back to menuNfCG Chairman Marie Jennings invited several Bath Group Committee members over for a chat. Led by Jenny Sutherland, and including Ron and Nora, a couple involved since the formation of the Group, they hired a mini bus for the evening and travelled up to Bisley.
Firstly it was agreed that the NfCG Conference had been a success. It was interesting and informative, at a very pleasant venue and, most importantly, it offered an opportunity to socialise with members of other Groups and Individual Members, to exchange views and experiences in a way which is not possible at a one-day Conference.
When asked of their concerns, the usual topics came up — Transport, Litter, Access to local shops and amenities and Consultation. A local monopoly in Bath means buses are expensive and infrequent. Local MEP Caroline Jackson has agreed to speak at a Group meeting, so European issues will be debated.
Members are involved in various local consultation groups and are often asked for opinions. Jenny was confident that the Group is given authority not only by the membership, but also because those members have affiliated links with many others — such local groups as the Standing Conference of Women’s Groups, Townswomen’s Guild, U3A and Disabled groups, for instance.
Bath Group takes much interest in food and they have been involved from the beginning in the setting up of a Farmers Market which is supported by the Local Authority and Sainsburys.
The evening was certainly enjoyable and provided a good airing of consumer views. Our thanks to Marie for her invitation and also for her kind hospitality.
NfCG Vice President Cynthia McDowall is Chairman of the East Midlands Airport Users’ Committee and asks anyone who is a user of the Airport to let her know what they think of it! Contact: webster@ncf.info but addressed to Cynthia McDowall
Apple growers, says a press release from the English Apple Campaign, are expecting a bumper harvest this year with top-quality fruit. Some of the best and most popular apples in the world are English, and they have evolved to suit the English palate, with flavour as well as crunch! Supermarkets will be selling a wider range of English apples than ever before, so look out for the ever popular Cox varieties but also Jupiter and Jonagold.
Despite the Press Release the Editor's local Safeway stocked one English and three imported varieties of eating apples in late September. There are hundreds of English varieties which the supermarkets will not buy - there is a limit to what they can sell - but which are equally delicious. Look out for them at orchard shops and markets and support the Great English Apple Campaign.
I thought it went off very well and I was able to meet many old friends and make some new ones. The Derwent College staff were helpful and acted quickly when one of the residential blocks was deprived of hot water.
Having listened to Professor Nuttgens at the pre-Conference Dinner talking about how the University was designed and arranged (good food and a bar in each college) I had a critical look at the architecture. I liked the water treatment in and around Derwent College but, in general, I thought the architecture undistinguished.
It is with great sadness that I have to report the death, after a short illness, of Geoffrey Philpotts, founder Chairman of Exeter and District Consumer Group.
He was an electrical engineer but seems to have spent most of his working life lecturing, becoming head of Engineering and Science at Exeter College and Project Director in Devon for the then new Technical and Vocational Education Initiative.
He was also a very keen supporter of Scouting and became County Commissioner for Devon, gaining the Silver Wolf Award, one of Scouting's top honours.
Thank you for sending me very interesting contributions. May I ask those who type them out using a computer to send me theirs on floppy disk as well as in hard copy. With a bit of luck I shall be able to read them and it will save me a lot of typing. I use Word for Windows.
As ever, please send contributions for the next issue to me at No 6 Priory Gardens, Dartford, Kent. DA1 2BE, or fax them to 01322 280673 e-mail to editor@ncf.info
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