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)