Payments to AFPG Limited 8th DECEMBER 2009

You may be aware that an unofficial site is acting in respect of the collection of membership applications and the related fees. At present cheques MUST be made payable to AFPG Limited and MUST be sent to Mike Steel, "Bevryn", Helmsley Road, Rainworth, Nottinghamshire, NG21 0DG. (P O Box 8151 would still be OK). On no account should any monies be sent to Mr David Langham at 36 Dewsbury Road, Tingley, Wakefield, West Yorkshire, WF3 1LP.

The current confusion should be resolved after the adoption of the proposed "Memorandum of Association" and "Articles of Association" (Mem&Arts) are adopted at an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) and the Directors and Managers of AFPG are constitutionally established at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) that will follow on the same date as the EGM. In the meantime, please be assured that your current Directors are trying to resolve matters as quickly as possible and to do so in the best interests of the Membership and the Campaign.

Copies of the "Mem&Arts" have been sent by post to every Member together with their Membership number. It should be noted that they include a provision for a wider and more involved management with not less than 9 Directors. Each of us has the interests of the AFPG Campaign at heart. We believe that you feel likewise. It is therefore paramount for the Campaign and the members represented by ourselves and yourselves that further damage is limited. We have offered to discuss the way forward. We have written to each Member. Support for the continuing Campaign has been loudly expressed and for the responses we are grateful. The next step is up to you.

Yours sincerely
Mike Steel - miverost@ntlworld.com
Richard Putnam - putnamolddalby@aol.com
Nigel Lodge - nigel.lodge@btinternet.com

What’s new at AFPG? 3rd DECEMBER 2009

Over 700 of the membership have returned the survey form stating their preference for the 2010 AGM. There appears to be a majority in favour of a Midlands venue. We could have two meetings (one in each location). It is not normal for companies to do this. For us to do so would be complex and costly. However, AFPG is not normal. In the words of the Prime Minister – see his Foreword to Command Paper Cm 7424 – we (the Armed Forces, present and veterans) are “unique”.

Please, to those of you who have yet to respond. can we have your reply as soon as possible. Our next mail shot will be sent by email, except to those who have no email address. Our last postage, including printing, cost in the order of 70p per member. It was considered essential that every member should receive a printed copy of the revised Memorandum of Understanding and Articles of Association. Each of you is entitled to hear and to vote. The most important aspect of the ‘Mem & Arts’ is the expansion of the Directorate to a minimum of 9 and the formal adoption of Area Coordinators. These changes were proposed by and agreed at a meeting with Area Coordinators on 31st March 2009 which was called by Colin Challen MP. Colin is our ‘sponsor’ in the House of Commons. Early Day Motions (EDM) proposed by Colin have not yet achieved any change in our position. However, the EDM and the action taken by the AFPG membership by pressuring their MPs to give their support has created much greater awareness both in Parliament and through the media. In the final months of this Parliament we have the opportunity to again raise awareness of the legitimacy of our campaign – lest the current MPs should forget. For this session of Parliament the relevant EDM is number 185. Submitted by Colin Challen, it is the last opportunity in this Parliament to get a commitment to “Equality”. We should give Colin maximum support. Previously AFPG Members asked their MP to sign the EDM. This time our MPs must be pressed not only to sign but to commit, if there is an Adjournment Debate, to attending and giving vocal support. At the last Adjournment Debate, in 2007. only 4 people were in attendance. Our MPs should either commit to attend or state categorically why they will not do so.

Some of the “reasons” you will hear for rejecting our legitimate claim are:-

1. “The cost of an award is too high”;
2. “The number of possible claimants runs into millions”;
3. “Parliament does not ‘do’ retrospection” – that is to say ‘back-date claims’;
4. “If the right were granted every other public service department would claim.

. The FACTS are:-

1. Costs have only been subject of speculation by MoD/Treasury;
2. The number of possible claimants is less than a quarter of one million;
3. Who asked for “retrospection”? We have not. Justice will be served by “amending legislation” such that the justifiable pensions are paid from the date of the legislation to all of those who were eligible but for the arbitrary nature in which the 1973 Act was implemented.
4. We are “unique”, therefore the issue of other departments is a red-herring. The Prime Minister has confirmed our “uniqueness” and in this he is supported in the Command Paper Cm 7424, July 2008 by the then Secretary of State for Defence, Des Brown and by the then Minister of State for the Armed Forces, Bob Ainsworth. Also in the Foreword of CM7424 by Gordon Brown – “These obligations set them (Armed Forces) apart from others who serve and protect society”

Push these points, push them as hard as you can. Written responses from your MP are very useful, verbal promises are less so.

Current Situation within AFPG.

I and my fellow-Directors would like to comment, albeit briefly, on the current state for the AFPG Campaign. There are now 3500 members. Some 35 members attended a meeting at the House of Commons and supported by unconfirmed proxy votes elected to throw out the Directors – Mike Steel, Richard Putnam and Nigel Lodge. “New” Directors were appointed and they took it upon themselves to inform Companies House that Steel, Lodge and Putnam had been de-selected and that June Cavender, Richard Jeal and John Sykes had been appointed in their stead. We, who have been doing their best to administer AFPG until now, found the approach insensitive to say the least. Harsh words have been written and spoken.

The revised ‘Mem Arts’ is the way ahead. We need to act as one, not as currently where there are two Groups. The advice received by us is that the changes were unconstitutional. If taken to Court we would be proven correct. To do so would be most damaging. AFPG is open for business as usual. You may have to choose which Group to follow. You may wish to state your opinion to the effect that both parties should get together, return to the position as it was and meet on the basis of the revised ‘Mem & Arts’. Shortly you will be able to ‘google’ a parallel web-site - I have seen it. It is very presentable. However, it tells one no more than www.afpg.info. The ‘new Group’ is apparently running another bank account. It is essential that applications and payments for membership and/or goods should be sent to AFPG, PO Box 8151, Mansfield NG21 0ZA and cheques made out to AFPG Limited and not to any other address or bank account.

Please if you have any questions relating to this “Newsletter” contact us at nigel.lodge@btinternet.com or Mike Steel at miverost@ntlworld.com or Richard Putnam at putnamolddalby@aol.com

COVER LETTER TO 'MEM&ARTS' 12th NOVEMBER

In the cover letter to 'Mem&Arts'  dated 12th November 2009, the contact email address was incorrectly printed and should read:

EDEN CAMP - VETERANS PARADE & REMEMBRANCE SERVICE 13TH SEPTEMBER

The Veterans of all the Armed Forces, consisting of Gentlemen and Ladies of all ages, turned out in large numbers to attend the above event. Also in attendance were representatives of the Women's Land Army resplendent in their original uniforms, former members of the ARP and also the Home Guard.  Supporting the Veterans were serving members of many other associated groups - Sea Cadets - Territorial Army - Air Training Corps etc. You name it and they were there.
The estimates put the attendance at well over 1,500; a magnificent turnout by so very many proud personnel who had travelled from all over the North of England and many other areas of the country. Over 50 standard bearers from the Royal Britiish Legion, Navy, Army, Royal Air Force and associated organisations led a massive column of Veterans behind the Band of the Yorkshire Volunteers Regiment to the Parade Square in the afternoon for the Remembrance Service. Fittingly, but I think by coincidence as we stood in the Parade Square, Vulcan Bomber XH558 "Vulcan of the Sky" flew over us, a magnificent sight and raising the adrenalin for those of us who had the priviledge to have worked on these superb aircraft.
The AFPG wa represented by 23 members who succeeded in collecting over 700 more signatures to our Petitiion and I offer my sincere thanks to the Members who turned up on the day. Without active Members like these our efforts in fighting for Equality would be lost - so well done to all of you.
Finally, I  would like to pay tribute to the hospitality show by the Manager, Nick Hill, and all his kind and attentive staff who made our visit so comfortable and worthwhile. They did a brilliant job and cooked a fabulous tray of chips in the bargain!
Thank you Eden Camp - we will be back next year on 12th September
Brian Allinson - York Area Coordinator

LOCAL MEDIA - JULY 25th 2009

Brian Allinson (York coordinator) is pleased to announce success in securing support  of Local Media. Features have been published in The York Press and The Pocklington Post on 23rd July. Over the next week, Brian is hopeful that The Scarborough Evening News, The Bridlington Free Press, The Driffield Times/Post and The Malton & Pickering Mercury will also run their versions. If all these papers support us then we will have reached a readership of around 170,000. Additionally, some of these papers have indicated that they will continue to run with our Campaign. If you have your own personal story line relating to your Service history together with present circumstances which are affected as a result of no service pension, then please contact your local paper and get them to run it - the press alsways needs a story!

LONDON JULY 16th 2009

The 'invasion' of No.10 Downing Street went off very well and congratulations to all those who were able to make it on the day. Photographs show the Group outside No.10 presenting our petition (not far short of 200,000 now), our photo shoot in front of the Cenotaph and one of your Chairman "breaking the rules" by unfurling our banner in Downing Street.

We will be having a rally/demonstration on Monday 11th May 2009. Please muster at Whitehall Place (same as last year) by 1300. We will commence the march down Whitehall preceded by a piper and drum and lay a wreath at the Cenotaph.

On completion, we are asking everyone to then proceed to the House of Commons to lobby Members of Parliament. Again we are seeking the highest profile possible with the media.

All Members and Supporters - 16th April 2009

We appeal to you to once more bear down on your MP and get the current EDM well supported. I cannot emphasise how important it is for the success of our compaign. A pro forma letter and its appendix are available under Related Papers.

The letter and its appendix have been drawn-up as a guide to what might be written to your MP. It will need to be customised. If you have need of further help one of us will help with the letter. If you have a fellow member in your area then he/she may be able to help and/or jointly attend a meeting with your MP. There is a list of MPs who have already signed EDM 46 available on the Web. To check whether your MP has signed.

Google:

• EDM46 2008 Colin Challen
• Move down to and select EDM 46
• Check who has signed by scrolling down
• Note: you can get the list by party.

If he/she has signed then a letter of thanks together with a copy of the Appendix only would helpful.

If your MP has not signed then we urgently need him/her to reconsider. This is by no means a party issue although given the number of Conservative MPs who have thus far failed to sign makes one wonder whether there has been arm twisting within the Party against Conservatives signing.

You may be told that:

• Members of the shadow cabinet do not sign EDMs
• Members of committees do not sign EDMs
• EDMs have little or no relevance

Obviously if there is any indication that members of a party have been advised against signing we in the directorate need to know. It makes good Press for our cause. It cannot be emphasised how urgent it is that we press our claim through our MPs and that the AFPG directorate is given the opportunity to collate the responses that are received. Your letter, your contact with your MP is important.

We are planning a mass lobbying of MPs in May at the Palace of Westminster. To draw all 646 MPs into the lobby is over ambitious but we must try to get as many as possible to come down and meet their AFPG constituents. We would like 646 MPs to sign EDM 46. We really need over half the House to do so. Remember, following on from this there will again be press coverage.

We are getting somewhere and we need to push. In the last 3 years we have progressed without any additional calls for funding from the members other than the joining fee. In the previous campaign, in which AFPG was seemingly badly guided by the legal expert, the then members contributed around £650 each or a total of around £1.4M. We may now be operating not on a shoe-string budget but we are a much better co-ordinated group. With each member making his or her own contribution by way of letter to MP and/or attendance at meetings we will succeed. Let us get this next stage on the road. Let us insist that our respective MP either gives us his/her support or explains why he/she cannot do so.