ISSUE 170 SPRING 2015

PEDAL POWER: OMAN TO DEVONAGM WETHERBY

2 | SPA NEWS

SPRING 2015

EditorLinda FernleyEmail: linda@hellosoutherly.com

SPA SecretaryHelen Page Tel: 020 7934 5129Email: helen.page@shell.com

Assistant SecretaryLynn Forsdyke Tel: 020 7934 5137Email: L.Forsdyke@shell.com

SPBA TreasurerIan LanderyouTel: 020 7934 5131Email: Ian.C.Landeryou@shell.com

These are some of the regular benefits. You may need to show your membership card and/or quote Shell Pensioners Association. Details on the SPA website: www.shell.co.uk/spa Our message, however, is always to “shop around”.

INSURANCEHome, motor travel:Select Insurance Services (Sutton Winson) 0800 116 433050plus Insurance (Bluefin) 0800 195 8002

Health:Bupa 0800 600 500 quote 9147HMCA 01423 866985 www.hmca.shellpa.htm

RAC breakdown:0800 581 077 quote GE0538

Dental insurance:Denplan 0800 838 951 quote GR09-002105

FINANCEForeign exchange:UK Forex https://www.ukforex.co.uk/?pid=1344

CONTACTS SPA CHOICESFinancial advice:Affinity 0800 019 6076 ref. Shell/Mar/2012

State benefits:CBG Solutions 01423 819452

LEISURE

Woodbank (Aberdeen) 01224 884785

Lensbury Breaks 020 8614 6444

Lensbury memership 020 8614 6466

Fitness First corporatemarketing@fitnessfirst.com 01202 845812

David Lloyd Leisure Visit your local club or www.davidlloyd.co.uk/employeeoffer

Saga cruises 0800 051 3355 saga.co.uk/cruises quote SHPE5

Cruise & Maritime Voyages and South

Quay Travel 0845 375 2318

P&O, Cunard & Princess Cruises 0843 374 2288 quoting '000GEN'

SHELL SPONSORED EVENTSHayward Gallery:Paid exhibitions, Fridays only, plus one guest

SPA, Room C2013, Shell Centre, London SE1 7NAwww.shell.co.uk/spawww.facebook.com/shell.spa.news

SPA L INDA'S EDITORIAL

Dear readers,Welcome to your spring issue of SPA News. I'm looking from my office window onto a very damp and drizzly day but the garden seems relieved to have a drink after a long dry spell, and I'm sure the rain will encourage the daffs and other spring bulbs, so I mustn't grumble!

This issue is packed to the gunnels as always. I'm sure our nautically inclined readers will know what 'gunnel' means but I didn't. It's an abbreviated form of 'gunwales' (or 'gun walls') denoting the top edge of a vessel's side. In the past, a ship would have packed in as much food and water as it could safely handle, hence the expression.

Anyway, I digress. In this issue, Ardella Jones speaks to two intrepid cyclists who, to

mark the beginning of retirement, decided to cycle all the way home to Devon ... from Oman! See how they fared on p14-15.

On p11-13 financial guru Tina Gilchrist has a range of useful updates. At this time of year we usually publish a Benefits Matrix but we struggle to fit it in a readable-sized font! So we've decided instead to publish it on the SPA website. (Contact the SPA office if you prefer a hard copy).

Elsewhere, we have news about the forthcoming AGM (p16), and Colin Morsley interviews the UK Chair on p17. You can find details of how to transfer money abroad economically (p20), and on the Health page discover how your perception of age can affect lifespan and quality of life (p21).

A new exhibition of the Impressionists has recently opened to great acclaim at the National Gallery, which has kindly given us some tickets to offer for free entry – see Time Out pages for details.

Again, thank you for your letters. We rarely have the space to publish them all but please remember that those of you with access to a computer could join our Facebook page. There you can post messages and see news that doesn't always make it into the magazine due to time restrictions: www.facebook.com/shell.spa.news. Suggestions for future articles are very welcome, too – the next copy deadline is 8 June.

Warm wishes,Linda.

SPA NEWS | 3

SPA LETTERS

ANY OLD IRON? - Jim Thomas

ALL THAT SPARKLES ... - Tony Allwright

If you have access to old copies of Shell Times, please check out issue No 60 from Summer 1987, pp 10-13 where a certain Jim Thomas gives his opinion on various aspects of North Sea abandonment issues. There's also a picture of me standing next to a model of one the Brent platforms! After 28 years it's now about to actually happen.

What's interesting is that the project-ed cost of abandonment for the North Sea sector has risen by a factor 10. It will also be interesting to see what will happen to the massive concrete towers at Brent (for which there is no direct mention), which in the 80s we consid-ered to be technically difficult to remove in a safe manner due to their size, weight and adhesion to the sea bed. Maybe smarter solutions are available with today's technologies.

In the last issue readers were asked what they do with their Shell jewellery; here’s my story.

By the time I left Shell, I had been awarded two long-service gold Pectens, one marking 10 years' service and the other – with a diamond – 25 years. My last posting was as Technical Director for PDO in Muscat, Oman. So, shortly before leaving, I headed down to the soukh where I got a local goldsmith to fashion them into these 18-carat rather handsome gold cuf-flinks, which ever since have been regularly trotted out, fastened to a crisp white shirt.

Had I lingered another little while, I would have had a matching tie pin – with two diamonds on it!

Shell Times, summer 1987

Cufflinks

At 77 I've recently been awarded a Mas-ter of Laws degree from Nottingham Law School. Interestingly, my granddaughter, Katy Cullen, graduated from the same university on the same day with a first-class honours degree in Psychology. Here we are on graduation day.

I was at Shellhaven Refinery between 1968 and 1973 and from 1973 until 1975 in SIPM offices in the Hague. A Happy New Year to you all, and keep up the good work. I enjoy reading the Journal very much.

NEVER TOO OLD TO LEARN- John Evans

What a lovely photo, John - congratulations to you both! Ed

John Evans and granddaughter

A 'THANK YOU' NOTE - Kevin OakleyI would like to say thank you for the continued concern and support that Shell and PLRs past and present have shown Mum since Dad died. It is very unusual in this day and age to see such commitment from employers, and it's a great credit to Shell that they maintain such relation-ships with their people and dependents. I know it meant a lot to Mum, and she felt that Dad’s commitment to the company was being reciprocated.

Thank you for taking the trouble to write to us Kevin; I'm sure that Shell and the PLRs appreciate the gesture. Ed

4 | SPA NEWS

SPA LETTERS

In the Obituary columns of the last issue I noted the death of Frederick Richard Kendall, who was an Industrial Market GCR in the West Midlands in the early 1970s. I have two memories of Fred. The first was his patience, help and friendliness when I, a 21-year-old new entrant, was foisted on him for a few days of 'market/customer familiarisation'.

The second occasion was a meeting to update Midland staff about the imminent Brand Separation. The programme for the day had run so smoothly that at the end, Regional Manager Ron Philliskirk allowed a short Q&A session on any subject staff might wish to raise. I'm almost certain it was Fred who stood up and moaned about the quality of SMBP's company cars in general, and his in particular. RP made a blistering reply, saying in his view the latest policy on company cars was very generous, and a vast improvement on the vehicles available in the past. To illustrate his point, he ended with a lengthy description of the frailties of the company car he'd had "when I was in your job". When he sat down, obviously feeling he'd made his point, Fred stood up again, and said "Yes, Mr Philliskirk, and I've still got THAT car", to a massive roar of laughter!

Q&A GONE WRONG ... - Chris Sloan

BLOWING OUR OWN TRUMPETS! - Fiona EadieI always enjoy SPA News but felt I must write about Issue 169 because you really have excelled yourselves! Fascinating articles on so many and varied topics, and a lot of excellent advice as well. The Badmin painting reproduced on the cover is enchanting and I loved the '(Senior) Sound of Music' and 'Grandma's Bedtime Story'.

Your letter cheered our dismal January, Fiona – thank you! ED

SPA Member Ralph Bishop, age 93, was awarded this medal for service on Arctic Convoys during WW2. Despite being a member of the Royal Air Force, Ralph volunteered for service on Catapult Armed Merchant (CAM) ships. His ship 'Empire Lawrence' was bombed and sunk. Luckily he was picked up by a Corvette and spent some time in hospital in Murmansk.

I first met Ralph and his late wife Muriel (who served on the staff of General Montgomery following D Day), in 2003 whilst working as a PLR. The photo shows Ralph with his niece at his presentation ceremony in Shrewsbury on 8 November.

MEDAL FOR BRAVE VOLUNTEER- Chris Sloan

KEEP ON TRUCKIN' - Richard Tennet, ex Jarrow and Heathrow On my first day of joining Shell in 1969 as a tanker driver at Jarrow terminal, the Shop Steward Bob Gaff gave me the best piece of advice I've ever been given: "Make sure you join the company's pension scheme," he said. I took his advice and have never regretted it. I was there for 15 very happy years then transferred to Heathrow where I spent a further nine enjoyable years as a fueller. My only regret was not achieving 25 years' service; I was a mere six weeks short!

I've enjoyed driving a variety of different trucks over my career – Foden, ERF, Sed Atki, Scammell, Volvo, AEC, Merc, to name just some. Can anyone tell me if the company ever published a book featuring the different makes of road tankers it operated? If so, I'd love to hear about it and obtain a copy. I'm sure there are many serving and retired drivers who would be interested, too.

Ralph Bishop Russian Convoys

SPEAK UP A BIT ... - Gordon DowRegarding your article on hearing aids in the last issue, in my opinion anyone who goes private for a hearing aid without first trying the NHS must have more money than sense. When I realised I needed a hearing aid, I asked two friends who wore them (both Shell pensioners) for their recommendations. Coincidentally, both had gone private in the first instance, wasted thousands of pounds

on unsatisfactory aids and then turned to the NHS, where they got good service, free hearing aids, and a continual free supply of batteries. You also mentioned my point about the Disabled Railcard but the main advantages aren't that it's £10 cheaper than the Senior Railcard; it's that your partner also gets the cheaper fares without having to buy their own card and there are no time restrictions on its use.

SPA NEWS | 5

I came across this interesting photo of Shell's refuelling platform (for motorboats) on the deck of Lord Kitchener's gun boat, the 'Melik' on the Blue Nile, Khartoum 1958. We were stationed there for several years with our children ... happy days.

The Melik was ordered for service with the Egyptian Army in 1896, and shipped in sections from England via the Suez Canal to Ismalia, then towed up the Sweet Water Canal and the Nile to Wadi Halfa on the Sudanese frontier; here the sections were loaded onto railway wagons and conveyed across the Nubian Desert to Abu Hamed. The point of re-assembly was

Abadieh, near Berber. From there it led a flotilla of heavily armed gun boats, a vital element in Kitchener's recapture of Khartoum in 1898 (the battle of Omdurman).

In 1926 it was retired from government service and leased to the Blue Nile Sailing Club where it served as its club-house, committee room, a venue for social functions and as a starting and finishing point for races signalled in the early years by a cannon and in later years by a bell. Shell had a staff sailing boat and a small canopied motor launch that would take us up the Blue Nile to a choice of sandbanks for many a delightful family get together.

ON THE BLUE NILE - John GR and Heather White

Refuelling platform on the Blue Nile, Khartoum 1958 The Melik today

I was in SIPC Finance from 1969 to 1992 and worked at Carrington, in Libya, Hong Kong, Dubai, Aberdeen, Norway and Syria. I served in the Territorial Army until I was sent overseas and military history has been a lifelong interest. After I retired from Shell, I was appointed Finance Director of Edinburgh University and became a member of a body called the Military Education Committee and later its Chairman. Although I retired from the University in 2004, I'm still on the MEC.I was approached 18 months ago by the Colonel of the Officers Training Corps

of Edinburgh Universities and asked to research and write its history. I embarked on the project, finishing writing on my 70th birthday! The book has just been published and full details are on Amazon: "Full Circle" ISBN: 9780993139208.

I still lecture all over the UK and am very busy these days delivering a presentation on Gallipoli as we approach the centenary of the landings.

WHO SAID OLD DOGS CAN'T LEARN NEW TRICKS? - George Sutherland

6 | SPA NEWS

We rang in the changes in the last issue and continue to sound the clanger well into spring! Not only are you given the choice of two candidates for the National Committee, but you now have three ways of voting. Last election, we burnt the midnight oil as we opened several thousand envelopes. It was like the Sorcerer’s Apprentice as they continued to pour in. This year, the company has come up with a labour-saving option for members who use a computer or have access to the local library. By voting online, the process not only saves trees and paperwork, but counts up the votes, too. So if this is possible, I urge you to use the service, especially if you want to save the postage cost. SPA is grateful for the support of the company, but the cost of prepaid envelopes to 18,000 members is hard to justify.

The third and best option is to join us at the AGM on 14 May, at The Bridge Hotel, just outside Wetherby, where you can vote on the day. The delicious three-course lunch is heavily subsidised at £10, the hotel has a spa with a pool, and historic York and its minster are just down the road. Do you need any more excuses for a day out to the countryside? If you want to make a short break of it, the hotel is offering discounted rates for SPA members: you need to mention this when booking.

And what about the proposed name change to Shell Pecten Association? Read the reasons on page 16, but our main aim is to recruit younger staff as they retire earlier, but are not yet ready to be called “pensioners”. After 45 years, it’s going to take some getting used to. We are bound to keep reverting when we answer the ‘phone or are

SPA HELEN'S PAGE

asked for the name, at least for the first few weeks. Thank goodness the logo isn’t changing too – we couldn’t cope with anything else new.

Some things haven’t changed and one of those is the Shell carol concert. I know it’s too early to mention the C*******s word, though it’s probably already in the shops now the Easter eggs have gone. The service has been going for many years and the Shell Christian Network diligently archive each order of service. Those of you who have attended will appreciate how much work goes into them. Sadly, something went wrong in years 1996 and 1998 and these

are missing from the collection. If you happened to save these issues, we would be very pleased to hear from you.

We’d also like to hear if you can shed light on these delightful Shell motor oil posters. Member Ann Davies owns five and knows they are Series 2. She thinks they were produced in Calcutta, in the 1920s, but is keen to find out more. She contacted Nicky Balfour-Penny, manager of the Shell Art Collection, but Nicky has no further information.

Don’t forget, the discounted offer for members continues at Beaulieu, home of the art collection. The

SPA NEWS | 7

FROM THE SPA SECRETARY

coupon is in the Time Out section. Spring cleaning is just around

the corner and at such times many people get rid of bits and pieces they no longer want. However,

sometimes it’s hard to know how to get them to the local charity shop. The British Heart Foundation can help. Last year goods donated to BHF shops raised over £31 million to help in the fight against heart disease. If you have any of the items below you can arrange a collection.

They welcome furniture (including

mattresses and upholstered bed bases) with fire labels, large and small electrical appliances, books, clothing, accessories, jewellery, CDs and DVDs, children's toys and homeware.

Items should be in a good, clean condition, and working properly. Even if they cannot be resold, they may be recycled. Some items cannot be collected for health and safety reasons, such as electric blankets, furniture without a kite mark, gas and oil appliances. If you’re not sure, contact the helpline: 0800 138 6556. There are several ways to arrange a collection: Go to www.bhf.org.uk/shop/donating-goods/book-a-free-collection and if you don’t have a

computer, you can call on 0808 250 0030. For high street shops you can call on 0808 250 0024 or visit your local shop.

Finally, I want to remind you that our first roadshow of the year will be at the lovely Boat Museum, Ellesmere Port, on 18 June. Join us for tea and cakes, meet the various stallholders who will be on hand with advice on topics such as insurance, pensions, health, finance, and benefits. A few of the local PLRs should be there, too. Watch the interview with UK Chairman, Erik Bonino and UK Trustee Manager, Per Reiff-Musgrove. With ample parking, what’s not to miss?

Boat Museum at Ellesmere Port

8 | SPA NEWS

SPA L IGHTER SIDE

SPOOKED ROOKIE

EXERCISE FOR THE FEINT HEARTED!

THE 'NILE' VIRUS IS COMING ...

A passenger in a taxi tapped the driver on the shoulder to ask him something. The driver screamed, lost control of the cab, nearly hit a bus, drove up over the curb and stopped just inches from a large plate glass window. For a few moments everything was silent in the cab, then the driver said:

“Please, don't ever do that again. You scared the daylights out of me.”

The passenger, who was also frightened, apologised and said he didn't realise that a tap on the shoulder could frighten him so much, to which the driver replied:

“I'm sorry, it's really not your fault at all. Today is my first day driving a cab. For the last 25 years I've been driving a hearse.”

Not even the most advanced programs from Norton or McAfee can take care of this email virus. It appears to target those who were born prior to 1950 ... The viral symptoms cause you to:

1. Send the same email twice. (Done that)

2. Send a blank email. (That too)

3. Send an email to the wrong person. (Yup)

4. Send it back to the person who sent it to you. (Ah-ha)

5. Forget to attach the attachment. (Done that)

6. Hit 'SEND' before you've finished. (Oh no, not again)

7. Hit 'DELETE' instead of 'SEND'. (Hate that)

8. Hit 'SEND' when you should 'DELETE.' (Oh heck, now what?)

It is called the 'C-Nile virus'.

Wife texts husband on a cold winter’s morning:

"Windows frozen, won't open."

Husband texts back:

"Pour some lukewarm water over it and gently tap the edges with something solid."

Wife texts back five minutes later:

"Computer really messed up now.”

Begin by standing on a comfortable surface, where you have plenty of room on each side.

With a 5-lb potato bag in each hand, extend your arms straight out from your sides and hold them there as long as you can. Try to reach a full minute, and then relax.

Each day you'll find that you can hold this position for just a bit longer.

After a couple of weeks, move up to 10-lb potato bags. Then try 50-lb potato bags and then eventually try to get to where you can lift a 100-lb potato bag in each hand and hold your arms straight for more than a full minute (I'm at this level).

After you feel confident at this level, put a potato in each bag.

An expectant father rang the Maternity hospital to see how his wife, who had gone into labour, was getting on. By mistake, he was connected to the county cricket ground.

"How's it going?" he asked.

"Fine," came the answer, "We've got three out and hope to have the rest out before lunch. The last one was a duck."

CHURCHES WITH A SENSE OF HUMOUR

SPA NEWS | 9

SPA BUSINESS NEWS

THREE THINGS ... FUEL PRICES IN THE UKWith crude oil prices dropping to a five-year low, British motorists are benefitting from sharp falls in the cost of petrol and diesel at the pump. Here we explain what makes up the cost of a litre of fuel, how the crude price and pump price are linked, and what makes Shell’s fuels different.

1. How are fuel prices broken down?

The price consumers pay at the pump has three main elements – the biggest is tax and duty, which fuel retailers collect on behalf of the government, the wholesale price of fuel (which includes the cost of refining oil), and operational costs such as transportation and site overheads. The breakdown of costs, based on an average price of 108 pence per litre (ppl) of unleaded petrol, is as follows: • Tax makes up over 70% of the

pump price (fuel duty is fixed at 57.9ppl, and VAT is 20% of the final price paid at the pump, 18ppl in this example)

• Approximately 25% of the pump price is the cost of the product itself (petrol and diesel)

• The proportion fuel retailers take from the final price is very small, just pennies or less

• Without tax, the price at the pump would be around 32ppl.

2. How are fuel prices broken down?

Because tax makes up over two-thirds of the pump price, a drop in the price of Brent Crude can only ever have a minimal impact on the price at the pump. For example, a 20% drop in the Brent Crude price would mean an approximate

“I think we have seen a period where demand growth for oil hasn't been as strong. At the same time supply growth has been particularly strong, especially in North America. OPEC has decided not to be the swing producer and therefore has left it to the market to find the price that equilibrates supply and demand. It will be a period of volatility.

“A few things: First, we come into this period from a position of strength. We should feel good about that. We have a strong balance sheet. We have divested a lot of assets in a high oil price environment, which is good. And, secondly, there are a few things that we now have to do because it is a great opportunity to either take out operating cost more aggressively than we have done before or to take out some capital cost in markets where there's going to be a little bit more looseness in the supply chain, and that’s going to be the challenge for 2015.”

BEN VAN BEURDEN TALKING AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR ABOUT OIL PRICE FOR 2015

drop of 5% in the pump price.Crude must be refined into petrol and diesel, and it’s this refined product which Shell purchases from the wholesale market like all other fuel retailers. UK wholesale fuel prices usually track Brent Crude prices reasonably closely. However, there will be periods when they are not aligned - usually caused by changes in the regional levels of supply and demand for refined products.

In addition, the price motorists pay for fuel at the pump is affected by changes in the exchange rate. The recent fall in the value of the pound against the US dollar, the currency in which crude oil is priced, reduces the impact of crude price drops on pump prices in the UK.

3. Why does Shell not always price match supermarkets?

Shell only sets the price at the sites we own. Approximately one-third of the Shell branded network in the UK is owned by independent dealers who purchase Shell fuel from us and set their own prices.

Across our company-owned sites we price locally and competitively but we don’t always price match due to the quality of our fuel and the service and experience we offer our customers.

Shell makes significant investment to ensure our customers receive innovative and high quality products. From our premium Shell V-Power Nitro+ fuels, to pay at the pump services, our convenience retail offering and our Drivers’ Club loyalty programme, our customers know Shell has high quality products and convenient technology to keep them on the roads and their vehicles in good condition. We’re proud of these factors, which are why we continue to serve more than four million customers a week across our network.

10 | SPA NEWS

SPA FEATURE

DO YOU REMEMBER ENTERPRISE OIL?

Ex-Enterprise Oil pensioners count as Shell pensioners, as far as SPA is concerned. They receive a Shell pension and many are SPA members, despite never having worked for Shell.

In the beginning, Saxon, a small company working with Conoco, was acquired by Enterprise Oil, a UK independent exploration and production company. It was formed in 1983 to exploit North Sea oil production assets of the then state-owned British Gas plc; it was privatised and its shares listed on the London Stock Exchange in 1984. Allegedly the name was dreamt up by Margaret

Thatcher. At that time there were about 40 staff – a young, dynamic and talented pool. It had interests in some 41 fields, mainly in the North Sea, and made at least one major discovery in the Gulf of Mexico. The Corrib gas field was discovered off the coast of Ireland by Enterprise Oil in 1996. In its last few years, it was investing significant sums in its Brazilian oil interests.

The Most Reverend Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury and former Bishop of Durham, served as Group Treasurer from 1984 to 1987. SPA member, Diana Laws, remembers being interviewed by him for her position in the tax and insurance department. She doubts the memory is reciprocated! She moved with the London office to Grand Buildings on the corner of Trafalgar Square. Prince Charles was said to be enamoured with the building as it was in keeping with the surrounding ones, despite being new.

By the time the company was acquired by Royal Dutch Shell, in 2002, it had over 600 staff.

Thanks to Ivan Inchenko and Diana Laws, ex employees and Pensioner Liaison Rep, Peter Bradbury for the initial research and suggestion for this article.

If you worked with or for Enterprise, and have any photos or memories, please contact the editor. If there is sufficient interest, we will follow-up in a future issue.

PECTEN FINALLY FINDS A HOMEWe thought this an apt story, given the proposed name change of the association to the Shell Pecten Association.

Three years ago, we reported the story of Pete Jolley, who, back in the seventies, found a glass Shell pecten from the top of an old petrol pump. It was in a rubbish bin at a garage, which was being refurbished. The manager was very happy for Pete to take it away.

It then sat in Pete’s garden shed, on Canvey Island, for over 30 years, until 2012, when he was having a clear-out and realised it might now be a collector’s item. He took it to a specialist auction, where it was bought by the owner of “Scripps” garage, from the television programme “Heartbeat”: a popular police drama series set in 1960s Yorkshire and broadcast between 1992 and 2010. Although the series has ended, Goathland, the setting for the programme, is a heritage tourist attraction, with coachloads of

visitors to the garage. Despite several requests over the years, Pete was not able to secure a photo of his pecten in its new surroundings. We are grateful to Hazel Lunn, who heard about this and, on a day out, made a special detour to the garage, to photograph the pump. She was disappointed to find the pump “topless”. On enquiring in the shop, the assistant retrieved the globe from under the counter, explaining that vandals, knowing it’s made of glass, like to take pot shots at it from their motorbikes. As it would be difficult to replace, it only comes out on special occasions. Hearing the reason for the request, the owner generously re-instated the pecten temporarily.

The photos show the garage before and after the installation of the Shell globe.

Pete worked in Communications in Shell Centre. His company employment spanned five decades, yet he still managed to retire in his early 50s.

SPA NEWS | 11

by Tina Gi lchr is t

STATE BENEFITS

The State Pension Statement service has been extended to include people aged 55 and over (previously 60 and over). Statements give individuals an estimate of how much State Pension they may receive under the new State Pension, based on their current National Insurance record. You can get a State Pension statement online at www.gov.uk/state-pension-statement or from the Newcastle Pension Centre (Futures Group) Tel: 0345 300 0168, Textphone: 0845 300 0169, or outside UK: +44 191 218 3600. Lines are open Mon-Fri, 8am to 6pm (except public holidays). You can also apply by post by completing Form BR19, which can be downloaded from the above website, and post to the following address: The Pension Service 9, Mail Handling Site A, Wolverhampton, WV98 1LU.

State Pension Statement Revisions If you have already received a statement, and find it confusing, help is at hand. Statements that have already been received have shown two sets of figures, one which is supposed to show what your pension would have been under the current system, and the other showing the figure that you will receive under the new system, which most people have found to be totally confusing and inaccurate. The DWP recognize that the new statements are difficult to understand, and are now replacing them with a new look, simpler statement, which will only show one figure – the actual amount that you will receive from April 2016. If you have already registered, there will

BENEFITS UPDATES

BENEVOLENCE TINA'S NEWS

now be a 6-8 week delay in sending out statements because of this change. If you have already received a statement, but don’t understand it, you will need to re-register to receive the new style statement.

Pension Reforms Following recent publicity, I would like to repeat something that I wrote in a previous bulletin. If you reach State Retirement Age after 6 April 2016, and are expecting to receive the full £151.25 pension, this may not be the case. If you have been in a Company or Personal Pension Scheme that has previously been contracted out of the SERPS/S2P part of the State Pension, you would have paid a reduced National Insurance contribution.

Therefore, a deduction will be applied to the new State Pension to reflect the fact that you have paid lower NI contributions whilst you were contracted out. If you have been both contracted in and contracted out, you will have a one-off deduction based on the amount of time you were contracted out and a one-off addition based on the time you were contracted in. However, no-one will receive less pension than they would have received under the old system. The DWP will calculate what your pension would have been under the old system, and what it would be under the new system, and you will receive the higher pension of the two. Whilst you may not receive the full £151.25 per week, you will not receive less than you would have received. I hope that this clarifies a few points not reported in the press. People who reach state retirement age on or before 5 April 2016 will not be affected by the reforms.

TAXATION

Income Tax – Allowances that reduce your taxable income (2015/2016)• Personal Allowance for those

born on or after 6 April 1938: £10,600. Those born before 6 April 1938: £10,660*.

• The personal allowance will be reduced for those with income above £100,000 pa, tapering down to zero.

• Married Couples Allowance (MCA) is only available to those born before 6 April 1935 (those age 75 and over before 6 April 2010), and relief is restricted to 10%. MCA is £8,355 (giving a tax saving of £835.50).

• Transferable Tax Allowance for married couples and civil partners: £1,060 – available to spouses/civil partners born after 5 April 1935. The recipient must not be liable to tax above the basic rate.

* Age Allowances are reduced by £1 for every £2 that taxable income exceeds £27,700 pa. but will only reduce below the basic Personal Allowance of £10,600, if income is above the threshold of £100,000.

Income Tax Bands (2015/2016)• Income is taxed at 20% on the

first £31,785 of taxable income over your personal allowance.

• Income between £31,786 and £150,000 is taxed at 40%.

• An additional rate of Income Tax of 45% will apply to income over £150,000.

• The 10% starting rate for tax on savings income only will be abolished from April 2015, and be replaced by a nil-rate band

12 | SPA NEWS

SPA T INA'S PAGES

of £5,000 above the personal allowance. This means that anyone with a total income of less than £15,600 (less if you take advantage of the Transferable Tax Allowance – see below) will not pay tax on their savings income.

Transferable Tax Allowance (Marriage Allowance)Registration has now opened for people to register their interest to transfer £1,060 of their tax allowance to their Spouse or Civil Partner. You can claim the Marriage Allowance if all the following apply:• You are married or in a civil

partnership• You have an annual income of

less than £10,600, including pensions, savings and investments

• Your spouse or civil partner has an annual income of between £10,601 and £42,385

• You were both born on or after 6 April 1935.

Couples can register their interest to receive the Allowance now at www.gov.uk/marriage-allowanceFrom April, HMRC will contact those who have already registered for the Marriage Allowance to apply. People can register at any point in the tax year and still receive the full benefit of the allowance. The person who is transferring the allowance to their

spouse or civil partner will apply online; HMRC will then inform the recipient about the change to their Pay As You Earn (PAYE) tax code.

Online Tax Summaries Taxpayers who filed their 2013/14 tax return electronically by 31 January deadline can now access their online tax summary. The summaries set out how much tax and National Insurance each person has paid in the tax year, and how it contributed to public expenditure.

The online summaries can be viewed at HMRC online services, selecting the ‘View your 2013 to 2014 tax summary’ option. Taxpayers who are in the PAYE system and don’t file tax returns should have already received paper summaries in the post. Others will receive a paper version in the future, once their 2013/14 tax affairs have been finalised. Online filers who missed the deadline will have access to an online summary once they send their overdue return online.HMRC: Tel: 0300 200 3300; Textphone: 0300 200 3319; From abroad: Tel: +44 135 535 9022.

ISA Allowance Change to Inheritance Rules Further details have been

announced on the change of rules governing the inheritance of ISAs on death. From 3 December 2014, if an ISA holder dies, they will be able to pass on the value of their ISA benefits to their spouse or civil partner via an additional ISA allowance, which they will be able to use from 6 April 2015. The surviving spouse or civil partner will be given an additional, one-off ISA Allowance, equal in value to the deceased’s ISA holdings. This will enable them to reinvest assets which were in their spouse’s ISA, into an ISA in their own name.

However, the ISA tax wrapper is lost from the date of death until the distribution of the estate following probate. Once probate has been granted, the value of the ISA passes to the surviving spouse. This value can then be used at the start of the new tax year, in addition to their own ISA Allowance (£15,240 from 6 April 2015).

HMRC have withdrawn all 0845 helpline telephone numbers In future, customers who call a 0845 number will be given the new 03 number, and the call will terminate. For most customers, an 03 number is cheaper to call than a 0845 number.

SPA NEWS | 13

FINANCE

ISA Allowance for the 2015/16 tax year will be increased from £15,000 to £15,240, from 6 April 2015. All of the allowance can be invested in either cash or stocks and shares or a mixture of both. The limit for a Junior ISA for the 2015/16 tax year is £4,080.

Individual Savings Account (ISA) If you have not used up your ISA Allowance for the tax year 2014/15, you must do so before 5 April 2015. The Annual overall limit that can be invested in an ISA for the 2014/15 tax year is £15,000. All of this can be invested in either cash or stocks and shares or a mixture of both. The limit for a Junior ISA for the 2014/15 tax year is £4,000.

Extension of Fixed Rate Bonds (Pensioner Bonds) The government has extended the availability of its 65 plus pensioner bonds to 15 May 2015, to ensure that all pensioners aged 65 and over who want to benefit from the bonds will have time to do so. This does not affect those savers who have already taken the opportunity to invest in the bonds, if they have already invested up to the available limit of £10,000 per bond per

person. The bonds are available directly from National Savings & Investments, either by post at National Savings and Investments, Glasgow G58 1SB, or phone: 0500 500 000, or if you live abroad: +44 1253 832007 or online at: www.nsandi.com.

Cap on Pension Charges From April 2015 (subject to parliamentary approval) people who are automatically enrolled into a workplace pension will have their charges capped at 0.75%, unless they have chosen a more expensive option.

Pension Wise From April 2015 individuals with defined contribution pension savings (not final salary) will be able to access them as they wish when they reach 55. Pension Wise will be the first port of call for people approaching retirement, and will offer free and impartial information and guidance (not advice) on the new pension freedoms. The government’s delivery partners are Citizens Advice (England and Wales), Citizens Advice Scotland, Northern Ireland Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux, and The Pensions Advisory Service.

Find out what you can do with your pension pot, how to shop around

and what to look out for with taxes and fees by logging on to the Pension Wise website: https://www.pensionwise.gov.uk/ They explain how to avoid pension scams and the importance of taking your time to make sure your money lasts as long as you do. If you prefer to speak to someone, you’ll soon be able to talk to an impartial guidance specialist on the phone or face to face. They’ll talk about the steps you can take to turn your pension pot into income for your retirement. You can also register your interest in early access to the appointments.

GENERAL

Travel Insurance The AA has launched a travel insurance policy with no upper age limit, on single trip, worldwide policies. Visit www.theaa.com or phone 0800 912 5002 for a quote.

Royal Mail Postage Increases From 30 March the cost of a first class normal stamp increased from to 62p to 63p and the cost of a second class stamp from 53p to 54p. The cost of a large letter first class stamp increased from 93p to 95p, and second class from 73p to 74p.

Tina Gilchrist of CBG Solutions Ltd has been contracted by the SPBA to provide updates and a helpline on state benefits.

For the helpline service, contact Tina: CBG Solutions Ltd, 44 Rydal Road, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, HG1 4SD,

01423 819452 or 07711 555931 tina.gilchrist@cbgsolutions.co.uk

When you contact Tina, please mention the SPA and give her a phone number on which she can speak to you if necessary.

Ian Landeryou SPBA Secretary/Treasurer 020 7934 5131 Ian.C.Landeryou@shell.com

CONTACTS

14 | SPA NEWS

SPA FEATURE

OMAN, IRAN, AND LEFT AT TURKEYShell man Paul Frost tells Ardella Jones how he celebrated his retirement by cycling home from OmanWhen Paul Frost, Head of Project Services, completed 28 years with Shell, including stints in Aberdeen, Brunei and Sakhalin, Russia, he wasn’t ready to retire. First he spent three years with Petroleum Development Oman, then he decided to cycle the 4,355 miles (7,009km) home to Devon.

Paul and his wife, Pamela Buckley, had to choose a route avoiding war-torn Syria and Iraq, the heat in the Gulf, and the worst winter cold in Iran and Turkey. Visa restrictions meant they needed to complete the Iranian leg in 30 days.

Paul took charge of their trusty steel Thorne 'Raven' bikes, changing the sprockets, chains, brake blocks and tyres, putting fresh oil in the Rohloff gears and adding mudguards. Pamela sorted out maps, first aid equipment, their all-important laptop, phone and camera, clothes and camping gear for all weathers. Everything had to fit in panniers, two on each bike, and their rucksacks. Their household possessions were shipped direct to UK.

On 9 March 2014, friends waved them off to a last luxurious night at the Intercontinental Hotel in Muscat. It would be 105 days of cycling, sight-seeing and adventure before they reached home.

Paul and Pamela took the ferry from Muscat to Khasab port, Musandan, then cycled to Dubai and took another ferry to Bander Abbas. Pamela donned her headscarf ready for Iran where rain and flooded roads greeted them. The Iranian New Year, Nawruz, was approaching so the bus station, from where they would travel inland, was packed with Farsi-speaking travellers, clamouring for tickets. Rachid, a student returning home for the holidays, was the first of many strangers to help them.

“Our abiding memory of Iran was the generosity and hospitality of the

people, who often spoke no English. We only had two words of Farsi: nan and noon – bread and cheese,” Paul recalls. “Locals in cars would overtake us then stop to offer food and drink, sometimes accommodation. Even the police at a checkpoint invited us into their hut for hot tea and dates on a very chilly day outside Daran.”

After camping by firelight at Safa Shah and exploring the ancient ruins of Persepolis, Paul and Pamela found themselves in Surmaq at Nawruz with no hotel. Help came in the shape of Sassan, a former Iran cycle champion, who welcomed them to his home. A delicious meal of aubergines and meat stew, falafel patties and rice fortified them for 70 miles on a flat desert road the next day. “We experienced our own kind of mirage,” says Paul; “the road appeared to be slightly downhill and the wind was behind us!”

The desert city of Yadz enchanted them, with its traditional way of

life, ingenious water tunnels and ornate storage towers or badghirs. “We spotted several doors with two doorknockers,” says Pamela. “Traditionally women don’t speak to men outside their family, so the different shaped knockers made distinct sounds to indicate who was knocking.”

On 7 April, they entered Turkey for the 24-day cycle from Dogubayzit to Marmaris through stunning snow-capped mountains. Uphill climbs were worsened by fierce Kangal sheepdogs, who treated cyclists as a threat to their flocks; Paul took to brandishing a stick

True - drizzle, rain, snow, sleet and hail stones all in one day

The long arms of the law, Daran

SPA NEWS | 15

when dogs approached. They reached Cappadocia in one piece for a few pleasant days in a cave hotel among the ‘fairy chimneys’.

Paul and Pamela also enjoyed a stay at The Daffodil Hotel in the seaside town of Fethiye with its Roman amphitheatre, Crusader fortress and market gardens. Outside Fethiye, heading for Marmaris, they climbed a steep hill without realising that they were on the Tour of Turkey cycle route. On the 340m summit, they were greeted by the tour support team with refreshments and lots of jokes about passing through the ‘King of the Mountain’ archway ahead of the pro-cyclists (it had actually taken them three hours while the pros clocked up 45 minutes).

Early May saw Paul and Pamela cycling in spring sunshine along the Peloponnese coast from Piraeus port via Corinth and Lefkada to Igoumenitsa. A ferry to Brindisi began the cycle across Italy, taking in the conical trulli of Alberobello, the unexpected sight of mini-skirted “ladies” soliciting on the road into Rome, grapefruit gelati at Belgioioso, and the basilica by Lake Como. “We had a two-day walking ‘rest’ exploring Rome,” says Paul, “and the Brookes saddles kept us comfy on the road.”

Switzerland brought spectacular vistas but also a cracked wheel rim in Rodi-Fiesso (that Paul had to rebuild overnight), cobblestones, hairpin bends, and the St. Gotthard mountain pass (2,106m) blocked by June snow. France, along the Loire with its chateaux and cathedrals, offered patisserie and fine wines to refresh them for the Roscoff/Plymouth ferry and the last leg through Devon.

On 21 June, Paul and Pamela cycled downhill into the familiar streets of Chagford. “It’s amazing how far you can get in one day on a bike," says Paul, “then if you keep going, who knows where you can go!”

A welcome sign - the summit!

Imamzadeh-ye Ali Ebn-e Hamze shrine Shiraz, Iran

Portico to the 100 Column Hall Persepolis, Iran World Heritage site

Single trulli in southern Italy

Cave room in Soganli Goodbye old house

16 | SPA NEWS

MAKE A DATE IN YORKSHIRE ON 14 MAYIt’s a rare bird whose eyes light up at the suggestion of an annual general meeting, but this year’s SPA AGM promises to be quite an event.

We offer you an excellent 3-course lunch at a subsidised cost of £10. We’re meeting at The Bridge, a country hotel outside Wetherby, near the A1, just a few

miles outside historic York. Why not make a day or even a midweek break of it? The meeting at 11am will be followed by the lunch, leaving you time to go sightseeing, or maybe book into the hotel spa for the afternoon.

It will be an important day as the National Committee will be

recommending, after 45 years, that members vote for a change of name! With your support, we propose to transform the Shell Pensioners Association into the Shell Pecten Association. (See application form on the enclosed AGM insert)

The proposal is not aimed at ourselves, the current members. Most of us are pensioners and happy to be called so. It’s to attract as many as possible of those who have not yet joined – about half of all who are eligible to do so.

Membership has trickled down a little for several reasons:• Current employees of Shell in the

UK are a much smaller proportion of the pensioner population than before, which will limit our opportunity to recruit new members from retiring staff

• Many staff now leave the company before retirement age and consider themselves too young to be

“pensioners”• State pension age has risen to 66,

and will be going up to 68. Retiring staff are going to become state pensioners up to eight years later

• Many continue to work, whether paid or voluntary

• The existing SPA name is not attractive to the younger retirees

• Staff joining the company today will not, on retirement, become “Shell Pensioners”. Their scheme is administered by Fidelity, not the company (though under the constitution changes passed at the 2014 AGM they are welcome to join SPA)

• Pecten is a non-ageist, but nostalgic

term, with a strong Shell connection that many current and future members are familiar with

• Branches rely on younger members joining, to keep them alive.

Cast your vote

We also have two new candidates to fill a vacancy on the National Committee. The results of the election will be announced at the AGM, giving you the opportunity to find out more about who represents the members and to meet the new Chair.

If you are unable to join us on the day, you can vote online or by post. See the enclosed invitation and application form.

But why?Well the name’s broke so we need to fix it

SPA ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

SPA NEWS | 17

SPA BUSINESS

INTERVIEW WITH SHELL UK COUNTRY CHAIR by Colin MorsleyIn February, Richard Springett and I from the Shell Pensioners Association, together with Arthur Lowthian of the Shell Pensioners Benevolent Association, met with Erik Bonino, Shell UK Country Chair, Trui Hebbelink, Vice President for HR for the UK, and Per Reiff-Musgrove, General Manager of the Trustee Services Unit. Erik and Per also very kindly gave time to record video interviews with me, which will be widely available at our SPA Roadshows and our branches a little later in the year.

Arthur updated the meeting on the activities of the Benevolent Association with particular emphasis on the continuing importance of the PLR scheme in identifying and progressing benevolence cases. He highlighted the recent merger of the SMBP Benevolence Association with the SPBA and this led us to discuss the wider relationship between the SPA and the 44 Club (Richard is a member of both organisations). We also expressed our thanks for the continuing company support to the pensioner organisations and our willingness to help in rationalising and improving communication between the company and pensioners. We outlined our proposal to “rebrand” the SPA as the “Shell Pecten Association” with the intention to

expand our membership by attracting a wider spectrum of Shell leavers, especially those who may be reluctant to consider themselves (yet!) as “pensioners”.

In turn Erik updated us on the business situation. It was obvious that the company is strongly focused on the consequences of the recent drop in the oil price. While this is impacting on UK North Sea operations, the global financial strength of the business and the emphasis on gas will help the company to weather the situation. With the UK Budget fast approaching, there is discussion between the industry and government on creating a more sustainable tax position for North Sea oil. Meanwhile the retail fuel business in the UK continues to perform strongly, and the huge Brent Field decommissioning project will spawn a complete new UK industry.

Erik said that Shell will continue to be a significant presence in the UK and sees UK universities as an important source of future talent. The company is working closely with partner organisations in a national initiative called “Tomorrow’s Engineers” to help to address the shortage of engineers and scientists by encouraging more young people to study maths and physics to A-level

(Highers in Scotland) before going on to an engineering or science degree at university. We asked how the SPA could help with this initiative. At present the company’s efforts centre on using more recent Shell graduates to work with schools but there could be scope for SPA members with an engineering or science background to contribute by working though their professional engineering institutions.

As this meeting took place shortly after publication of the December 2015 UK inflation figures we were obviously interested in the effect on the forthcoming annual pension adjustment. Per confirmed that this would be in line with December RPI as in recent years. First indications are that our pension funds have performed well despite a difficult year in the markets. It was also good to hear of the much improved performance of Pensions Administration after a difficult period.

As ever it was a most helpful meeting and we are grateful to Erik, Trui and Per for giving us their time. The DVD of the video interviews will be available to all SPA branches to borrow so if you would like to see it please contact your local branch committee.

Per Reiff-Musgrove

Erik Bonino, Colin Morsley and Richard Springett

18 | SPA NEWS

SPA MISCELLANEOUS

Shell starts the 2015 race season as BMW Motorsport’s exclusive premium technology partner – a deal which sees Shell supply and co-design premium motor oils for BMW Motorsport race cars. BMW will for the first time exclusively recommend a fuel, Shell V-Power, for use in BMW M Automobiles – M Series road cars. Shell will supply its premium lubricants to BMW Motorsport’s racing events: the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (DTM) in Germany, Austria, Netherlands and Russia; the TUDOR United

SportsCar Championship (USCC) in the United States and Canada; and the 24-hour Nürburgring-Nordschleife race in Germany.

BMW Motorsport race cars will use Shell premium motor oils, like Shell Helix Ultra and Pennzoil Platinum (for North America), both made with Shell PurePlus Technology, along with other premium lubricants like Shell Spirax (transmission fluid) and Shell Gadus (greases). Shell Helix Ultra and Pennzoil branding will appear on the race cars, drivers’ overalls and on other

promotional items such as driver helmets and the BMW Motorsport website.

Collaborating for victory on the track

Shell will also, specifically for DTM, co-develop a bespoke motor oil to maximise driveline performance and further reduce friction and wear on race engines, which could make all the difference for victory. Each manufacturer is limited to nine engines to last the full 2015 season.

A NEW PARTNERSHIP SEES SHELL CO-DESIGN MOTOR OILS FOR EXTRA HORSEPOWER ON THE TRACK AND EXCLUSIVELY SUPPLY FUELS FOR BMW’S HIGH-END ROAD CARS

PUTTING STORE BY CONVENIENCE by Helen Page

Dr Herb Sorenson, a leading expert in patterns of shopping, gave a talk to staff interested in the convenience stores attached to filling stations. By tapping into the mind of the shopper, the retailer can improve the welcome and experience for visitors. There’s a mistaken perception that purchasing is driven by price – in fact it’s the opposite. If buyers think that something is expensive, then it must be better. An important message to retailers is to give the customer what they want, not what you think they want.

Customers want choice. They want to know they can get the unusual ingredients, and this is what attracts them to a large supermarket. However, the top 50 items stocked account for just under half of all items sold, even in a superstore which stocks several thousand items: 3% of stock accounts for 46% of sales. The top 1% items deliver 20% sales. And the single biggest selling item everywhere is …? Milk? Bread? No…. it’s the banana! In a convenience store, you’ll see it stocked near the checkout, where it’s easily accessible and placed alongside other top-selling items.

There has been a move lately back to the “communal pantry” concept, where shoppers buy fewer items, but more regularly. A weekly visit to the out-of-town superstore is becoming less popular. The average purchase in a supermarket is just five items. Although many people are buying a basketful of goods, many more buy just one item. The majority of customers in a convenience store buy just one item: price is not the key factor, it is speed. If items are easy to find, shoppers will spend more. I seem to remember, some time back, that supermarkets used to make some popular goods difficult to locate, in the hope that if you walked further, you would pick up more goods.

It’s good to hear that retailers are now working for the consumer, rather than trying to manipulate them into buying more, which doesn’t work.

For more information go to: www.shopperscientist.com

The Shell BMW M4 to race in the DTM season starting 2 May at Hockenheim, Germany

SPA NEWS | 19

When 20 year-old Malcolm Dick got a job as driver’s mate in 1957 at Shell Mex in Thame, Oxfordshire, he thought he was a lucky lad. At 21, he passed his tanker test and was sent off with experienced driver Jim Thomas in an Arctic Scammell to refuel the Bletchley Shell garage on the busy A5. They stretched the hoses out across the pavement and soon petrol was pumping into the tanks by the showroom; it was time for a break. Malcolm called Jim, who was in his cab, for coffee. Jim jumped out; seconds later a lorry hit the back of the tanker thrusting the hose rack right through the cab. Amazingly, the hoses didn’t break. Lucky Jim escaped almost certain death and Bletchley a dangerous petrol spill.

Malcolm enjoyed some unusual opportunities at Thame Depot. In 1965, he drove a tanker for the BBC series The Troubleshooters, doubling for Bernard Cribbins who played ‘The Driver of the Year’. Malcolm had to manoeuvre his vehicle onto the gantry then duck down, out of shot, for the close-ups. When Swindon’s 'Magic Roundabout’ was being built, Malcolm drove his AEC Mammoth Majors 8 wheel 24-tonner round it so that the road markings and centre island could be positioned correctly for big vehicles.

When Thame was to be replaced by Buncefield in Hertfordshire, Malcolm started working at the new depot before it was fully operational. He was filling up at a gantry fitted with a new safety device set to 500 gallons but at 40 the hose shot out spraying fuel everywhere. Eventually Malcolm set off to relieve the M1 Newport Pagnell service station, which had run out of petrol. As he pulled up, 30 stranded drivers cheered; he connected the hoses quickly to deliver his load. Just then a car screeched to a halt on the forecourt and out jumped a Buncefield supervisor shouting “Stop!": 40 gallons of rusty water had got into the petrol. This would have caused

all the cars to break down, creating a major hazard on the busy motorway. To the consternation of the watching drivers, Malcolm had no alternative but to turn around and drive his contaminated load back.

Malcolm was also lucky in his personal life. His grandfather had got him into the Aunt Sally team of his local, The Royal Standard near Thame, as an energetic young ‘ringer’, the rest of the team being in their sixties. Grandpa was a bit deaf and sent Malcolm to meet the landlord on the wrong night so, instead of having a chat with the publican, Malcolm chatted up a pretty girl in the snug. Happily, this led to Malcolm gaining a wife and the publican a trophy in the Aunt Sally league.

In 1979, Malcolm left Shell because he didn’t want to disrupt his children’s education by moving permanently to Buncefield. With his record of 23 accident-free years, he soon got a job driving for Cargo home stores. Malcolm had a close shave in '87 when he made a delivery in Hungerford. He blocked in a jeep illegally parked in the loading bay, made his delivery and was about to have coffee when an irate man, in camouflage clothes, came into the shop shouting – it was his jeep. Exactly one week later the same man, Michael Ryan, went berserk with a shotgun and murdered 14 people in Hungerford. Two months later, Malcolm got his lorry to Portsmouth and back unscathed by the hurricane that left 18 tall-sided vehicles overturned on the A34.

In retirement, Malcolm’s good luck is holding. He enjoys filming nesting birds and growing roses in his lovely garden in Whitney, Oxfordshire, plus the occasional game of Aunt Sally. The only downside is every night Malcolm dreams about driving tankers and there's always an accident, breakdown or madman with a shotgun in his reveries.

Malcolm would like to hear from former colleagues; please contact SPA.

A TANKFUL OF LUCK

SHELL DRIVER MALCOLM DICK SHARES MEMORIES OF AN EVENTFUL CAREER WITH ARDELLA JONES

20 | SPA NEWS

SPA F INANCE

RECENTLY RELOCATED OR NEED TO SEND MONEY ABROAD? UKFOREX OFFER THREE TOP TIPS TO SAVE MONEY ON CURRENCY TRANSFERS

The world of international payments can be opaque with hidden bank charges that can cost you if not managed carefully. In this article, we look to cover some useful tips to help control these costs when making international payments.

SHOP AROUND

TIMING

FLUCTUATION

POWER OF ATTORNEY

When buying foreign currency you do not have to use your bank for the transfers – it is rarely the cheapest option. The cost of making a foreign exchange payment is made up of the exchange rate difference (the difference between the published interbank rate and the rate you get) and any other additional sending or receiving charges. The difference between the published interbank rate and the rate you get on a payment can be as much

as 3% just for sending the funds.The exchange rate is not all you need

to consider when you make a transfer. Many financial institutions charge a fee on top, and sometimes these aren’t clearly advertised. Fees tend to vary depending on the size of the transfer and whether you do it over the internet, by phone, or in a branch, but they can be sizeable so you should compare before you transfer. If the amount you’re transferring is large enough or

you’re transferring regularly, the fee may sometimes be reduced or waived, although banks are unlikely to waive this in full. Fees can sometimes be applied to the recipient of your transfer, by the receiving bank.

All these costs add up. For example, if you were transferring a pension, savings or making an overseas mortgage payment, every £10,000 you send could be costing as much as £350 in exchange rate difference and quoted fees.

Timing is equally important when looking to make international payments. The recent weakness in the EUR has been well publicised, but you may be interested to understand the cost impact

of this fluctuation. Between 5 January and 6 March 2015 the EUR fell 7.4% against GBP, making a big difference on the amount of currency you receive. In January, purchasing €50,000 would

have cost £39,065.55; today this costs £36,148.06 – a difference of £2,917. If you were sending €50,000 back to GBP you would be £2,917 worse off today than in January.

There is never any certainty when dealing with the financial markets, but make sure you assess the rates you’re getting by comparing your bank with established providers to ensure you’re getting the best deal. If you’re making larger international payments

make sure you also have access to a knowledgeable team and good online facilities. This will help guide you through the process and give you a better understanding of the currency markets, so you can make an informed decision on when to buy your foreign currency.

*SPA members can obtain favourable exchange rates and low or zero fees on amounts over the £750 minimum transfer rate. If you would like to register or get in touch to see if they can help, tel: 0207 614 4100 or go to www.ukforex.co.uk/?pid=1344

This covers:• an attorney under a lasting power

of attorney • an attorney under an enduring

power of attorney • a court appointed deputy.

You need to complete form ‘OPG 100’ to search the register. This is a free service.

The website to go to is: www.gov.uk/government/publications/search-public-guardian-registers or tel: 0300 456 0300.

If you are in the situation of trying to help organise a friend or relative’s affairs, you may not know whether or not they have drawn up a Power of Attorney, which is important. To find out if someone has an attorney or deputy acting for them, you can apply to search the Office of the Public Guardian registers.

SPA NEWS | 21

SPA HEALTH

Public libraries in England have launched the latest Reading Well Books on a Prescription scheme to support people with dementia and their carers. The books are available in public libraries as part of a national library strategy to support the development of dementia-friendly communities and build understanding and awareness of the condition.

Dementia presents a key health challenge, with a social, personal and economic impact on the estimated 850,000 people in the UK living with the condition, as well as their carers and families. The new scheme will also help the many people living without a formal diagnosis who may be worrying about symptoms and wanting to find out more.

The 25 titles on the list have been recommended by health experts as well as people with experience. It includes a range of books offering information and advice about dementia and normal ageing, support with living well after diagnosis,

practical advice for carers, and suggestions for shared therapeutic activities.

A GP or other health professional may give out a Reading Well Book on prescription and recommend one of the titles. The book should be available to borrow from the local library. Leaving the recommendation form with staff also helps the scheme learn more about how people are using it. Library book loans and borrower details are confidential.

You can find out more at: www.reading-well.org.uk or ask at your local library.

“TO ME, OLD AGE IS ALWAYS TEN YEARS OLDER THAN I AM” - Bernard Baruch

READ ALL ABOUT IT

Self-perceived age can be an indicator of health in later life. It is the age that reflects feelings of health, physical limitations, and well-being, such as people who still drive and walk and play as if they were younger. On the other hand, there are those at 50 who feel old due to problems, physical or emotional, or both. The good news is that the majority of older people feel younger than their chronological age.

The reasons we feel old, or older, have been attributed to:• Becoming a parent at an early – or late – age, or any

other role transitions perceived as ill-timed• Stress at work or at home• Serious health problems

If you feel younger than your actual age, you live longer

University College London* reported several years of research on self-perceived ageing and its effects on health. Participants were asked ‘How old do you feel you are?’ The participants’ average chronological age: 66 years. Their average self-perceived age: 57 years.

Compared with those who felt older than their age, the research observed a lower death rate in those who felt three or

more years younger than their actual age. Mortality rate was:• 15% among adults who felt younger than their actual age• 18% for those who felt their actual age• 25% for those who felt older

There was a strong association between self-perceived age and death caused by cardiovascular disease, but not between self-perceived age and cancer death.

Why do those who feel younger live longer?

The researchers say the following stand out:• Greater resilience• Sense of empowerment• Will to live• Positive health behaviours, e.g. adhering to medical advice

If you feel older than your actual age, that can be changed. Support and information can nurture positive health attitudes. Changing mindsets about ageing can alter someone’s self-perceived age.

* JAMA Internal Medicine, Isla Rippon and Dr. Andrew Steptoe analyzed data from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing in 2004-2005 with 6,489 participants

22 | SPA NEWS

Claude Monet, The Thames below Westminster © The National Gallery, London. Bequeathed by Lord Astor of Hever, 1971

So universally popular are the Impressionists today, it’s hard to imagine a time when they weren’t. But in the early 1870s they struggled to be accepted. Shunned by the art establishment, they were even lambasted as ‘lunatics’ by one critic. One man, however, recognised their worth from the beginning. Paul Durand-Ruel, an entrepreneurial art dealer from Paris, discovered this group of young artists – including Monet, Degas, Manet, Renoir, Pissarro and Sisley – and gambled.

Realising the fashionable potential of their derided ‘impressions’ of urban and suburban life, Durand-Ruel dedicated the rest of his life to building an audience for

'INVENTING IMPRESSIONISM' AT THE NATIONAL GALLERY – FREE TICKETS

SPA T IME OUT

The National Theatre is a working building, producing over 20 new productions every year. Preparation for the shows, including rehearsals, prop and costume-making all happen on site. No two tours are ever the same.

SPA has been offered four pairs of tickets for the National Theatre backstage tour, which can be redeemed anytime during 2015. There is usually a choice of three tours per weekday and two at weekends. It would appeal to a younger audience too, so why not take a grandchild? Minimum age is five but, unless they have a specific

interest in the theatre, it is aimed at children who are a little older. There are quite a few steps, and, although there are lifts, those with very restricted mobility may find the tour less attractive. It lasts 1 hour 15 minutes.

If you applied for National Theatre tickets in the winter issue, but were unsuccessful, YOU WILL BE AUTOMATICALLY ENTERED INTO THIS BALLOT. If you didn’t enter the previous ballot, please apply by 27 April (see contact details p2). Winners will be notified by the first week of May.

If you’re not a winner, you might be interested in the family tours that usually run at half term and in the holidays. These include a chance to try on some costumes and admit three free children for every adult ticket (£8.50). The tours last approximately 60 minutes and are suitable for children aged 5 to 12 years.

A PEEK BEHIND THE SCENES

their work – creating the modern art market in the process.

Such was his perseverance, Durand-Ruel nearly bankrupted himself twice, before successfully globalising his operation with outposts in London, Brussels and New York, and establishing the one-man show as the international norm for exhibitions. The ‘Impressionists’ – a term first used derogatively by critics – was to become the household name that stands today.

‘Inventing Impressionism’ features 85 masterpieces from the movement, all but one having passed through Durand-Ruel’s hands, including three of Renoir’s famous ‘Dances’ and five from Monet’s ‘Poplars’ series.

SPA has been generously allocated 50 pairs of tickets, valid until 24 May. If you applied for Rembrandt tickets in the winter issue, but were unsuccessful, YOU WILL BE AUTOMATICALLY ENTERED INTO THIS BALLOT. If you did not enter the previous ballot, please apply by 20 April (see contact details p2). Winners will be notified by the end of April.

Do you have friends or family visiting Aberdeen? Do you need to book some accommodation for them? Are you holidaying in Scotland? If so, why not book Woodbank!

Book to stay for two nights (Friday-Saturday or Saturday-Sunday) throughout 2015 and take advantage of their new offers!

• Superior Rooms: £90.00• Executive Rooms: £110.00• Suites: £150.00 These rates are based on single or

double occupancy for two nights and include a fully cooked breakfast on both mornings.

To make a reservation or to check availability, please call the Woodbank Reservations Team on 01224 884700 or email reservations-woodbank@shell.com

ACCOMMODATION OFFER FOR WOODBANK IN ABERDEEN

SPA NEWS | 23

'SHELL FURNITURE'

BEAULIEUSpring has sprung – don’t forget to use your discount voucher to gain 20% off admission to Beaulieu National Motor Museum in Hampshire, home to the Shell Art Collection. The discount can be used to admit you and up to three guests; just present the coupon, with your membership card, to visitor reception at Beaulieu. Offer expires 31 December 2015. www.beaulieu.co.uk

Committee Member Sue Marlbrough took this photograph recently on a visit to the Swakopmund Museum in Namibia. The furniture was made from petroleum and paraffin packing crates during the great depression of the1930s. Even though crates of other petroleum companies were also used, this type of affordable homemade furniture became known as 'Shell Furniture' all over the Namibia, and used mostly by newly-weds.

24 | SPA NEWS

Marine: for old friends and colleagues from SIM and STUK. Next lunch will be 20 May 2015, at Lensbury. Contact Eamonn McGettrick 01227 740586 or email marinereunion@btinternet.com

Pecten Golf Society welcomes all Shell (and ex Shell) golfers (male and female) who would like to meet up for a friendly round of golf followed by lunch in the South East of England. Next meeting, 27 April at Betchworth Park Golf Club, near Dorking, 2 September at Bramley Golf Club, Guildford, 4 November, North Hants Golf Club in Fleet. Contact Margaret Bedford 020 8940 5044 mkbedford@talktalk.net

Shell Travel Club please book asapSorrento & Amalfi Coast 6-13 May 2015 Burgundy/Champagne Tour 8-15 Jun 2015 North West England, based in Liverpool 16-21 Aug 2015 Cyprus 7-14 Oct 2015 Contact Rod Brown rgbrown77@virginmedia.com

60th anniversary of the first ascent of Kanchenjunga by George Band and Joe Brown. Many Shell pensioners will remember George from his years with Shell International in the UK, Venezuela, Oman, Holland and Bangladesh. On retirement he took over the Chairmanship of the Himalayan Trust UK which brings modern teaching methods and trained teachers to the children in the remote province of Taplejung, through which the route march to Kanchenjunga passes. Lecture - 7pm Thursday 4 June 2015 at the RGS www.himalayantrust.co.uk or John Walton, 2 Lobelia Close, Worcester WR5 3RR; tickets £20.

There are a number of reunions and meetings organised throughout the year from different business departments. We will advertise the reunions that we know about.

SPA REUNIONS & MEETINGS

52nd Shell Venezuela reunion will be celebrated at the Royal Air Force Club, Piccadilly, on 14 May 2015, at midday. Contact Andy Cole cole@andrewcole78.orangehome.co.uk

East Europe, 2015 July 7, midday at Champagne Charlies, London. Contact Tom Salmons 01580 714572 salmons@tiscali.co.uk

Lensbury Mountaineering Club 40th reunion. Sat 21 Nov 2015 at The Lensbury, Teddington, Middx. An entertaining evening and lots of good chat. Contact: Andy & Kirsty Johns, Tel: 01873 810563, Email: LMC@hillsandvalleys.co.uk Website: www.hillsandvalleys.co.uk/LMC

Oman Golfers Association – the 36th Annual Meeting on 7, 8 and 9 July 2015 at Formby Hall Golf Resort & Spa, Formby, Merseyside. Contact Fred Gray: 01624 837247, facgray@manx.net

Singapore/Malaya, now West Malaysia – Wednesday 7 October 2015. All welcome. Contact Barry Collins 01306 887522, penbar@btinternet.com

SCUK/SICC 33rd Shell Chemicals Reunion Lunch: including partners, guests and deferred pensioners. This year the invitation has been extended to colleagues from the Netherlands. If you know anyone who might be interested, please encourage them to attend. Thursday 23 April 2015, Wimbledon Room, Lensbury, Broom Road, Teddington, Middlesex TW11 9NU. Contact Jon Warnke 01483 417387, jgwarnke@btinternet.com

Shell Chemicals Seniors' Golf Day Sunningdale Ladies Golf Club, 20 May 2015. Contact Martin Edsall, mgedsall@waitrose.com

Far East, 22 April 2015 at the Lensbury Club. Organiser Don Cheshire: 01732 454454

Shell Lubricants UK/Shell Oils UK, Industrial Markets – 20 April 2015, at The Fownes Hotel, Worcester, with optional golf competition for the 'Dennis Keeping Trophy' at Worcester G&CC. Hotel rooms at a preferential rate for those wishing to stay overnight. Further information: Neil Bown: 01630 647129 nimbo@btinternet.com

Reunion Lensbury Mountaineering Club

George Band climbs Kanchenjunga

Pecten Golf Society winners

SPA NEWS | 25

Here's a selection of the many wonderful photos we receive. If you wish to share details of your celebration please contact Lynn who deals with these announcements.

By Lynn Forsdyke

GOLDEN (50 YEARS) DIAMOND (60 YEARS) PLATINUM (70 YEARS)

Branigan, Tish and Mike of Basingstoke, Hampshire – 9 January. Prior to retirement Mike worked in Shell Malaysia.

Edwards, Thérèse and Eric of East Twickenham, Middlesex – 16 January. Prior to retirement Eric worked in Shell Service Company, Qatar.

EMERALD (55 YEARS)

Klein-Velderman, Ann and Jaap of West Horsley, Surrey – 16 December. Ann worked as a school teacher for Shell Venezuela where she met Jaap. Prior to retirement Jaap worked in Shell Expro.

Coppin, Ann and Ivan of Tacolneston, Norfolk – 31 January. Prior to retirement Ivan worked at Hamble Depot, Southampton.

Doran, Brenda and Ken of North Humberside – 5 March. Prior to retirement Ken worked in Retail.

Newell, Audrey and Albert (Bert) of Deeside, Clwyd – 22 January. Prior to retirement Albert worked in the Laboratories at Stanlow.

John Beal and his wife June, at a lunch at Eastbourne Harbour in January, where Sussex branch presented them with gifts. John served as both Chair and Committee member since 1994 and has now retired, along with Norman Sherry, who served nearly 30 years as Member, Committee Member, Editor, Treasurer and Secretary. As he said, “A full house”!

BRANCH NEWS

SPA CONGRATULATIONS

Sanderson, Adrienne and Frank of Isle of Man – 6 February. Frank worked in Shell Chemicals UK Ltd prior to retirement.

26 | SPA NEWS

SPA BRANCH EVENTS, CALENDAR, 2015 AND CONTACTS

CheshireKenneth Skeldon Email: kenneth.skeldon@sky.comMay 12 Tweedmill, the Marine Drive/Great Orme and LlandudnoJun 9 Bridgemere Garden WorldJul 14 Blackburn Market, Samlesbury Hall tour & lunch

Chilterns & Thames Valley Judith Turner Tel: 01895 637188 Email:judith.turnerspa@btinternet.com7 May Lunch, Sonning Golf Club

Cumbria & LancashireKen Lovell Tel: 01900 823414 Email: kennethlovell@btinternet.com 20 Apr AGM at Longlands Hotel, Tewitfield, Carnforth20 May Summer Lunch, The Fenwick Arms, Claughton

Devon & CornwallDavid Watters Tel: 01803 856648 Email: dgwatters@gmx.com 19 May Lunch & AGM, Falcon Hotel, Bude

East AngliaSally Brown Tel: 01502 585023 Email: spbrown.gilpin@virgin.net16 Apr AGM and Spring Lunch, Park Farm Hotel, Hethersett, Nr Norwich21 May Visit to the Fairhaven Woodland and Water Garden at South Walsham with lunch24 Jun Guided tour of Ousden House, nr Newmarket, followed by Afternoon Tea14 Jul Dunwich Area – 5 mile Circular Walk with Pub Lunch24 Jul Lunch followed by cruise on the River Deben,

nr Woodbridge

EssexIris Shaw Tel: 01375 679908 Email: irisshaw@tiscali.co.ukGuest speaker each month

Greater Manchester (details on branch website)Bryan Clarke Tel: 0161 456 5083 Email: groveblue@sky.com Branch website www.spa-manchester.org.uk Regular events: flat walking every 3rd Thurs, hill walking every 2nd WedApr Visit to LancasterMay Nottingham - Castle and the Workhouse (NT)1/3 Jun Walking Group Holiday, Anglesey8 Jun Summer Lunch, Sale Conservative Club Jun Foulridge Canal Boat Trip15-19 Jun Holiday to TorquayJul Thorp Perrow Arboretum

Isle of ManDavid Wilson Tel: 01624 833510 Email: dave-wilson@manx.net29 Apr AGM & lunch

Isle of WightElaine Gourlay Tel: 01983 209617 Email: elainegourlay@yahoo.co.uk

KentLinda Leborgne Tel: 01634 262081 Email: linda@leborgne.freeserve.co.uk15 Apr Pub Lunch at Red Lion, Herne Hill 30 Apr AGM and afternoon tea at Boughton Golf Club, Faversham 30 Jun Visit to Finchcocks Musical Museum, Goudhurst

The MarchesGill Stovold Tel: 01568 760241 Email: gill.stovold@virgin.net 15 Apr Spring lunch, Leominster Golf Club

MidshiresAlan Chandler Tel: 0121 705 1648 Email: alan.16@blueyonder.co.uk 14 May Carvery lunch, Moor Hall Hotel Sutton Coldfield Jul tba Outing to Avoncroft

North London & HertsRobert Hillyard Tel: 01707 654165 Email: robert_hillyard@hotmail.com 21 Apr RNLI Station, Victoria Embankment (with SC Lunch) 18 May Covent Garden Opera House Guided Tour24 Jun Lunch, Woodman Inn, Hatfield15 Jul Guided visit to Imperial War Museum, Duxford

North & Mid HantsMalcolm Wells Tel: 01256 346743 Email: malcolm.j.wells@btinternet.com10 Apr Pub lunch at The Star Inn, Bentworth Nr. Alton. 7 May Skittles and lunch at The Northbrook Arms, East Stratton, near Winchester12 Jun Lunch at The Red Lion, Chalton, Nr. PetersfieldJul TBA Annual Outing – more details in due course

Northern IrelandAlma Atkins Tel: 02890 839003 Email: almaatkins@icloud.com

Northumberland & DurhamDoug Renton Tel: 0191 252 5331 Email: douglas.renton1@virginmedia.com 21 Apr Lunch Snowy Owl, Cramlington15 Jul Lunch TBA

ScotlandJune Wilson Email: sspamembershipsec@gmail.com 15 May AGM, Woodbank4 Jun Fleming Golf Competition, Ballater GC

SPA NEWS | 27

SPA BRANCH EVENTS

SelkentPauline Langley Tel: 020 8856 1816 Email: p_e_langley@tiscali.co.uk 21Apr City Gardens Walk (London)20 May Spring Lunch (The Chaser, Shipbourne)11Jun BBC Broadcasting House Tour (London)29 Jul Visit to Palace of Westminster

Severn & AvonGerry Mapson Tel: 01452 712084 Email: camap.gb@blueyonder.co.uk 23 Apr AGM, Minchinhampton Golf Club21May Wells Cathedral & Lunch18 Jun Garden Party, PortisheadJul Snowshill Manor (NT)

South Hants & DorsetColin Lambert Tel: 01202 749676 Email: colin@lambert14.orangehome.co.uk 30 Apr AGM, South Lawns Hotel, Milton-on-Sea

South WalesGill Beach Tel: 01792 369320 Email gillianbeach@mac.com

East SurreyMartyn Hankin Tel: 020 8946 2519 E-mail: jandmhankin@hotmail.com.26 May Lunch, Leatherhead Golf Club

West SurreyMargaret Parsons Tel: 01483 811103 Email: mike_margaretparsons@btinternet.com17 Apr Spring Lunch, Hotel Antoinette, Surbiton 11 May Lunch/Quiz at Old Wimbledonians RFC, Raynes Park5 Jun Tour of Broadcasting House, Portland Place

SussexClive Woollaston Tel: 01424 437572 Email: clivewoollaston@btinternet.com 15 Apr Spring Luncheon the Windsor Hotel, WorthingTBA Summer outing

YorkshireHanneke Wood Tel: Contact SPA Email: pandhwood@mac.com

Cheshire lunch

N London Herts Northumberland and Durham

N Mid Hants Xmas

Severn Avon garden party

NM Hants Ace photographer Roy Tubbs in action

28 | SPA NEWS

The branch covers a long stretch, from West London to beyond Oxford. The most convenient, not to mention beautiful, focus for their bi-annual lunches is Sonning. It’s less than an hour’s drive for most members. The facilities and quality of the food at Sonning Golf Club are second to none, so the branch returns regularly. Their previous haunt, Leander Club at Henley, became rather too exclusive after the rowing successes of Sir Steve Redgrave.

Chairman Derek Shrubb joined Chemicals in The Hague. He had an international career before retiring, working in Holland, south of France and Belgium, amongst others. His wife

SPA BRANCHES

“What are those blue remembered hills, What spires, what farms are those?” These lines from A.E. Housman’s A Shropshire Lad sum up the delightful countryside that we Marches folk call home. We draw members from a wide area of Wales and western England, and it’s quite common for a few of us to drive 50 miles to a meeting – all through wonderful scenery too.

Being well away from major Shell locations, we’re a small branch, run by Maggie Covington (Chairman), Gill Stovold (Secretary), and Stewart Officer (Treasurer). Maggie is approaching her silver anniversary on the Committee and her inimitable style and humour ensure that any formal agenda is crisp and entertaining, so that we can get on with the main business of meeting friends, old and new. Maggie and Gill played hockey together

CHILTERNS & THAMES VALLEY

Monica (nee Gillham) is a committee member who worked as a Secretary to the Chairman and latterly as a programme administrator to senior management programmes at Lensbury.

Previous Chair, Judith Turner, is now branch Secretary. Although she joined SICC in Shell Centre, she crossed the river to Shell-Mex House to serve no less than four UK Chairmen. Robin Willsmore, the branch Treasurer worked with Pensions division at SIPC and previously with London Transport. Peter Bright, committee member, spent many years working in External Affairs where he was responsible for relations with International bodies, particularly with respect to the environment. Laurie Wheeler, committee member, had a career spanning 32 years, starting with Eagle Petroleum and moving latterly to

Public Affairs where he was involved in organising many external events.

Last year the branch organised for the first time a theatre visit to The Mill at Sonning, where 20 members met for drinks and supper before being ushered into the theatre to see an engaging production of “Enchanted April”. The event was a great success and it’s planned to have another theatre visit this autumn.

at Lensbury and still make a formidable team now. We meet three times a year, in spring and autumn (AGM) for lunch at Leominster Golf Club, and the highlight of our summer American picnic at a member’s house – bring your own main course; fruit punch, desserts and coffee provided. A delightful day out and only one wet day out of six for us so far!

We always hold a raffle, ably marshalled by Margaret and Peter Ford, and make regular donations to SPBA from the proceeds. Our membership stands at about 35, though we sadly lost our oldest member, Phyllis Puttick, in January aged 95. New members are always most warmly welcome, as Kirsty and I found when we arrived in 2009. You’ll meet people who’ve spent their Shell careers in the UK and all over the world, too. You’ll probably find a familiar face or two as well – for me, there was Maggie from my sporting days at Lensbury (Gill’s husband Peter was a rugby teammate) and Stewart is a colleague from Brunei and The Hague.

Come and join us! We also have some of the finest walking country in Britain, so if other branches want to visit, we might even be able to provide a local guide!

National Committee member Andy Johns introduces the MARCHES branch

The Mill at Sonning

SPA NEWS | 29

We will include in this column the death of spouses of members; however, we are totally reliant on you advising us of such details. Please note that we are unable to print any that are over a year old. We regret to report the death of the following members:

Adams, Roy (77) – Enterprise Oil died 3 January

Allen, Ernest (84) – Shell UK Oil Products Ltd died 27 November

Andrews, James (95) – Lubricants Producers Ltd died 24 December

Arkell, Richard Nicholas (65) – Shell International Petroleum Company Ltd died 17 January

Atkinson, Mrs Ann (76) wife of Paul – Shell UK Stanlow died 1 July

Bagot-Gray, Mrs Anne (81) widow of James Thomas – Shell Sekiyu Kabushiki Kaisha died 22 December

Baker, Charles (88) – Shell Chemicals UK Ltd died 19 December

Ball, Mrs Beryl (97) widow of Leslie Elijah – Shell UK Oil Products Ltd died 24 December

Ball, Mrs Marjorie Maud (84) widow of A Ball – Shell Research Ltd died 12 December

Banham, George Millward (88) – Shell UK Oil Products Ltd died 8 February

Barford, Mrs Elsie (93) widow of James – Shell Tankers (UK) Ltd died 30 December

Barker, Mrs Ellen Elizabeth (80) widow of Thomas John – Shell International Ltd died 5 October

Barraclough, Robin (80) – Shell International Petroleum Company Ltd died 25 November

Baxter, Mrs Helen (82) widow of George – Shell UK Oil Products Ltd died 14 October

Beason, Miss Urscella (91) – Shell UK Oil Products Ltd died 16 January

Bennett, Malcolm (81) – Shell UK Oil Products Ltd died 29 December

Bigg, Mrs Brenda Florence (82) – Shell UK Oil Products Ltd died 1 February

Blachford, Peter (87) – Shell UK Oil Products Ltd died 26 January

Bloor, Mrs Betty Kathleen (73) widow of Derek Edward – Shell Tankers (UK) Ltd died 21 November

Bragg, Joseph Edward (85) – Shell UK Oil Products Ltd died 25 December

Bragg, Mrs Shirley (80) widow of Arthur Jack – Shell UK Oil Products Ltd died 2 January

Brightman, Mrs Joyce Alice (92) – Shell Research Ltd died 28 December

SPA OBITUARIES

Brightmore, Mrs Minnie (98) widow of John Robert – Shell Chemicals UK Ltd died 17 December

Brook, Basil Millar (92) – Shell Chemicals UK Ltd died 8 February

Brooker, Peter Geoffrey (74) – Shell UK Oil Products Ltd died 5 December

Brown, Arthur (90) – Shell UK Oil Products Ltd died 28 January

Browne, Mrs Marjorie Judith (93) widow of Kenneth Richard – Shell Chemicals UK Ltd died 26 December

Browning, Frank Verdun (95) – SMBP/Power/Nat.Benzole died 12 January

Bullock, Albert (81) – Shell UK Oil Products Ltd died 2 February

Burgess, Mrs Annie Matilda (90) widow of Douglas Charles John – Shell UK Oil Products Ltd died 23 December

Burnett, Ronald (89) – Shell UK Oil Products Ltd died 9 February

Burns, Mrs Marjorie (88) widow of Leonard – Shell UK Oil Products Ltd died 22 December

Burton, Mrs Mae Harriett (92) widow of Noble Roy – Shell UK Oil Products Ltd died 7 January

Cain, Mrs Josephine (79) widow of Brian Edward – Shell Chemicals UK Ltd died 8 January

Cairns, William (90) – Colas Products died 26 November

Cambridge, Brian (82) – Shell UK Exploration & Production Ltd died 9 February

Campen, Eric Ernest George (89) – Shell UK Oil Products Ltd died 22 January

Carter, Mrs Edna Florence (95) widow of Mr Carter – Burmah Shell Oil Storage & Dist. Co of India Ltd died 20 February

Claudot, Stanley (94) – Shell Research Ltd died 30 January

Clegg, Samuel (93) – Shell UK Oil Products Ltd died 9 December

Coe, Mrs Dorothea (90) widow of Alan John – Shell UK Oil Products Ltd died 10 December

Cohen, Mrs Paloma (96) widow of Mozy Abraham – Shell International Petroleum Company Ltd died 18 November

Colwell, Mrs Winifred (105) widow of W H Colwell – SMBP/Power/Nat.Benzole died 4 January

Comer, Harry (92) – Shell UK Oil Products Ltd died 25 December

Conelley, Mrs Jeanne (91) widow of George Alfred – Shell International Ltd died 29 September

Connell, Mrs Shirley (80) widow of K M Connell – Shell UK Oil Products Ltd died 21 December

Connie, Mrs Glenys (91) widow of Thomas Lee – Shell Tankers (UK) Ltd died 21 December

Cooke, Mrs Sylvia (89) widow of Randle – Shell UK Oil Products Ltd died 13 December

Cooper, Mrs Irene (86) widow of William – Shell Chemicals UK Ltd died 12 January

Cotter, Mrs Valerie (83) widow of Richard Walter – Shell UK Exploration & Production Ltd died 28 November

Crane, Adrian George (89) – Shell International Petroleum Company Ltd died 16 December

Cubbin, Terence (83) – Shell International Petroleum Company Ltd died 3 February

Davies, Mrs Annie (82) widow of Philip George – Shell Chemicals UK Ltd died 26 December

Davies, G R V (92) – Shell UK Oil Products Ltd died 12 January

Davies, John (96) – Shell UK Oil Products Ltd died 29 December

Davis, Mrs Cynthia Irene (94) widow of A C Davis – Shell UK Oil Products Ltd died 19 December

Davis, Douglas Henry (82) – Shell UK Oil Products Ltd died 29 November

Davis, Mrs Frances Agnes (93) widow of R Davis – Shell Research Ltd died 5 January

Dering, John Douglas (92) – Shell International Petroleum Company Ltd died 29 December

Dilley, Mrs Margaret (88) widow of Geoffrey – Shell Chemicals UK Ltd died 7 December

Ditchburn, Mrs Ellen (96) widow of D Ditchburn – Shell UK Oil Products Ltd died 31 December

Doe, Geoffrey George (83) – Shell UK Oil Products Ltd died 8 February

Dudley, Mrs Elsie May (93) widow of John Eric – Shell Chemicals UK Ltd died 10 January

Dunbar, Derek A (93) – Shell UK Oil Products Ltd died 14 January

30 | SPA NEWS

SPA OBITUARIES

Durose, Mrs Kathleen Mary (91) widow of Peter Frederick Augustus – Shell UK Oil Products Ltd died 25 October

Dykes, Mrs Margaret (91) widow of Norman Douglas – Shell Research Ltd died 22 January

Edgington, Mrs Marjorie (93) widow of Henry James – SMBP/Power/Nat.Benzole died 14 December

Escott, Mrs Jocelyn (90) widow of Harry Charles George – Shell Chemicals UK Ltd died 28 January

Featherstone, Mrs Signe Monica (89) widow of William Peter – Shell International Petroleum Company Ltd died 24 November

Fletcher, Mrs Audrey Gertrude (93) widow of Laurie Cooper – Shell International Petroleum Company Ltd died 2 January

Frodsham, Thomas (94) – Shell UK Oil Products Ltd died 11 January

Glover, Gordon (86) – Shell Chemicals UK Ltd died 14 January

Gormley, Mrs Veronica (88) widow of Patrick – Shell Chemicals UK Ltd died 22 December

Griffith, Mrs Elizabeth (83) widow of B A Griffith – Shell UK Oil Products Ltd died 13 January

Griffiths, Miss Constance Patricia (94) – Shell Star Ltd died 9 December

Hadler, Mrs Margaret Hazel (86) widow of Mr Hadler - Shell Research Ltd died 25 January

Hamblin, Cyril David (93) – Sarawak Shell Berhad died 27 November

Hansford, Miss Jill (83) – Shell UK Exploration & Production Ltd died 16 January

Hanson, Edwin (86) – Shell UK Oil Products Ltd died 18 January

Harber, James (91) – Shell UK Oil Products Ltd died 3 January

Harpin, Miss Jane Ann (58) – Shell International Trading & Shipping Company Ltd died 12 January

Harrison, Mrs Dulcie Winnifred (102) widow of John Robert – Shell International Petroleum Company Ltd died 17 November

Hayes, Mrs Catherine (96) widow of Tom – Shell UK Oil Products Ltd died 14 October

Heale, Mrs Ruth (92) widow of J N Heale – Shell Company of Qatar Ltd died 9 December

Heneghan, Mrs Mary Theresa (89) – Shell UK Oil Products Ltd died 19 November

Herring, Robert William (85) – Shell Chemicals UK Ltd died 12 February

Hinkley, Kenneth Stuart (83) – Shell UK Oil Products Ltd died 2 January

Hoare, Mrs Pamela Gladys (86) – Shell International Petroleum Company Ltd died 8 December

Holdaway, Mrs Miriam (89) widow of G P L Holdaway – Shell International Petroleum Company Ltd died 28 November

Houlden, Mrs Jane (92) widow of Thomas – Shell Chemicals UK Ltd died 12 November

Howlett, Thomas Robert (85) – Shell Chemicals UK Ltd died 22 January

Hudson, Mrs Ellen (86) wife of Joshua – Shell UK Oil Products Ltd died 28 September

Hudson, Mrs Jean (80) widow of Albert Thomas – Shell Research Ltd died 19 December

Hunt, Mrs Gwendoline (89) widow of James Norman – Shell UK Oil Products Ltd died 1 January

Hutchins, Richard (84) – Shell UK Oil Products Ltd died 12 December

James, William (87) – Private Oil Holdings Oman Ltd died 3 December

Jarvis, Thomas (75) – Shell UK Exploration & Production Ltd died 2 December

Jenkins, Mrs Jeanette (71) – Shell UK Oil Products Ltd died 8 December

Johnson, Mrs Edith May (98) widow of Richard Thomas – Shell International Petroleum Company Ltd died 12 October

Johnston, Neil Edward (75) – Shell UK Oil Products Ltd died 27 December

Jones, John Arnold (82) – Shell Research Ltd died 29 November

Jones, William Gareth (82) – Brunei Shell Petroleum Company Sendirian Berhad died 14 November

Judd, Harold (94) – Shell UK Oil Products Ltd died 27 November

Keen, Mrs Christina Ivy (88) widow of Geoffrey Hubert – Shell Chemicals UK Ltd died 12 October

Kemp, Ronald (84) – Shell UK Oil Products Ltd died 12 January

Kilpatrick, Mrs Agnes (91) widow of George Guiney – Shell UK Oil Products Ltd died 11 February

Kimberley, Harold Maynard (96) – Shell Star Ltd died 31 January

Knott, Mrs Claudia (89) widow of W H Knott – Shell Eastern Petroleum (Pte) Ltd died 15 January

Lankston, Dennis Ralph (89) – Shell UK Oil Products Ltd died 20 November

Leech, Mrs Pamela Mary (85) widow of Alan George – Shell UK Exploration & Production Ltd died 19 January

Levick, Brian (88) – Shell International Trading & Shipping Company Ltd died 17 January

Levy, Mrs Florence (85) – Shell International Petroleum Company Ltd died 8 January

Leyfield, John George (91) – Shell UK Oil Products Ltd died 21 December

Low, Mrs Sally (48) widow of William – Shell UK Oil Products Ltd died 24 November

Lowe, Anthony Cousland (91) – Shell International Ltd died 22 November

Lowe, Mrs Audrey Georgina (85) widow of Daniel – Shell Research Ltd died 5 January

Lowe, Mrs Doreen (83) – Shell Chemicals UK Ltd died 18 December

Ludlow, Mrs Dorothy May Violet (90) widow of Charles Ernest – Shell UK Oil Products Ltd died 6 December

MacGregor, Mrs Williamina Gerrie (76) widow of Duncan – Shell UK Oil Products Ltd died 24 December

Mack, Mrs Margaret Jane (87) widow of Robert Brown – Shell UK Oil Products Ltd died 24 November

Mackay, Oliver (93) – Shell Chemicals UK Ltd died 26 August

Main, Mrs Anne Veronica (82) widow of Harry Asworth – Shell Chemicals UK Ltd died 21 January

Mawer, Mrs Muriel (82) wife of John – SMBP/Power/Nat.Benzole died 12 December

Maxwell, Philip Hugh (67) – Shell International Petroleum Company Ltd died 15 February

McCree, Mrs Elizabeth Ann (85) widow of George Anthony – Shell Tankers (UK) Ltd died 3 October

McDonald, Mrs Elfreda Marjorie (92) – widow of Cyril Barratt – Shell Eastern Petroleum (Pte) Ltd died 22 December

McIntosh, Mrs Vera (89) – Shell UK Oil Products Ltd died 10 January

McMurray, Mrs Marjorie (82) – Shell Research Ltd died 6 January

Miarka, Mrs Maria Gracjana (89) widow of Adam Tadeusz Tarka – SMBP/Power/Nat.Benzole died 10 November

Moloney, Richard Cronan (88) – Shell Chemicals UK Ltd died 12 February

Monteiro, Gerald Stanislaus (78) – Shell International Petroleum Company Ltd died 14 December

Morgan, Dennis (76) – Shell UK Oil Products Ltd died 25 December

Mulcahy, Denis (89) – Shell UK Oil Products Ltd died 2 January

SPA NEWS | 31

Murphy, Peter (85) – Shell UK Oil Products Ltd died 26 December

Neale, Maurice (87) – Shell UK Oil Products Ltd died 23 January

Nelson, Clifford (78) – Shell Chemicals UK Ltd died 17 February

Noakes, Derek (83) – Shell International Petroleum Company Ltd died 5 February

Oakley, Mrs Dorothy (83) widow of Sydney – Shell UK Oil Products Ltd died 31 December

Parry, Royston (90) – Shell International Petroleum Company Ltd died 29 January

Parsons, Mrs Rosina Gwendoline (90) – Shell UK Oil Products Ltd died 20 January

Phillips, John Edward (81) – Shell UK Oil Products Ltd died 12 January

Polton, Donald (86) – Shell Research Ltd died 27 November

Pond, Reginald (84) – Shell Chemicals UK Ltd died 15 February

Porter, Mrs Joan (88) widow of Trevor Richard – Shell International Ltd died 13 January

Powell, Miss Olive (92) – Shell International Ltd – died 28 November

Puttick, Mrs Florence (95) widow of G A W Puttick – Shell Indonesia died 1 January

Richards, Mrs Kathleen (90) widow of Ivor Henry – Shell UK Oil Products Ltd died 24 January

Richardson, Donald Grant (82) – Shell Chemicals UK Ltd died 29 November

Ridout, Mrs Joanne Pauline (92) widow of Sydney Morton – Shell International Petroleum Company Ltd died 22 November

Roberts, Eric (91) – Shell UK Oil Products Ltd died 9 January

Ross, Mrs Kathleen (81) widow of Kenneth – Shell Research Ltd died 16 January

Ross, Mrs Rose (93) widow of D C Ross – Shell UK Oil Products Ltd died 7 January

Rowe, Mrs Dorothy (88) wife of Phil – Shell UK Stanlow died 30 December

Russell, Andrew John (63) – Shell UK Exploration & Production Ltd died 25 December

Sayers, Mrs Sheila Margaret (89) widow of Ronald – Shell International Petroleum Company Ltd died 13 January

Scott, R (86) – Shell Malaysia Trading Sendirian Berhad died 1 December

Scott-Simmonds, Peter (84) – Shell UK Oil Products Ltd died 19 December

Seaman, Mrs Violet Benecia (96) widow of Donald Alfred – Shell UK Oil Products Ltd died 15 January

Searies, Stanley (95) – Shell UK Oil Products Ltd died 30 January

Setterfield, Colin (84) – Moplefan (UK) Ltd died 8 January

Shaw, Cecil (85) – Shell UK Oil Products Ltd died 12 January

Sheard, Mrs Sandra Doris (76) widow of David Brian – Shell Chemicals UK Ltd died 12 February

Sloper, Herbert (98) – Shell UK Oil Products Ltd died 17 December

Smith, Mrs Heather (90) widow of Colin Nathan – Shell UK Oil Products Ltd died 3 December

Smith, Miss Jean (79) – Shell UK Oil Products Ltd died 10 February

Smith, Mrs Sheila (84) widow of G Smith – Shell Chemicals UK Ltd died 2 December

Somers, Eric Douglas (86) – SMBP/Power/Nat.Benzole died 19 February

Sorrell, Stanley Arthur (85) – Shell UK Oil Products Ltd died 26 January

Spratt, Peter (85) – Shell UK Oil Products Ltd died 15 August

Stevens, Mrs Diana (80) – Shell UK Oil Products Ltd died 9 December

Stokes, Mrs Joan (93) widow of John George Skudder – Shell International Petroleum Company Ltd died 13 November

Sutherland, Mrs Megan (78) widow of Derek Andrew – Shell Chemicals UK Ltd died 20 February

Tatham, Mrs Noreen (79) widow of G H Tatham – Shell International Ltd died 30 December

Tavner, Mrs Winifred May (91) – Shell UK Oil Products Ltd died 12 February

Taylor, D W A (93) – SIPM died 4 January

Taylor, Mrs Ruth Elizabeth (96) widow of Theo Mallinson – Shell International Petroleum Company Ltd died 13 February

Thomas, Mrs Clarisse (95) wife of Albert – Shell Tankers UK Ltd died 10 January

Thomas, Mrs Elizabeth (104) widow of Jesse Dunn – Shell UK Oil Products Ltd died 5 November

Troth, Keith Arthur (83) – Shell International Petroleum Company Ltd died 7 February

Tully, Mrs Margaret (99) widow of Michael – SMBP/Power/Nat.Benzole died 9 December

Turner, Ronald Bertram (76) – Shell Chemicals UK Ltd died 13 December

Tyrrell, Mrs Eunice (85) widow of Alfred George – Shell UK Oil Products Ltd died 22 January

Veness, Mrs Nancy Olivia (92) widow of Eric George – Shell UK Oil Products Ltd died 14 January

Wade, Douglas (81) – Shell International Petroleum Company Ltd died 27 December

Walmsley, Bernard (82) – Shell Chemicals UK Ltd died 4 January

Ward, Arthur Raymond Brooke (97) – Shell International Petroleum Company Ltd died 15 February

Ward, Mrs Dorothy Joan (87) widow of William Herbert Charles – Shell Intl Trading & Shipping Co Ltd died 23 December

Ward, Geoffrey (77) – Shell Chemicals UK Ltd died 30 November

Watts, Mrs Barbara (89) widow of P G Watts – Shell UK Oil Products Ltd died 11 December

Webber, Mrs Flora Gwendoline (90) widow of Richard Scott Foster – Shell Intl Petroleum Company Ltd died 30 January

Weller, Mrs Maria Theresia (91) widow of Henry James – SMBP/Power/Nat.Benzole died 10 January

Welsh, Mrs Janet (96) widow of W Welsh – Shell UK Oil Products Ltd died 13 January

Wheatley, Harold Joseph (94) – Colas Products died 20 November

White, N A (92) – Shell International Petroleum Company Ltd died 13 January

Whiting, Bernard (85) – Shell Chemicals UK Ltd died 11 January

Whitlow, John (82) widower of Mabel Patricia – Shell Chemicals UK Ltd died 21 December

Williams, Edward Emrys (97) – Shell UK Oil Products Ltd died 15 December

Willmott, Mrs Daphne (89) widow of E Willmott – Shell International Petroleum Company Ltd died 25 December

Wingate, Mrs Jessie (92) widow of Arnold James – Shell UK Oil Products Ltd died 7 November

Withington, William (85) – Shell Chemicals UK Ltd died 24 November

Witton, Mrs Elsie (93) widow of Albert – Shell UK Oil Products Ltd died 4 December

Woodhouse, Mrs Phyllis (90) widow of Harry – Shell UK Oil Products Ltd died 2 December

Wormald, Mrs Edith (87) widow of Capt T Wormald – Shell Tankers (UK) Ltd died 21 November

York, Harry (91) – Shell UK Oil Products Ltd died 29 December

32 | SPA NEWS