DEAR ALL:

This is a quick update on recent progress.

The Executive Committee met at the Waterloo Hotel in London, earlier this month and reviewed the Draft Report which had been prepared by the Secretary General, following months of research into the history of Service Pensions, going back to the beginning of the last century.

You will be interested to know that, during the course of his research, he had discovered that there had been no Parliamentary referrals to Service Pensions since 1939! When he drew this to the attention of the Government, a special order was included in the 2005 legislation.

You will have been delighted to see that the Government finally conceded and agreed to their responsibilities for the pensions of retired members of the Ghurkhas, but only for those whose service dated from 1997, when we left Hong Kong! So continue to watch this space.

Myself and your Treasurer (Michael Kennedy) met with about 100 other representatives of various Veterans' Associations at the MOD in December to listen to a lot of blah, blah from the Minister (Derek Twigg). However, the real benefit was in meeting the other representatives who want copies of our report, when it is finalised, in order to pressurise Ministers and MPs, accordingly. Interestingly, I met a member who had taken part in "The Great Escape" from WWII (refraining from asking if he had met Steve McQueen!).

From my own point of view, I have had the unexpected surprise of being in touch (through one of our members) with the First Officer of my Father's ship (HMS Onslow - Arctic Convoys) - together they fought fires on the ship when it suffered damage during the Battle of The Barents Sea in 1942. The ship's battle flag and the full story can be found in a village church in Oxton, Nottinghamshire, in memory of the Captain, Vincent Sherbrooke VC (later Rear Admiral), who received his award as a result of his successes in that battle. Sorry to go on, but it makes this job all the more worthwhile.

With VERY BEST WISHES to you and your family, this Christmas season, and many thanks for your continued support throughout the year.

Kindest regards.

CHRIS WATKIN BA; CertEd; CeMAP
Chairman: CAFF UK
www.caffuk.co.uk
www.bowkerchapman.co.uk