Dear Members & Friends,

Here we go again. Christmas' is again upon us and another year has almost gone. Where do they go? When you consider what you lot went through it is absolutely staggering that so many of you are still alive and kicking, (well, slowly walking) FIFTY FOUR Years after your release. I know from your letters and phone calls that a very large number of you only expected to get another 10 or 20 years so please . make sure that you do your, loving, duty to those who are really responsible for your long survival, YOUR WIVES AND FAMILIES. Raise your glasses to them and then do the washing-up!

FRIDAY. 21st JANUARY, TENKO. U.J.C. 7 for 7.30 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, 9th FEBRUARY, INSTITUTE OF ELECTRICAL ENGINEERS. CLANDESTINE RADIOS. 7.30 p.m. at MAPLE ROOM, FAIRFIELD HALLS. PARK LANE, CROYDON.

SATURDAY,26th FEB., SAUSAGE SUPPER, 7 for 7.30 p.m. U.J.C. 

THURSDAY, 6th APRIL. A.G.M.

FRIDAY 14th-MONDAY 17th APRIL - CONFERENCE, SAND BAY.

THE SOPPY CHRISTMAS STORY (OR VERSE)

I do not normally print poems, or verse, as it tends to waste valuable space, particularly at the ends of lines, but in place of the usual story for you I am totally unable to resist re-printing the following poem, . which I know some of you will already have seen, in other FEPOW newsletters, but for the rest of you I give you a wonderful offering, although I do not know the author. Read and enjoy!

STUFF THE TURKEY!

On the first day of Christmas my true love said to me

11m glad we bought fresh turkey and a proper Xmas tree,

On the second day of Christmas much laughter could be heard

As we tucked into the turkey, a most delicious bird.

On the third day we entertained the people next door

The turkey tasted just as good as it had the day before,

Day four relations came to stay, poor gran is looking old

We finished up the Christmas pud and ate the turkey cold,

On the fifth day of Christmas outside the snowflakes flurried

But we were nice and warm inside, we had our turkey curried,

On the sixth day, I must admit, the Christmas spirit died

The children fought and bickered, we ate turkey rissoles fried,

On the seventh day of Christmas, my true love he did wince

When he sat down at t'table and was offered turkey mince,

Day 8 and nerves were getting frayed - the dog had run for shelter

I served up turkey pancakes with a glass of Alka seltzer,

On day 9 our cat left home - by lunchtime Dad was blotto

He said he had to have a drink to face turkey risotto,

By the tenth day the booze had gone - except our home-made brew

As if that wasn't bad enough, we suffered turkey stew,

On the eleventh day of Christmas, the tree was moulting

The mince pies were as hard as rock, and the turkey was rev'd1ting,

On the twelfth day, my true love had a smile upon his lips

The guests had gone, the turkey too - and we dined on fish and chips.

Back to Top

CLIFTONVILLE - MINI - CHRISTMAS

The 3rd of December saw Fepows, Wives and Widows gathering at Welling and the Embankment to be picked up by coach and taken to the GLENWOOD, Hotel, Cliftonville, near Margate for our annual Mini-Christmas. A good crowd of us, including those who had come in their own transport, were welcomed by. Mr Simon, for the weekend where we could forget! for a while, all the things we had not yet done and enjoy the companionship of our friends and a little taste of the Festive season, in advance.

The accommodation was better than before, (central heating is now complete), the food just as good as ever, with entertainment every night, some Bingo. and an excellent Raffle, very little was left to be Desired.

Our friends from the "LEST WE FORGET" organisation had remembered us and visited on Saturday and Sunday (when they also brought along the Mayor) as well as very kindly arranging for us to attend an excellent CAROL CONCERT, at the Winter Gardens, on the Sunday, for which they provided the entrance tickets and a coach to take us there. We all seemed to thoroughly enjoy ourselves and greatly appreciated the wonderful efforts of the Salvation Army who put such enthusiasm into their playing and singing.

We were more than happy to do our part when invited to "join in"

Back to Top

You may have noticed, amongst the forthcoming diary dates, an entry for WEDNESDAY, 9th February 2000, at 7.30.p.m. what is billed as a DISSERTATION on HIDDEN BROADCASTS, or clandestine radios. I was approached about this by RALPH BARRETT, who will be presenting the programme, some considerable time ago and was able, through a notice in the FEPOW POST and my personal knowledge, to put him in touch with a number of FEPOWs who were of assistance in helping him, with their knowledge, of hidden radios in prisoner-of-war camps, how they were made, and of what, as well as how they were hidden from the camp guards and how the resulting news was disseminated in secret, to counteract whatever information the guards supplied which, of course, was given in such a way as to paint the Japs, or Germans, as constantly victorious and the Allies as permanently useless.

This should be an extremely interesting evening which will start at 7.p.m. with tea, coffee and sandwiches.

I quote from the "blurb" which has been sent to me:- "INGENUITY TO BE ADMIRED: CASTING A METAL FLYWHEEL FOR A HAND GENERATOR: MAKING CAPACITORS FROM SCRAP AND RESISTORS FROM TREE BARK. ALL TO BE DONE IN SECRET." "DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR LISTENING TO RADIO BROADCASTS IN PRISONER OF WAR CAMPS WAS KEPT "HUSH-HUSH" AND THE APPARATUS WAS OF NECESSITY CONCEALED FROM THE CAPTORS. NEVERTHELESS IT DID MUCH TO LIFT MORALE AND AVOID MENTAL COLLAPSE"

There will be a repeat of this programme at the main building of the Institution of Electrical Engineers in Savoy Place, the Institute of Physics, Marconi's Chelmsford, Glasgow and Swansea.

I would suggest, if you do come along and have any examples of wartime clandestine radios that you bring them along when I am sure they will be looked at with great interest and, probably, admiration.

For the benefit of those of you who are interested in attending, IEE Croydon meetings are in the Maple Room at the Fairfleld Halls, Park Lane. The Engineers Luncheon Club meets at Croydon College.

There Is a frequent train service to East Croydon station. and a car park adjacent to the Falrfield Halls, entered from Barclay Road. For Information about IEE meetings at Croydon. Contact either: John McBride, 87 Gladeside, Shirley. Croydon CRO 7RW. Or Geoff Draper. Mott MacDonald. RTS Division, 20-28 Wellesley Road, Croydon CR9 2UL. 

Back to Top

The National Federation National Welfare Officer, STEVE CAIRNS M.B.E., has asked me to request any of you, for whom he is handling a Pension case or Pension Appeal, to kindly send to him your NATIONAL INSURANCE NUMBER, (or NINO) as soon as possible as this is now the reference number being used by BLACKPOOL and delays can be caused if this is not known.

Steve's- address now. is :- P.S.CAIRNS ESQ., M.B.E., 136 TAUNTON ROAD, NORTH  PETHERTON, NR. BRIDGEWATER, SOMERSET TA6 6NN.

Please write in with information about changes of address and of deaths, making sure you PRINT names and addresses etc. as it is sometimes quite difficult tracing the member when written in a hurry.

Please quote your membership number when writing, if known.

Please make out cheques sent to Alec to:- FEPOW LONDON.

Cheques sent to TOMMY KENT should be made out to:- LONDON FEPOW AMENITIES FUND.

If possible, please send a self-addressed, stamped enve1ope for a reply, particularly when requesting tickets etc.

May I take this opportunity of thanking everybody who sends me letters cards and newspaper cuttings etc. and wish all of you a VERY, VERY HAPPY CHRISTMAS and a HEALTHY NEW YEAR.

Keep away from the 'flu and don't forget that Scottish Water!

GOD BLESS CELlA

Back to Top

SAUSAGE SUPPER 2000

The date for our ever popular SAUSAGE SUPPER is SATURDAY,26th FEBRUARY, 2000.

The venue, as usual, is the UNION JACK CLUB, SANDELL STREET,WATERL00, LONDON SE1 8UJ, and the meal will consist of lovely sausages in a very tasty tomato and mushroom gravy, together with mashed potato and peas, followed by cheese and biscuits with either tea or coffee. Time: 7.00 p.m. for 7.30 p.m.

After supper, the evening will continue with our usual bingo, raffle, music and dancing.

We hope to have our very good friends from Lloyds, Royal British Legion, with us, as usual.

Tickets for this event can be obtained from MR. TOMMY KENT, 17 COWDRAY WAY,

ELM PARK, HORNCHURCH, ESSEX RM12 4AX and cost £.10.00p each.

Please send your completed form, together with your cheque made out to LONDON FEPOW AMENITIES FUND to Tommy Kent.

It does seem early but it is very important that fairly early bookings are made for the accommodation available at WESTON-SUPER-MARE for the 2000 CONFERENCE REUNION, so we are asking you to make your booking early as well so that we know who wants to go as well as recording their accommodation.

The dates are Friday 14th; 15th; 16th to Monday 17th April at PONTIN'S SAND BAY HOLIDAY VILLAGE, WESTON-SUPER-MARE. Our package for full board costs £100.00p per person, inclusive, for the weekend, i.e. Friday night to Monday morning. A coach, if required, will, we hope, be free, if not we will have to ask for a contribution from all passengers.

As regular visitors know, Sand Bay is all on one level, with only one step up Into your chalet, making it very desirable for people of our advanced years! In addition, three cooked meals a day and professional entertainment in the evenings, as well as lots of activities during the days make this a very affordable break with no unforseen extras, apart from your drinking money that is!

If you feel you would like to come to the 2000 CONFERENCE - REUNION, please send a £25. deposit, per person, (cheques to be made out to LONDON FEPOW AMENITY FUND) and send, to T.W.KENT, 17 COWDRAY WAY ELM PARK HORNCHURCH ESSEX RM12 4AX.

As you will notice, we also require information about the type of Chalet accommodation you need, i.e. single, double, twin etc. as well as preference for bath or shower. Please note that we have only been allocated 4 singles, so first come first served!