Category: Newsletter

You would not think that your Committee needed reprimanding. After all, they are all upstanding members of the community.  And yet, at a recent meeting, they were asked to keep the volume down, and the door was firmly closed on the room! Sorry, Ollie.

In mitigation, we were excited about our events for you this summer. We have not one, but two, FREE Cream Teas, one at Froginwell and the other at The Hartnoll, and a subsidised Theatre Trip to Sidmouth. Full details of all these are included in this Newsletter.

Do you like brain-teasers? If so, you will enjoy the Charity Cryptic Quiz. Les Rendell has organised this in aid of our local Devon Air Ambulance, and there are cash prizes, and even a draw for all entrants. With such a good cause benefitting, why not give it a go?

And, if that is not enough to be getting on with, we already have an excellent speaker booked for our AGM next March.  “Who is that?” I hear you say. We plan to reveal the name in the next issue, but, if you offer me an extra scone at one of our cream teas, I might go all indiscreet!

Enjoy your summer!

Andrew Green, Hon. Secretary

A note from the Chair

I hope you are all enjoying the exceptional sunshine of the past few days.  Make the most of it as you never know what is around the corner.

You will be glad to hear that our finances are in good health, mainly because we had a lower turn-out than expected at the Deer Park lunch (41) which has left us with a surplus to spend.

As a result we are offering a 40% plus discount on the theatre tickets for the show in August.  Do please take up the offer – see later in this Newsletter.

For the rest of this year, there are 2 cream tea afternoons booked and a coffee morning in November.  They are all free to you as members.

In addition, there will almost certainly be a big discount available for the Christmas lunch at the Victoria in December.

Please therefore make an effort to come to one or more of our remaining 2017 events and help spend some of the money provided by the Bank to our Club.  It is there to be spent!!!

Enjoy the summer.

Garry Adams, Chairman and Treasurer

 Welfare

 Communication re Death and Funeral Arrangements

As mentioned last time, we will email news as and when we are able. In practice, this usually means that one of our members is told by either family, or friends. For those with access to the Internet you will have seen that we have now put this into practice. We would ask all of you to keep one another advised, and, as before, the committee would rather be told twice than not at all.

On a personal note, we are soon to depart to visit our family ‘Down Under’. In my absence, please contact one of the other Welfare Officers or as ever, one of the committee.

Ray Cavill, Welfare Officer

Functions

 Thursday, 29th June 2017           free Cream Tea, 3.00pm – 4.30pm

(scone, jam, cream and tea/coffee)

Froginwell Vineyard, Woodbury Salterton on the A3052 Exeter/Sidmouth road

Numbers attending are required for this event.  If you have not already let me know, please let Carole Searle know by Monday, 26^th June if you intend to come (tel: 01392 873295, email: csearle2009@hotmail.co.uk) or if there are any changes.

 Future dates for your diary:

Tuesday, 3^rd October                     free Cream Tea, 3.00pm-4.30pm

Hartnoll Hotel, Bolham, Tiverton EX16 7RA

Numbers attending are required for this event.  Please let me know by Wednesday, 27th September if you intend to come. 

Thursday, 2^nd November              free Coffee Morning at Halfway Inn, 10.15am-12noon

 Thursday, 7^th December               Christmas Lunch at the Victoria Hotel, Sidmouth

Thursday, 8^th March 2018            Annual General Meeting and lunch at Exeter Golf & Country Club, 11am for AGM, 1pm for lunch           

Further details regarding the last three functions listed above will be given in subsequent Newsletters.  There isn’t another Newsletter due before the 3^rd October Cream Tea to act as a reminder so do please keep the relevant dates – 27^th September (last date for acceptance) and 3^rd October – in mind.  We hope many of you will come to socialise at this new venue – and enjoy a cream tea too.

Lynne Ring, Committee Member

01392 879446

lynne_ring@hotmail.com

 Theatre Visit

This will be for an evening performance of ‘Birthday Suite’ by Robin Hawdon on Thursday, 24th August at the Manor Pavilion, Manor Road, Sidmouth EX10 8RP.  Full details and booking form are shown separately under Items of Interest.  At a subsidised cost of only £9.00 per ticket, we do hope that all the seats reserved are taken up for this new venture.  You will need to make your own way to the theatre.  Thanks to Barbara and Peter Johnson for organising this event.

 Charity Quiz

 Les Rendell has devised yet another of his challenging quizzes.  This time, as mentioned, it’s in aid of Devon Air Ambulance Trust and you will find it shown separately under Items of Interest.  Your committee is strongly supporting Les’ efforts in this regard so do please have a go and send your answers and donations to Les as per the instructions at the end of the quiz under ‘Entry Details’. Copies of the quiz will also be available at the Afternoon Tea at Froginwell Vineyard.

Isn’t it wonderful when a plan comes together? Your Committee had resolved that our Club AGM should be a “not-to-be missed” affair. In recent years we have had some very good guest speakers, but this time, judging by the response of those there, we really hit the bullseye! Have a look at this page on the internet, or, if you are reading this on-line, just click on this link:
www.exeterspreadeagles.org/annual-general-meeting-2017/

Of course, now we have the challenge to follow on from that success for the next time. Well, Lynne Ring has already booked the Exeter Golf and Country Club for Thursday 8th March 2018, and we have a couple of possible speakers, so watch this space.

Inside this issue: Peter and Barbara Johnson, our newest Committee members, discuss a possible theatre trip to Sidmouth and Garry gives a resume of our year just past, and then explains how he can fund, for you, a lunch at the prestigious Deer Park Hotel at a very modest cost, and two FREE Cream Teas.

It’s time to get the Diary out, let Lynne know that you are coming, and enjoy these events, all generously subsidised by your Club. I do hope to see you there.

Andrew Green, Hon Secretary

-o0o-

A view from the Chair and AGM comments

The past year has been a bit mixed with membership and attendances at functions slightly down. We now have 207 qualifying pensioners, plus 90 spouses, giving a total of 297 members across 193 addresses. As a result, our grant funds are lower by £56 between 2016 and 2017.

With regard to events, our 2016 AGM saw 69 members enjoy an excellent meal at the Exeter Golf and Country Club with an interesting speaker in local auctioneer Chris Hampton. This March, with 74 attending, we had another lovely meal and a wonderful speaker in Dr John Searle OBE talking about his early years at Guy’s Hospital with many comparisons made to modern medicinal practices. He was widely acclaimed by all present. We will try to find another top quality speaker for March 2018.

Last May saw us at The Sidmouth Harbour Hotel with 58 present (12 down on the previous year), followed by a very poor turn-out at The Tiverton Hotel in September (only 35 members), but where we had a super meal from an award winning chef! The Victoria in December was as good as ever for the 87 attendees; the first time we have had less than 90 to a Christmas function. Perhaps this is a sign of the times and our ageing profile.

On the positive side, the 2 coffee mornings and the trial Cream Tea afternoon saw 110 attend those 3 free events. With this in mind, your committee has agreed and the AGM accepted that we will run 3 lunches this year plus 2 coffee mornings and 2 cream tea afternoons; still giving you 7 subsidised or free functions. We have also welcomed Peter and Barbara Johnson to our committee and they are actively looking at setting up a local Theatre (Sidmouth) trip during this year.

In early 2016 we had Ron Powell set up for us a Website and Facebook page where you can read about current and future events, as well as other useful information –please take a look as some new photos have been added. We do thank Ron for his continuing efforts here.

A surprise addition to the AGM was seen when a long lost metal Spread Eagle (from the old Exeter Bedford Street circular Banking Hall) re-appeared. I won’t say who had it in their garage for the past 25 years , but it is now to be restored by members Mick and Sandra Mabbutt who will act as its custodians, bringing it to future AGMs. A memory from the past before plastic took over our Banking Halls!

Finally, I thank all those on your committee for their continued work and support with regard to meetings, events, newsletters, welfare and administration of the Club. We cannot exist without these volunteers. Thank you!

Garry Adams, Chairman

-o0o-

Financial matters

With my other hat on, I am pleased to report that once again it was a positive year with a surplus of £628 achieved, mainly because there was no Head Office Forum to fund in 2016 (saving £350) and with low numbers at the September lunch saving £250 of planned subsidy. Thus an unexpected surplus achieved!

Subscriptions have held up quite well, but will fall this year, and general expenses remain under control. Subsidies for events averaged 52% in 2016 and we paid a one-off charge of £200 for the website and licences etc. Grant income was £4512. Our final year-end balance being £3718.

For 2017, I have budgeted for a £700 deficit to reduce our final balance to £3000 going forward into 2018. We will subsidise 3 lunches at an average of 56% and provide 4 free events (2 coffee mornings and 2 cream teas). Your subscription remains at £5 per head. By offering larger subsidies at the 3 lunches we can keep prices down for members at superior venues and hopefully encourage attendance. We have also taken note of comments from the recent questionnaires and have moved more events to Thursdays.

Finally, if you attend all 7 planned functions this year, then you will enjoy £65 of subsidy for your £5 subscription. “You’ve never had it so good”!!

Thanks

I would like to formally thank Eric Watts for Examining and signing off the final accounts, and can confirm that he is continuing in this capacity for another year.

Garry Adams, Hon Treasurer

-o0o-

Welfare

Notifications of a Death

We shall make every endeavour to inform you of a member’s death as soon as we are aware. Realistically, it will only be possible for us to do this for those on email. In any event, we would ask that you inform the relevant Welfare Officer, or any member of the committee, as soon as possible. We would rather be told twice, than not at all.

Events

We do like to see as many of you as possible attend our events. If you are unable to get there under your own steam, please contact your Welfare Officer to see if they are able to find someone to take you. Many of you already help us with this, and this is really appreciated. Others may yet be contacted to assist us in the future!
Pension Cuts?

Some of you will be aware that the Government is considering the way company pensions are protected against inflation.

There is a consultation document that raises various questions where Pensions are paid under a Defined Benefit Scheme; which is the majority of ours. They will consider changing the index – from RPI to CPI, reducing or suspending indexation, or if the scheme is in trouble, cancelling annual rises at all.

You can have your say on this by going to www.gov.uk and search ‘security and sustainability’. Go to pages 65/66 and the key questions are: 4 (f), (g), (h), and (i). Then email your views to defined.benefit@dwp.gsi.gov.uk by 14 May 2017.

Ray Cavill, Welfare Co-ordinator

-o0o-

Functions

Our next function is a free Coffee Morning on Tuesday, 11th April 2017 at Froginwell Vineyard, Sidmouth Road, Woodbury Salterton EX5 1EP on the A3052 Exeter to Sidmouth Road, 10.15am–12 noon. This is a very pleasant venue we have used before. It is on the level with plenty of car parking space. The Vineyard has a small menu for those wishing to stay on for lunch (at your own cost of course). We hope to see you there.

Following the coffee morning is our next lunch which is on Thursday, 11th May 2017 at the Deer Park Hotel, Weston, Honiton EX14 3PG. Directions: from Exeter, A30 towards Honiton. Take the slip road at Patterson Cross, signposted Fairmile, Fenny Bridges and Feniton. At the next T-junction, turn right, signposted Fenny Bridges and Feniton. At the next T-junction, turn left, signposted Fenny Bridges. Go through the village of Fenny Bridges under the old iron bridge, under the new bridge and then take the left-hand road to Weston. At the T-junction by the bridge turn right into Weston Village, then turn left at Weston Cross to Buckerell. Turn left after approximately 200 yards into Deer Park drive.

Menu/booking form is attached (click here) and should be returned to me with your cheque by Monday, 24th April 2017. Cheques will be banked on Thursday, 27th April. No refunds will be given after this date. The cost per head for members is £15.00 or £35.00 per head for non-members. The cost includes a glass and a half of wine OR a glass of orange, apple or grapefruit juice.
Please also let me know when replying of any special dietary requirements you may have, e.g. if you do not want sauces or gravy.

Please collect your menu choices form from me and place on your chosen table by 12.40pm. Please do not move them after this time.

Future dates for your diary

Thursday, 29th June 2017 free Afternoon Cream Tea
(scone, jam, cream and tea/coffee)
at Froginwell Vineyard, 3pm-4.30pm
Numbers attending are required for this event. Please let me know by
Wednesday, 21st June if you intend to come or Carole Searle (tel: 01392 873295, email: csearle2009@hotmail.co.uk) for any changes after that date.

Further details of the following events will be included in subsequent Newsletters

Tuesday, 3rd October 2017 free Afternoon Cream Tea at
Hartnoll Hotel, Bolham, Tiverton, 3pm-4.30pm

Thursday, 2nd November 2017 free Coffee Morning at Halfway Inn, 10.15am-12noon

Thursday, 7th December 2017 Christmas Lunch at Victoria Hotel, Sidmouth, 1pm

Thursday, 8th March 2018 Annual General Meeting and lunch
at Exeter Golf and Country Club, 11am for AGM, 1pm for lunch

Lynne Ring, Functions Co-ordinator
(Tel: 01392 879446, email: lynne_ring@hotmail.com)

-o0o-

Barclays Probate Service
2016 Discretionary Concession

Further to the article in the last Newsletter, I have received from the Bank the detailed fee structure now applicable incorporating the concession. It is important to note that the fees are inclusive of VAT. If anyone is still unsure about the revised arrangements please phone me or, if you would like a copy of the Bank’s letter to me then I can send an email copy on request or a hard copy if you send me a SAE.

It is always advisable, if you are using a solicitor instead of the Bank to act as your Executor or to assist family executors, to determine the solicitor’s costs for so acting. Their fees will be subject to VAT.

Les Rendell, Committee Member

-o0o-

Theatre Visit

We are considering offering an additional event in the club’s annual calendar and are investigating the suggestion of a visit to the theatre, taking up a block booking.

Our initial research has focussed on the Manor Pavilion in Sidmouth which offers a variety of entertainment throughout the year, including a three month summer season of twelve weekly Professional Repertory productions.

We will also make enquiries of other suitable venues, but at this stage we would like to gauge the level of potential interest and support. It would also be useful to know what type of entertainment would be the favourite choice.

A short response form is attached for those who may be interested, which please complete and return to us (we will be attending the next coffee morning at Froginwell).

Peter and Barbara Johnson, Committee Members

---

To:

Peter & Barbara Johnson or e-mail to: peteraj@talktalk.net
Fairways, 98 Beer Road
Seaton, EX12 2PU

EXETER SPREAD EAGLE CLUB – PROPOSED THEATRE VISIT

I/We would be interested in attending a theatre outing.
(Please indicate the type of entertainment you would prefer to see)

Play (Serious Drama, Comedy, Farce)
Musical
Show
Dance
Sole Artist

Name …………………………………………………………………………

We are extremely fortunate to have as our guest speaker for the Club AGM, the Reverend Canon Dr John Searle OBE. That full title hints at John’s life-long participation in Medicine, the Hospice movement in Exeter and the Church.  With such a breadth of life experiences, his talk promises to be a fascinating, and at times light-hearted one, as he tells us “Tales of a young Doctor”.

Garry Adams, our Chairman and Treasurer, tells me he intends to keep the formal business to the necessary minimum, so giving time both for our speaker and our socialising. This is a not-to-be-missed event, so, even if you have never attended a meeting of the Club before, why not get the Booking Form off to Lynne Ring now? We would be delighted to see you.

Also in this issue, Les Rendell gives the answers to his last brain-teasing Quiz.

Elsewhere, Les also offers practical steps you can consider taking if your Will is affected by the recent Barclays changes.

You may be wondering what became of those Questionnaires you were kind enough to fill in for us. Well, your Committee have now looked at every single one, and we plan that your responses make for an even better programme of events in the coming year. Watch this space….

Andrew Green, Hon. Secretary

---

Annual General Meeting

The Club’s Annual General Meeting takes place on Thursday, 9th March 2017 at 10.45am in the Mews Suite at the Exeter Golf and Country Club, Topsham Road, Exeter  EX2 7AE.  There is plenty of parking available in the two car parks situated in the grounds and disabled parking is at the entrance to the second parking area – you can take your car to the entrance (paved area) and then have it moved to a suitable bay. If you would like to come but need a lift, please contact one of our Welfare Officers who will do their best to find a lift for you.

Access will be available for (free) coffee/tea and biscuits from 10.15am and we would ask that you are in your seats prior to the start of the meeting at 10.45 am so that there is no distraction whilst we remember those who are no longer with us.

We have saved some costs by not including the Agenda with this newsletter, planning to distribute on the day, but if any would wish for a copy prior to this, in print or electronically, we shall be happy to oblige.

---

Functions

AGM Luncheon

The Annual General Meeting will be followed by lunch. Menu/booking form is enclosed and should be returned to me with your cheque by Monday, 20th February 2017.  Cheques will be banked on Thursday, 23rd February.  No refunds will be given after this date.  The cost per head for members is £12.50 or £25.00 per head for non-members.  The cost includes a glass and a half of wine OR a glass of orange, apple or grapefruit juice.

Please also let me know when replying of any special dietary requirements you may have, e.g. if you do not want sauces or gravy.
The lunch will be in the Duckworth Suite. Please try to collect your booking form from me, showing your food choice, if possible before the AGM, to place on your chosen table; remember we do not have a seating plan for this event.

The restaurant staff will take a note of your food selection around 12.40pm so please do not move your place setting after this time.

Bars in the Mews and Duckworth Suites will be available from approximately 12.15 pm and lunch will be served at 1.00pm.

Future dates for your diary:

Tuesday, 11th April 2017 free Coffee Morning, 10.15am – 12 noon

Froginwell Vineyard, Woodbury Salterton

Thursday, 11th May 2017 Lunch

Deer Park Country House Hotel, Weston, near Honiton

Thursday, 29th June 2017 free Cream Tea, 3.00pm – 4.30pm

Froginwell Vineyard, Woodbury Salterton

September/October free Cream Tea

Date and venue to be confirmed

November free Coffee Morning

Date and venue to be confirmed

Thursday, 7th December Christmas Lunch

Victoria Hotel, Sidmouth

Further details in subsequent Newsletters.

Lynne Ring, Committee Member

01392 879446

---

Is Barclays your Executor in your Will?

You will have previously been advised that the Bank has withdrawn its 100% discount for acting as Executor with effect from 31st December last. This means that a discounted service fee only, probably 70% of the Standard Service Fee, will be made if the Bank acts in the future even where the wife or husband is the principal beneficiary. Whilst the fees chargeable will depend on the size and complexity of the estate, you should now consider appointing someone else to act, perhaps a son or

daughter or both, or a solicitor who should provide an estimate of their own costs. Having a family and/or local Executor is probably better anyway though the service the Bank provides is a good one.
You do not need to prepare a whole new will. A short codicil is all that is necessary referring to the will (This is a codicil to my last will dated……), altering the Executor (I revoke the appointment of Barclays Bank Trust Company as Executor to my will and appoint….) and confirming the rest of the will. This has to be signed, dated and witnessed by two independent people and the codicil placed with the original will. If in doubt, your solicitor should be able to this relatively cheaply. Where both

spouses are still alive then two codicils may be necessary if the Bank is appointed under both wills.
If, sadly, a death occurs before the will is altered, the Bank will be sympathetic to requests for them not to act and to stand aside but it is best to act now (if you wish) so that the situation does not arise.
If you have any questions about this I am happy to help.

Les Rendell, Committee Member

Tel: 01884 254375

Email: lesrendell41@gmail.com

---

Answers to the Christmas 2016 Quiz

1. Which carol is often referred to by its Latin translation “Adeste Fideles”?
O Come all ye Faithful
2. In which carol is a London football team named?
We Three Kings of Orient Are
3. “Begin and Never Cease” is the LAST line of which carol?
While Shepherds Watched
4. ICUTMC are the initials of the first line of which carol?
It came upon the midnight clear
5. Which Cornish village is named in a popular carol?
St. Agnes (Good King Wenceslas -“by St.Agnes fountain”)

6. “Slightly on in the Thing” is an anagram of which carol’s first line?
Silent Night, Holy Night
7. In which carol do we find the “Odours of Edom”?
Brightest and Best of the Sons of the Morning (“Say shall we yield him in costly devotion, Odours of Edom and offering divine”)
8. Who “sleep while angels keep their watch of wondering love”?
Mortals (“O Little Town of Bethlehem”)
9. What are sages invited to leave in a well-known carol?
Contemplations. (“Angels from the Realms of Glory”)
10. “Did the Guiding Star Behold” is the SECOND line of which carol?
As with Gladness Men of Old

Thank you for all your responses to our recent Questionnaire concerning your Club. We received a large number of replies, which was very gratifying, and we shall be using the findings to guide our planning for future events. For instance, we are looking at organising a theatre party to Sidmouth next season.

Talking of Sidmouth, details and booking-form for the ever-popular Christmas Lunch at the Victoria Hotel are in this issue. The Victoria is always decked out sumptuously for the festive season, and those decorations alone make the event well worth attending.

Les Rendell has, at our request, produced another brain-teasing Quiz for members (click here). Prompt entries are invited, so that we may present a garden voucher prize to the winner at the lunch (or by post if you are not at the lunch). Answers to Les please by Monday, 28th November either by email: lesrendell41@gmail.com or snail mail: 11 Aubyns Wood Rise, Tiverton EX16 5DG.

We were discussing our website at the recent Committee meeting (have you looked at it yet? www.exeterspreadeagles.org). Ray Cavill, who heads up our Welfare team and is always very diligent, claimed there was a missing full-stop on the Welfare page. I could not find it, but see if you can! We would love some more photographs of Club activities, so do bring your camera along to an event and we might use one of your pictures on the Website, or on our FaceBook page.

Ray was recently pleased to welcome David and Eleanor Jenkins, new members to the area, onto the Welfare team. David has reminded us that there was an upcoming change in Barclays Probate Service that the Club might be unaware of, and so the details of this are enclosed.

We shall be handing out name-badges again at the lunch, so if you come along and cannot quite remember an old colleague’s name, help will be at hand. I know that I shall find it very useful. I do hope that I see you there, on Thursday 1st December at any time from eleven o’clock.

Andrew Green, Hon. Secretary

---

Functions

The next lunch is the Christmas Lunch on Thursday, 1st December 2016 at the Victoria Hotel, The Esplanade, Sidmouth EX10 8RY at 1pm.

Menu/booking form is attached (click here) and should be returned to me with your cheque by 14th November 2016. Cheques will be banked on that day. No refunds will be given after this date.

The cost per head for members and carers, if members require assistance, is £12.00 or £25.00 per head for non-members. The cost includes a glass and a half of wine OR a glass of orange, apple or grapefruit juice.

Please also let me know when replying of any special dietary requirements you may have, e.g. if you do not want sauces or gravy.

For those who like to make this event more of an occasion, you can arrive from 11.00am to purchase tea/coffee and the bar will be open from 12 noon.

Should you wish to sit with particular friends would you please indicate on the Booking Form so that I can complete the Seating Plan. Please check the Seating Plan when you arrive to see where you are seated.

Lynne Ring, Committee Member

---

Future dates for your diary

Thursday, 9th March 2017 Annual General Meeting and Lunch at Exeter Golf & Country Club.

Tuesday, 11th April 2017 Free Coffee Morning at Froginwell Vineyard.

Further details will be included in the next Newsletter. Do please try to come to at least one event in the year. If getting to an event is difficult for you, please do not hesitate to contact any member of the Committee and we will do our best to arrange transport for you. We would like to see you – and it helps our finances!

Lynne Ring, Committee Member

---

Barclays Probate Service
2016 Discretionary Concession

From 1st January 2012 until 31st December 2016 in estates where the residue is to pass to a surviving spouse, civil partner or other dependant (an ‘eligible estate’):

The Bank will waive the entire Discounted Service Fee for administering eligible estates for those who die on or before 31st December 2016.

When someone dies after 31st December 2016 and the Bank is still appointed as their executor, the administration of the estate will attract the Discounted Fee (currently 70% of our standard rate). If all the beneficiaries of the estate request it the bank will step aside and renounce its appointment as executor allowing another person or organisation to take on these duties. There would be no charge for this and no other fee would be payable to Barclays.

Estates which are not eligible are estates where the residue passes to independent adult children, remoter relatives, friends or charities. In these estates the 30% discounted fee would still apply from 1st January 2012.

---

And finally ….

Your Committee takes this opportunity to wish everyone a Merry festive season and a healthy New Year.

There is a lot going on with your Club, and this is reflected in our latest Newsletter.

Have you looked at our very own website yet, or the associated FaceBook page? Just type in www.exeterspreadeagles.org in your internet browser for the website, or for our FaceBook page click here – see what you think, and do let us know.

Many of you entered Les Rendell’s Quiz in the last issue, but not so many got all the questions right! The questions were designed to make you think, and so Les has given the correct answers, with explanation where necessary, in this issue (see below). Les has also kindly agreed to produce another brain-teaser for the next issue.

Regrettably, as you will probably have noticed, connection magazine is not planning to produce better value for Barclays’ pensioners in the future. The magazine will only be produced twice a year, rather than quarterly, and if you require a hard copy, as opposed to an electronic version emailed to your PC or tablet, you will have to register for this when the next issue comes out in August. We urge you to ensure that you continue to receive a hard copy, by following the procedure spelt out in that August issue. We are writing, as your Committee, to express our disappointment at this change, but have no real hope that this will improve matters.

In contrast, your Committee wants our Club activities to properly reflect your preferences, and so we are attaching a Questionnaire (click here) which you may like to think about, complete and return to me, or bring along to the Tiverton lunch. If you kindly did this at the recent coffee-morning, there is no need to do it again.

Talking about the Tiverton lunch, you will see that Garry “Two Hats” Adams has pulled a rather helpful rabbit out of one hat regarding the cost of this event! With such an excellent value meal, produced by their newly-recruited “award-winning chef”, hopefully we shall have a really good turnout at the Best Western.

I hope to see you there.

Andrew Green, Hon. Secretary

---

A View from the Chair and your Finances

Since our April newsletter, we have enjoyed a coffee morning at Froginwell, a lunch in May at the Sidmouth Harbour Hotel and a very successful cream tea afternoon in June, again at Froginwell. Whilst our numbers have been slightly down with 25 at the coffee morning and 58 at the lunch, we did see 42 turn up for the wonderful cream tea on 28th June. There we enjoyed large home-baked scones, Cornish clotted cream, jam and copious cups of tea or coffee. We must do that again, especially as it was free to our members. For those that didn’t make it – you missed a treat!

As mentioned by Andrew, our next event is the lunch at Tiverton on 13th September (click here for details). As your Treasurer, I am able to metaphorically “pull a rabbit from one of my caps” and offer this lunch to you at just £10 per member. See details later in this newsletter and do please come along to give our numbers a boost.

See you there!

Garry Adams, Chairman and Hon. Treasurer

---

Welfare

As I sit and turn my thoughts to this Newsletter, summer seems to have finally arrived. Sincerely hope that you are able to enjoy the weather and our glorious countryside. Just a couple of thoughts for you:

 Christmas Grant

This is now administered by the Bank Workers Charity, and their contact details have previously been advised, and are also on our website (click here).

 The final date for submission is 28th October, and as ever, please do not hesitate to contact your Welfare Officer, or BWC direct.

 Blue Rewards

Subject to a couple of conditions, you can earn a minimum of £4/month for free with your Barclays Bank account. If you have yet to take advantage of this, please do not hesitate to give me a ring. As they say, what’s not to like!

Ray Cavill, Welfare Co-ordinator

---

Functions

Our next function is Lunch on Tuesday, 13th September 2016 at the Best Western Tiverton Hotel, Blundells Road, Tiverton EX16 4DB at 1 p.m.

Menu/booking form is attached (click here) and should be returned to me with your cheque by Monday, 30th August 2016. Cheques will be banked on Thursday, 2nd September. No refunds will be given after this date. The cost per head for members is £10.00 or £21.00 per head for non-members. The cost includes a glass and a half of wine OR a glass of orange, apple or grapefruit juice.

Please also let me know when replying of any special dietary requirements you may have, e.g. if you do not want sauces or gravy.

For those who like to make this event more of an occasion, you can arrive from 11.00 a.m. to purchase tea/coffee and the bar will be open from 12 noon.

Please collect your menu choices form from me and place on your chosen table by 12.40 p.m. Please do not move them after this time.

Future dates for your diary

Tuesday, 18th October 2016 free Coffee Morning at Halfway Inn, Aylesbeare EX5 2JP on the Sidmouth Road (A3052)
New venue – car parking, level entrance at front, steps from car park

Thursday, 1st December 2016 Christmas lunch at Victoria Hotel, Sidmouth

Thursday, 9th March 2017 Annual General Meeting and Lunch at Exeter Golf and Country Club

Do please try to come to at least one event in the year. If getting to an event is difficult for you, please do not hesitate to contact any member of the Committee and we will do our best to arrange transport for you. We would like to see you – and it helps our finances!

Lynne Ring, Functions Co-ordinator
(email: lynne_ring@hotmail.com telephone: 01392 879446)

---

Quiz Answers

1. If you add eleven and two, the result is thirteen. Taking the two words ‘eleven’ and ‘two’ what other words can you make which give the same result?
Twelve & One

2. Mary’s father has five daughters. Nana, Nene, Nini and Nono are four. What is the fifth daughter called?
Mary – as Mary’s father had five daughters

3. Can you make one word out of the letters of “New Door”?
Yes – One Word is an anagram of New Door

4. How many animals of each type did Moses take into the ark?
None –it was Noah’s Ark!

5. You are alone in a deserted house at night and there is a lamp,
firewood, and a candle. You only have one match. Which do you light first?
The match – to light the others

6. You are running in a race. You overtake the person in second position.
What position are you now in?
Second

7. Before Mount Everest was discovered, what was the highest mountain
on earth?
Mount Everest – it was always there!

8. When I was 14 my mother was 41. She is now twice as old as me. How old am I?
27

9. When do Christmas and the New Year ever fall in the same year?
Every year – though at either end

10. By adding two letters to it, which word becomes shorter?
Short

You may recall that, in the last Newsletter, we appealed for someone to assist in setting up a Website for the Club. We were delighted to have a member, Ron Powell, come forward and offer to guide us through this somewhat daunting task. Thank you, Ron! Since then Ron has been hard at work creating our own Club website and the work-in-progress can be found at www.exeterspreadeagles.org

Please take a look and let us know what you think, or would like to see on our site. You can leave feedback on this page, or contact one of the Committee.

Pensioners Clubs National Forum

Early on a dull morning in late November, two of our Committee members, Garry Adams and Les Rendell caught the train to London. They were attending, on our behalf, the Barclays Pensioners Clubs National Forum at the Bank’s Head Office, and had a long day ahead of them. The morning featured the Annual Briefing on Barclays Bank from John McFarlane, Executive Chairman, and an Afternoon Forum discussing various topics for the development of Pensioners Clubs. This latter session provided many ideas to mull over, and we aim to use some of these to take our own Club forward.

A resume of some of the sessions is included in this Newsletter and there will be more information at our Annual General Meeting at the Exeter Golf and Country Club on Tuesday, 8th March. We are also fortunate that we have joining us, as a Guest Speaker, Chris Hampton of the local Fine Art Auctioneers, Bearnes, Hampton & Littlewood. Menu and booking form are to be found later in this Newsletter. We do hope that you can come to what should be an interesting event, with the usual excellent lunch!

Andrew Green, Hon. Secretary

Welfare

We have just returned from what turned out to be a trip of a lifetime, including spending some magical moments with the grandchildren in Melbourne. The cold weather is helping us return to reality though!

I am now looking ahead to see how we can make progress on all matters relating to Welfare, and to support you, our members.

Vacancy

We are still in need of additional help! The position is a non-committee role, and I shall be very happy to have a chat with you to discuss what is involved.

Bank Workers Charity

As you may be aware, the merger between Spread Eagle Foundation, and the Bank Workers Charity was formally completed in October.

The Spread Eagle Foundation primarily dealt with grants to pensioners. BWC will continue to offer grants, including Christmas grants, (dependent on successful applications). However, there are now additional support services available. BWC partners with many charities to offer a wide range of support services, including Mind, Relate, Leonard Cheshire Disability, Cruse Bereavement Care and Independent Age. BWC has special relationships with these partners which means support can be offered more quickly than if individual charities were approached directly.
The type of support BWC offers includes:
–  Help with issues around caring for someone
–  Help in managing stress, isolation and depression
–  Assistance in accessing welfare benefits
–  Help with financial problems
–  Bereavement service
–  Assistance in accessing counselling
services.

If you need to get in touch with BWC, their details are:
Telephone: 0800 028 2238 
or 0800 023 4834
Email: SEF@bwcharity.org.uk 
OR
as ever, contact your Welfare Officer.
You can find out more about BWC on their website www.bwcharity.org.uk

Ray Cavill, Welfare Co-ordinator

Head Office National Forum (25th November 2015)

The message from the Bank’s Chairman, John McFarlane, was one of looking at the future shape of the Bank and regulatory changes: His vision being that by 2019 we would have three Banks within the Group umbrella, each with its own capital base and profit line. He surmised:-
The main Bank being UK Retail and Business; Barclaycard Worldwide; a U.S. Bank and general Overseas business.
An African Bank to take advantage of a strong existing franchise.
The Investment Bank including financing large Corporates and the Lehmans Investment Bank, which was already exceeding expectations.
The Chairman accepted that profits were currently under pressure due to a penal Banking Tax (28%), continuing Fines and PPI payouts. In 2015, the Dividend had been paid from Capital. Thus, in his words, surgery was needed to improve matters. Hence productivity had to improve: Unproductive franchises are to be sold off, the Capital ratio increased from 11% to 12% and the dividend return improved. Overall, his view was that we had a great past, a legacy to build on, a strong continuing brand, but were currently performing only on a “good-in-parts” basis.

A particular bright spot was Barclaycard. It is producing 25% of Group profits, yet only utilising 10% of the capital base. It was expanding worldwide with only 40% of its business now in the UK. Future emphasis was on merchant acquisition and innovation with technology. Its future was bright!

THE UKRF – Your Pension Fund

The report here showed that the Fund continues to perform well, with current in-payment pensions paid from income, so that the Fund is still growing – currently at £23 billion, rising over the next two to three years to £27 billion. Capital was expected to grow until 2026 when more deferred pensions would come into payment. The erosion of capital would then peak around 2041, and the Fund was set to last into the 2070s, which should see us all out!! The Bank was going to increase its annual contribution from £300m to £600m for the years 2017 to 2021 to meet actuarial standards. Current investment returns were 9.1%, with only some 15% of the Fund in equities, so the current downturn in markets had limited impact. This was a positive report.

TOWERS WATSON – Your Pension Administrator

We were told here that service levels were improving and that the 250,000 members produced some 8000 cases/enquiries per month, with an approval rating of 97%. I really wonder if this is realistic. What is your opinion or experience? Please let us know, so that we can send information forward.

Garry Adams and Les Rendell, Committee Members

Annual General Meeting

The Club’s Annual General Meeting takes place on Tuesday, 8th March 2016 at 10.45am in the Mews Suite at the Exeter Golf and Country Club, Topsham Road, Exeter EX2 7AE. There is plenty of parking available in the two car parks situated in the grounds and disabled parking is at the entrance to the second parking area – you can take your car to the entrance (paved area) and then have it moved to a suitable bay. If you would like to come but need a lift, please contact one of our Welfare Officers who will do their best to find a lift for you.

Access will be available for (free) coffee/tea and biscuits from 10.15am and we would ask that you are in your seats prior to the start of the meeting at 10.45 am so that there is no distraction whilst we remember those who are no longer with us.

We have saved some costs by not including the Agenda with this newsletter, planning to distribute on the day, but if any would wish for a copy prior to this, in print or electronically, we shall be happy to oblige.

Functions

AGM Luncheon

The Annual General Meeting will be followed by lunch. Menu/booking form is enclosed and should be returned to me (please note change of address) with your cheque by Monday, 22nd February 2016. Cheques will be banked on Thursday, 25th February. No refunds will be given after this date. The cost per head for members is £13.50 or £25.00 per head for non-members. The cost includes a glass and a half of wine OR a glass of orange, apple or grapefruit juice.

Please also let me know when replying of any special dietary requirements you may have, e.g. if you do not want sauces or gravy.

The lunch will be in the Duckworth Suite. Please try to collect your booking form from me, showing your food choice, if possible before the AGM, to place on your chosen table; remember we do not have a seating plan for this event.

The restaurant staff will take a note of your food selection around 12.40pm so please do not move your place setting after this time.

Bars in the Mews and Duckworth Suites will be available from approximately 12.15 pm and lunch will be served at 1.00pm.

Future dates for your diary:

Wednesday, 13th April free Coffee Morning, 10.15am – 12 noon
Froginwell Vineyard, Woodbury Salterton

Thursday, 26th May Lunch at Sidmouth Harbour Hotel (Westcliff)

Tuesday, 28th June free Afternoon Tea, 3.00pm – 4.30pm
Froginwell Vineyard, Woodbury Salterton
(scone, jam and cream per person)

Tuesday, 13th September Lunch at Best Western Hotel, Tiverton

Further details in subsequent Newsletters.

Lynne Ring, Committee Member
01392 879446 (new telephone number)

Fundraising Give-Away from Barclays !

Les Rendell, one of our Committee members, was fundraising for ShelterBox by distributing his Prize Quiz Sheets at our recent Committee Meeting. In doing so, he reminded us that Barclays has a long-standing commitment to match the charity fundraising activities of pensioners by up to £750 per year. Well done to Les for his continuing work for charities supported by his Rotary Club and well done to Barclays for their continuing generosity!

Now, I am sure that Les is not the only one amongst us doing his bit for others less fortunate, but he may be the only one currently using Barclays’ generosity to boost the outcome of his activities. So if you are hosting a coffee morning, or doing something similar, to raise significant sums of money for a good cause – and you must be the prime mover and organiser – it could pay to investigate this scheme, on-line only I am afraid, at httpss://barclays.givingforce.com

Les tells me that he would be pleased to assist anyone who would like to explore Matched Funding for a charity they support. His contact details are listed on the Committee page. With the ever-increasing use of internet-based actions, we can see why Barclays have taken a lead by offering Digital Eagle services to all!

My wife Lyn’s pension update still arrived by post and we judged that the accompanying information was comprehensive and useful. The information on financial support for those facing hardship was most helpful, backing up the good work our own Welfare team offer. There was even a handy outline of Pensioners’ Clubs benefits and activities, complete with a comprehensive directory of all such clubs, nationwide and even international. Hopefully, this may produce some enquiries from folk in our area that have yet to enjoy our company!

We do hope to see you at our Christmas Lunch, always a rather special occasion. Full details, with menu options and booking form, are included inside this issue.

Welfare

All reasonably quiet on the Welfare front! Perhaps too quiet?

Grants – one application has been submitted for a Christmas grant, and will hope to have this approved. Welfare Officers will be pleased to talk to you about ongoing support.

Vacancy – still looking for a volunteer! I shall be very pleased to have a chat with you about joining our team.

Absence – I shall be away from the middle of November for two months. Please speak with any Welfare Officer or a member of the committee during this time.

I shall wish you all an early ‘Seasonal Greetings’. Barbara and I will be thinking of those of you enjoying the Christmas festivities at The Victoria!

Ray Cavill, Welfare Coordinator

-oooooo-

Functions

Our next event is a free Coffee Morning on Thursday, 12th November 2015 at the Cat & Fiddle on the A3052 Exeter to Sidmouth road at Clyst St Mary, EX5 1DP, 10am – 12 noon. We do hope that many of you will join us at this new venue that is opening especially early for us. There is an excellent menu for those wishing to stay on for lunch – at your own cost. There is plenty of level parking available. If you would like to come but need a lift, please contact one of our Welfare Officers who will do their best to find a lift for you.

The next lunch is the Christmas Lunch on Tuesday, 8th December 2015 at the Victoria Hotel, The Esplanade, Sidmouth EX10 8RY at 1pm.

Menu/booking form is enclosed and should be returned to me with your cheque by 20th November 2015. Cheques will be banked on that day. For information: Cheques need to be banked earlier as Barclays has changed its clearance policy in that all cheques – even ‘house’ cheques – are not now debited to individual accounts for three working days. Plus, credits take five working days to clear. No refunds will be given after this date.

The cost per head for members is £13.50 or £27.00 per head for non-members. The cost includes a glass and a half of wine OR a glass of orange, apple or grapefruit juice.

Please also let me know when replying of any special dietary requirements you may have, e.g. if you do not want sauces or gravy.

For those who like to make this event more of an occasion, you can arrive from 11.00am to purchase tea/coffee and the bar will be open from 12 noon.

Should you wish to sit with particular friends would you please let me know so that I can complete the Seating Plan. If you are part of a group, please ensure you have liaised with your Group Organiser so that he/she may complete the relevant portion of the booking form. Please check the Seating Plan when you arrive to see where you are seated.

Future date for your diary

Tuesday, 8th March 2016 Annual General Meeting and Lunch at Exeter Golf & Country Club

Further details will be included in the next Newsletter. Do please try to come to at least one event in the year. If getting to an event is difficult for you, please do not hesitate to contact any member of the Committee and we will do our best to arrange transport for you. We would like to see you – and it helps our finances!

Lynne Ring, Committee Member

-oooooo-

Webmaster (or Webmistress) Wanted!

Barclays are looking at hosting an “umbrella” website for their pensioner clubs, under which individual clubs, such as ours, could promote their activities.

Increasingly, folk looking at joining an organisation do their research on-line, and it would be very beneficial if our club had a modest presence on the web.

Sadly, none of your Committee members possess the ability to set up and maintain such a webpage(s), but we wondered whether there was an individual within the club who could take on this task? Or, perhaps you have a younger, more computer-literate member of your family who could work with you to do this?

If you think that you can help, or know someone who can, please talk to any of us on the Committee.

Some seventy members of the Club welcomed local Barclays Digital Eagles at our Annual General Meeting at the Exeter Golf and Country Club in March. After the formalities of the morning were over, Jade Wood and her three colleagues gave a presentation about the work of the team. Digital Eagles can help people get the best out of their smart phones, tablets and laptops. They showed how easy it was to set up for on-line banking, and how to stay secure, whilst embracing all the opportunities of the digital world. Further information may be found in the notes Jade has kindly written for members in this Newsletter.

Then members did what they like doing best, and enjoyed each other’s company over a splendid lunch. The Club organises four heavily-subsidised (by the Bank) lunches a year for members. Whether you worked for the Bank in Devon, or have moved to the area in retirement, even if you have never attended before, we would love to see you at one of our functions. You will probably already know several of the folk present. We have included a copy of the next delicious lunch menu in this issue. Don’t worry whether you joined as an Active or Inactive member, just book your place(s) (no booking necessary for Coffee Mornings), come along and enjoy. You will be made most welcome.

Andrew Green, Hon Secretary

-oooooo-

Financial matters

The year 2014 proved to be a very positive one for the Club’s finances, albeit unexpectedly! The planned budgeted deficit turned out to be a surplus of £759, for a number of reasons, amongst which the following are pertinent.

1. General expenses were £160 lower than the previous year as more of you move onto e-mail and the outsourced printing of our newsletters is proving beneficial.
2. No representatives went to the annual HO Forum in November, saving £360 on our budget.
3. The low attendance (of 47) at our Autumn lunch in Tiverton saved £300 on our planned budget.
4. The initiative of holding a raffle at the Christmas lunch brought in £250 of unexpected income. Thank you to Lyn Green for that idea. We will repeat it this year.

As a result of the above, we have finished the year with £2640 in our accounts. For 2015, this means that we can afford to run a planned deficit of £700, and still have £1940 in our kitty at the year-end. We can thus continue with our subsidised social programme of 4 lunches and 2 free coffee mornings, whilst keeping members’ contributions at £15 for each lunch and an average subsidy of 47% across the year. Furthermore, we should be able to do the same for 2016.

The HO Grant income will be £4126 this year compared to £4222 in 2014. A very slight drop.

Finally, once again your £5 per active member Subscription entitles you to £56 of subsidy if you attend all events: Fantastic value for money. Please therefore come along and attend at least one of our events in 2015.

Garry Adams, Hon Treasurer

-ooooooo-

Welfare

It was good to see those who attended the recent A.G.M.

I was able to thank Pat Willis for her tremendous contribution as a Welfare Officer over a period of 22 years!

As previously mentioned, Pat’s well earned retirement means that we do have a vacancy. As I live in Exmouth, I have taken on responsibility for those who live in and around that area, and I am looking for someone to oversee the Sidmouth region.

I will provide support – and a handbook – although ‘Life Experience’ is the main qualification!

If you think that you can support us, please do ring me.

Ray Cavill, Welfare Coordinator – 01395 275265

-oooooo-

Functions

Our next get-together is a FREE Coffee Morning, 10am-12 noon, on Thursday, 16th April 2015 at The White Horse, Sidmouth Road, Woodbury Salterton  EX5 1EP (A3052 – main Exeter to Sidmouth road).  For those of you who joined us for the Coffee Morning at Froginwell Vineyard, the White Horse is next door!  The White Horse has an excellent menu for those wishing to stay on for lunch (at your own cost, of course).  There is a large car park on level ground.  Wi-fi is available so we are hoping to have a return meeting with Barclays Digital Eagles for those who may find it of interest – bring your i-phones, i-pads!

The next lunch will be on Thursday, 14th May 2015 at the Sidmouth Harbour Hotel (Westcliff), Manor Road, Sidmouth EX10 8RU at 1pm.

Menu/booking form is enclosed and should be returned to me with your cheque by 5th May 2015.  Cheques will be banked on that day.  For information: Cheques need to be banked earlier as Barclays has changed its clearance policy in that all cheques – even ‘house’ cheques – are not now debited to individual accounts for three working days.  Plus, credits take five working days to clear.  No refunds will be given after this date.  The cost per head for members is £15.00 or £29.50 per head for non-members.  The cost includes a glass and a half of wine OR a glass of orange, apple or grapefruit juice.

Please also let me know when replying of any special dietary requirements you may have, e.g. if you do not want sauces or gravy.

For those who like to make this event more of an occasion, you can arrive from 11.00am to purchase tea/coffee and the bar will be open from 12 noon.

Please collect your menu choices form from me and place on your chosen table by 12.40pm.  Please do not move them after this time.

Future dates for your diary

Tuesday, 7th July 2015 (free) Coffee Morning at Froginwell Vineyard, Woodbury Salterton

Tuesday, 15th September 2015 Lunch at Best Western Tiverton Hotel

Tuesday, 8th December 2015 Christmas Lunch at Victoria Hotel, Sidmouth

Tuesday, 8th March 2016 Annual General Meeting and Lunch at Exeter Golf & Country Club

Further details of these events will be included in future Newsletters.  Do please try to come to at least one event in the year. If getting to an event is difficult for you, please do not hesitate to contact any member of the Committee and we will do our best to arrange transport for you.  We would like to see you – and it helps our finances!

Lynne Ring, Committee Member

-oooooo-

Digital Eagles

Jade Wood, Cornwall and Devon Branch Manager, who recently brought some of her Digital Eagle team members to our AGM, writes :-

“Barclays has a large agenda of support for the community in this digital age.

“The Digital Driving Licence, launched last year, has now been rolled out nationally. Under this scheme, a series of quizzes and learning activities can be undertaken, in a range of modules from Online Security to Coding, and, upon completion, a City and Guilds Accreditation will be awarded.

“More recently, the Fraud and Scam Awareness Project has started in conjunction with local Police and Trading Standards Officers. This aims to teach about current scams and fraud, and how to avoid them, as well as where to seek guidance. It covers doorstep fraud, online and telephone scams and has been very well received.

“Tea and Teach Events are also being run in branches, where you can come into a branch and our Digital Eagles can support you in a number of ways – from setting up your new iPhone, to creating an email account, or showing you how to shop safely online – all with a cup of tea or coffee!

“For more information please Google Barclays Digital Driving Licence or Barclays Tea and Teach, and, if you would like to know more about the fraud awareness, please let me know.

“Our Regional Digital Eagle is Tammy.Hyndman@Barclays.com and she will be in touch later in the year regarding the launch of our @Silver Eagles@ proposition!”

 

‘Of bales and banking’

You may know of a former Barclays manager, Mike Pitcher, who recently wrote to us:

“My latest book is ‘Of bales and banking’, and was featured in our ‘connection’ magazine last year. It tells of my early days with Barclays, at a tiny branch in darkest Wiltshire. All profits are being donated to a range of charities.

I am now able to offer the book at a 25% discount to fellow pensioners, whilst stocks last. Send your name and address, with a cheque for Fifteen Pounds (£15), which includes P & P, to: M. Miller, 6 St. Michael’s Road, Melksham, SN12 6HW.  Please mark the application ‘Barclays Pensioner’.   Thank you.”