Well-Mets
Judy Redford
Office Manager
secretary@londonnarpo.org.uk
 “ok”, so you know this is an
Olympic year and you know it is the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, but did you
know it's the European Year for Active Ageing? The blurb tells us that
active ageing is about "getting more out of life as you grow older,
not less, whether at work, at home or in the community." As we are
all going to have to work longer before getting our State Pensions, we
are going to need to crack this Active Ageing business.
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is there a formula?
Back in the 1920s a
Californian psychologist, Dr Lewis Terman, started a longitudinal study on gifted
children that examined every aspect of their lives, backgrounds and
personalities. The project eventually came up with some tips on how to
have a long successful life - work hard, worry a little, and be
unconventional. Get married - but only if you're a man. Apparently,
having a stable and successful career "even when it involves greater
responsibility, longer hours and stress" is a positive influence. Dr Terman didn't actually
say 'Join the Met' ¬but it does seem to fit! Another option would be to
move to one of the world's age hot-spots - Okinawa, Sardinia or the
Seventh-day Adventist community of Loma Linda in California. Or West
Wimbledon, home to possibly our oldest London Branch member George
Greening who was 105 on 17 February. George, an ex-serviceman who retired
from the police in 1954, was a Mounted Branch officer. He played MPAA
tennis in his heyday as well as being a member of the Met Police band. We
all send our very best wishes to George and his wife Dorothy - long may
they receive their police pension. It is sad that in this European Year
dedicated to an ageing population, here in the UK we need campaigns organised by national newspapers, charities and the
NPC (National Pensioners Convention) to secure fundamental rights for
older people as they become less able to care for themselves.
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dignity … and respect
The NPC, of which London
NARPO is a member, has devised the recently-launched Dignity Code. It is
hoped that all organisations concerned with the
care of older people will sign up to The Code. Strongly endorsed by Paul Burstow, the Care Minister; the under-pinning ethos
of the Code is 'respect.'
You can view the Code at
our branch website – www.londonnarpo.org.uk
or contact the office for a hard copy.
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a
sporting chance
Just in case you are already actively ageing you may fancy taking
part in the Age UK 'Wrap Up & Run' events
all over the country during March. They are 10k fund-raising runs to help
stop unnecessary suffering and preventable winter deaths. Graham Cole, London NARPO's only
Honorary Member (PC Tony Stamp from The Bill) and a regular supporter of
police charities, is running at Crystal Palace on 4 March. Graham says:
"The area has been my home for over 30 years and the thought of
starting and finishing on that athletics track in our country's Olympic
year is giving me goosebumps." If you want
to help Graham act the part of an Olympic runner, and support older
people, either look on the Age UK website or we can forward donations
from the office. Talking of
sports, we're getting a steady trickle of enquiries from members who have
volunteered for stewarding roles at the Olympics and are now looking for
accommodation. We have only one member living within walking distance of
the Olympic park but he can't provide B&B for one and all! If you
have spare accommodation and live within reasonable travelling distance,
let us know and we will put you in touch with ex¬Mets
who can't wait to get back to work in the East End!
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veteran’s grants
Interesting news for World War II veterans or their widows and
relatives. There are grants available to veterans and/or widow/ers to pay a visit of remembrance to the area where
they were deployed. This includes Merchant Seamen as well as WAAF's and
ATS. The money comes from Heroes Return II which is part of the Big
Lottery. Apparently, so few people
have applied for funding, that the scheme has been extended to the end of
2012. The grants cover travel and accommodation for the veteran, spouse
and carer, £150 within the UK, £1,300 to
Northern Europe and £5,500 to the Far East. If you are interested, we can put you
in contact with someone who has received one of these grants and is
willing to lend a hand to London Branch members
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