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For more detailed information about the National Pensioners' Convention's campaigns on behalf of all pensioners, click here to visit their website.

Peter Rayner   For information on the Campaigns or to join contact NPC at: Walkden House 10 Melton Street London NW1 2EJ Tel: 0207 383 0388  or email admin@npcuk.org.

NPC Conference News from Peter Rayner Click here to download a copy of this article in full Peter Rayner and Archie Birt attended the biennial NPC Conference in Nottingham in June 2007 and Peter has now been elected a Vice President of the NPC.  Here is a summary of the main debates and the motions adopted. Administration matters:  it was decided not to move to an annual Conference, mainly on grounds of cost, as the NPC has only three full-time staff and the 'admin' involved in running a conference every year would be too great. Representation:  the gender issue was debated.  Rather than use positive discrimination to involve more women in committees and councils, conference decided to stay with the "on merit" system in place now.  It was argued that as more women who have enjoyed equal status with men enter retirement, the balance will eventually shift.  However, this view was fiercely opposed by those who felt that women suffer most from inequalities in  pension provision, especially if they have taken time out of work to raise a family.  Pension credit was described as a 30-page form with 70 questions, which many older people could not fill in without assistance - the result is that many who could benefit do not apply. Post Office closures:  a motion was passed condemning Post Office closures. Public Toilet provision and safety:  There was a call for better provision of public toilets and for greater safety through improved staffing levels on railway stations and in high streets and shopping precincts. Private Care Homes:  an emergency motion was carried unanimously, criticising the recent Appeal Court judgement on Private Care Homes and their status. Discussion papers:  a number of papers were circulated regarding government statistics on pensions, Heath and Carer issues.  These will be presented to the next General Purposes Committee. NPC National Council:  the sad passing of Barry Medlock resulted in a vacancy on the National Council, which Sam Reed has agreed to fill.  Our three representatives are Peter Rayner, Bill Baxendale and Sam Reed, with Stan Robinson as "reserve".  As Peter will attend in his own right as a Vice President, this may result in a further National Council vacancy - in this case Archie Birt is willing to fill this vacancy, but the situation needs to be clarified first.

So why should BTPF be involved with the NPC? Our initial involvement was because many of our members got more from the State Pension than from our fund. (Over 60% of Railway pensioners get more from the State than our fund). We felt we could influence government better to restore the link with earnings. NPC, like BTPF, is political in that it wishes to influence government, but it is not Party Political.  I am often asked what we get from being affiliated to NPC since, for many of us, our pensions are considered secure and reasonable even in these difficult times. Also our rail travel has been less threatened than many of us feared at the onset of privatisation. So why bother?  NPC now have a number of working parties responding to the Executive and arising from the work they do it is possible to point to some of the issues that affect older people today.  BTPF and NPC "Common Ground" Click here to download Peter's recent paper on NPC Campaigns and their relevance to BTPF members. To find out more about the NPC, click here to go to their website - click here to download a copy of the NPC's alternative White Paper for Pensioners.

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BTPF Recruitment Poster - this was devised at the request of one of our Branches for a stand at an Open Day, but it would be equally useful for Staff Noticeboards, if you can persuade a former colleague to display a copy. There are two versions - one is a single sheet; the other has the text spread across two sheets.  Page Size is set to the default A4, but if you have access to a printer that will take A3 paper, either of these documents could be printed larger: you will need to amend the Page Setup. The two-sheet version can be glued or 'sellotaped' together to make a large poster if required.  The files (MS Word 2003 format) can be copied to disk and taken to a printer, but be warned - the price is likely to be fairly high! Single sheet version - click here to download Two sheet version - click here to download

BTPF Constitution - a new version of our Constitution and Standing Orders was approved at the AGM of 17 March 2009. Click here to download your copy.

Here are some recent NPC News and Campaign items for you to download:

	NEW - NPC Campaign Bulletin No. 58 (Feb 2012) - click here to download a copy
	"Putting the Record Straight on Concessionary Travel" - click here to download a copy of Peter Rayner's Discussion Paper, presented on behalf of the NPC Transport Working Party in November, 2009.
	NPC Submission to the Dept. for Work & Pensions Select Committee - click here to download a copy of the NPC's Submission on "Tackling Pensioner Poverty" (March, 2009)
	AGE (European Older People's Platform) Conference, Nuremberg, June 2008:  Click here to download a paper presented by Peter Rayner, representing the National Pensioners' Convention.  The subject is older people's access to Information & Communication Technology and its effect on their lives.
	Prof. Walker's address to the NPC - click here for an account of Professor Walker's talk to the NPC Council on 27 June 2006

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Rail Industry Memorial Project Click here to download a Progress Report in document form for inclusion in your Branch Newsletter. The BTPF Memorial Fund has been very successful in raising a sum in excess of £46000; this amount has allowed the BTPF Project team to place an order with our selected Stonemason, H.L. Perfitt of Diss, Norfolk.  The company has a great reputation for quality and they have enabled us to achieve a stunning memorial.  Your contributions and support are greatly appreciated.

	A "Welcome" group will meet visitors to the Dedication Ceremony and will hand out copies of the Service Booklet
	The Dedication Service will last approximately 30 minutes and will take place outside whatever the weather.  There will be a psalm, one or two hymns and a bugler.
	It is hoped that a VIP will attend the Service in order to attract national press coverage.

	Side 1 - the FRONT of the memorial will face towards Millennium Way and the River Tame and will display the gilded words of dedication on a shiny black granite plaque.
	Side 2 - the REAR will display a montage of artwork designed by a specialist railway artist depicting a series of railway activities etched into the black shiny granite plaque. Facing in a generally southerly direction will allow any sunlight to shine directly onto the montage. Two granite seats will be provided nearby for visitors to sit, gaze and wonder, "Is that really me?"
	The Class8f Locomotive carved from matt black granite will rest on top of the plinth and will face a generally easterly direction. This will create a stunning memorial and a really fitting recognition for our great railway family from the very beginning through to present. Dedication Day is currently being planned with the full cooperation of the NMA and other partners.

Another tree was planted in October 2004 for the British Transport Pensioners' Federation and later a seat was installed and dedicated near the tree. 'Our' area is tended by a group of volunteers from the West Midlands Branch.

The late Geoff Humphreys of Anglia Branch kindly supplied the picture (right) of the two memorial plaques.  The inscriptions read: "Planted for British Transport Pensioners Federation - Anglia In memory of all those who were employed by BRITISH RAIL and / or SHIPPING and lived in EAST ANGLIA" "BTPF British Transport Pensioners Federation Planted in memory of all those who were employed by the Railway Industry"

Click on image to enlarge.

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	Transport Direct - click here to use this comprehensive travel website, which was launched in September 2004. It is a "One-Stop Shop" for transport and will work out journeys by road, rail or bus.  It even provides route maps for car journeys and there is a link to a site that provides walking routes in cities.
	Oyster Card with Privs - did you know you can now get an Oyster Card for travel on London's buses, tubes and local train services including priv. rates for the rail element (tube and train)?  This offers a substantial saving on tube fares, as your priv. is based on the Oyster rate (currently £1.50) rather than the prevailing cash rate, which rose to £4 in January 2007.  Don't forget you will also benefit from the lower Oyster rate on London buses if you are not able to use your National Concessionary Bus Pass. New applications: You can download an application form from ATOC's website (make sure you download the Retired Staff version - form ref. 5002).  When you have filled in the form, send it to Travel Section, rpmi, Darlington, for authorisation.  You must then take your completed and authorised form to an LU Booking Office, together with your (Retired) Staff Travel Card.  Note that to get priv. fares on Oyster you MUST use the special application form - the normal form supplied by LU does not cater for privs.  LU Enquiry Counters do not process applications for priv. Oyster cards - this is only done at LU Booking Offices. Renewals:  Once you have obtained a priv. Oyster Card, you must take your (Retired) Staff Travel Card to an LU Booking Office every year (when you receive your new one) to enable LU staff to register your new card on the system. There is no need to complete another application form.  (If you fail to re-register, the full public Oyster fare will be deducted from your card from 01 July each year.)
	Reminder for Grandparents - don't forget retired staff and widow(er)s can take up to four children aged 5 - 16 for £2 each on production of your Staff Travel Card, provided you are aged 60 or over.  (If Booking Office staff are not familiar with this concession, refer them to: Passenger Instruction Manual Section E, Page E5 Paragraph E2.7 and Page E18 Paragraph E14.)
	International Privilege Tickets and Reservations - arrangement to purchase these have changed (as of October 2006) - go to ATOC's website for full details of the new postal address, phone numbers and email address for IPTIS at Deutsche Bahn UK Booking Centre.  You can also download the new version of the IPTIS booking form.
	Eurostar bookings - there is a new outlet for Eurostar bookings - Ashford Contact Centre, tel: 08457 660421 beyond.eurostar@eurostar.co.uk. Business hours 09.00 - 17.00 Monday to Friday.  This is available for Eurostar only (i.e. London / Paris / Marne-la-Vallée / Avignon / Ski trains) and payment is accepted only by credit card.  When making a booking please ensure you quote both your International Reduced Rate Card and Staff Travel Card numbers.

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Railway Pensions Commission - The RPC's Final Report was published in November 2008. The dedicated website set up while the Commission was in session is no longer available, but you will find detailed information about the final report by visiting the websites of the Rail Trade Unions (TSSA, RMT, ASLEF), including a downloadable version of the Final Report. (Note: This is a 78-page document, but there is a five page Executive Summary at the beginning.)

Conference Paper - Our Chairman, Peter Rayner, has presented a briefing paper on concessionary transport for older people to the Department of Transport - click here to download.

National Archive of Railway Oral History - this is a project, funded by a Lottery grant, to compile an oral history of the railway over the last fifty years by collecting the reminiscences of railwaymen and women.  Click here to visit the NRM website.

The website is what you make it - this is the kind of material we are looking for: "dates for your diary" - meetings, outings, social events reports of interesting things you have done or are about to do regular updates, so that the content does not stagnate or become out-of-date