Coombe Hill & Chequers Walk 2018 (& 2004)

Off message: Gill and I went for this fantastic 8 mile autumnal walk last Sunday in the Chilterns. The weather was incredibly warm and sunny for the time of year. Many trees were still remarkably green which I put down to the unusual hot summer we have had this year.

The walk starts in Wendover, Buckinghamshire. It took us about 55 minutes to drive from Forest Gate. There is also a railway station in the village with trains to London.

The first part of the walk is up Coombe Hill to the summit, where there is a monument to local Buckinghamshire soldiers, who were killed during the Boer War in South Africa 1899-1902. One of the first memorials to be erected not to honour famous Generals and military victories but to remember the names of all the ordinary soldiers who died.  The panoramic views from the top are magnificent.

Next is a rather steep walk down to the road and then walk across fields (top left of collage). Due to a failure to read instructions properly, we walked up the rather steep Beacon Hill instead of around it. It was however a great place to stop to have lunch and enjoy the views.

After this some very pleasant wood and hillside walking which took us alongside the country estate of British Prime Ministers, Chequers. See its main entrance gates in top top right of college. I have no idea if the current Prime Minister was in residence at the time. She is also a walker and I would have loved to have bumped into her to give her the benefit of my views on Brexit (and other things)

After Chequers we stopped off for some chocolate ice cream at a farm shop then continued into the famous beautiful and peaceful Chiltern woods. The paths through the woods are a little confusing but we managed to make it without getting too lost.

We ended up back at Wendover and it took just over 4 hours to complete the walk. We stopped off for a drink outside the "Shoulder of Mutton" pub.

We have done this favourite walk a few times now over the years but will always remember our walk in 2004, when we went with a number of Tower Hamlets UNISON trade union comrades, while training for the 3 Peaks challenge (walking up and down the three largest mountains in Scotland, England and Wales within 24 hours). See the group picture outside the "Shoulder of Mutton" from 2004 and behind me is my friend, George Woznicki, who sadly is no longer with us. A fantastic trade unionist, housing worker, father and husband who is much missed. 

"Bloody Poles, coming over here, protecting our women and children"

Least we forget the many Polish fighters who were killed, burnt, disfigured and injured defending our country in our hour of need. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No._303_Polish_Fighter_Squadron.

Remembering as always, a good friend of mine and UNISON comrade, the son of Polish fighter who fought in the British Army for our freedom against fascism and who was one of many who later settled in East London. RIP George (Jerzy).

Hat tip Mark Rayner and Hope Not Hate.

The Modern Day WI Harmonies: Paint balling, Squad Biking...Jam and Knitting

This is a good news story for a change, tempered by a tinge of sadness.  This morning I was listening to the "Today" radio programme interview "live on air" a new group of female singers.  The singers are aptly called "The Harmonies" and they are all members of the Women's Institute (WI).  It is still the largest voluntary organisation for women in the UK with 205,000 members. 

As part of a process to update the image of the WI, the organisation had encouraged the formation of this group of their members who do not conform to the perceived stereotype of WI members.  In the interview "The Harmonies" obvious enthusiasm about the paint balling, squad biking, blogging and twittering which they get up to as WI members came over as clear as their appreciation of traditional WI Jam and knitting traditions.

I recognised one of the singers, Gemma Woznicki, (5th right) as the daughter of a Tower Hamlets comrade - a staunch UNISON steward, anti-fascist and Labour Party loyalist, George Woznicki, who very sadly is no longer with us.

You can listen to Gemma and her friends being interviewed on "Today" and hear them sing "It's a wonderful world" from their new album which you can pre-order here.  It was a joy to hear. Later they were interviewed on BBC breakfast TV - check this link.

Labour Friends of Poland Leaflet (page one)

This is interesting. It is page one of a leaflet put out by Labour Friends of Poland.  I'll post the second page another day. 

Double click to bring up detail.

It does make me remember my good friend and comrade Jerzy (George)  Woznicki

UPDATE: BTW - Only ignorant bigots would try and make cheap political points out of this post.


Below is the Polish translation.

Przewodniczący: Mark Lazarowicz MP, Wiceprzewodniczący: Stephen Pound MP, Sekretarz: Wiktor Moszczyński, Skarbnik: Dr Alan Whitehead MP

Drogi wyborco!

To na którą partię będzisz głosował w nadchodzących wyborach samorządowych i parlamentarnych jest bardzo ważne. Dla wyborców, dla których istotna jest pozycja Wielkiej Brytanii w Europie oraz sytuacja ciężkopracujących i przedsiębiorczych imigrantów z Polski

PARTIA PRACY JEST WŁAŚCIWYM WYBOREM
Wiele prawicowych gazet i polityków kreśli portret polskich pracowników mających negatywny wpływ na brytyjską ekonomię – natomiast Partia Pracy akcentuje pozytywny wkład polskich migrantów i przedsiębiorców do gospodarki na wyspach.

Partia Pracy jest jedyną partią, która trwale wspierała wejście Polski do Unii Europejskiej i zagwarantowanie polskim imigrantom minimalnej stawki płacy – przeciwnie niż Partia Konserwatywna.

Zarówno rząd Partii Pracy, jak i związki zawodowe, takie jak UNISON i GMB starają się zapewnić lepsze warunki dla nowoprzybyłych imigrantów i ich rodzin oraz wsparcie dla różnych społeczności.

Na pomoc rządową oraz tę zapewnioną przez związki zawodowe składają się:

• Infolinia na temat stawek płacy i praw pracownków 0800 917 2368 – pod tym numerem możesz uzyskać porady na temat minimalnej stawki płacy, limitu czasu pracy, praw pracowników agencji pracy, nielegalnych organizacji i minimum stawki płacy w rolnictwie – to ważne problemy dla nowoprzybyłych imigrantów z Europy Wschodniej, którzy mogą być podatni na wyzysk www.payandworkrightscampaign.direct.gov.uk

• Broszura informacyjna UNISON dla pracowników z Europy Wschodniej – dostępne w języku angielskim i polskim http://www.unison.org.uk/migrantworkers/newsletter003.asp

• Angielski dla Ciebie 0845 355 0845 – darmowy kurs dla członków UNISON. Unia również pokrywa koszty podróży do szkoły językowej i zwraca pieniądze wydane na opiekę nad dziećmi/podopiecznymi uczestnikom kursu. 

Benefit night in memory of George Woznicki and Colin Clark

Benefit night in memory of our former colleagues George Woznicki and Colin Clark

Saturday 5th December 2009
8 P.M. onwards at Exmouth TRA Hall, Exmouth Street, London E1 OPW
Tickets £20
Includes Buffet & Raffle
(All proceeds go to Macmillan)

For tickets please email via the "about me" section of this blog and I will pass on contact details. George and Colin use to work in the same Tower Hamlets Housing Estate office and both of them sadly died prematurely of cancer. This superb benefit night is being organised by their former colleagues John (not me), Sarah and Jenny. Well done to all of them! It should make us all think of our lost comrades but also be a good night out and raise lots of money for an important cause. This is the true East End at its very, very best!

Lyn Brown MP NHS Constituency meeting

This morning I went down to Southern Primary School in Plaistow to help Lyn and her Parliamentary staff with the latest Constituency meeting.

Lyn was there with local councillors, the Finance director of Newham PCT Satjit Singh and a medical “health MOT” team. A number of local party members also attended to help out.

I had my usual extremely important role as deputy chief tea and coffee maker (and principal biscuit eater).

Local residents had been invited by Lyn to attend and discuss the health service provision in the area. Residents were shown to tables and while they were waiting were offered the chance to have height, weight, blood pressure and blood sugar "MOT" tests as well as lifestyle and diet advice.

Lyn with a note taker and Satjit went from table to table. Listening into the conversations it would appear that residents are generally content with PCT services (Primary Care Trust – Newham General Hospital etc) but some local Newham GPs' ears should have been burning. The majority of GPs were clearly (I thought) highly respected.

By coincidence an old friend Sue had turned up to support a local resident who had formed a new support group in Newham for those who had suffered bereavement. It sounds like a really valuable and important initiative which I will post on further when I get details. Her husband George was a good friend and comrade who died tragically in 2007. It is inspiring (but in character) that she has used her experiences to want to help others.

Birthday Night Out at Matchmakers

Last night we went out to celebrate George Woznicki’s birthday with beer and a curry. Sadly, George, who was a good comrade and fellow trade unionist, is no longer with us.

We started off with a toast to George (see below) at the Matchmakers in Roman Road, E2. The pub is named after the huge Bryant and May factory which is just a few hundred yards away. This was the scene of the famous “Match Girls strike” of 1888. The strike was about appalling health & safety, poor pay and excessive “fines”. By coincidence on Monday it is the start of European Health and Safety Week (I’ll post separately about this). At the time it was a famous victory. The socialist reformer Annie Besant lived locally and helped support the strike. There is a nice housing estate near by named after her.

The Bryant & May buildings have now been turned into expensive flats, a so called “gated community”.

I doubt that many of its modern day residents frequent the “Matchmaker” on a Friday night, which is a pity since its cheap prices make for an interesting cliental.

Eventually we finished off in the Bengal Classic in Westferry, E14 – top nosh. George would have loved it.

Gone but not forgotten: George Woznicki

Today it is a year since George (Jerzy) Woznicki died of cancer aged 44.

George was a dedicated UNISON shop steward and safety rep.

He is sorely missed and we still find it hard to believe he has gone. On the 18 October it is his birthday and on the Friday afterwards a few of us will celebrate his birthday in the usual manner (beer and curry).

Our thoughts today are with his wife, Sue and their children, Eddie and Gemma.

Here is my tribute to George at the time.

George Woznicki – A Tribute

I would like to say a few words about George, from the perspective of someone who felt himself privileged to call George a friend, but also a work colleague and a fellow activist in the trade union UNISON.

George’s best friend, however, without a shadow of doubt, is his wife Susan. His friendship and love for Susan and his children, Eddie and Gemma, was obvious to anyone who knew him.

However, George also had many, many other friends. This was because he was compassionate, like able, funny, generous and very, very honest (sometimes too honest). But also he was loyal.

All of his friends will miss him.

George also cared about his work with the Council. Whether as a caretaker, a Housing Patrol officer or finally as a repairs inspector. He really believed in the concept of public service; and working hard for the people of Tower Hamlets. He did not like letting people down or people receiving poor quality or shoddy services.

George was also passionate about his role as UNISON trade union Steward and Safety Rep and was always prepared to fight other people’s battles. There are a lot of people who are very grateful to him for his courage and kindness.

My most vivid memory of George is when during the last local Council election, George and I, were part of Unison team, distributing anti-British National Party leaflets amongst some non-lifted residential blocks in Mile End and Globe Town ward.

We got separated from the rest of the team and in a cul-de-sac; we came across a group of BNP skinheads delivering their leaflets of hate.

George or rather Jerzy (pronounced Eu-rik) was of course the Slavic son of a Polish emigre. Remember, the fascists use to describe the Poles as being a “slave race”; George strode up to the BNP, stood his ground and starred them out, standing proud and contemptuous.

They walked around him without saying a word and quickly disappeared. Ironically one reason why the present day representatives of the so-called “master race” didn’t cause any trouble; was because they were so obviously knackered from walking up and down the communal stairs!

However, George was also an “individual” and a free thinker. He was proud to call himself a Socialist, while at the same time fondly recalling his service as a London rifleman in the Territorial Army.

Today, those of us who were honoured to know him, pay tribute and mourn him. Later today in Bow we will also begin to celebrate his life. However, now I want to say on behalf of all of us is - goodbye George: Sue’s beloved husband, Eddie & Gemma’s beloved Daddy, a beloved Brother, our friend, my mate, my Comrade. Goodbye George.

Finally, a very short poem by Joyce Grenfell, which I think George would have thought appropriate today.

Its Title is: -

Life Goes On

If I should go before the rest of you
Break not a flower
Nor inscribe a stone
Nor when I am gone
Speak in a Sunday voice
But be the usual selves
That I have known

Weep if you must
Parting is hell
But life goes on
So .... sing as well

Goodbye.