PIECE OF CAKE

Trevor Finch picked up his 50 year medallion from the General Secretary at a Battersea branch meeting at the Bag o’Nails on Buckingham Palace Road. The branch would also like to thank National Organiser Simon Weller, District Organiser Graham Morris, Executive Committee Marz Colombini, and our Company Council, including Roy Luxford who’s recovering from a long bout of sickness, for attending. 

There were also long service awards to Joe Attard and Jim Lambert (40); Danny Nash (25); Terry Sanders and Richard Hills (10).  

Pas Luongo 

Branch Secretary

RON COOPER

FINAL DEPARTURE

Retired driver Roy Cooper died on 12th December aged 78. He was known on the railway as Ron because when started at Gillingham, there was already a Roy Cooper, so he opted for Ron.

He transferred to Feltham in 1953and did his national service in the Royal Sussex Regiment from 1954 to 1956. While in the army he met Pat and they were married in 1958.

When Feltham closed he went to Stewarts Lane, Battersea, and then Victoria. Ron was a staff rep in 1981 - 1982 when the Gatwick Express was starting up. He took early retirement in 2002 under ill health.

Ken Heydon 

Battersea

WHAT KIND OF DEMOCRACY ?

It was refreshing to read the article by Kelvin Hopkins (Journal, March) supporting withdrawal from the EU. Kelvin’s article is one of the most accurate and well written pieces I have read about the EU, not just in the Journal but anywhere, and it gives a stronger message coming from a Labour Party, as Kelvin pointed out, were historically against our EU membership. It is, therefore, ironic that Labour is now the only major party in England refusing to offer us a referendum on our EU membership. What kind of democracy is that - the European Union version?  

Ken Hall

Horsham 

PETER STREET 

A BIG MAN

Peter Street 1953 - 2014 had worked on the railway since 1975.

He started at Streatham Hill as a guard and moved and moved to West Croydon in 1982 until it closed. He then moved to Selhurst where, in 1988 he qualified as a driver. Peter passed away in December last year after a long battle with cancer. A man who, as his colleagues would often say, could moan for England; but he had a heart of gold and will be missed by us all.

John Ward 

Selhurst

Medical checks

The untimely death of Bob Crow should ring alarm bells for members of all ages. Make sure you have regular medical checks, not just the cursory exams companies give. I recently had a prostate cancer check (clear) and a blood cholesterol check (sky high). Tablets have brought this down but how many of you are aware of your true state of health? Make an appointment with your GP before it’s too late.

Jeff Veale, 

Battersea

A bloody expensive diary

I cannot tell you exactly how many times I’ve heard the expression, ‘that’s a bloody expensive diary’ when the union dues rise along with our pay. What I can tell you is that the cost pales into insignificance when ASLEF’s dedicated union reps help you out of a corner that is not entirely of your own making. With that in mind, I would like to thank my local LDC (Battersea) and Southern company council for the support they have shown me over the last 14 months. In particular, Graham Hoy, LDC, and Kevin Eade and Dave Maclennan, company council, must have got fed up with me emailing, ringing and constantly asking for advice, while preparing my case, but they never wavered in their dedication in helping me to a just conclusion. So, brothers and sisters, that little diary is well worth its cost when the subs that purchase it help you keep your job!

Steve Foy

Battersea branch

Off the rails or off his head

Since Off the Rails (Journal, August) focused on the royal family, I want to point out a few 
facts regarding our Queen and the cheap comment made by Tosh McDonald (‘Good pay rise 
for the Queen, who does nowt.’) The cost of the monarchy to the taxpayer rose by nearly 6% 
last year – more than double the rate of inflation – but 56p per head of population is fantastic 
value for money and it’s only republicans who cannot see this. As for Her Majesty doing 
‘nowt’ she is now the longest reigning monarch in our history and one would like to think that at 89 she would take things easy. But she has increased her workload and left most of the younger royals trailing, especially the Duchess of Cambridge.

JAMES LONGLEY

AN ENTERTAINER

James Longley passed away peacefully on 1 October at the age of 86. Jim served on the railway for more than 40 years, starting on steam engines. His final working years were spent at Caterham, and he was a lifelong member of ASLEF. He was an entertainer, and family man, who loved to sing and see people laugh. He will be greatly missed by Eve, his family and friends. R.I.P. Jim.

Ken Heydon

Battersea