patience, Nick Pugh, John Benton, Elizabeth Weston,  Irene Frankum, Marion Dean, Marie Sweeney and Betty Everitt.

Apologies:-  Dave Gostling, Pat Parker, Barry Cottis, Margaret and Len Donald, Sylvia Walton, Pam Aubrey, Enid Chandler, Alan and Rosemary Aitchison,  Derek Wright, Charlie Hedgecock and Pat Goodman.

The minutes of the 2011 AGM were accepted; proposed Sylvia Kingston,seconded Val Mountford.  There were no matters arising.

The Treasurer’s Report was presented by Terry Marshall, the Auditor, due to the absence of Pat Parker, the Treasurer.  The accounts were very straight forward and accepted; proposed Peter Kingston, seconded Nick Pugh.

Chairman’s Report

Jan welcomed everyone who was present at the AGM.  She said it didn’t seem a year ago that she had her arm twisted to being our chairperson. She thanked the Committee for all their hard work over the year especially the secretary Daphne for taking the minutes producing the letters regularly to members, and Pat who keeps our finances straight.  And she would personally like to say a big thank you to Barry for hiring and driving the mini-bus to Frinton and Marks Hall Gardens because without him the trips would not have been possible. She thinks our membership has remained fairly static, it would be nice to see new members with fresh ideas for our walks and outings.   

Secretary’s Report

Daphne thanked Jan for her role as Chairman for the past year.  She has been very supportive to the committee. She thanked all the donations to Alzheilmer’s Society when she ran the London Marathon last April.  She raised £944.00 which made the 26 miles worthwhile. Our membership of seems to stay on an even keel, for we lose some and gain some which is how it should be.  It would be nice to gain some younger retirees to help us oldies with ideas on different things we can organise.  We enjoy our walks and bowling, but it is hard to find something that everyone will be interested in.  We are aware that not all can walk far but still like some company of other members.  We realise how lucky we are with the Essex Social Section of RCSL organising some wonderful coach outings to London Shows etc.  If you continued your membership for RCSL and CSSC after retiring you can save on these trips. One almost recovers the cost of a year’s membership after a few outings.  If you did not retain membership on retirement you can rejoin either of these again if you wish. Even if   you were not in HMC&E or HMR&C you can join as an associate member. Just ask Jan for details or any of the committee members.

Last year Val Mountford, Sylvia Walton, and Alan and Rosemary Aitchison joined Nick and I for the CERRSA Annual Reunion and AGM at Great Yarmouth.  It was Sylvia’s first year after Dennis died so she did herself proud to meet everyone so soon.   This year Jan Hales is joining us at Matlock Bath in the Peak District, Derbyshire but it would be lovely to have a few more from Southend.  I will soon be able to tell you where it will be next year, so food for thought!  They always pick a lovely area with plenty to see and do.

Last year Nick and I, and some other members, went by coach for the 5 day Lochs and Glens trip to Loch Awe, with Essex RCSL Social Section.  Most enjoyable but a long coach trip with plenty of stops though.  The weather was disappointing but the company was fun and the daily trips out made it all worthwhile.  This year they have two coaches, so very popular.

The outing in May to Marks Hall Gardens and Arboretum in Cogglesall with Barry driving a mini-bus (thank you Barry) was obviously enjoyed by all.  The buggy ride even had the driver providing a commentary.  I missed out on this trip as it was the same week as the CSSC Swimming Gala in Sheffield.  Barry also took us to Frinton and Walton on the Naze in June, an area with so much interest, beauty and charity shops.  Another good trip.

From July to November we managed a walk a month:  Stock, pretty in summer; South Weald Country Park where it poured all morning but I couldn’t walk with them as I had a torn calf muscle so I had to sit in the dry and warm visitor centre to wait for their return; Wallasea Island where we enjoyed a lovely warm sunny day; and finally Wat Tyler’s Park in Pitsea  where we will be returning to on April 19 for a RSPB organised  bird spotting walk.  2 hours starting at 10.15am with a pleasant lunch to follow.

Our Christmas meal at Affinities in early December went well.  So nice to see so many there, the food was good value, staff lovely even though very busy.  It was difficult to move around the tables to talk to everyone but we had been spoilt with the last couple of years when we had a room to ourselves.  Already discussing next year!

Our bowling once a month looks as if it’s on the agenda as the Kursaal has reopened.  It is now open from 11am every day. We will continue on the 2^nd Wednesday of the month when we meet in the main entrance.  We would like to see some new bowlers, it is very social, in fact more chatting than bowling but none of us are star bowlers.  Certainly not me!   

Our aim next year is to encourage some younger blood to join us.  Please help where you can.

Membership Secretary

Val reported very little change in our membershipto.  Most members present paid their £5.00 subscription for the year at the AGM.  Val will forward this to Pat.

Election of Officers

All Officers and Committee agreed to stand for a further year but Pat Parker will step down at the next AGM.

Resolutions and AOB.

There were no resolutions to discuss.  Terry Marshall and Jennifer Treasure spoke of a tea-tasting event that is at “Cafe’ Cult” in Leigh opposite the Library.  It includes various types of tea and delicious cakes during a 2hr afternoon session for a group of 8-10 persons, costing £6.00 per head.  A show of hands proved members were interested so a date will have to be arranged. Jennifer also organises tours to Canterbury and Cambridge using Cooks Coaches for travel but a private guide of colleges or Cathedral.  We can take advantage of her expertise and see what interest we have from our members.

Nick spoke of a change of policy from giving money to the RMB Treasurer to allocating an amount to Regional Treasurer’s to pay out as they deem necessary.  So the £10 Xmas supplement towards the Christmas meal may not be on offer in future for retired members.

Jan will investigate this when it is discussed by Essex RCSL Social Section.  

Nick also said that CSSC offered associate membership to date but this may be retracted.  He advised if anyone is interested in taking up their offer to do it immediately. 

The meeting closed at 12.40pm

January 2012 Newsletter

Daphne Pugh writes:-

Hi to everyone and a very Happy New Year.

We hope you all had a lovely Christmas with time for your families.  It was a very mild one this year after the harsh one we experienced last year.  Christmas always flies by but the New Year extends the celebrations.  I wonder how many resolutions have been broken already.  Be like me and don’t make any so I have no problems!
Our Christmas lunch at Affinity in December was well attended with 35 members battling the wind to reach the door.  Poor Mary Godridge nearly got blown into the restaurant!  However once inside apart from being rather cramped we were looked after very well.  We’ve been spoilt at the Thorpe Bay Yacht Club with a room all to ourselves but the variety and taste of food at Affinity’s was excellent.  
Our AGM is on Wednesday 14 March at Thorpe Bay Yacht Club.  Lunch will follow the meeting so please try to get there.  We need your ideas and thoughts on how to move forward.  The Essex RCSL Social Section arrange a variety of coach trips that we cannot compete with pricewise etc.  These are open to all members including those of us who have retired.  Their coach trip to Scotland with Lochs and Glens is proving so popular that they have now added a second coach. The date is 8-12 June.  Contact Debbie Gordon on 361700 if you are interested, full payment by 31 March.
Our bowling at the Kursaal has been put on hold as they have had to close.  They may find a buyer but in the meantime we have decided to bowl at Broadway Bowl, 258 Leigh Road on Wed. 11 Jan meeting at 11am.  If coming from Southend turn left between Chalkwell  Park and the School and follow Leigh Road until you reach the Catholic Church on the right the Bowl is on the left.  A car park is behind the bowling alley in Maple Ave. To reach it one has to go past the alley and the sharp left bend of the road then take the first road on the left.  This is one way only, the car park near the end.  We will eat in the Oasis Cafe opposite about 1pm.   Non bowlers welcome.
The next trip out is a visit to Crouch Vale Brewery in South Woodham Ferrers on Wed 8 February.  We need a minimum of 15 with a maximum of 25.  The tour starts at 7pm sharp and costs £12 p.p.  This includes beer samples at the brewery and a buffet at their pub, the Queen’s Head, in Chelmsford.  We will use private cars as a mini bus would lift the cost up considerably.  However most of us have spare seats in our cars and are willing to take passengers so please let me know if you need a lift.  The brewery is at 23 Haltwhistle Rd. South Woodham Ferrers, CM3  52A. At the Rettendon Turnpike roundabout take the 3^rd exit, signed South Woodham Ferrrers, after 2.5miles take the3rd exit on the roundabout, signed Town Centre, Haltwhistle Road is half a mile along on the left hand side.  Please let me know if you are coming so we can keep a check on the numbers.  I’m sure the men will enjoy the evening!  
Further outings to follow.

Thurs 1 March:  A social lunch at The Lodge, Woodham Ferrers meeting at 12pm.  This proved to be very popular last time we visited, so this year I will let them know we are coming.  Don’t let me down or I shall be disappointed.  The Lodge is half way down the A132 between the Rettendon Turnpike and South Woodham Ferrers almost opposite the Caravan Site. 

Tues 27 March:  A walk from the Shore House, Shoeburyness.  Meeting at 10am and walking along the sea wall bordering Gunners Park, in a circular route back for lunch at 12.30pm in Meadow Lark, the new pub restaurant near Asda.  A No.9 bus will take you there from Southend.  Pleased to see non-walkers join us for lunch. 
Thurs 19 Apr:  A walk within Wat Tyler’s park with a RSPB guide.  This is a 2 hour walk including stops at various hides.  The tour starts at 10.15am from near the visitors Centre.  Lunch at Tarpots, Benfleet on the A13 around 12.45
Tues 1 May :  A walk round the Bradwell Cockle Spit, on the Blackwater, meeting at 10.30am as we all have further to drive there.   A small car park is on the East End Road on the right, next to Eastlands Farm.   We will visit St Peter’s on the Wall, the oldest surviving church in England built in 645AD. Also on the walk is Linnet’s Cottage, home to Walter Linnet, a professional wildfowler.  Next door is a more modern bird observatory.  Lots of salt marshes after then with wild flowers and then we find a nice warm pub.  As you can tell we still have to walk this one out but we will give better details nearer the time.

Hope to see you all in the near future, especially at the AGM, until then,"

November Newsletter

CUSTOMS & EXCISE & REVENUE RETIRED STAFF ASSOCIATION (CERRSA) SOUTHEND

 CHAIRMAN:    Jan Hales                                 SECRETARY:    Daphne Amos Pugh

                        6 Overcliffe                                                     261 Station Road
                        Manor Road                                                   Leigh-on-Sea
                        Westcliff –on Sea                                           Essex
                       Essex                                                               SS9 3BP
                        SS0 7SE                                                                                   
Tel:-   01702 352443                                                   Tel:- 01702 711492
Email:-  j.hales@btinternet.com                               Email:- nick.pugh2@btopenworld.com

                                                                                                      1 November 2011

Dear All

Christmas will soon be with us, we have booked with Affinity Restaurant in Leigh-on-Sea for Thursday December 8^th at 12.00 for 12.30pm.  Christmas Lunch is a very important date on our calendar as it is the only time we see some of our members.  The restaurant is on the A13 just past Thames Drive when coming out of Southend.  If you pass Tesco Express on the right you have gone too far.  Bus stops are outside, and parking is on the corner of Southerland  Boulevard and on  the A13.  Lots of side roads usually have room too.  The menu is extensive and we do not have to order beforehand.  The cost is £17 for 3 courses which includes mince pies and a glass of wine. RCSL members receive a £10 discount off this cost.  If you wish to join us a deposit of £5 per person must be sent to Pat Parker, 4 Birch Close, Canewdon, SS4 3PE.  Tel. 258689. We need to confirm our booking and give numbers to Affinity within the next 2 weeks.   If it snows use the bus!

We only have one walk left for this year, Wed. 23 November we visit Wat Tyler Park starting at the Visitors Centre for coffee and information. Let’s hope this mild autumn weather stays with us to make the winter seem shorter.  For those not wishing to walk, the Park has other interests.  An RSBP Centre for bird lovers, a motorboat museum and lots of info on the history of Wat Tyler. We will lunch at the Harvesters that used to be called Tarpots, on the corner of the A13 towards Southend at Benfleet at 12.30.

We had a lovely walk along the sea wall at Wallasea Island in October.  The weather couldn’t have been better, tide was high, no clouds so lots to see.  Really lovely day.   Nice to see Barry and Pat join us for lunch, 9 adults and 4 children made a good group but we ate in the Marina for convenience. 

A number of members have asked about another trip to Crouch Vale Brewery so we plan to do this next year. It is 4 years since our last visit and some of the shirts bought at the time were looking rather sad.   We were pleased to find they are still doing tours once a month.  We sample their beer (not too much for drivers) see how it is made and from what ingredients.  Afterwards we go to the Queen’s Head, Chelmsford for what they called a modest buffet but proved too much for us.  They only do tours on a Wednesday evening at 7pm, cost is £12 a head and we require a minimum of 15 persons. Please let me know if you would be interested.  We have pencilled in 8 Feb as a provisional date.

On Thurs 1 march we will have a social lunch at The Lodge, South Woodham  Ferrers, meeting at 12.00.  It is a very welcoming and warm place to visit at this time of year.  Last time we went we cleared them out of their carvery as 16 of us turned up and I had not given notice of our visit.  I hope as many of us go this time.  I will warn them beforehand. 

Tues 27 March another walk is planned from the Shore House, Shoeburyness.  We meet there at 10am and walk along the sea wall bordering Gunners Park in a circular route, with a lunch at 12.30 in Meadow Lark, the new pub/restaurant near Asda.  A No.9 bus from Southend will take you there.  We went to the Meadow Lark for lunch after bowling recently and were very impressed with the menu and service. We would be pleased to see any non-walkers who wish to join us for lunch.

The Essex RCSL coach trip to the Lochs and Glens, near Edinburgh, now has a second coach.  This means they currently have 19 places to fill if anyone is interested.  Please contact Debbie Gordon at Alex House on 361700 as soon as possible and she will give you the details.  5 days,  8^th -12^th June 2012. The Southend Cerrsa AGM will be on Wed 14^th March 2012 in Thorpe Bay Yacht Club at 12.00pm.  Lunch will follow the meeting.

We wish you a very Merry Christmas in case you are unable to come to the Xmas lunch,

Best Wishes

Daphne Amos Pugh (Secretary)

Autumn Newsletter with programme.

CUSTOMS & EXCISE & REVENUE RETIRED STAFF ASSOCIATION (CERRSA) SOUTHEND
 

CHAIRMAN:    Jan Hales                                 SECRETARY:    Daphne Amos Pugh

                        6 Overcliffe                                                     261 Station Road

                        Manor Road                                                   Leigh-on-Sea

                        Westcliff –on Sea                                           Essex

                        Essex                                                               SS9 3BP

                        SS0 7SE                                                                                   

Tel:-   01702 352443                                                   Tel:- 01702 711492

Email:-  j.hales@btinternet.com                               Email:- nick.pugh2@btopenworld.com

                                                                                                         14 Sept 2011

Dear All

Summer nearly gone, a very disappointing one for August holidays, especially for the school children, but at least we don’t have earthquakes and hurricanes to contend with. Just would like a little more sun!  We do hope you all had an enjoyable summer whatever you were doing.        

Nick and I have just returned from a few days in Italy, lovely Florence.  Even there we had a mixture of weather, but when it is hot it means it.  We enjoyed our visit very much, so much to see but all nicely contained within walking distance. 

We have enjoyed our walks over the summer,  Stock was as lovely as ever.  Such a pretty village and surrounding countryside and we picked a sunny day.  The meal at the Baker’s Arms was good too.

Another walk was in South Weald Country Park but the weather was very wet.  At least it rained from the start so the walkers were well attired for the weather.  The deer park was as busy as usual, they are always hungry so the grandchildren with us enjoyed feeding them and the ducks on the lake.  I had an injured leg so spent my time in the Visitors Centre drinking coffee and enjoying learning about the history and geography of the area.  A lot of reading there! 

Our next walk will be along the sea wall at Wallasea Island.  This can be very windy so we are hoping for good weather.  One can walk along the lower path which is more sheltered.  They have been working on the conservation area protecting the habitat of the birds, so depending on the tide we should see what they have achieved.  The date has been changed from my last letter from Tues 18 Oct to Tues 25 Oct as some members are on the RCSL trip to the Albert Hall for a concert that day.  Lunch will be at the Royal Oak, Stambridge, SS4 2AX.  Lunch at 12.30, we would love to see non walkers too as the lunches are good there.

On Wed 23 Nov we are meeting at Wat Tylers Park, Pitsea off the A127 before one reaches Basildon.  They have an interesting Visitors Centre where we will have coffee and a comfort break before we start.  There is also an RSPB Centre for the bird lovers for those who prefer not to walk.  A lot depends on the weather this time of year.  We will lunch at the Harvesters that used to be called Tarpots, on the corner of the A13 towards Southend at Benfleet at 12.30. 

The Waverley is visiting Southend Pier this month from Saturday 24 Sept to Saturday 8 Oct. It goes to a variety of places the Thames Forts, Clacton 0n Sea  and the River Medway. On Sunday 25^th, Monday 26^th Friday 30^th and Sunday 2^nd it goes up the Thames  and under Tower Bridge with a full commentary all the way there.  We did this trip a few years ago and it was most interesting as they lift the bridge up.  The weekday cost is £29 the Sunday cost is £33.  Unfortunately  Nick and I can only do the Sunday as we are busy on the Monday and have already booked with RCSL to do their Ripper Tour in London on the Friday.  This is for info only as we are away for the next two weekends, so if you are interested you will have to book yourselves. 

We would like to visit Crouch Vale Brewery in South Woodham Ferrers in Jan/Feb as they are still doing tours.  We last went there in Nov 2007 and had a lovely evening.  We sampled their beer, saw how it was made and from what ingredients.  Afterwards we drove to the Queen’s  Head, Chelmsford for what they called a modest buffet . We couldn’t finish it! They only do tours on a Wednesday evening at 7pm, cost is £12 a head and we require a minimum of 15 persons. Please let me know if you would be interested. 

Bowling at The Kursal, followed by lunch, will continue at least until February on the 2^nd Wednesday of the month.  It may be that February will be the last chance as the venue will close unless they find a new owner. We will keep you informed as we get any information.

The RCSL coach trip to the Lochs and Glens in 2012 is fully booked with 19 members on the waiting list.  There is talk of a second coach if they can make the number up to 40.  If you are interested please contact Debbie Gordon  at Alex House on 361700 and she will advise.  This trip is mainly in Edinburgh.  The closing date is end of September.

The Christmas Lunch is our most important date on the calendar as it is the only time we see some of our members.  We have booked at Affinity in Leigh on Sea on Thurs 8 December at 12 for 12.30. It is on the A13 just past Thames Drive when coming out of Southend.  If you pass Tesco Express on the right you have gone too far.  Bus stops are outside, and parking on the corner of Southerland  Boulevard and the A13.  Lots of side roads usually have room too.  The menu is extensive and we do not have to order beforehand.  The cost is £17 for 3 course or £14.50 for 2 courses. Both options include mince pies and a glass of wine in the price.

Please let Pat Parker know if you are joining us for this lunch. Tel :- 258689.  If for some reason you cannot be with us on the day we wish you a very Merry Christmas in advance,

Best Wishes

Daphne Amos Pugh (Secretary)

June News Letter.

CUSTOMS & EXCISE & REVENUE RETIRED STAFF ASSOCIATION (CERRSA) SOUTHEND

CHAIRMAN:    Jan Hales                                 SECRETARY:    Daphne Amos Pugh

                        6 Overcliffe                                                     261 Station Road

                        Manor Road                                                   Leigh-on-Sea

                        Westcliff –on Sea                                           Essex

                        Essex                                                               SS9 3BP

                        SS0 7SE                                                                                   

Tel:-   01702 352443                                                   Tel:- 01702 711492

Email:-  j.hales@btinternet.com                               Email:- nick.pugh2@btopenworld.com

                                                                                    15 June 2011 

Dear All

First I would like to thank all those CERRSA members who so kindly sponsored me when I ran the London Marathon in April.  It was a warm sunny day and with many spectators there to cheer one on it encourages running when you are tired.  My time was not fantastic, 5hrs 44 mins. but I was able to send Alzheimer’s Society £944 which made it all worthwhile.  The website of “justgiving.com” was so good as anyone could send direct to Alzheimer’s but I was notified of the details. 

Since coming back from nearly two months in Australia during January and February I have kept busy.  Swimming in the CSSC Championships at Sheffield where I met up with John Evans again.  He sends his regards to everyone and is enjoying his move to Rutland.  Nick and I also went to Great Yarmouth for the CERRSA Annual Reunion and AGM.  Six of us went from Southend, including Sylvia Walton, so we had a nice group.  Very brave of Sylvia after losing Dennis such a short time before.  We visited Kings Lynn and Sandringham, making a lovely day out.  It was not long before we went to Scotland with the Lochs and Glens coach arranged by Essex RCSL Social Section.  We stayed in a lovely old hotel an hour’s drive from Oban. There were 16 of us from the Southend CERRSA and we all had a wonderful time and are looking forward to a similar trip next year.  It is so green up there as they have been stealing all our rain. Even though it was rather damp during our visit it was still lovely!  We travelled 1500 miles over 5 days but saw quite a bit of the Inner Isles as well as the inside of the coach. 

From the feedback the outing to Marks Hall Gardens on 5 May was obviously enjoyed by all who went.  I missed out due to the Gala on that date.  The buggy ride for those who did not want to walk sounded a great success as did the pub for lunch.  Thank you to Barry for driving the minibus and himself and Pat for sorting out such a good lunch venue. 

The trip to Frinton and Walton on the Naze was most pleasant, especially as it turned out to be such a nice day.  Barry drove again and we had a full mini bus of 15 members.  The tide was out so we walked along the lovely sands to the restaurant that Jan had booked.  We were allowed to take our own wine so it was nice not to be driving back home.  We have never seen so many charity shops as they have in that area!

We are hoping that RCSL will be organising a coach to Groombridge, Tonbridge Wells, Kent in September.  Waiting for details on this. We only have walks and bowling to offer you at the moment but Essex RCSL have lots of other outings. If you are not hearing about these please let Jan Hales know.

Thurs 21 July - a walk around Stock again but this time in the summer.  We meet at the Baker’s Arms Public House at 10am plenty of space in the car park, we should be back for lunch at 12.30pm.  The pub is in Common Road off the B1007 Stock Road which runs between Billericay and Junction 16 of the A12.  We would love to see any non-walkers for lunch. It is a lovely area with an old church and windmill in the village. 

Thurs 11 Aug- a walk round South Weald Country Park, meeting at 10am at Tower Arms Public House.   Take the A127 towards London to the M25, Junction 29 and go anti-clockwise for 2 miles.  Leave at junction 28  (A12).  On the roundabout take the 4^th exit A1023 towards Brentwood.  At the first set of lights turn towards S Weald.  At the T junction turn right and the Tower Arms is immediately on the R.H.side, opposite the Church.  It’s a lovely walk to take the grandchildren on as there is a deer enclosure in the park. Lunch in the Tower Arms at 12.30pm.

Tues 18 Oct - A walk around the sea wall from Wallasea Island.  Meeting at 10am in the Marina car park where we can have coffee and use the toilets when we arrive.  A lagoon for the wild life has been made by breaching the sea-wall and at low tide there is plenty of  bird life to view.  We will drive to the Royal Oak  Stambridge Road SS4 2AX for lunch and hope others will come and join us, around 12.30pm.    

Wed 23 Nov. - meeting at 10am for a walk in Wat Tyler Park, Pitsea starting with coffee in the Visitors Centre first  Very informative on the history of the Park and the wild life that can be found there. There is also an RSPB Centre for the bird lovers. Lunch at the Harvesters, which is on the corner of the A13 at Tarpots, at 12.30pm.  

Bowling

No bowling in August as school holidays are on but we will be bowling on Wed 13 July, 14 Sept, 12 Oct, 9 Nov and 14 Dec.   We always meet at 10.30am and have two games of bowling for £6.  We even had free coffee this month but that is unusual.  We have lunch at various venues around 12.30, usually decided on the day.  If you would like to join us for a meal please ring Nick’s mobile 07902278071 around 11.30 and we will tell you where we are going.

Xmas Lunch

Date : Thursday 8^th December.  Put it on your calendar now! 

Menu’s are not out this early so we will have to let you know where later on.  Definitely having a change from the Yacht Club, pleasant though it was, but looks like the other end of town may have our custom, sunny Leigh-on-Sea.    

ind regards

Daphne

Dennis Walton

      Dennis Walton   1933 -2011

Peter Webb writes:- “Dennis died from a heart attack on 8th April having  been unwell for some time. His funeral in Southend was attended by many ex-colleagues and friends

Dennis was born in Newcastle and excelled at school and at his many pastimes. He played rugby, cricket, swimming and boxing and still had time to became a King’s Scout and attend two Jamborees. He played the clarinet in the school orchestra and spoke French and German.

He joined HM Customs and Excise in 1953  and, as happened to many, was posted to Dover as an Unattached Officer. Those who experienced those days may well remember Dennis for his motorbike, his dexterity with the badminton racquet and, of course his moustache. He showed his badminton skills by winning both Singles and Doubles Championships in Kent.

There were so many customs officers in Dover that of us that a back room in the Albion Pub was used as an unofficial club room - where Dennis’s musical talents were deployed in singing various rugby songs and where he also drank the occasional pint. The Outdoor Service was, in those days, an all male preserve except for six ladies and Dennis persuaded one of those ladies, Sylvia, to be his wife. A marriage that celebrated its fiftieth anniversary last year and produced Clare and Marcus.

During his National Service, Dennis had been in the RAEC as an education instructor and perhaps partly because of this he became a Core Instructor for a new tax called VAT. He devised the VAT controls many of which are still in use today and have been copied by other countries .

Dennis was put forward for accelerated promotion and took the Civil Service Board assessment (CSB) - a two day highly competitive exercise that only about 1 in 300 got through. Needless to say Dennis was successful and, indeed so successful that he was loaned to the Civil Service Department for the next two years so that he could be an Assessor to help run the scheme.

On his return  to Customs he became Head of the Training and Staff Development Division in Southend with the responsibility for designing the training for some 28,000 customs staff - a difficult job which he made look easy. Among the many innovations that he introduced was setting up a film unit for making training films. A few years later the film unit was so successful that one of its films won the “Palm D’Or” for making the best training film - beating John Cleese into second place. On the lighter side Dennis took his clarinet to parties where his expertise and the volume  of his playing increased in direct relation to type and quantity of liquid consumed!

With VAT HQ being based in Southend, many people were posted there leaving their partners and children behind and Dennis and Sylvia had that uncanny knack of knowing when an invite to a meal at their home would help relieve the stress and boredom of living apart.

 Dennis moved to London to the Personnel Division looking after Promotion and Selection - another difficult job. He set up the assessment centre for the selection of middle managers that was also copied by other Government departments.

There are so many stories and memories of Dennis’s 40 years in Customs that one could go on and on, but by any standard it was a very successful career. Apart from work, he was elected Chairman of the Customs and Excise Sports Club, the Club prospering under his lead, winning a number of championships.

Dennis was a one off, an individual larger than life.  Highly intelligent  and gifted , with a great sense of humour, and above all a kind and genuine person. He will be greatly missed by all his friends and our thoughts are with Sylvia, Clare and Marcus at this sad time.”