NEWSLETTER FEBRUARY 2023

Newsletter for  February 2023   Please note any news or information for the newsletter to be passed on to Jan Bridle anytime; also if anyone has changed their email address or set up any new addresses could they please let Jan know. 

 

Branch subs    Subscriptions for 2023 remain at £17 and are due now. Please support the branch by paying the £17 either by internet banking or cheque made out to REA Bournemouth.  For bank account details please contact John Cusack by phone or by email, numbers above. 

 

Branch monthly Lunches and Brunches  

These are informal, social meetings where any news etc. can be passed on to those attending, and added to the newsletter for others to read. 

The January brunch was the first one at our new venue the Barrington Centre Café in Penny's Walk, Ferndown BH22 9TH.  We were very pleased with the food and the service. Tea and coffee was available as you entered the bar and when everyone was ready the buffet breakfast was laid out for us to help ourselves. It was beautifully cooked with bacon, sausage, fried and scrambled eggs, hash browns, mushrooms, tomatoes, baked beans and toast, and all for just £5 a head with seconds if you could manage it!  Please do come and try it, wives and children and guests are also very welcome.   You can park in Tesco’s car park free, and the centre is opposite Tesco on the other side of Penny’s Walk. This month the brunch is on Saturday the 11^th and please let John Cusack know if you intend to come so he can advise the café of estimated numbers.

The lunch at the RBL will be on Tuesday 28th. As with the brunches, wives and children and guests also welcome. The menu is as follows. Please contact John Cusack to book your place and advise him of your menu choices. 

Main Course £7.50 - Roast Pork - Chicken & Mushroom Pie – Home-made Fish Pie - Scampi -  Lasagne - any Jacket Potato (£5)

Puddings £3 Ice-cream Sundae –Hot Lemon Pudding –Chocolate Pudding – Mixed Berry Strudel

 

 

Clive Martin Gibbs  It is with regret that we report that Clive Martin Gibbs died on10th December 2022 in Poole hospital  after suffering a fall and COVID. We send our sincere condolences to his wife and children. The funeral was on 5^th January and was attended by the RBL and RE standards. 

 

Branch News and Messages

Landline Changes will impact the Elderly

By 2025 all telephone lines – whoever the provider is and whether serving business or residential customer – will switch over from analogue to digital. In other words, your PSTN telephone line will cease to work.

You do not need to do anything as your provider will contact you and do the necessary switchover.

There are however a few things you should be aware of.

All landlines will work over the internet, VoIP (which means Voice over Internet Protocol). If you have broadband and you wish to retain your land line all you will need to do is plug your telephone into the back of the hub.  Older telephones may not work but your provider should advise you on this.

Extension phones in other parts of your house will cease to work unless the internal wiring is modified. Alternatively, if you have a DECT Phone system in your house, then that should work okay without any additional work. 

This will happen before December 2025. There are two Telephone Exchanges already trialling this and one of them is Salisbury.

For people who do not have a computer or broadband or just do not wish to use a computer are going to be the most affected. If you only have a landline and nothing else, a basic broadband will be provided with a limited band width that will support your new digital phone line.

One of the main differences is that in the past your telephone continued to work during power cuts, but not so with the new system. Just the same as when there is a power cut your computer goes off, so will your telephone. If anybody is classed as vulnerable and rely heavily on their landline such as a person who uses a lifeline – or a telephone linked alarm, it will be in their interest to enquire about battery backup through their service provider.

Scams:- Be aware of people ringing you up and offering you packages to upgrade to the new system especially if it means giving your bank details or parting with any money.  Don’t get caught, say no, seek a second opinion.

This information is to the best of my knowledge at the time. If you want any other information, your service provider should be able to help.

John Cusack