The Londoner
The magazine of HASSRA London
ISSUE 44 SPRING 2017
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Welcome to the
LONDONER
Welcome to the 44th Edition of The Londoner.
The Londoner is the official magazine of the London
Region of HASSRA, the sports and social organisation
for all staff in the Department for Work and Pensions,
Department of Health and the Food Standards Agency
plus all of their Agencies and Retired and Associate
members from those Departments or their predecessors.
Regional Business Partner
Ray Allen
HASSRA Office
3 Floor, Ramsgate FEPS
Queens House
Queens Street
Ramsgate
Kent
CT11 9EW
Tel 01843 258816
[email protected]
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Thanks to everyone who sent contributions for this
issue. I have (hopefully!) credited them at the
appropriate place. Articles are required for future
editions of The Londoner. All contributions and
suggestions are gratefully received. The next issue will
be out in June 2017. Please send any contributions to
me by 20th April. Please send contributions (including
photographs where possible) to the Editor:
Duncan Lloyd
2nd Floor, Acton Jobcentre,
Armstrong Road, Acton, London, W3 7JL
Tel: 020 8811 8284
[email protected]
COVER PICTURE
BARNES WETLANDS
by Neil Furnice
See page 8
IN THIS ISSUE
Page 3 Calendar of Events
Page 4 HASSRA Lottery results
Page 5 Crossword
Page 6 Social Media
Page 7 General Knowledge Quiz
Page 7 Pop Quiz
Page 7 HASSRA Accounts
Page 7 Sudoku
Page 7 O2 Competition Winners
Page 8 Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust
Page 9 Down Your Way
Page 11 St Austell Brewery
Page 11 HASSRA Online Shop
Page 12 Amsterdam
Page 14 Micky Flanagan Prize Draw
Page 15 Picture Quiz
Page 16 Haunted London
Page 18 Wine Club
Page 18 Snainton Golf
Page 19 Verona
Page 20 English Heritage
Page 22 The Story Behind the Song – Down Under
Page 23 APH
Page 24 London Rugby Clubs – London Welsh
Page 26 Charity for Civil Servants
Page 26 Squash
Page 26 Original Bus Tour
Page 26 Eden Project
Page 27 Cinema Tickets
Page 28 Drinking with Charles Dickens
Page 30 Chess Club
Page 30 Golf Society
Page 31 HASSRA Development Scheme
Page 31 CSMA
Page 31 Conkers
Page 32 Christmas Jumpers
Page 33 Valentines Day
Page 34 MacArthur Glen
Page 34 London Eye
Page 34 Paultons Park
Page 34 Haven
Page 35 National Brewery Centre
Page 35 Cottages 4You
Page 36 Pepys Diary
Page 38 Ray Carnell
Page 38 Christmas Cracker Draw
Page 38 CSIS
Page 38 Butlins
Page 38 CADW
Page 39 Quiz Answers
Page 40 Sports Day
HASSRA LONDON CALENDAR OF EVENTS
DATE
MARCH 2017
Thursday 16th March 2017
Wednesday 22nd March 2017
APRIL 2017
Monday 10th April 2017
Thursday 20th April 2017
MAY 2017
Thursday 11th May 2017
Thursday 18th May 2017
Thursday 18th May 2017
JUNE 2017
Monday 12th June 2017
Thursday 15th June 2017
Tuesday 27th June 2017
Wednesday 28th June 2017
JULY 2017
Saturday 8th July 2017
Wednesday 12th July 2017
Thursday 20th July 2017
Friday 21st July 2017
AUGUST 2017
Friday 18th August 2017
SEPTEMBER 2017
Saturday 9th September 2017
Monday 11th September 2017
Thursday 21st September 2017
Friday 29th September 2017
OCTOBER 2017
Thursday 19th October 2017
NOVEMBER 2017
Thursday 16th November 2017
DECEMBER 2017
Thursday 14th December 2017
EVENT
LOCATION
Wine Club meeting
HASSRA London AGM
National Liberal Club
Golf Society Day
Wine Club meeting
Bletchingley GC
HASSRA National Conference
Wine Club meeting
Golf Society Day
Warwick University
Golf Match versus East of England
Wine Club meeting
Golf Society Day
Sports Day
Abridge GC
HASSRA National Festival
Golf Match versus West Midlands
Wine Club meeting
Golf Society Day
Warwick University
Northamptonshire GC
Golf Society Day
Horton Park GC
HASSRA National Festival
Golf Match versus Leeds
Wine Club meeting
Golf Society Day
Warwick University
Beau Desert GC
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Tyrrells Wood GC
Thorndon Park GC
NPL Teddington
Bushey Hill GC
South Buckinghamshire GC
Wine Club meeting
Wine Club meeting
Wine Club meeting
If you are running a HASSRA event that you would like added to our Calendar of Events, please let me
know via [email protected] and we’ll add you to the list. We are looking to advertise all dates
for the single activity clubs and events that cover multiple offices.
National HASSRA’s photos now available online!
You can now view images from HASSRA’s national events on our new Flick page.
Events currently available to view are the National AGM 2015, National AGM 2016, National Awards
Dinner 2015, National Awards Dinner 2016, National Festival July 2015, National Festival September 2015,
National Festival July 2016 National Festival September 2016.
To view the photos, go onto the HASSRA website and follow the link or log on to:
www.flickr.com/photos/hassra_national/albums
Please note: For optimal viewing it is recommended that members use NON-Departmental equipment.
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CONGRATULATIONS
Since the last edition of The Londoner, these London members have won prizes in the
HASSRA lottery
£12,500
A Winner London NAM
£2,500
Sajitha Warrier Ilford
A Winner Stratford
Martin Gregory Hoxton
£1,000
Andrew Holmes Hackney
A Winner Poplar
Shameika Eccleston
Jason Sparkes Caxton House
£500
Tim Dobson Hammersmith
A Winner Harrow
A Winner Ealing
Stemma Ogundamisi Dalston
£250
Muhammed Adelekan Woolwich
A Winner Ilford
Mark Swindells Caxton House
Those named A Winner have opted for no publicity or have yet to be contacted by the draw officials.
From the January 2016 draw, the top prize increased to £12,500, with 4 prizes of £2,500, 15 prizes of
£1,000, 25 prizes of £500 and 20 prizes of £250 giving you lots of chances to win.
An application form for the HASSRA Lottery can be found on the HASSRA London website
www.hassra.org.uk. A full list of winners each month can also be found on the website.
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1
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SOLUTION INSIDE BACK COVER
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ACROSS
1 Common name for stomach muscle
(2)
3 First wife of Mick Jagger (6)
9 Medium grade pencil (2)
11 Duo who recorded ‘Welcome
Home’ (6,3,3)
12 ‘—Balls’ dancing MP (2)
13 ‘—Wells’ Sci-Fi writer (1,1)
14 Chemical symbol for silver (2)
15 Motoring organisation (1,1)
17 ‘—Arnold’ Soul singer
18 The Press (6, 6)
21 ‘—Duce’ Mussolini’s title
22 Totals (4)
24 Roman two thousand (2)
25 Rhythm instrument (4)
28 Group that sets manufacturing
standards (3)
26
31 ‘Midge ---‘ Ultravox singer (3)
32 Gift given at Easter (9,3)
38 ‘ The –‘ TV series based in
Orange County, California (1,1)
39 Part of an Orchestra featuring
trumpets (5, 7)
41 Nazi paramilitary organisation
(1,1)
42 Male offspring (3)
DOWN
1 Primate (3)
2 County location of Luton (12)
3 Eastern European country (7)
4 Internet country code for Iran (2)
5 Remains of a fire (3)
6 Moan at a horse (3)
7 Logo of the Cartoon Network TV
channel (2)
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8 Changed to fit it (7)
9 Cardiac Doctor (5,7)
10 Plead (3)
16 Attends (2)
17 Post Script (1,1)
19 That man (3)
20 Tree (3)
22 Alphabet (3)
23 Heavy metal band (3)
26 Regret (3)
27 Homer’s daughter (3)
29 Monopoly square (2)
30 Film alien (1,1)
33 Spare money (4)
34 Defeat (4)
35 High cards (4)
36 Consumes (4)
37 One of Jupiter’s moons (2)
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You can find HASSRA London on Social Media sites
Search for ‘HASSRA London’. It is a closed group so
contents can only be viewed by members. Don’t forget to also
invite your work colleagues to join.
Follow us on Twitter @london_hassra
Log on to both to see information on events, offers,
competitions and latest news
GENERAL KNOWLEDGE QUIZ
Solution inside back page
1 In which state is the US town of Gettysburg
2 By what name were Edward McGuiness and Cyril
Mead better known
3 In Greek mythology, on which island did the
Minotaur live?
4 Who led the Dambusters raid in World War 2?
5 In which television show did Lord Ralph Mayhew,
Rowley Birkin QC and Ron Manager appear?
6 Who did Larry Lamb play in EastEnders?
7 Which dog’s name translates as Badger Dog
8 Who was issued the Nobel Peace prize in both the
First and Second World Wars?
9 Which character has been voiced by both David
Jason and Alexander Armstrong?
10 By what common name is the galaxy that contains
our own solar system known?
SUDUKO
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Solution inside back page
POP MUSIC QUIZ
Solution inside back page
1 Who were the studio band for most of Joe Meek’s
recordings?
2 Who recorded the original version of the Cilla
Black hit ‘Anyone Who Had A Heart?
3 Which two artistes have represented the UK twice
in the Eurovision Song Contest?
4 Under what two names did Bernard Jewry have
hits?
5 Which band had amps that went up to 11?
6 Dwayne Michael Carter Junior records under what
name?
7 Millie Mackintosh, from the TV programme made
in Chelsea, is married to which rapper?
8 Which of his singles went to number one after
Elvis Presley died?
9 Who replaced Ian Gillan in Deep Purple?
10 Whose remix of Run-DMC’s ‘It’s Like That’
went to number one in the UK?
ACCOUNTS REMINDER
Just a quick reminder that although we don’t pay your
rebates until July time, club accounts are due in by
end of March at the latest please.
If you have any problems or issues with your accounts,
please get in touch, via 01843 258816 or
[email protected] sooner rather than
later via as late submission may your rebate level
being paid in this year.
Here are the latest winners of our 02 VIP ticket
competition. Look out for more competitions on our
Facebook page, in the e-mail updates and a new
competition to win Mickey Flanagan tickets on Page
14 of this issue
Rod Stewart – Sharon Mortlock
Fat Boy Slim – Ed Clift
Jingle Bell Ball – Deborah McGrow
Disney On Ice –
Beverley Mitchell
Linda Dennis
Carole Vernon
Janet Zamornii
Geraldine Ward
Norbert Pereira
Drake – Jacquie Simpson
Greenday – Florence Victorie
Strictly Come Dancing –
Lorna Buchanan
Lorraine Dowe
Donna McCall
Brit Awards – Waqas Zahid
Jack Whitehall – Julie Hawthorn
Olly Murs – Michelle Goddard
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WILDFOWL AND WETLANDS TRUST
When I first read on the back of my copy of the
Londoner that HASSRA had teamed up with the
Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust to provide free entry to
HASSRA members I was quite excited (I clearly don’t
get out much). Being a keen birdwatcher I had visited
the Barnes Wetlands previously it being only 30
minutes’ drive from my house but never regularly
visited due to the £12 entrance fee for an Adult and
£33 for a family of four. So, I grabbed my binoculars,
camera and HASSRA membership card and drove
over to Barnes.
The Barnes Wetlands Queen Elizabeth’s Walk opened
in May 2000 and was formed around four disused
Victorian reservoirs and covers over 100 acres in
urban west London. A loop path can be followed
around the site leading to a number of large hides, all
of which have bird posters and books so you can
identify what you are looking at. The site has various
ponds where you can look at pond life, also otters
which you can view being fed at set times during the
day.
There is a slightly pricey cafeteria which has great
outdoor tables overlooking the site but it can be very
busy particularly during the summer. On my visit I
saw numerous cormorants, grey herons, teal and a
couple of common snipe. Overall it was a great free
day out courtesy of HASSRA.
Neil Furnice
Caxton House
The HASSRA deal grants all members FREE entry for
two adults and up to four children at any Wetlands
Centre in the UK. Just present your HASSRA
membership card when you arrive. The WWT has nine
different Wetland Centres across the UK at Arundel,
West Sussex; Caerlaverock, Scotland; Castle Espie,
N/Ireland; Llanelli, Wales; Barnes, London; Martin
Mere, West Lancashire; Slimbridge, Gloucestershire;
Washington; Tyne and Wear; and Welney, Norfolk.
COMING SOON
FREE ENTRY TO TOWER OF LONDON
HAMPTON COURT, KENSINGTON
PALACE AND KEW PALACE.
LOOK OUT FOR DETAILS ON THE
HASSRA WEBSITE, E-MAIL UPDATES AND
FACEBOOK PAGE
DOWN YOUR WAY…...
…… CHARING CROSS
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This wooden sculpted cross was the work of the
medieval sculptor, Alexander of Abingdon. It was
destroyed in 1647 on the orders of Parliament during
the Civil War. The 70 ft high stone replica in front of
Charing Cross station was erected in 1865. It was
designed by the architect E.M.Barry and carved by
Thomas Earp. Fragments of the medieval original
remain in the Museum of London.
Charing Cross is the junction of The Strand, Whitehall
and Cockspur Street, south of Trafalgar Square.
Charing Cross is named after the Eleanor cross that
once stood at the site, in what was once the hamlet of
Charing. The site of the cross has been occupied since
1675 by an equestrian statue of King Charles I. A
loose Victorian replica of the medieval cross, the
Queen Eleanor Memorial Cross, was erected a short
distance to the east outside the railway station.
Until 1931, "Charing Cross" referred to the part of
Whitehall between Great Scotland Yard and Trafalgar
Square. At least one property retains a "Charing
Cross" postal address: Drummonds Bank, on the
corner of Whitehall and The Mall, which is designated
"49 Charing Cross" (not to be confused with Charing
Cross Road). Since the early 19th century, Charing
Cross has often been regarded as the notional "centre
of London", and is now the point used to measure
distances from London.
The name of the area, Charing, is derived from the Old
English word "cierring", referring to a bend in the
River Thames. The addition of the name "Cross" to the
hamlet's name originates from the Eleanor cross
erected in 1291–94 by King Edward I as a memorial
to his wife, Eleanor of Castile, and placed between the
former hamlet of Charing and the entrance to the
Royal Mews of the Palace of Whitehall
The cross has given its name to a railway station, a
tube station, police station, hospital, a hotel, a theatre,
and a music hall, which lay beneath the arches of the
railway station. Charing Cross Road was named after
the railway station, which was a major destination for
traffic, rather than for the original cross.
At some time between 1232 and 1236, the Chapel and
Hospital of St Mary Rounceval was founded at
Charing. It occupied land at the corner of the modern
Whitehall and into the centre of Northumberland
Avenue. The house and lands were seized for the king
in 1379, under a statute "for the forfeiture of the lands
of schismatic aliens". Protracted legal action returned
some rights to the prior, but in 1414, Henry V
suppressed the 'alien' houses. The priory fell into a
long decline due to lack of money and arguments
regarding the collection of tithes with the parish
church of St Martin-in-the-Fields. In 1541, religious
artefacts were removed to St Margaret's, and the
chapel was adapted as a private house and its
almshouse were sequestered to the Royal Palace.
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In 1608–09, the Earl of Northampton built
Northumberland House on the eastern portion of the
property. In June 1874, the whole of the duke's
property at Charing Cross, was purchased by the
Metropolitan Board of Works for the formation of
Northumberland Avenue.
In 1554, Charing Cross was the site of the final battle
of Wyatt's Rebellion. This was an attempt by Thomas
Wyatt and others to overthrow Queen Mary I of
England, soon after her accession to the throne and
replace her with Lady Jane Grey. Wyatt's army had
come from Kent, and with London Bridge barred to
them, had crossed the river by what was then the next
bridge upstream, at Hampton Court. Their circuitous
route brought them down St. Martin's Lane to
Whitehall.
The palace was defended by 1,000 men under Sir John
Gage at Charing Cross; they retreated within
Whitehall after firing their shot, causing consternation
within – thinking the force had changed sides. The
rebels – themselves, fearful of artillery on the higher
ground around St James's – did not press their attack
and marched onto Ludgate; where they were met by
the Tower Garrison and surrendered.
The statue of Charles I, erected in 1633, on the site of
the original cross. was ordered to be destroyed by
Parliament in 1649. Subsequently, after being hidden
by the man charged with destroying the statue, it
resurfaced at the Restoration, and was re-erected here
in 1675.
A prominent pillory, where malefactors were publicly
flogged, was situated next to the statue of King
Charles. To the south of Charing Cross was the
Hungerford Market, established at the end of the 16th
century; and to the north was the King's Mews, a royal
stable. The area around the pillory was a popular place
of street entertainment. Samuel Pepys records in his
diaries visiting the surrounding taverns and watching
the entertainments and executions that were held there
This whole area was transformed when Trafalgar
Square was built on the site in 1832.
A famous inn called the "Golden Cross" – first
mentioned in 1643 – stood in the former village of
Charing. From here, in the eighteenth and nineteenth
centuries, coaches departed by various routes to
around England. The inn features in Sketches by Boz,
David Copperfield and The Pickwick Papers by
Charles Dickens. In the last, the dangers to public
safety of the low archway between the inn to the street
were memorably pointed out by Mr Jingle.
The inn was demolished for the creation of Trafalgar
Square and a new Golden Cross Hotel was built in the
1830s on the triangular site now fronted by South
Africa House. Though this hotel is now also gone, the
memory is preserved in commercial offices facing the
Strand named Golden Cross House.
Charing Cross railway station opened in 1864 on The
Strand with the Charing Cross Hotel. From then
onward, Charing Cross began to be perceived as the
centre of London and distances to London began to be
measured to and from the Station. The original station
was built by the South Eastern Railway as their
London terminus for services to South London and
Kent although most trains also stop at Waterloo East
and London Bridge.
Charing Cross also has two undergrounds stations,
Charing Cross and Embankment Originally
Embankment was called Charing Cross, while the
present Charing Cross was Trafalgar Square
(Bakerloo line) and Strand (Northern line) stations,
combining under the new name when connected by
the new Jubilee line station in 1979.
Located in Charing Cross are the National Liberal
Club in Whitehall Place, venue for the HASSRA
London AGM and the Civil Service Club in Great
Scotland Yard which is open to membership for all
current and ex-Civil Servants.
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Many of Charing Cross’s bars and restaurants are
located in Villiers Street including an All Bar One,
Café Rouge, Lupita (Mexican), Biagio Trattoria
(Italian) Five Guys (American), Herman ze German
(Guess), L’Ulivo (Italian), The Olive Grove
(Mediterranean), La Piazza (Italian), Villers (British /
European) and Grand Indian.
The Princess of Wales is a Nicholsons pub, also in
Villiers Street. They usually have half a dozen real
ales on tap including from the Fullers and Sharps
breweries. The Sherlock Holmes is located in
Northumberland Street. It is a Greene King pub with
their full range of beers. In the station itself is The Beer
House, which is handy for the trains and sells a wide
range of overpriced beers. The Ship and Shovel is a
Hall and Woodhouse pub in Craven Passage. It I
actually two pubs as he bars are either side of the
passage in the Charing Cross station arches. The pub
sells Badger, Sussex and Tanglefoot bitters.
In the arches under Charing Cross station is the
Heaven nighclub, a predominantly gay club that took
over the venue in 1979 from the Global Village
nightclub. Between 1983 and 2003, Heaven was part
of Richard Brandon’s Virgin Group.
FRED OLSEN CRUISE LINES
HASSRA and Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines are delighted
to announce a benefit for all HASSRA members &
retired members. Save 10%* off the cost of any
Fred. Olsen Cruise! This saving is in addition to any
promotional discounts on offer at the time of booking.
What’s more, friends and family travelling on your
booking will qualify too! Fred Olsen cruises depart
from 10 ports around the UK to over 200 destinations
worldwide.
To
find
out
more
visit
www.fredolsencruises.com The unique promotion
code is available from the HASSRA Online Shop
HASSRA members can get 10% discount in any St
Austell Brewery managed pubs. The discount will
be taken off at the till when you show your
HASSRA membership card.
The pubs that are available are: Atlantic Hotel, St Mary's, Isles of Scilly, Cornwall
Atlantic Inn, St Mary's, Isles of Scilly, Cornwall
Central Inn, 11 Central Square, Newquay, Cornwall
County Arms, Highertown, Truro, Cornwall
Fort Inn, 63 Fore Street, Newquay, Cornwall
The Globe, Fore Street, Topsham, Exeter
Great Western Hotel, Cliff Road, Newquay, Cornwall
Harbour Inn, Commercial Road, Porthleven, Cornwall
Holmbush Inn, Holmbush Road, St Austell, Cornwall
Hope & Anchor, Hope Cove, Kingsbridge, Devon
Lifeboat Inn, Wharf Road, St Ives, Cornwall
Masons Arms, Branscombe, Seaton, Devon
Old Custom House, South Quay, Padstow, Cornwall
Old Market House, The Quay, Brixham, Devon
Old Success Inn, Sennen Cove, Cornwall
Oystercatcher Bar, Polzeath, Wadebridge, Cornwall
Pedn-Olva Hotel, St Ives, Cornwall
Port William, Trebarwith Strand, Tintagel, Cornwall
Rashleigh Arms, St Austell, Cornwall
Ship Inn, Mousehole, Penzance, Cornwall
The Ship, The Barbican, Plymouth, Devon
Shipwrights, North Quay, Padstow, Cornwall
Three Crowns, High Street, Chagford, Devon
HASSRA ONLINE SHOP
All 12 HASSRA Regions are now eligible to use the
HASSRA on-line shop to purchase their cinema and
theme park tickets. This facility enables members to
order tickets on-line. Before you can place your first
order, you will be required to register your details on
the site so that we can set up your on-line account.
The registration process allows us to authenticate your
HASSRA membership and may take up to five
working days, after which you will receive an e-mail
to advise that your account is activated and you can
place orders on-line. Please read the instructions
carefully on the website how to access the HASSRA
shop via www.hassrashop.org.uk.
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HASSRA LONDON IN AMSTERDAM
Amsterdam was attended by 40 people; a mix of
members and non-members; all had a great time and
have requested a ‘Dam part two’. Read what some of
them had to say:
We arrived at the bubbly city of Amsterdam into our
very lush 5-star Hotel, Ramada Apollo late in the
evening. The hotel was fantastic with helpful, friendly
staff, complete with breakfast. On Saturday morning
we were treated to a guided tour of the beautiful Canal
and Tram city of Amsterdam.
We viewed the various canals, the Heineken factory,
the Dam Square, Rijks Museum, Anne Frank House,
the Flower Market, Van Gogh, Rembrandt museums,
Magna Plaza and of course the infamous ‘red light’
district and ‘coffee joints’ before arriving at the
Cheese factory where a very well-informed and
knowledgeable aide took us through the story of
Cheese and Clogs.
We then visited a famous Dutch windmill nearby
which was absolutely breath- taking considering how
old it was; we were made to understand that the Dutch
were not the original inventor of windmills but they
were the ones to discover that windmills could turn
360 degrees. We then had a unique opportunity of
having a photo shoot in front of the windmill.
Travelling or going places is no big deal; people have
been doing that from the time of the great explorers
like Captain James Cook 1726-1779.
But travelling to Amsterdam, Holland by coach via
one of the incredible amazing wonders of the world,
the Euro Channel Tunnel criss-crossing France and
Belgium before finally arriving at your destination is
audacious, adventurous and fun galore.
This, precisely, thanks to Caxton House HASSRA and
HASSRA London, and our very own able and amiable
mandarin; Michelle Philip who planned, arranged and
was our tour-guide did the weekend 11th to 14th
November, 2016!
The coach, driven by a friendly driver, promptly,
picked participants from 3 London locations;
Uxbridge, Victoria and Stratford. We then proceeded
to Folkestone Kent, where we boarded the amazing
ferry that drove us through the tunnel to Calais where
we stopped for refreshments and sight-seeing.
We had the opportunity to buy a few drinks at
reasonable rates in preparation for Christmas!
We proceeded and passed through Belgium where we
stopped again at the Chocolate factory in GISTEL,
Belgium and had the rare chance of seeing and tasting
the famous wide range of Chocolates; yummy!
On Sunday, many of us wandered off privately to
explore the city more. A group told of the amazing
time they had at the Diamond factory in Antwerp.
The journey back on Monday was equally entrancing
as we again passed through Belgium and France,
stopping for about 2 hours in the famous Belgium
Bruges to savour the horse-drawn carriages,
picturesque and medieval town before continuing our
epic journey back to the UK.
It was indeed a ‘time of our lives’ and all this from
around £159 depending on if you shared or had a twin,
single or double-room to yourself. And the good thing
is some of us had the great opportunity of bringing
along families and loved ones.
Paul O
My trip to Amsterdam with HASSRA was wonderful.
It was my first trip to Holland and I was smitten with
the place. It felt so relaxing and stress free I did not
want to come back to London this was a first for me to
feel this way after a holiday. The people that we went
with was were so friendly some were seasoned
travellers with HASSRA others like myself and
partner were newbies, everyone supported each other.
We enjoyed seeing the sites and learning the history of
the place, and I hope to go back to see sites we missed
before we exit Europe.
13
enjoyed our last night in Amsterdam then back to the
hotel to get ready for our journey home on the Monday
I would like to thank Michelle for organising the trip
and our coach driver Tomasz who ensured that we got
everywhere safely and on time.
Malcolm
Carol
Day three
On the way home we stopped in Bruges and shopped
again then stopped for a short time in France for the
Eurostar for 40 minute journey. We all had a great
break relaxed and visited many places. We would
defiantly go on a HASSRA trip again that’s for sure
What can I say ....This year's road trip to Amsterdam
was fantastic.....like fine wine it gets better every year.
Don't let the early start or little chill put you off from
enjoying yourselves. This is my 3rd trip and it was
great. We stayed in Ramada Apollo Amsterdam Hotel,
what a great hotel. I really had a room with a view, on
the 7th floor, spotless all round. Breakfast on the 17th
floor was fit for a King/Queen, full bellies all round
great value for money I must say, some could have
stayed up there all day eh Nick ha ha.
Amsterdam is easy to get around on the tram. The
tram was just around the corner from the hotel and
took as straight in the heart of where all the action is.
We did walk from our hotel to the centre taking in the
shops and sites along the way, was a lovely walk and
before you know it you are in the town centre,
The driver of the coach was very funny and
accommodating
Day one
The hotel was lovely with very comfy beds it was
clean the staff was very helpful and the breakfast was
stunning YUM. We went on a coach trip around
Amsterdam with an English-speaking tour guide. It
was very interesting visiting a small cheese supplier
who demonstrated the making of cheese and also
clogs. We also went on a boat trip around Amsterdam
then went to the sex museum. We walked around
Amsterdam into the red light district this was an eye
opener. Went shopping for gifts and souvenirs. Found
a restaurant which did eat as much ribs and chips as
you wanted to for 14 euros (Very good value)
Day two
Went to the Amsterdam zoo enjoyed seeing the
animals for four hours. Went on the trams and the
underground and found another restaurant. We
A must go and see for me was Anne Frank House,
which was a few stops from our hotel. Book tickets in
advance to avoid the long queues and yes they are very
long. Very interesting story about the young
Jewish girl and the Family in hiding from the
Nazis. Lovely cafe and gift shop inside. Sea Palace is
a great Chinese restaurant, we call it the floating
restaurant as it’s on the water and seats over 700
people over 3 floors serves great food, book in
advance.
Some of us went to the Vincent Van Gogh Museum
and Diamond Museum. The Body work for me was
fab, not for the faint- hearted as it’s all about dead
bodies still very interesting. A canal tour is well worth
a go, to hear and learn the history of Amsterdam.
Night life is great, lots of places to eat drink and party.
There are some attractions for "Adults Only". On our
return home we stopped off in Bruges for a few hours,
great to stock up your chocolates and waffles.
Michelle we had a great time and we would 1000% go
again if you are organising it count us in. Can we fly
next time.... just asking.
Joan
14
MICKY FLANAGAN IS BRINGING HIS LIVE TOUR TO THE
O2 THIS SEPTEMBER.
This follows his record breaking “Back In The Game” tour of 2013 which took in an
incredible 129 shows - making it the biggest comedy tour in the world that year having sold an unbelievable 500,000 tickets in the UK and Ireland alone.
The reviews were nothing short of celebratory, The Times exclaimed, “Micky
Flanagan is on fire” *****, The Daily Star said he was “at the top of his game” *****,
and The Daily Telegraph proclaimed “Flanagan is the man of the moment,
comedy’s meteoric success”*****
For a chance to win one of two pairs of VIP tickets please answer the following question
What was Micky’s first job straight out of school?
Send your answer along with:




Your name
HASSRA/Payroll Number
Telephone number
Type of membership: DWP/DH/OTHER HEALTH/RETIRED/ASSCOATE ETC
TO [email protected]
COMPETITION CLOSES MIDNIGHT FRIDAY 28TH JULY 2017
USUAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS APPLY
GOOD LUCK!
15
PICTURE QUIZ
Can you name these famous “schoolboys” ?
Answers inside back page
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
16
HAUNTED LONDON
BENDROSE HOUSE AMERSHAM
During the 1950s, Sir Derek Jules Gaspard Ulric Niven
van den Bogaerde, better known as actor Dirk Bogarde,
lived in Bendrose House, with his partner Anthony
Forwood. Bendrose House is an 16th Century cottage in
Amersham village
The oldest bedroom in the cottage was used as a guest
bedroom. Seven different guest, unbeknown to each
other, all reported being woken up between 3 and 4 am
by what they described as an electric shock followed by
hearing footsteps running away down the corridor.
The ghost is reportedly that of Oliver Cromwell who
once stayed at the cottage during the Civil War.
RICHMOND GREEN
On Saturday 23rd October 1886, the Richmond and
Twickenham Times sold on Saturday 23rd October 1886
ran a report of a ghost haunting Richmond Green. Their
report said:
“During the last few evenings considerable excitement
has existed in the neighbourhood of Richmond Green,
inconsequence of a statement that a ghost was to be
seen. As a rule, ghosts are very sensitive creatures, and
only exhibit themselves at the witching hour of
midnight, under vague and uncertain circumstances,
and in the presence of a solitary and terrified mortal; but
the Richmond ghost was of a more obliging disposition,
for he was on view for several evenings and seen by
some hundreds of persons. Of its form there was some
doubt, but that it could be seen by all who cared to walk
around the far side of Richmond Green after dark was
undeniable. There it was, on the corner of the stable of
Avenue House, a white figure which some declared was
the unhappy spirit of a clown with his hands in his
pockets, while others were of the opinion that it was the
shade of a former vicar of Richmond, clad in his white
surplice, who had come to terrify his old parishioners.
Indeed some went so far as to say that the mysterious
figure was seen looking out of the windows of the
Vicarage, but this is not corroborated. That there was
some unusual appearance on the stables of Avenue
House however was beyond doubt, and crowds of boys
assembled to see it, in addition to some ladies and
gentlemen, who seemed profoundly interested in the
matter.
And now for the explanation. Recently it appears, the
lamp-post opposite the house of Mr. Noyce has been
supplied with a double burner. This gives a stronger
light than usual, and throws a bright reflection on the
stable of Avenue House. Intervening obstructions cause
this to assume something approaching a human shape
and imagination does the rest. The crowds assembling
to see the ‘ghost’ have been so troublesome that it has
been found necessary to extinguish the lamp and so
banish the uncanny visitor, who seems in this particular
to have departed from the usual rule, for he evidently
does not like darkness rather than light, as the moment
the light is extinguished the ‘ghost’ disappears. Last
night a considerable number of boys assembled, but as
the lamp was not lit there was nothing to see”
KINGS ARMS HAMPTON COURT
17
Crystal Palace Tunnel was built as part of the southern
terminus of the Crystal Palace and South London
Junction Railway - the company founded to deliver
visitors to the reconstructed Crystal Palace when it
moved from Hyde Park in 1852. The line opened to
revenue earning services on the 1st August 1865.
During the building of the line, one of the construction
workers was hit by a train and decapitated. His headless
body has been seen walking up and down the tunnel
looking for his head.
The Kings Arms is one of Britain’s oldest pubs and sits
in the shadows of the famous palace opposite the
entrance to Bushey Park.
In the 19th century a boy is rumoured to have found his
mother hanged in the building. The lad was so disturbed
he threw himself out a window and died. Both ghosts of
the mum and son are said to have haunted the pub ever
since and a grey-haired lady is also said to appear in a
bedroom window.
In December 2013, the Monteforte family were having
a pre-Christmas meal at the pub and took a family
photo. In the background, behind the dad was a grainy
image of a woman who appeared to be floating off the
ground. The family said there was nobody behind them
when the picture was taken.
An urban rumour connected with local train tunnels
concerns an experimental pneumatic railway that was
built in the area. The tunnel ran for 600 yards between
the Sydenham and Penge entrances to the park. The line
operated from 27 August 1864 to October 1864 and
closed as the railway was uneconomic and unreliable.
Many years after, a local girl reported that she had
climbed into the now sealed up tunnel and saw a
complete train full of skeleton passengers in Victorian
clothing. The myth resurfaced from time to time but no
recent excavations have revealed the mystery tunnel.
This legend has been developed into the fantasy novel
Strange Air by Tom Brown.
CHANNELSEA RAILWAY DEPOT
STRATFORD
CRYSTAL PALACE RAIL TUNNEL
In 1994, a British Rail employee reported seeing a tall
man wearing a cape and top hat standing by a hanger.
He had a terrible grin and a mouth full of white teeth,
and immediately vanished, leaving the witness very
cold and apprehensive. A few months later, in the same
area, the witness felt a strong tug at her bag that almost
pulled her over; she spun around expecting to see a
colleague, but no one was in sight.
18
HASSRA LONDON
WINE CLUB
The HASSRA London Wine Club has a membership
drawn from all of HASSRA’s associated Departments.
The Club meets each month to try wines from different
parts of the world.
HASSRA London Wine 2017 Programme
Date
JAN
Topic
No meeting
Speaker
16 02 17 A taste of Portugal
Chris Smith
16 03 17 White and red
burgundy
20 04 17 A new taste of New
Zealand
18 05 17 The Pacific North
West
15 06 17 Southern Rhone -10
Years On
20 07 17 BYOB
Blind Tasting
AUG
No meeting
Paul Mapplebeck
21 09 17 From the cellar
Graham Kent
Lincoln Blair
Ian McLaren
Greg Markey
N/A
19 10 17 TBC
16 11 17 Ribero del Duero
Ian McLaren
14 12 17 Port
Paul Mapplebeck
We meet at different locations in Central London –
including Caxton House and Wellington House – to
taste and discuss wine. Each event takes about 2 hours.
We have a short presentation about each of the wines as
we drink them.
All regular meetings are on the 3rd Thursday of each
month (The exceptions are March – 3rd Wednesday,
October 3rd Friday and December 2nd Tuesday. There
are no meetings in March and August).
We aim to start each tasting at about 6pm and finish by
8-30pm. A presenter talks about the wines (usually
between 8 and 10 wines) as we try them (yes, we do get
to drink them). People are encouraged to discuss the
wines and give feedback to the presenter – no prior
knowledge is required, there isn’t a test! The club also
provides a cold buffet included in the cost of each event.
Most events cost about £13-50 for HASSRA members
if they also join the wine club. A higher charge is made
to non-Club members.
In addition to the regular meetings we occasionally hold
“special” tastings. These are at a higher cost but feature
rare or more expensive wines. In 2014 we held a vertical
tasting of five vintage Krug champagne.
So, if you are interested in trying a wine tasting, contact
Teresa Cox to get on out e-mailing list and get exclusive
advance notification of the wines on offer each month.
[email protected]
Snainton are ‘Today’s Golfer’ Top Online Golf
Equipment Retailer and Mail Order Company.
With industry low prices and friendly PGA qualified
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The 7.5% discount applies to everything shown on their
website. This offer’s exceptional value as the Snainton
Golf prices are already incredibly low on price
comparison.
To receive your 7.5% extra exclusive discount simply
enter the promotional code, (available via the HASSRA
Online Shop) at the checkout stage of the online
ordering process on www.snaintongolf.co.uk or call
01723 850014.
HASSRA LONDON IN VERONA
19
To combat the food excesses, we ensured we took in the
local sights of which there are many including the Arena
in the Piazza Bra which is magnificent and in summer
offers regular operas (certainly one to return for) and of
course the supposed homes of both Romeo and Juliet
and that famous balcony (although note this is
apparently a later addition!). Also very worth a visit
was the Giardino Giusti a fantastic garden and the
Roman Theatre.
Verona Christmas market took place between the 8th
and 11th of December and was attended a party of
HASSRA members. Again, all had a fabulous time and
said everything about the trip was absolutely fantastic!
Read what one of our members had to say:
Verona Trip
We have just returned from a fantastic trip to Verona in
Northern Italy offered by HASSRA. The trip was great
value for money and as someone who, despite having
been a HASSRA member for more years than I care to
mention, hasn’t previously booked anything like this
through them before I would thoroughly recommend
everyone using them for similar trips.
The price included British Airways flights from
Gatwick to Verona, transfers to and from the
accommodation and three nights in the Hotel
Giberti. The hotel was just 20 minutes from the airport
and is very convenient for the sights and the Christmas
Markets that they have at this time of year, being less
than 10 minutes’ walk from the main square. The
bedrooms have recently been refurbished and finished
to a very high standard.
There are actually several different markets at this time
of the year offering a range of goods from traditional
Christmas gifts, decorations, dried meats and cheeses,
clothes including leather and wool items and other
Italian goods including of course the local Pandoro
cake, wine and grappa! There were also lots of stalls
selling sweet and savoury treats including my favourite
which were freshly cooked flat doughnuts slathered in
Nutella - delicious! In the evening we tried several
restaurants including a small local one which offered a
great value set menu and wine in a carafe to something
a little more upmarket offering traditional dishes
including horse stew!
There are also many designer shops in the ancient and
very narrow back streets which are often packed with
tourists resulting in the feeling of being on a train or
tube at the height of rush hour, but slip down one of the
side roads and move to an adjacent road and suddenly
all is calm again!
Verona is also well placed for trips to other destinations
including Lake Garda, Vicenza, Padua and Venice but
with all that Verona had to offer we didn’t even have
time to think about going there!
Martin
20
LONDON WALL
Set immediately north of the Tower of London, right in
the heart of Tower Hill, stands one of the most
substantial and impressive surviving sections of the
London Wall.
We have teamed up with English Heritage to provide
free corporate membership for HASSRA members and
their families. English Heritage has over 400 historic
sites across the length and breadth of England, attracting
over 11 million visitors each year.
Our corporate membership deal grants all HASSRA
members free entry to participating English Heritage
sites for 2 Adults and up to six children. All you need to
do to take advantage of this offer is simply present your
HASSRA membership card when you arrive. What
could be easier? As well as free entry to sites, HASSRA
members receive 15% discount in English Heritage
online and onsite shops. For onsite shops just present
your HASSRA membership card.
Located at some of English Heritage’s most spectacular
sites are 5-star holiday cottages which are available to
HASSRA members with a 10% discount, rising to 20%
if booked within three weeks of travel. To book your
stay call 0370 333 1187 and quote ’HASSRA corporate
membership’. For more information, please visit
www.english-heritage.org.uk or call 0370 333 1181.
Please note – From 24th October 2015, Corporate
Members have been entitled to free or discounted entry
to properties when there are special events being held.
Please call the property in question or the English
Heritage customer service line 0370 333 1181 for
further information. Alternatively, please email
[email protected]. Please note that
there are a few jointly owned English Heritage sites that
are not included in this offer, therefore, to avoid
disappointment, please check the list of participating
English Heritage Sites on the HASSRA website before
you go.
The Roman city of Londinium was surrounded by a
fortified wall which provided defence and showed the
status of the city. Archaeologists have found coins
which date the construction of the wall to between AD
190 and 225.
The wall was about 2.5 miles long and enclosed an area
of about 330 acres. It originally included four city gates
with an additional entrance into the legionnaires fortress
at Cripplegate.
In front of the eastern face of the wall was a ditch, which
was up to 6 feet deep and 16 feet wide. This section of
the wall stood close to the south-east corner of the ditch,
now lying inside the bailey of the Tower of London. It
is mostly built of Kentish ragstone with periodic
horizontal band of red Roman tiles, which kept the wall
level over long stretches of masonry and gives the wall
its distinctive striped appearance.
The wall was originally built without the external Dshaped bastions or turrets which can be seen in several
places around the city: these were added in the 4th
century AD, almost certainly as emplacements for
catapults or stone-throwing engines. One of these
bastions, immediately to the north of the standing
section of wall, has been found to incorporate reused
stonework. This includes parts of a monument bearing
the inscription of Julius Alpinus Classicianus,
procurator of Britain, who was responsible for the
reconstruction of London after Boudicca’s rebellion of
AD 60.
The dismantling of this monument indicates the
urgency with which the wall was strengthened in the
later Roman period. The reconstructed Classicianus
monument is now displayed in the British Museum,
although a replica can be viewed on the site.
The Roman wall remained standing after the departure
of the Roman army in AD 410, through a long period
during which the city seems to have been largely
abandoned. It was repaired in the late Anglo-Saxon
period and survived to be an important feature of the
city plan at the time of the Norman Conquest of 1066.
Large parts of the wall were incorporated into the
medieval defences of the city.
In about 1300 a new postern gateway through the wall
was built immediately to the south of the standing
portion, close to the edge of the Tower of London moat;
it later slipped down the moat bank and can be seen at
the end of the underpass under the main road.
The Roman wall continued to influence the
development of the city street plan through the Middle
Ages and beyond. By the mid-17th century buildings
had been erected against sections of the wall on either
side. In time it was obscured and, later, partly destroyed
during the construction of new buildings and railway
lines.
In 1938 the wall and part of the land on its western side
were placed in the guardianship of the Ministry of
Works. Since the 1930s several buildings which had
formerly hidden this section of the wall have been
cleared away, revealing it to view.
This section of the wall is located at the edge of a small
garden to the southeast of Tower Hill underground
station. From the station the garden is accessed just off
the path to the Tower of London, and is halfway down
the steps to the Tower Hill underpass on the left-hand
side. The London Wall is an English Heritage site and
entry is free to HASSRA members
DYMCHURCH MARTELLO TOWER
21
Between 1805 and 1812, faced with the threat of
invasion by Napoleon, the British government built a
chain of ‘Martello towers’ – small defensive forts –
around the south and east coasts of England.
The towers were inspired by a round fortress, at
Mortella (Myrtle) Point in Corsica built in 1565. The
Corsicans had built similar towers at strategic points
around the island to protect coastal villages and
shipping from North African pirates and foreign
invaders
On 7 February 1794, two British warships, HMS
Fortitude (74 guns) and HMS Juno (32
guns), unsuccessfully attacked the tower at Mortella
Point; the tower eventually fell to British land-based
forces as the tower's two 18-pounder guns fired
seaward, while only the one 6-pounder could fire landward.
When defences against a possible invasion by
Napoleon’s forces were being planned, the
effectiveness of the Corsican fort was remembered
although the name was misspelt. A total of 103 Martello
towers were built in England, set at regular intervals
along the coast from Seaford, Sussex, to Aldeburgh,
Suffolk.
The effectiveness of Britain's Martello towers was
never actually tested in combat against a Napoleonic
invasion fleet. After the threat had passed, the Martello
towers in England met a variety of fates. The
Coastguard took over many to aid in the fight against
smuggling. Fifteen towers were demolished to enable
the re-use of their masonry. The sea washed thirty away
and the military destroyed four in experiments to test
the effectiveness of the new artillery. During the Second
World War, some Martello towers returned to military
service as observation platforms and firing platforms
for anti-aircraft artillery.
Forty-seven Martello towers have survived in England,
a few of which have been restored and transformed into
museums, visitor centres and galleries. Some are
privately owned or are private residences, The
remainder are derelict.
Dymchurch Martello Tower on the Kent coast is one of
these ingeniously designed artillery towers, where the
garrison lived on the first floor above the ammunition
and storerooms. It has been restored to its original
design and re-equipped with its cannon. It is now owned
by English Heritage and entry is free to HASSRA
members. The exterior is open any reasonable time
during daylight hours. Interior viewing is by
appointment only by calling 01304 211067.
22
THE STORY BEHIND THE SONG
DOWN UNDER by MEN AT WORK
For their 3rd single, the group went back to the B Side
of their first single. They re-recorded Down Under
which was released in October 1981. The song reached
number 1 in the UK as well as the US, Australia,
Ireland, New Zealand, Canada and Switzerland and
reached top ten in Belgium, Holland, Finland, Norway,
South Africa, Sweden and Germany.
The lyrics tell the story of an Australian man travelling
the globe, proud of his nationality, and about his
interactions with people he meets on his travels who are
interested in his home country. ‘Fried out’ in the first
line means overheating while a Kombi is a Volkswagen
Type 2 Camper Van, the vehicle of choice of many
Australians travelling round Britain in the 1970s and
80s.
The band Men at Work were formed in Melbourne in
1978 by Colin Hay on lead vocals, Jerry Speiser on
drums and Ron Strykert on lead guitar. They were soon
joined by Greg Ham on flute and keyboards and then
John Rees on bass guitar. They took the name Men at
Work from a construction site sign near to the
Cricketer's Arms Hotel in Richmond, Victoria when the
band played in their early days.
Their first single was the independently released
Keypunch Operator which, while not a big hit, brought
them country wide exposure in Australia and got them
signed to Columbia Records. There second single ‘Who
Can It Be Now’ was released around the world and
became number 1 in the US although only reached
number 45 in the UK.
The Hippie Trail was a journey across Europe and
Turkey to South Asia taken by some in the 1960s and
70s using cheap travel methods including hitch hiking
or clapped out cars and vans. Zombie was a form of
marijuana available in some of the countries of
destination which was the drug of choice on many in the
hippie culture. Vegemite in the third verse is a yeast
extract spread similar to Marmite. It was developed in
Australis when Marmite imports were disrupted during
and after the First World War.
In 2009 the Australian TV music quiz Spick and Specks
posed a question which suggested that "Down Under"
contained elements of the song "Kookaburra" a popular
Australian nursery rhyme song written by Marion
Sinclair in 1932. The song was still in copyright and the
TV question led to a court case in February 2010 where
Larrikin Music Publishing won a case against Men at
Work, their record label and music publishing company
for using Kookaburra, as the flute line in Down Under.
They received 5% of past and future profits of the song
DOWN UNDER
by Men at Work
Written by Colin Hay and Ron Strykert
Traveling in a fried-out Kombi
On a hippie trail, head full of zombie
I met a strange lady, she made me nervous
She took me in and gave me breakfast
And she said
Do you come from a land down under?
Where women glow and men plunder?
Can't you hear, can't you hear the thunder?
You better run, you better take cover
CHRISTMAS PARTY
23
The Hackney, Highgate and Wood Green HASSRA
Christmas Party took place on Friday 23rd December
2016 at Grand Palace banqueting suite. members of the
Highgate and Wood Green HASSRA committee
members collaborated to organise a district wide
Christmas party for over 300 people! An excellent
night
Buying bread from a man in Brussels
He was six-foot-four and full of muscles
I said, "Do you speak-a my language?"
He just smiled and gave me a Vegemite sandwich
And he said
I come from a land down under
Where beer does flow and men chunder
Can't you hear, can't you hear the thunder?
You better run, you better take cover
Yeah
Lyin' in a den in Bombay
With a slack jaw, and not much to say
I said to the man, "Are you trying to tempt me
Because I come from the land of plenty?"
And he said
Do you come from a land down under? (oh yeah yeah)
Where women glow and men plunder?
Can't you hear, can't you hear the thunder?
You better run, you better take cover
APH are offering HASSRA members additional
discounts of up to 15% on their already excellent deals
on airport parking and hotels nationwide. With
additional offers also available on No1 Traveller
Lounges it’s well worth checking what they can do for
you! Call APH on 01342 859 536 and quote the relevant
code which is available from the HASSRA Online
Shop.
24
LONDON RUGBY CLUBS
NUMBER 6
LONDON WELSH
This led to some of the greatest Welsh players at the
time, Teddy Morgan, Rhys Gabe, Hop Maddocks and
Arthur Harding joined London Welsh. This, together
with the club playing at Queen’s Club, improved the
crowds and Welsh’s financial status.
Welsh moved to the County Ground in Leyton and
subsequently at the Memorial Ground, West Ham taking over from West Ham United after they
transferred to Upton Park. The following five years,
until the outbreak of the First World War, were spent at
the Heathfield Ground, Wandsworth, which had been
vacated by Harlequins following their move to the then
new RFU Ground at Twickenham. Quins subsequently
moved from there to their current home of The Stoop.
After the war ended, the nomadic Welsh moved to
Hearne Hill, where they remained until 1957 when they
moved again, this time to their permanent home at Old
Deer Park, Richmond.
London Welsh Rugby Football Club were formed at a
Fleet Street hotel in 1885 as a club for the Welsh
community in London. The clubs name in Welsh is
Clwb Rygbi Cymry Llundain.
The club’s first game was on October 24th, 1885,
against London Scottish, but after nine successful years
the Welsh suffered a temporary setback when they were
forced, due to various reasons, to disband.
Within a year, the club was reborn but suffered due to
the lack of a permanent home ground and persistent
financial difficulties. Their fortunes changed in 1905
when the captain of Wales, Willie Llewellyn, who was
also a student at the Pharmaceutical College in London,
proposed that no Welshman living in London could play
for Wales unless they played for London Welsh.
The club continued to attract top Welsh players
throughout this period including Wick Powell (1926),
Vivian Jenkins (1930), Claude Davey (1935) and
Arthur Rees (1935).
The golden period in the history of London Welsh,
however, was between 1966 and 1973, with John
Dawes as captain supported by other legends of the
Welsh game including JPR Williams, Gerald Davies,
John Taylor, the late Mervyn Davies, Mike Roberts and
Geoff Evans. They formed the basis of the allconquering Welsh national side of the time as well as
the 1971 British Lions team that beat the All Blacks.
HASSRA South East Chairman Paul Wyatt was also at
Welsh at that time, although not in the same team.
John Dawes and JPR Williams also played in the 1973
Barbarian side who beat the All Blacks and were
involved in Gareth Edwards try still recognised as the
greatest try ever scored. Mervyn Davies was also
selected to play but missed the match with flu.
25
The club left Oxford and returned to Old Deer Park at
the end of the 2014–15 and Welsh went on to win the
British and Irish Cup beating Yorkshire Carnegie 1033.
In 1995, Rugby Union turned professional and London
Welsh became a professional club in the RFU
Championship (the 2nd Tier of Rugby Union) while
retaining their amateur sides. However, shortly
afterwards, the club went into administration. They
were bought out by Saudex Global and allowed to
continue in The Championship, with a five-point
deduction.
In 2012, London Welsh were promoted to the
Premiership. They were due to play at Oxford United
FC’s Kassam Stadium after a proposed ground share
with Brentford FC at Griffin Park fell through.
Relegated Newcastle Falcons originally objected on the
grounds that the Kassam Stadium was unsuitable and a
ground-share with Crystal Palace FC was investigated
but the Newcastle Falcons objection was dropped and
London Welsh played at the Kassam Stadium for three
seasons.
In September 2016, HMRC applied for a winding-up
order on London Welsh due to unpaid debts. Although
those debts were paid, a second order was applied for a
month later and Welsh went into voluntary liquidation
on 23 December 2016. They were given temporary
license to continue in The Championship but on 24
January 2017 it was announced by the RFU that London
Welsh had been removed from the Championship and
their results expunged.
The status of the amateur sides of London Welsh
remained unaffected by the professional sides
expulsion. The amateur men's section comprises of The
Druids 1st XV playing in National League Herts &
Middlesex 1, The Dragons 2nd XV. The Occasionals
3rd XV and The Veterans. The Women's XV play in
National 2 South East and recently provided players to
the Welsh national squad. The Youth Section operates
at Under 13 and Under 14 with multiple teams and
Under 15 to Under 18 in the Herts and Middlesex
Leagues. There is also a thriving Mini Rugby Section
for Girls and Boys at Under 6 to Under 12.
In 2013 London Welsh fielding an ineligible player,
Tyson Keats, in nine league matches and recieved a 5point deduction and £10,000 fine. Welsh were
subsequently relegated back to the Championship. The
club were promoted again in 2014 but lost all of their
league games the next season and were relegated once
again.
LONDON SIGHTSEEING BUS TOURS
26
The Charity for Civil Servants is the principal
occupational charity for all current and former civil
servants,
and
employees
of
Associated
Organisations. Formerly known as The Civil Service
Benevolent Fund, the charity helps people who work or
who have worked in the civil service and their financial
dependents – whether you were a civil servant for a
short time or your whole working life.
Whether it’s money worries, falling ill, living
somewhere below minimum standards or losing
someone you love, they can help or refer you to a
partner organization who can. They offer financial
assistance and service-related support on a wide range
of issues such as the Carer’s Passport and money and
debt advice - as well as giving information on how to
access the right information and support for retirement
and
residential
care.
Whether you require help, wish to make a donation or
volunteer your time – they’d love to hear from
you. Visit the website www.foryoubyyou.org.uk which
outlines the support they offer, how you can become
involved (either by volunteering or fundraising) and
personal stories of civil servants across the country
they’ve helped through life’s unexpected challenges.
You can also contact them on 0800 056 2424.
Established over 60 years ago, The Original Tour is the
first and largest operation of its kind in the world. Ride
their traditional red double-decker buses and enjoy the
entertaining commentary from English-speaking guides
or digitally recorded commentaries in seven languages.
Tickets are valid for 24 hours on the Hop-on, Hop-off
service with over 80 stops on three tour routes. Tickets
include a fantastic free Thames Cruise and exclusive
Kids’ Club.
The Original Tour has teamed up with HASSRA to
offer all its members a fantastic 20% discount off their
regular tour price. Log on to the London pages of the
HASSRA website to see further details and obtain your
discount code
EDEN PROJECT
SQUASH
Do you want to hit a small rubber ball against a wall as
hard as you can…?
Of course you do, and it just so happens that we are
looking to reinvigorate squash with a London chapter.
If you don’t mind being trapped in a small glass walled
room for 45 mins with an unpredictable projectile, then
this could be the sport for you.
Please e-mail [email protected],
express an interest. Venues TBD.
HASSRA membership gives you 25% off the gate
prices at the Eden Project for up to 5 people on
production of your HASSRA membership card. Check
the HASSRA website for full details.
to
N.B you’ll also be partaking the #1 sport for getting and
staying fit, burning on average 750 calories per hour.
If your office holds a charity event, don’t forget to send
the details so we can feature them in The Londoner and
add the money you raise to our HASSRA London
Charity Totaliser.
CINEMA TICKETS
27
HASSRA offer members cinema tickets at reduced prices
The Cinemas that are part of the discount scheme are
excluding Covent Garden Leicester Square Leicester
Square Mezzanine,
Marble Arch, Panton Street, Tottenham Court Road,
West End and Whitleys
Excluding VUE West End
INDEPENDENT
Outside M25 area only
To locate your nearest Independent Cinema, visit www.independentcinematicket.com
To view the current discounts available and book your tickets, visit the HASSRA website www.hassra.org.uk (or via the
HASSRA pages on the DWP Intranet)
Before you place your first order you will be required to register your details on the site so that we can set up an on-line
account. The registration process allows us to authenticate your HASSRA membership and may take up to five working
days, after which you will receive an e-mail to advise you that your account is activated & you can place orders on line.
28
DRINKING WITH DICKENS
The George Inn at 77 Borough High Street dates back
to at least 1542 although the oldest part of the current
structure dates back to 1677 as a fire has destroyed the
older structure. Shakespeare drank at The George as his
Globe Theatre was just down the road. Charles Dickens
also drank here and referred to the pub in Little Dorrit
when Dorrit “goes into The George and writes a letter”
The coming of the railways to London Bridge nearly put
paid to The George but it is now protected by the
national trust. The pub normally has half a dozen real
ales from the Greene King range plus various lagers
including Stella Artois and Estrella
Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese at Wine Office Court off 145
Fleet Street was built in the wake of the Great Fire of
London in 1666. Over the years, it has played host to Dr
Johnson. Mark Twain, Oscar Wilde, WB Yeats and
William Makepeace Thackeray, amongst many others.
Charles Dickens frequented the pub when he was a
young reporter and in ‘A Tale of Two Cities’ Sydney
Carton takes Charles Darnay to The Cheshire Cheese’
to restore his strength with a good plain dinner and good
wine’. The pub is owned by the Samuel Smiths brewery
and sells their range of beers including Old Brewery
Bitter and Double Four Lager
The George and Vulture is at 3 Castle Court, EC3.
Dickens mentions it at least 20 times in ‘Pickwick
Papers’. Pickwick, Tupman, Winkle and Snodgrass
make this their London base, enjoying a pint of
‘particular port’ in ‘very good, old fashioned and
comfortable quarters’. The George and Vulture was
saved by the author’s great-grandson Cedric when it
was threatened with demolition and the pub is adorned
with Dickens-related portraits and photographs. The
pub is owned by the Samuel Smith’s brewery and is
now a lunchtime only restaurant.
Dickens also drank in the One Tun, Saffron Hill, EC1
and used it in Oliver Twist as the basis for the Three
Cripples, the haunt of Bill Sikes and Fagin’s gang of
thieves. The pub now serves a variety of real ales
including Doom Bar, and their own One Ton Real Ale
plus various lagers including Estrella and Grolsh Blond.
The Cittie of Yorke in High Holborn was once the site
of the Gray’s Inn Coffee House. When David
Copperfield returns to London in low spirits, he stops
here to enquire after his old friend, Tommy Traddles.
The Cittie’s cellars (known in the book as Henekey’s)
are also the hiding place of the rioters in ‘Barnaby
Rudge’. The pub is another owned by the Samuel
Smiths brewery selling their full range of beers.
29
The Trafalgar Tavern in Park Row Greenwich is also
in Our Mutual Friend where it was the setting for the
wedding breakfast. The beer range include real ales
from Adnams and Sharps plus Amstel and Heineken
lagers.
The George IV in Portugal Street is celebrated as the
Magpie and Stump in ‘The Pickwick Papers’, when it
advertised not only Devonshire cider to Mr Pickwick,
but the 500,000 barrels of ‘double stout’ that were held
in the cellars. The pub is now part of the London School
of Economics although is open to all. The beer range
constantly rotates
The Grapes in Narrow Street, Limehouse was used as
the inspiration for The Six Jolly Fellowship Porters in
Our Mutual Friend where Dickens describes it as “A
tavern of dropsical appearance… long settled down into
a state of hale infirmity. It had outlasted many a sprucer
public house, indeed the whole house impended over
the water but seemed to have got into the condition of a
faint-hearted diver, who has paused so long on the brink
that he will never go in at all.” The leaseholders include
actor Sir Ian McKellen. The beer range includes
Marston’s Pedigree and Adnams Broadside as well as
Kronenburg and Carlsberg lagers”.
The Spaniards Inn was another pub mentioned by
Charles Dickens in The Pickwick Papers and was also
a regular haunt of Shelley, Keates and Byron in addition
to Dickens himself.
When Charles Dickens first came to London as a boy,
he arrived by coach at the Cross Keys Inn, Cheapside.
He used the memory in Great Expectations where Pip
first arrives in ‘ugly, crooked, narrow and dirty’
London, fresh from the Kent marshes. The Cross Keys
is now demolished.
Outside of London, The Inn in Great Expectations was
based on the Lobster Smack on Canvey Island, Essex.
The Leather Bottle in Cobham, Gravesend, Kent was
a favourite haunt of Dickens and was another used in
Pickwick Papers as was the Saracens Head in
Towcester. The White Hart in Bath was demolished
many years ago but is yet another pub that appears in
Pickwick Papers. When Dickens stayed at the hotel, the
owner was a Moses Pickwick inspiring the name of his
first novel and it main character.
30
CLUB PLAYER PUZZLE
White to move and win
HASSRA LONDON CHESS CLUB
Make your next move joining the Chess Club
The London HASSRA chess club welcomes all
HASSRA members as new players, from novices to
experts. We run six teams and play matches weekday
evenings in and around central London from October
to April. If you would like to find out more about the
Chess Club, please contact one of the following
Gary Cook
[email protected]
Mike Smith
[email protected]
David Gilbert
[email protected]
NOVICE PLAYER PUZZLE
White to move: Win the queen in 2 moves
Do you already play golf? Or would you like to improve
your game or just learn how to play?
Why not come along to one of the HASSRA London
Golf Society’s golf days. The Society runs days for
more seasoned golfers (you do not have to have a
handicap to attend one of these days, we just ask that
you know how to play the game and have an
understanding of the etiquette and rules of golf). We
also hold Beginner / Improver Days for the player who
is just starting out, and an Intermediate Day, which is
specifically for players who are past the beginner stage,
but may still find the prospect of taking part in a full
Society Day a bit daunting.
Most of these days comprise an individual event and/or
a team event, and will include a light lunch and
sandwiches at the end of the day. These days are great
occasions and we encourage players of all standards,
both men and women, to come along.
If you would like to join us and play some really good
golf courses with a generous subsidy from HASSRA,
please contact Andy French on 07766 246405
Monday
10 April
Thursday
18 May
Monday
12 June
Tuesday
27 June
Wedesday
28 June
Wednesday
12 July
Friday
21 July
Friday
18 Aug
Monday
11 Sept
Friday
29 Sept
TBA
31
GOLF CALENDER
Society Day
Bletchingley GC
Society Day
Tyrrells Wood GC
Match v
E/England
Society Day
Abridge GC
Sports Day
NPL Teddington
Please note that CSMA have withdrawn their offer for
HASSRA members. This means that the discounted
annual membership of £12 is no longer available.
Match V
W/Midlands
Society Day
Northamptonshire
GC
Bushey Hill GC
HASSRA members can take up their latest offering
called Boundless but this will be at the full price.
Society Day
Horton Park GC
Match
V Leeds
Society Day
Beau Desert GC
TBA
TBA
Match
V South
Captains Day
TBA
Winter Day
TBA
Thorndon Park GC
South Bucks GC
TBA
The HASSRA Development Scheme has been in
operation since 1986. In partnership with the CSiS
Charity Fund, it provides financial support to individual
members (not teams) who want to develop their skills
where this would involve an expense they would find
difficult to meet.
There are 3 main categories under which you can apply:
Personal Development – to develop your potential to
serve HASSRA and your local community.
Sport – to develop skills in your chosen sport or
activity.
For members – who consider themselves to be
financially disadvantaged or to have a disability who
wish to take up or develop skills in a sport, pastime or
recreational activity.
Full details of the categories and all of the criteria under
which members can apply are contained in the
Development Scheme Application Booklet available on
the HASSRA website. If you feel this is for you, print it
off, complete the application form then post to the
address shown on the last page of the booklet
To date over 1300 members have applied through the
scheme which demonstrates our commitment to both
able bodied and disabled members throughout the
Association and has helped applicants to achieve
success at all levels.
The Londoner
The Londoner is issued to all members of HASSRA
London. Hard copies are delivered to all sites covering
the Department for Work and Pensions, Department of
Health, the Food Standards Agency plus all of their
associated Agencies. If you don’t regularly see a copy
(issued quarterly) please contact your local HASSRA
representative. If you are a local HASSRA rep, please
ensure the magazine is distributed all around your site
when received.
Retired and Associate HASSRA members, who no
longer work for one of our Departments can receive a
copy posted to their home address. As the current
national database does not update the HASSRA London
records with your address, please contact:
[email protected] to let us know where to
post your copy to. The Londoner is also posted online
on the London pages of the HASSRA website, usually
a couple of weeks after the hard copies are issued.
Enter a world of adventure and discovery at Conkers
Discovery Centre, Swadlincote in the heart of the
National Forest. A unique mix of indoor and outdoor
experiences that will keep your family engaged for
hours! Just ten minutes from J11 on the M42. Visit the
Conkers website www.visitconkers.com to find out
more.
On production of a valid HASSRA membership card,
the Centre will provide a free child admission with each
full paying adult i.e. 2 adults could bring 2 children free
on this offer. The discount is exclusive to HASSRA
members and cannot be used in conjunction with any
other discount offer or vouchers and the entrance fee
excludes the high ropes course and our outward bound
facilities which are charged separately on site.
SHEPHERDS BUSH
32
Offices around London supported the Christmas Jumper
Day in December to raise money for Save The Children.
Here are some of the pictures posted on our Facebook
page.
HIGHGATE
EAST HAM
HOUNSLOW
ST MARYLEBONE
WILLESDEN
WOOLWICH
33
OFFICES ALSO ARRANGED CHARITY EVENTS
TIED IN TO VALINTINES DAY
HOXTON
WEMBLEY
CANNING TOWN
DALSTON
WESTMINSTER
34
HASSRA DISCOUNT OFFER
THE LONDON EYE
McArthurGlen Designer Outlets
Save 10% on selected purchases at the McArthurGlen
Outlet Centre at Ashford, Kent. All you need do is go to
their information centre located next to the food court,
show your card and you will receive a voucher valid for
that day - there's no limit as to how many times you can
visit.
Paultons – the home of Peppa Pig World
Paultons - the home of Peppa Pig World - is a family
theme park located in the New Forest, Hampshire.
Paultons features rides and attractions which include a
rollercoaster, a log flume, a water park, adventure golf,
a 4D cinema, birds and animals, beautiful landscapes
and gardens and much more!
Visit the HASSRA Online Shop to buy your discounted
tickets now!
The London Eye is the giant Ferris Wheel on the South
Bank of The River Thames between Westminster and
Hungerford Bridges. It is currently Europe's tallest
Ferris Wheel, and offered the highest public viewing
point in London until it was superseded by The Shard.
It is the most popular paid tourist attraction in the UK.
Purchase your tickets direct from the London Eye
Company and receive 20% discount off of the normal
gate price with the option to collect your tickets from
the London Eye ticket office saving you postal charges.
Simply call: 0871 282 5154 and quote the relevant code
which is available from the HASSRA Online Shop.
HASSRA has formed a closer working partnership with
Haven Holidays and we are delighted to announce the
new Exclusive Member Benefits package. This gives
HASSRA members up to an extra 10% off any of the
already generous Haven Holiday offers. We will send
you all the current offers by e-mail as soon as we get
them and we will also bring you some further discounts
just for HASSRA members!
With Haven you can enjoy:Kids Club for all ages - Heated indoor pools - Daily
family entertainment – Multi sports courts Adventure playgrounds And so much more ……
To book & for more information please call 0333 202
5247 and quote the unique booking code which is
available from the HASSRA Online Shop. Calls to
0333 numbers are charged at standard UK rates
THE NATIONAL BREWEY CENTRE
BURTON
35
Discover the history, art and fun of brewing as
HASSRA team up with the National Brewery Centre in
Burton upon Trent www.nationalbrewerycentre.co.uk.
ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP
HASSRA has a National Associate Membership
scheme that allows people to retain their ties with
HASSRA after they leave their current employment. So
if you are about to move to another employer within
government or are leaving the civil service altogether
on a voluntary or compulsory exit scheme, log onto the
HASSRA website to find out how you can stay within
the HASSRA family and continue to enjoy a vast array
of sporting and leisure activities and save £££s with our
discounts and other membership benefits. And that
includes membership of the fabulous HASSRA Lottery!
Agency workers in any of our qualifying departments
may also be able to take out national associate
membership. Details are on the HASSRA website at
www.hassra.org.uk.
LIVELIFE MAGAZINE
Livelife, the National HASSRA magazine, is now only
available online on the HASSRA website. Log on to
www.hassra.org.uk to view the latest edition
HASSRA MEMBERSHIP CARDS & NUMBERS
When you join HASSRA you are sent a HASSRA
membership card with your unique number once your
application has been processed. Please keep it safe.
The HASSRA card and number is your passport to all
of our fantastic benefits and offers.
If you have never previously had a card, or if you have
lost it, you will need to apply for a new or replacement
card. You can apply online on the HASSA website.
HASSRA will then issue your new or replacement
card. Please allow 15 working days for receipt of your
membership card.
Please don’t wait until immediately before you need it
before applying.
Please note that the HASSRA office cannot supply
your HASSRA number via e-mail.
On production of a valid HASSRA membership card,
the National Brewery Centre will allow a 20% discount
on the daily entry price which would include a brewery
tour and 3 beer samples. This offer is extended to
HASSRA members to include any of the special events
or festivals (which you can find listed on the website)
and includes the Vintage Festival in June and the Real
Ale and Jazz Festival in July.
This 20% discount is exclusive to HASSRA
members, who may use their membership card for
themselves plus one other. However, the discount
offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other
promotional offer, discount or vouchers.
COTTAGES YOU
10% Discount for HASSRA members
Discover rural cottages, rustic farmhouses and modern
apartments in the UK and beautiful villas and gites
overseas. With over 13,000 properties to choose from
you are sure to find your dream holiday.
Choose to stay for a short break of 2, 3 or 4 nights or
stay 7 nights or longer. Prices start from as little as £9
per person, per night which is excellent value. Also,
thousands of properties are pet friendly so all the family
can enjoy a holiday!
All properties are annually inspected and graded by the
COTTAGES4U regional managers and their grading
scheme is supported by Visit England and their Gold
Awards.
To search and book securely
www.chooseacottage.co.uk/hsr
online
visit
Alternatively, call our friendly sales team on 0345 268
9737 and quote the relevant booking code which is
available from the HASSRA Online Shop.
All of our tickets, prices and discount codes are
available to HASSRA members via our online shop
‘Offers’ page. This ensures we keep our special offers
safe
and
exclusive
to
you.
Visit
www.hassrashop.org.uk to open your account.
Registration may take up to five working days. So, don’t
delay, register now to start enjoying some fantastic
HASSRA offers.
36
PEPYP’S DIARY
Lindeboome” — and there we did drink some of her
wine, very good… Thence to Blackwall and there to Mr.
Johnson’s, to see how some works upon some of our
repaired ships go on, and at his house eat and drank and
mighty extraordinary merry…
Tuesday 2nd April
The following extracts have been selected from entries
in the diary covering March to May 1667 by modern
reckoning.
Up, and to the office, where all the morning sitting, and
much troubled, but little business done for want of
money, which makes me mighty melancholy. At noon
home to dinner, and Mr. Deane with me, who hath
promised me a very fine draught of the Rupert…Then
to the office, where all the afternoon very busy, and in
the evening weary home and there to sing, but vexed
with the unreadiness of the girle’s voice to learn the
latter part of my song, though I confess it is very hard,
half notes…
Sunday 3rd March
(Lord’s day). Lay long, merrily talking with my wife,
and then up and to church, where a dull sermon of Mr.
Mills touching Original Sin, and then home, and there
find little Michell and his wife, whom I love mightily.
Mightily contented I was in their company, for I love
her much… after dinner I left them and by water from
the Old Swan to White Hall, where, walking in the
galleries, I in the first place met Mr. Pierce…Then
comes Mr. Hayward, the Duke of York’s servant, and
tells us that the Swede’s Embassador hath been here today with news that it is believed that the Dutch will
yield to have the treaty at London or Dover…
Tuesday 19th March
Up, and to the office…At noon dined at home very
pleasantly with my wife, and after dinner with a great
deal of pleasure had her sing, which she begins to do
with some pleasure to me, more than I expected…This
afternoon I am told again that the town do talk of my
Lord Arlington’s being to be Lord Treasurer…and that
for certain the match is concluded between the Duke of
Richmond and Mrs. Stewart…and it is pretty to
consider how his quality will allay people’s talk;
whereas, had a meaner person married her, he would for
certain have been reckoned a cuckold at first-dash.
Thursday 28th March
My tailor come to me betimes this morning, and having
given him directions, I to the office and there all the
morning…Having dined, I down by water with Sir W.
Batten, [Sir] W. Pen, and [Sir] R. Ford to our prize, part
of whose goods were condemned yesterday — “The
Sunday 7th April
(Easter day). Up, and when dressed with my wife (in
mourning for my mother) to church both, where Mr.
Mills, a lazy sermon. Home to dinner, wife and I and W.
Hewer, and after dinner I by water to White Hall…and
then to walk in the Parke, and heard the Italian musique
at the Queen’s chapel, whose composition is fine, but
yet the voices of eunuchs I do not like like our women…
The Swede’s Embassadors and our Commissioners are
making all the haste they can over to the treaty for
peace…and it is worth remembering what Sir W.
Coventry did tell me (as a secret though) that whereas
we are afeard Harman’s fleete to the West Indys will not
be got out before the Dutch come and block us up, we
shall have a happy pretext to get out our ships under
pretence of attending the Embassadors and
Commissioners, which is a very good, but yet a poor
shift.
Monday 13th May
37
Up, and when ready, to the office…This morning come
Sir H. Cholmly to me for a tally or two; and tells me that
he hears that we are by agreement to give the King of
France Nova Scotia, which he do not like…
Thursday 23rd May
Thursday 18th April
Up, and to read more in the “Origines,” and then to the
office, where the news is strong that not only the Dutch
cannot set out a fleete this year, but that the French will
not… At the office all the morning…and then home and
to dinner, and then by coach with my wife to the Duke
of York’s house, and there saw “The Wits,” a play I
formerly loved, and is now corrected and enlarged: but,
though I like the acting, yet I like not much in the play
now…
Tuesday 23rd April
(St. George’s-day). The feast being kept at White Hall,
out of design, as it is thought, to make the best
countenance we can to the Swede’s Embassadors,
before their leaving us to go to the treaty abroad, to
shew some jollity. We sat at the office all the
morning…At noon home to dinner, where alone, and
after dinner to my musique papers…Then to the office
to do things towards the post, and then my wife and I
set down at her mother’s, and I up and down to do
business, but did little; and so to Mrs. Martin’s…
Saturday 4th May
Up and to the office, where sat all the morning, among
other things a great conflict I had with Sir W. Warren,
he bringing a letter to the Board, flatly in words
charging them with their delays in passing his accounts,
which have been with them these two years…
Up, and to the office, where we sat all the morning. At
noon home, and with my father dined, and, poor man!
he hath put off his travelling-clothes to-day, and is
mighty spruce, and I love to see him cheerful. After
dinner I to my chamber, and my wife and I to talk, and
by and by they tell Mrs. Daniel would speak with me,
so I down to the parlour to her, and sat down together
and talked about getting her husband a place …So to the
office, and then to Sir R. Viner’s about some part of my
accounts now going on with him, and then home and
ended my letters…
Friday 31st May
Up, and there came young Mrs. Daniel in the morning
as I expected about business of her husband’s. I took her
into the office to discourse with her about getting some
employment for him … By water to White Hall to the
Lords Commissioners of the Treasury, the first time I
ever was there…Here I met with Sir H. Cholmly, who
tells me that he is told this day by Secretary Morris that
he believes we are, and shall be, only fooled by the
French; and that the Dutch are very high and insolent,
and do look upon us as come over only to beg a peace…
Thence to Sir G. Carteret at his lodgings… Thence I
away to Holborne to Mr. Gawden, whom I met at
Bernard’s Inn gate, and straight we together to the Navy
Office, where we did all meet about some victualling
business, and so home to dinner and to the office, where
the weather so hot now-a-days that I cannot but sleep
before I do any business, and in the evening home…
and so late to supper, and with great quiet to bed;
finding by the balance of my account that I am creditor
6900l., for which the Lord of Heaven be praised!
38
RAY CARNELL
We were sorry to hear the sad news that Ray Carnell
has passed away following a short illness.
Ray was one of the Camera Clubs long standing
organisers and officials and helped run the HASSRA
London Photography Competition that was always
displayed at Sports Day.
HASSRA members can enjoy exclusive special offers
from Butlins Privilege Holiday Club! An extra £10
discount will apply to any booking made with a valid
PHC Q code.
With over 50 free things to see and do, variety is the key
to a fantastic family holiday at Butlins lively Resorts in
Bognor Regis, Minehead and Skegness.
Check out the HASSRA Website for more details.
HASSRA CHRISTMAS CRACKER
HASSRA members receive a 10% discount on and
adult, reduced or family entrance fee to the following
properties.
Congratulations to the following London members who
won prizes in the National HASSRA Christmas Cracker
Prize Draw
£1000 Shameeta Price
Laptop Dolores Keown
Go Pro Hero Five Abdul Choudhury
£200 Christine Shires
A full list of all the prize winners can be found on the
HASSRA website.
This promotion applies to the member plus one adult
guest and up to three children (under 16 yrs.)
This offer is available at the following attractions:
Beaumaris Castle, Caernarfon Castle, Caerphilly
Castle, Castell Coch, Chepstow Castle, Cilgerran
Castle, Conwy Castle, Criccieth Castle, Denbigh Castle,
Harlech Castle, Kidwelly Castle, Laugharne Castle,
Oxwich Castle, Plas Mawr Elizabethan Town House,
Raglan Castle, Rhuddlan Castle, Rug Chapel, Strata
Florida Abbey, St Davids Bishop's Palace, Tintern
Abbey, Tretower Court and Castle & Valle Crucis
Abbey.
(This excludes special event days where CADW may
charge an additional fee)
Please note: This offer requires production of a current
HASSRA membership card and photographic ID,
HASSRA members will not be eligible for a discount in
the retail outlets or cafes at CADW properties.
CSIS (Civil Service Insurance Society) offers great
deals for HASSRA members on their motor and home
insurance. Why not give them a call on 0845 607444 or
visit the CSIS website www.csis.co.uk/hassra to see
how much you could save
For more information about these fantastic historic
locations, please visit the CADW website.
This offer is not available at the following attractions:
Carreg Cennen, Weobley, and Dolwyddelan castles,
Margam Stones Museum, Conwy Castle & Plas Mawr
Town House joint ticket.
CROSSWORD SOLUTION
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GK QUIZ ANSWERS
1 Pennsylvania
2 Little and Large
3 Crete
4 Guy Gibson
5 The Fat Show
6 Archie Mitchell
7 Dachshund
8 The Red Cross
9 Danger Mouse
10 The Milky Way
POP QUIZ ANSWERS
1 The Tornados
2 Dionne Warwick
3 Ronnie Carroll and Cliff Richard
4 Shane Fenton and Alvin Stardust
5 Spinal Tap
6 Lil Wayne
7 Professor Green
8 Way Down
9 David Coverdale
10 Jason Nevins
CHESS
NOVICE SOLUTION
1. Rxe8+ Qxe8 2. Nc7+ Kb8 3. Nxe8
INTERMEDIATE SOLUTION
1. Nh5+! Rxh5
2. Rxg6+! Kxg6
3. Re6# 1-0
39
SUDOKU SOLUTION
H
E
A
R
T
S
U
R
G
E
O
N
B
E
G
E
M
E
G
N
7
6
1
2
5
3
4
9
8
8
9
5
4
6
1
7
2
3
3
2
4
9
7
8
6
1
5
9
5
3
6
4
2
1
8
7
2
1
8
7
3
5
9
6
4
6
4
7
1
8
9
5
3
2
1
8
6
5
2
4
3
7
9
4
7
2
3
9
6
8
5
1
5
3
9
8
1
7
2
4
6
PICTURE QUIZ
1 Dennis the Menace
2 Jimmy Krankie
3 Plug from the Bash Street Kids
4 Terry Scott
5 Gerald campion as Billy Bunter
6 Oor Wullie
7 Dennis Waterman as Just William
8 Roger the Dodger
9 Ben McKenzie as Bruce Wayne in Gotham
10 Eric Wimp in Bananaman
11 Angus Young from AC/DC
12 Lord Snooty
13 James from The Snowman
14 Prince Charles
15 Joe 90
16 Todd Carty as Tucker Jenkins from Grange Hill
17 Daniel Roche as Ben in Outnumbered
18 Jimmy Clitheroe
19 James Buckley as Jay Cartwright in The
Inbetweeners
20 Dennis the Menace (US version)
…………………… and finally
HOW TO CATCH A LION
Newton's Method. Let, the lion catch you. For every
action there is equal and opposite reaction. You have
therefore caught a lion.
Einstein Method. Run in the direction opposite to that
of the lion. Due to higher relative velocity, the lion
will also run faster and will get tired soon. Now you
can trap it easily.
Software Engineer Method. Catch a cat and claim
that your testing has proven that it’s a Lion. If anyone
comes back with issues tell that you will upgrade it to
Lion.
Leicester City Method. Catch a Lion. Get sacked
because you haven’t caught another Lion.
SPORTS DAY 2017
This year’s Sports Day, will take place
at
NPL Teddington
on
Wednesday 28th June 2017
Featuring Football, Netball, Tennis, Petanque,
Bowls, Quiz, Cookery, Arts and Crafts, Photography
and School Sports