Hat tip https://x.com/Christina4GS/status/1993383596565074212?s=20
Results are announced on Wednesday 17 December.
On the "listening bench" we sat upon for lunch, next to the war memorial, there was a QR code that you could use to download personal accounts by local residents of life in the village during World War 2, with reminisces of German bombing raids, the arrival of American servicemen and singing Italian prisoners of war.
We drove from East London in around 50 minutes but you can use public transport via train to Cheltenham then bus 48 or X10. We stopped off on the way home for a drink at the George and Dragon pub in Wanstead.
“Civica election services,London N81 1ER”
Fingers crossed!
There was a nice mix of presentations, Q&As and small group work. It was very clear that the presentation team were very experienced and competent.
After lunch there was the inevitable Group photograph with us all and our new Labour Mayoral Candidate, Forhad Hussain, local MPs Sir Stephen Timms, James Asser, Uma Kumaran and Unmesh Desai AM. Photos - no doubt will follow.
Then Forhad gave a short, well received speech outlining who he was, why he is in politics and what he is determined to achieve for Newham if elected.
Next we were taken out in small groups with a tutor to actually go out and practice what we had learnt. Each of the Group took turns to brief the team, on what to do when out campaigning, then each lead us for 10 minutes "running the board" (leading and directing the team and inputting feedback online via their phone).
It got very, very wet towards the end but despite the rain it did not "put a damper on" a really positive day. Tomorrow we finish the course with an "online session".
Today I travelled from East London to Fenlands to help hold a lunch time union surgery for members in my employer's regional office. We had another Clarion rep, regional officer and local branch secretary to speak to members and staff about their issues and their concerns.
We were talking about what our pay claim should be for the year, inadequate expenses, pending scary restructures, grading unfairness, proposed changes to working arrangements, resulting safety concerns, equalities, fairness and how to provide better service to our residents.
These are the basic, bread and butter union issues, that Christina believes in, and wants the union to deliver on for members.
If you have not got your Ballot paper then the Ballot helpline opens on 0800 0 857 857 Mon-Fri 6am – Midnight, Sat 9am-4pm BUT IT CLOSES AT NOON TOMORROW 19 November.
The ballot closes next Tuesday 25 November at 5pm so to be on the safe side vote by 22 November at the very latest.
I was to the point that while I recognise that political debate can be rough, the sheer hypocrisy of the Newham Greens is simply breath taking. They very "angrily" criticise Newham for not building more homes but when I check their party record while they were in power in Brighton, in 7 years they only built 497 homes while in the last 7 (actually 4) years Newham has built 1662 homes (more of course are needed).
More than 3x than they built when they were in power in a much richer council! Thankfully now the Greens have been kicked out of power in Brighton by voters due to their incompetence.
Hat tip pics to yet another John.
Afterwards I finished off my visit to the historic dockyard in Portsmouth (see earlier post) during which I visited HMS Warrior (built in 1860 by East London Iron workers, who later formed what became West Ham FC). See the photo in bottom right of collage of the pay differentials between the Captain of the Warrior and ordinary seaman. It was about 20x as much per day.
Pretty shocking but certainly a lot less than the current West Ham FC football player gets today compared to average Newham residents wages nowadays.
I then toured the bombardment ship HMS M33 (centre) which is one of only 3 British ships to survive from World War One. It first served in the Gallipoli campaign, which my Grandfather, also took part in and as I clambered over the ship, I wondered if at the time he had seen it or heard its guns in action.
Next I visited the National Naval museum followed by another boat tour to the Submarine museum at Gosport and did a quick tour of the second world war sub HMS Alliance, the first ever British sub HMS Holland and the museum.
I missed out on the Explosion and Firepower Museum and boat trip. Next time...
It was a blue walk ("modest length, likely to include some modest uphill walking") from Jarrold, Ordnance Survey, Pathfinder series: book 12 "Hampshire and the New Forest". The weather was very kind and it was a lovely quiet walk through fields, lanes, woods, streams and a Roman Road. Overlooking Portsdown Hill and the historic "Palmerston's folly" Fort Widley.
There was also the largest "Solar panel" farm I have ever seen and we even walked past a "Wanstead Farm" (many, many miles away from Wanstead flats which starts across the road from us).
Very good free parking, benches to change footwear and WC facilities at the start in the car park at Purbrook Heath. Nearest public transport Purbrook.
Check out further photos on https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=732243433&sk=grid
Followed by a visit to HMS Victory which was covered in scaffolding due to a major refurbishment but was still fascinating. Due to the works there was an in person guided group tour which was also very good. Some of the party were visibly shocked at the cramped, smelly, dark, dangerous, living and working conditions that the sailors had to endure.
Next was a visit to the remains of the Tudor warship, the Mary Rose. Which also seizes the imagination, especially the exhibits of personal belongings of the lost lost sailors.
I finished that day with a visit to the Victory Gallery (museum) and returned on Sunday to see the other attractions.
ALL unison members including the retired can vote.
Just put a cross against the name (Christina please!), put the ballot paper in the free Stamped Address Envelope and pop into any Royal Mail letter box.
Take part in the most important UNISON election which is probably one of the biggest individual elections in UK. Some 1.3 million ballot papers have been issued.
The walk was gentle with a few ups and downs, mostly on good paths. Along the way, we spotted herds of deer, plenty of red kites, and lots of unseasonal ladybirds! There was a cafe at the start and a pub waiting for us at the end.
I’ll share more pictures on Facebook. Check link for route
By coincidence the area chosen was one I had been to previously in 2022 and it was an estate owned by 2 housing associations, L&Q and Sovereign Network. Shaban's ward colleague, Rita had a work commitment and could not make it.
The canvass was largely very positive and Shaban was well known in the estate as an active Councillor, and being born and bred in Canning Town and as a local shopkeeper.
There was a refurbishment scheme going on which was causing problems and concerns to residents which generated a lot of case work.
I am always interested in Housing communal notice boards and L&Q seemed better than Sovereign but I noticed that their estate inspections seemed over due, but at least they were publicised unlike Sovereign. Sovereign was also criticised by residents for not responding to emails. Newham Housing has I admit very similar issues.
As Labour Group Chair I am planning to visit all Newham wards in the next few months.
