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December 2012 • Issue 8

Ready for Winter?

Christmas ClosureThe Age UK Colchester Office will be closed from 4 pm onFriday 21 December and will reopen at 9 am on Wednesday

2 January 2013.

Winter Fuel PaymentsThe Winter Fuel Payment is a tax freepayment to help older people keep warmduring winter.

If you were born on or before 5 January1951 you may qualify.

Energy and ConsumerAdvice

For advice on energy suppliers and the‘best deals’ then contact Age UKColchester on 01206 368420

Colchester Borough CouncilWarm Homes

We provide information and help toimprove cold, damp housing withinColchester Borough.

Seasonal flu jabs – getyours now!

Now is the time to consider having a flujab for this winter. The Department ofHealth recommends that everyone whois eligible should arrange to have it doneas soon as the vaccine is available.

When incapacity strikes an adult in England andWales the Banks and Building Societies etc areobliged to follow The Mental Capacity Act 2005.This means that no one, including your spouse,is allowed access to your assets and accounts(even those held jointly) in the individual’s name.Once instructions have been taken for an LPAand it has been signed it is then registered withThe Office of the Public Guardian (OPG). TheOPG will check that all the information you have

provided is correct and that attorneys are legiti-mate and have agreed to act on your behalf.One of the benefits of registering your LPA withthe OPG is that they will investigate any allega-tions of abuse and that any improper manage-ment will be acted upon.This article has been brought to you by SachaTiller of Age Legal Services. For any adviceinvolving Estate Planning call: 01206 820638 oremail: sacha@agelegalservices.com

Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPA)…do you know the facts?

Other than a Will, an LPA is one of the most importantdocuments that every adult should have. LPA’s come in

two parts, Part 1 – Property & Finance enables you to nominatefriends or family to manage your day to day expenses,when youare no longer able to. For example due to the onset ofdementia, a stroke, accident or simply older age. Part 2 – LPAHealth and Welfare enables you to discuss with your family

your preferences for medical treatment and how you wish to be cared for whilst athome, hospital or in residential care.

The letters stand for the name of a Christmascarol or song. For example O.L.T.O.B = OLittle Town Of Bethlehem. The answers areon page 7

1. W.W.Y.A.M.C2. L.D3. O.C.A.Y.F4. S.N5. T.F.N6. H.T.H.A.S7. O.I.R.D.C8. D.D.M.O.H9. J.B10. R.T.R.N.R11. W.C

12. G.K.W13. T.H.A.T.I

14. A.I.A.M15. W.T.K

16. T.T.D.O.C17. A.F.T.R.O.G

18. O.C.O.C.E19. D.T.H.W.B.O.H

20. G.R.Y.M.G21. W.S.W.T.F.B.N

22. I.C.U.A.M.C23. G.C.M.R

24. I.S.M.K.S.C25. C.R.O.A.O.F

Are you wrapped up this winter?

It’s that time of year again ....... the temperatures go down and utilitycompanies are announcing that gas and electricity prices are going up.

What can we suggest?Age UK , as part of its Spread The Warmth Campaign, has issued its Winter Wrapped UpGuide which contains thermometers to monitor room temperatures and is full of helpfulhints and contact numbers of different agencies. Save Energy, Pay Less is another guidefull of information about heating, insulation and utilities. Free copies of both are availableat the Age UK Colchester office at George Street, Colchester or can be ordered free on0800 169 65 65.Our top tip this year is to check that your house insulation is up to the latest quality standardwhile free funding for this still remains. If you have 65 mm or less of insulation at themoment you may be eligible to have installation fitted free to the latest standard of 270mm.The Warm Homes Project at Colchester Borough Council (01206 282541) will be able toinform you of the companies offering this. Free cavity wall insulation may also be available.This offer is due to end soon so do apply directly. The Government`s Warm Front schemewhich can provide grants for boiler and other heating improvements in certain situationsis also due to come to an end in early 2013. Further information can be obtained from theWarm Homes Project.Do you have problems with utility bills or do you want to switch companies for a betterdeal? Our Energy Advice Manager, Edward Pentney, may be able to assist you. Just ringour office on 01206 368420 to make an appointment.Almost everybody born before 6 July 1951 should receive a Winter Fuel Payment for thewinter of 2012/13. If you`ve received it before, you should get the payment automatically.However if this is the first year that you`re eligible, contact the Winter Fuel Paymentshelpline on 0845 915 1515.If you receive Pension Credit, you may be entitled to a discount on your electricity bill.This is being offered by some utility companies but not all and is called the Warm HomeDiscount. The companies should be contacting their customers direct.And lastly, looking on the bright side if the weather deteriorates, those who receive PensionCredit or certain other benefits, will automatically receive a Cold Weather Payment whenthe temperature is at freezing or below for seven days in a row.

Lin Roberts, Information Manager, Age UK Colchester

In the summer, after many months of rehearsal,I had the privilege of being one of nearly 1,000Pandemonium Drummers during the OpeningCeremony of the London Olympics. I banged myup-turned bucket wearing dirty clothes (noexpense spared!) during the Industrial Revolutionscene at the start of the main ceremony, for 15minutes, whilst that amazing transformation froma green and pleasant land to a hard, smokeylandscape unfolded. Continued page 6

Age UK Colchester’s

Chair of our Trustees, Mr Robert Needham is alsothe Chairman of The Ancient & Honourable Guildof Town Criers. The Guild was contacted byorganisers at the Olympic Village to see if athletescould be introduced to aspects of ‘olde England’Consequently, three representatives of the Guildwere engaged at the opening and closingceremonies of both the Modern and ParalympicGames. The Criers were asked to mingle withAthletes in the dining hall prior to each ceremony.They also had the pleasure of assisting inmarshalling teams from the Olympic Villageen-route to the stadium. Robert said “ Quite apartfrom the fantastic opportunity to be alongside somany wonderful people, the atmosphere in theOlympic Village was electric. I will rememberthose days for a long time to come”

Robert Needham

Robert is pictured with fellow Town Criersand Olympic Rower Matthew Pincent

Amanda Arnold

David Wheal

Amanda Arnold at the Opening Ceremony

David Wheal with Paralymic Silver MedalistHwa Sook Lee of South Korea

Olympic Stars

Gamesmakers were employed behind the scenesas well as at competition venues. I was assignedto the transport team and based at an hotel inPark Lane in Mayfair where the OlympicPresident and other senior members were stayingand where they held their business meetings.This included Heads of State (including royalty)and chairs of specific sports federations and otherkey organisations. My job was to ensure aconstant supply of official cars to take them tocompetition venues and other places and toensure they were getting the right vehicle for theirvenue otherwise they could end up in the wrongplace and miss their event or medal ceremony.The official cars were emblazoned with theLondon 2012 logo and many of the passinggeneral public were keen to have their photostaken next to the cars and I ended up taking manyphotos for them. Some even tried to get photoswith the Olympic celebrities. It was all very goodhumoured and great fun. I do not suppose I willdo anything quite like it ever again.

Pat Nichols

Christine Clark

David Wheal, the Centres and Admin Managerat Globe House, was a Paralympic EventServices Team Gamesmaker based at the RoyalArtillery Barracks in Woolwich where theParalympic Archery and Shooting took place.Being an open air site, and despite getting wet onthe first day, the weather could not have beenbetter.Dave did a variety of tasks including checkingtickets, showing people to their seats, answeringall the amazing questions the public were asking,taking photos of spectators and even met PrinceDaniel of Sweden.The athletes were very inspiring and he was ableto watch a lot of the action including the archerwho used his feet to compete. Continued page6

Christine Clark, one of our `Catch the Mouse'computer tutors, was a Technology Gamesmaker.She was based at Hadleigh Farm in Essex wherethe Mountain Biking was held.  She was with asmall group attached to Omega, the timingspecialists, and her group was in charge oftransponders.  These are radio devices that areattached to each bike.  They have a unique idcode and when the bike passes the start/finish

Continued page 6

Christine Clark at Hadleigh Farm

Pat Nichols in her Gamesmaker uniform

Amanda Arnold …To be a part of that very poignant “poppy” moment when we remembered the fallen, and thenastonished as the five golden rings were forged in front of our eyes, was an unforgettable experience.It was a very special 15 or so minutes when the whole world was watching us and we wereconcentrating so hard on the beat after many months of rehearsal in pouring rain and bleaching sun.After momentous applause we dashed off and changed to come back for the Athletes Parade whereI was a marshall, holding hands for nearly two hours trying to keep 10,000 athletes in order! Thefinale was like being right in the middle of a huge fireworks display and then we partied around themagnificent Olympic cauldron after everyone had left the Stadium.In the closing ceremony I was back again as a marshall, wearing one of the blue bowler hats witha light bulb in the top, in the midst of a fantastic concert celebrating with the athletes. We wereallowed to keep our props and three costumes, a drum, sticks and harness, and were also givenOpening and Closing Ceremony programmes with our names in, a certificate from Danny Boyle, aletter from the Prime Minister and made many new friends from the ceremonies, who continue tomeet up and perform – if you hear drumming near you, do not be afraid!!

Christine Clarke …line or other timing points, the lap time and the racing position can be ascertained.She and one other colleague had the job of attaching the right transponder to the right bike, in thepresence of the athlete or their coach, and getting a signature from the athlete or coach to say thatit had been done correctly.  She and a few more colleagues were then positioned around the siteto collect the transponders when the rider was finished (not always at the finish line).  So she waslucky that she got to meet most of the athletes, the racing was very good and the weather could nothave been better.Christine didn't win a place on the Mall in the Gamemaker ballot for the parade but she still went intoLondon in her uniform. She ended up near St Paul's on Ludgate Hill, right on the kerbside so therewas nothing between her and the floats and she was very close.  She got lots of thank you's or winksfrom the athletes.  Then, behind the floats, a lot of the Gamesmakers had joined in and she waspulled from the crowd by them and they paraded all the way to Charing Cross.  She said that it wasamazing that so many people were waving and cheering them.  Some of the volunteer performerswere at the end too with their plastic bucket drums.  She said that it was great fun.

David Wheal …All were very happy to pose with the public for photos and sign autographs. Dave had his picturetaken with Hwa Sook Lee of South Korea just after she had won a Silver Medal in the Archery. Davewas quite surprised how big and heavy the medals were.Among his highlights were meeting Mandeville, Sweden's Paralympic rifle champion JonasJacobsson, while getting a picture with his Gold Medal and watching Danielle Brown and Mel Clarkeof ParalympicsGB winning Gold and Silver in the archery.Daviv recently received a letter from David Cameron thanking him (and the other 70,000Gamesmakers) for his contribution to making the Games great.

The Battle of Stalingrad was a major anddecisive battle of World War II in which NaziGermany and its allies fought the Soviet Unionfor control of the city of Stalingrad in thesouthwestern Soviet Union. The battle took placebetween 23 August 1942 and 2 February 1943and was marked by constant close-quarterscombat, and lack of regard for military andcivilian casualties. It is among the bloodiestbattles in the history of warfare, with the higherestimates of combined casualties amounting tonearly two million. The heavy losses inflicted onthe German army made it a significant turningpoint in the whole war. After the Battle ofStalingrad, German forces never recovered theirearlier strength, and attained no further strategicvictories in the East.The German offensive to capture Stalingradcommenced in late summer 1942, and wassupported by intensive Luftwaffe bombing thatreduced much of the city to rubble. The Germanoffensive eventually became mired in building-to-building fighting; and despite controlling nearlyall of the city at times, the Wehrmacht wasunable to dislodge the last Soviet defendersclinging tenaciously to the west bank of the VolgaRiver.On 19 November 1942, the Red Army launchedOperation Uranus, a two-pronged attacktargeting the weak Romanian and Hungarianforces protecting the 6th Army's flanks. After

The Battle of Stalingrad

heavy fighting, the weakly held Axis flankscollapsed and the 6th Army was cut off andsurrounded inside Stalingrad. As the Russianwinter set in, the 6th Army weakened rapidlyfrom cold, starvation and ongoing Soviet attacks.Command ambiguity coupled with Adolf Hitler'sresolute belief in their will to fight furtherexacerbated the German predicament.Eventually, the failure of outside German forcesto break the encirclement, coupled with thefailure of re-supplying by air, led to the finalcollapse. By the beginning of February 1943,Axis resistance in Stalingrad had ceased and theremaining elements of the 6th Army had eithersurrendered or been destroyed.

Russian troops retake Stalingrad

Name that Christmas Tune Answers1. We wish you a Merry Christmas; 2. LittleDonkey; 3. O Come all Ye Faithful; 4. SilentNight; 5. The First Nowell; 6. Hark the HeraldAngels Sing; 7. Once in Royal David’s City; 8.Ding Dong Merrily on High; 9. Jingle Bells; 10.Rudolph, the Red Nosed Reindeer; 11. WhiteChristmas; 12. Good King Wencelas; 13. TheHolly and the Ivy; 14. Away in a Manger; 15. WeThree Kings; 16. The Twelve Days of Christmas;17. Angels from the Realms of Glory; 18. O Come,O Come Emmanuel; 19. Deck the Hall withBoughs of Holly; 20. God Rest Ye MerryGentlemen; 21. While Shepherds Watched TheirFlocks by Night; 22. It Came Upon a MidnightClear; 23. Good Christian Men Rejoice; 24. ISaw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus; 25. ChestnutsRoasting on an Open Fire

Although the winter months may not be the idealtime to go out walking Derek Keeble hasproduced some more walks that you may wish totry when the weather improves in the Spring.

In addition to a walk from Aldham to WestBergholt, Derek has now produced one fromLangenhoe to Rowhedge and another from

Dedham to Lawford.

Copies of the walks areavailable from the Age UKColchester Office or you candownload them from the AgeUK Colchester website(www.ageuk.org.uk/colchester)

Our aim is simple: to help everyone makethe most of later life. We believe that oldage should be valued. That choice isimportant through life. And we believe inyour right to stay independent as long aspossible.

So, volunteers give practical support. Wehave expert information and advice youcan rely on; and we will campaign for yourrights.

Globe House, 6 George StreetColchester, CO1 1TP

Phone: 01206 368420Fax: 01206 500984Email: info@ageukcolchester.org.ukWeb: www.ageukcolchester.org.uk

Age UK Colchester is a registered charity (Registered Charity No. 1142414)and company limited by guarantee. Registered in England and Wales No

7517777. Registered Office: 6 George Street, Colchester, CO1 1TP.

CHRISTMAS CARDSHow curious is the Christmas card;

Victorian inventionTo celebrate the birth of Christ,

Who scarcely gets a mention.

But see these sentimental scenesWith bogus Yule-logs glowing,

And solemn robins wondering whyFor them it's always snowing.

So once again, perennial chore,We'll post our printed greeting,

And tick the everlasting list,Mechanically repeating.

Until we reach a name we love,Through death, alas, deleted -

Or one who sent no card last yearAnd made us feel quite cheated!

For friendships are reciprocal;We must be systematic:

They sent a card, we’ll send one back -It’s neat and democratic

And cards for folk we never seeAre sent with no misgiving:

Just once a year, a signed receiptTo show that we're still living!

You're right, old Scrooge, there's humbug here!But, still, it's not too tragic:

We'll shuffle multi-coloured cards,Entranced by Christmas magic!

Arnold Kellett