Dear London Veteran,

Rounding off our activities for 2024, please find attached our latest Newsletter pulled together by David Hatch and Paul Humphreys.

It firstly outlines another of Andrew Glover's Guided walks that took place around the City of London earlier in the year. Once again, we thank Andrew for helping us with this. If anyone is interested in going on this or any of Andrew's other tours independently, please visit his website here: Who Knew Tours

The Newsletter then goes on to summarise a great visit that we made to the Sainsbury's Archives in London Docklands in September. We wish to thank Allison Foster and her team for hosting us so well and we would definitely recommend other Veterans take the time to visit, if you are interested in hearing about the past of the Company we all worked for and contributed to making such a success. The Museum of London is free to enter and has an excellent cafe near the entrance for those who visit. You can find more information on their website here: Plan your visit | Museum of London Docklands

We would also like to remind everyone that our gathering at the Doggett's next year has been scheduled for Wednesday 14^th May 2025 if you haven't already put that in your diaries.

Finally, if you know of any colleagues who would like to join our group, please get them to email londonofficemembership@virginmedia.com and we will add them to the membership list.

Best Wishes,

Keith

On behalf of the London Office Veterans Committee

LONDON OFFICE ANNUAL REPORT 2024 

The London Office Veterans Group was set up 9 years ago to provide opportunities for Head Office Veterans, following comments that they were the "forgotten" Veterans, not getting the same opportunities as store and depot Veterans. Due to the wide geographical spread of London Veterans' homes it was neither practical nor affordable to hold regular local get-togethers along the lines of other Local Veteran Associations (LAS).

Our activity is confined to one big annual get-together at Doggett's Coat and Badge (Doggett's) on Blackfriars Bridge, London Walks and the occasional  trip further afield.

We email members three or four Newsletters per year, including dates/information about our annual Doggett's get-together, our walks and visits and an Annual Report.

We have held 6 Doggett's events to-date ( with a 2-year gap due to the Covid- pandemic), most recently on 15th May this year when 152 Veterans attended. We have a mailing list of 507 members ( we only hold email addresses) and we estimate 255 "active" members who attend Doggett's or our walks etc.

Our volunteer committee consists of:

Bill Williams -  Chairman and Secretary

Ken Barden - Deputy Chairman

Rob Connelly -  Liaison with the Sainsbury's Veterans Association Committee (VAC)

Mike Attwood- Treasurer

Paul Humphreys- Events and Walks Co-ordinator

Jill Hayes- Doggett's Organiser

David Hatch- Newsletter Editor

Keith Jewers- Membership co-ordinator and e-mailer

I thank the committee for all the work on your behalf. The Committee members are  all willing to continue to serve. Any objections or offers by members to serve should be made via our membership email address towards the end of this Newsletter by 30th September 2024.

We are also ably helped by Brian Doonar and Andrew Glover who lead walks.

Our income is almost entirely an annual grant from the Sainsbury's Veterans Association . Apart from our annual Doggett's event, our expenses are nil or negligible. Your committee meets mostly via Zoom.

I attach our latest Financial Report, prepared by Mike Attwood, our Treasurer, and approved by your entire committee. Our bank balance and Doggett's 2024 bill have been checked and confirmed by Paul Humphreys and myself.

Our membership email address below is for any queries you may have, for any Veteran you know who would like to join us to apply (ask them to email us themselves) or for you if you can offer any events for our members.

londonofficemembership@virginmedia.com

Finally, Doggett's 2025 will be held on Wednesday 14th May 2025 and invitations will be sent out in January 2025

Bill Williams 

June 2024

London Office Veterans

Financial Summary/Accounts by Treasurer Mike Attwood

London Office Veterans – Summary July 2024

• Another most successful Doggett's was held event on 15th May 2024 in ideal weather and a future event is booked for 14th May 2025. Sainsbury's Veterans Association (SVA) funding of £3,000 was received in March '24 enabling the cost of 2025 to be covered.

• The 2024 event saw an increase in costs due to higher expected numbers and rising hospitality costs generally.
Continued prudent menu selection of the buffet lunch items for future events will be necessary as hospitality cost pressures are expected to continue.

• Future event cost is assumed to rise by 10% in 2025 with increasing external cost pressures, and anticipated attendance growth although venue capacity is 180. (152 attended Doggett's 2024).

• Other activities this financial year have been organised/delivered at breakeven. Committee expenses have been zero due to the use of Zoom for Committee meetings which together have contributed to a good financial position.

• Going forward, the key is the ongoing funding formula. Continuation of the current level/timing will enable us to deliver an event in 2026 as well as 2025.

• Continuing the use of Zoom will keep our operating costs to a minimum and the Walking Events can be very successful with a small charge per head when appropriate to cover walk leader hire cost.

London Office Veterans – Accounts and Cashflow Summary

Date Detail Income Expenses Balance Notes
20/06/23 Balance post 2023 event £4,707.72
31/12/23 Interest Oct-Dec '23 £6.22 £4,713.94
20/03/24 SVA Grant £3,000.00 £7,713.94
15/05/24 Doggett's '24 £2,970.00 £4,43.94 Gross cost £3,270.00 including deposit paid May 2023
14/06/24 Doggett's '25 deposit £3,00.00 £4,443.94
14/06/24 Pension Dept goodwill £100.00 £4,543.94
Doggett's '25 £3,270.00* £1,273.94 *est gross cost £3570

Note:
• Cost of Doggett's assumed to increase by 10% each year due to external cost pressures at the venue (food, labour, overheads etc). Numbers of attendees have remained similar in 2023 and 2024.
• Majority of funds held in interest paying deposit account. 2024 interest estimated at £40.00.

Chair: Bill Williams (pictured)

Vice Chair: Ken Barden

Treasurer: Mike Attwood

Events Co-ordinator: Paul Humphreys  email: Paul.v.humphreys3@gmail.com

Jill Hayes- Doggetts  arrangements

David Hatch- News and Event Letter production dhatch@btinternet.com

Keith Jewers- Membership Email londonofficemembership@virginmedia.com

 Rob Connelly- Veteran Association Committee liaison