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The newsbulletin for Pensioners of Merseyside Pension Fund

Congratulationsto ourCentenarians Page 3

Keep up to datewith yourPension...OnlinePage 2

The University ofthe Third Age

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Issue 4 / October 2009

Published by: Merseyside Pension Fund, 7th Floor, Castle Chambers 43 Castle Street, Liverpool L69 2NW T: 0151 242 1390Editor: Paul Brooks

The GreatSunday Lunch& CompetitionPage 4

TheRansackerProject Page 3

As pension schemes begin to recover from the effects of the last 12 months’ financialcrises, it is pleasing to report that MerseysidePension Fund has been ranked fourth in anexamination of the responsible investmentpolicy, practice and transparency of the UK’s 30 largest occupational schemes by FairPensions.FairPensions is a registered charity that aims topersuade UK pension funds and fund managersto adopt an effective responsible investmentcapability, and to monitor and manageenvironmental, social and governance risks.

The survey, which included the larger local authority pension funds, such as Greater Manchester and West Midlandsand private schemes such as British Airways, BBC and BP plc, commended Merseyside Pension Fund, in its first yearas part of the survey, for; ‘a well thought through approach on many of the key areas of Responsible Investment policy,implementation and monitoring’.

Fund highly ranked in FairPensions’Responsible Investment Report

Rank Pension Scheme

1 = Universities Superannuation SchemeBritish Telecom plc Pension Scheme

3 Strathclyde Pension Fund4 Merseyside Pension Fund 5 British Airways Pension Scheme

‘a well thought throughapproach on many of

the key areas ofResponsible Investmentpolicy, implementation

and monitoring’.

The University of the Third Age (U3A) is a self-help organisation for people no longer in full-time employment, which provideseducational, creative and leisure opportunities in a friendlyenvironment. The first ‘U3A’ was formed in the UK in 1982, thereare now more than 167,000 members in some 610 local U3A groupsthroughout the country.

Although called a ‘University’, no educational qualifications arerequired or given. Those who teach and those who learn are allmembers of the University of the Third Age. It is a voluntaryorganisation where retired or semi-retired people from all walks oflife and of all ages, meet like-minded members to expand theirknowledge, share interests or acquire new skills. U3A membership is not related to a specific age but to a period in one’slife (the third age) after the second age of employment and parental responsibility.

Anybody in their third age can join U3A and this includes people who are working part-time. There is no lower age formembership. The U3A offers the chance to study over 300 different subjects in such fields as art, languages, music, history,life sciences, philosophy, computing, crafts, photography and walking. A typical U3A group has about 250 members butcould be as small as 12 or as large as 2000. Men and women with a lifetime of experience, expertise and know-how inprofessions, occupations or hobbies are encouraged to form groups and share their knowledge with fellow members.

All U3As are different, as the skills and talents of their members define what they can offer. If you are interested in findinga local U3A or starting a new group, the contact details quoted below should be helpful. If you find more than one localgroup in your local area, you would be advised to contact all of them to see what is on offer. You will find the cost ofmembership to be minimal. If you are interested in starting a U3A Group, either email the U3A National Education &Development Officer, Mike Long, at: mike.long@u3a.org.uk or ring the National U3A Office to discuss what is involved.

Useful Contacts

National U3A (020 8466 6139) (www.u3a.org.uk)Bebington U3A (0151 327 5093) Bromborough U3A (0151 645 2205)Formby U3A (01704 875968) (www.formbyu3a.org.uk) Halewood U3A (0151 475 5870)Huyton U3A (0151 480 9404) Liverpool U3A (0151 724 1660)Maghull & Lydiate U3A (0151 531 8928) Meols U3A (01704 532271)Prescot & District U3A (0151 426 3689) Southport (Birkdale) U3A (01704 574577)Wirral U3A (0151 625 6034) Wirral Hundred U3A (0151 653 9192)

You can check details of your pension from thecomfort of your own home, by signing up to our free ‘My Pension Online’ service. This facility allowsregistered users to view full details of their last sixpension payments, particularly helpful if you areasked to verify details of your pension income.

If you have not yet registered to use the service and wishto do so, you can request a Personal Identification Number(PIN) to use the service by downloading form LGP98

from our website at: http://tinyurl.com/n947kj

Alternatively, you can request the form be posted to you by calling us on 0151 242 1390. Please send the completed form to:Merseyside Pension Fund, PO Box 120, 7th Floor, Castle Chambers, 43 Castle Street, Liverpool. L69 2NW.

The University of the Third Age

Keep up to date with your Pension…Online

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Congratulationsto our Centenarians

Since our last issue, four of our pensioner members have reached the magnificent milestoneof their one hundredth birthday. The Fund was delighted to visit them with floral tributes.

Hilda Evans celebrated reaching her milestone in June. Hilda has 4 children, 10 grandchildren and 11great grandchildren. She worked as a cook for over 26 years at Grove Park Nursery in Liverpool beforemoving to the Wirral when she was aged 65 to live near her daughter. Hilda says the keys to her longevityare taking cod-liver oil every day as well as adopting a positive mental attitude in all that she does.

Ethel Jones reached 100 in July. Ethel worked for Meccano as well as a spell as a conductress on localbuses and trams. It was while working on the trams that Ethel met her husband, Charles. Ethel hasalways led a very active life, learning to swim in her 80’s! Bowls has always been a passion, with Ethelplaying regularly into her late 90’s. Ethel has always loved travelling; especially enjoying her last visitto Universal Studios in Florida, aged 95, when she went on the ‘Back to the Future’ ride twice!

Louisa Kendall celebrated her 100th birthday in April with her 2 children. During the Second World War,Louisa played an important role on the home front by working in the Royal Ordnance Factory at Hooton,making munitions. Although restricted these days, Louisa has always loved to knit and to read. A strongsupporter of the Royal Family, Louisa’s favourite member is the Queen.

Margaret Lilian Lawton known as ‘Lilian’ was 100 in June. Lilian has 2 children, 7 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren. Lilian has 2 sons; one of whom she cares for at home, the other she enjoys goingshopping with when he travels from Wales each week to take her. Lilian adores flowers and gardening.

You must tell us about any change to yourbank or address details at least 10 days priorto the pay date. If you need to sort outproblems with your pension, please call

the Pensions Helpline on 0151 242 1391.

Upcoming PensionPay Dates 2009

The Ransacker experience is aimed at retired people who have missed out on a university education and who have since regretted it. This freecourse is being offered at Fircroft College in Birmingham and is open to anyone over 55 years of age in the UK.

Why Ransacker?Ransacker is derived from the Gaelic word ‘rannsachadh’, which means to search, explore, scrutinise and discover. Each student has a subject ofparticular interest to themselves which they focus on. The college is veryflexible about the range of subjects they are able to support. Students aregiven a personal subject-based supervisor to offer help and advice as well as full group sessions in research and study skills. Groups of ‘Ransackers’are small; this enables each student to receive a lot of personal attention.

The Ransacker Project is an opportunity to spend ten weeks thinkingabout, researching and studying a subject of real interest to you, thenwriting about it and then giving a short presentation to the others in thegroup. As the course is residential, you can involve yourself fully in yoursubject and student life, fully experiencing residential learning and living.

If you are interested in studying, have not previously studied above University entrance level or received any public funding, please contact Helene Pursey on 0121 472 0116, or email her at:helene.pursey@fircroft.ac.uk. For more information check the Fircroft College website at: www.fircroft.ac.uk.

The Ransacker ProjectA Learning Experience for Older People

Friday 9 October

Tuesday 10 November

Thursday 10 December

A payslip was not enclosed with this issue ofThe Honeypot. Your next scheduled payslipwill be for the December pension payment.

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Competition – Flower Word SearchAMARYLLIS JASMINEROSE BLUEBELLSKNIPHOFIA SNOWDROPSCROCUS LILYTULIPS DAFFODILSMARIGOLD UMBRELLA PLANTNARCISSUS VIOLETSGERANIUM FORGETMENOTS ORCHID WISTERIAHYACINTH POPPYYUCCA IRISZINNIA QUEEN ANNES LACE

To be in the draw to win £25 of high streetvouchers simply send your completed puzzleentry to:Merseyside Pension Fund, The Honeypot Competition 4, P.O. Box 120,Liverpool, L69 2NW by 30 October 2009.

The first correct entry drawn on 2 November 2009 will win. Please note entries are restricted to pensionersof the Scheme. Employees of Merseyside Pension Fund and their relatives may not enter. Good Luck!

G K N I P H O F I A V Y J B Z G V W X H Q D L O G I R A M H R G X B V J Q T I A C N B Q Z S N G B Q S N O W D R O P S I F Z B E P B Q G O S V O U Z W C W Y C M O S Z D Y Y B E N I A O A Y A Y F S M H R Z D H L A L R H L W I S H Z C L Z W Y G P U F I I U A I L N U N Y U I V S W A E B P M L R E N C Y I V Q N D R D V A C T J C S Q E B I R R J Y R O I M I Y T I M E F I B T E U O A M A F J Z Z H C O N E N V R Q S L M C M U F S H K L C G Y T N P S I P I L K U A A Z P M J Q R H A H O Q H L E W S V S D A C O F I N O M M H T Y S U U M B R E L L A P L A N T M U R S K P E R O S E F M V Y G Z J M E S D Y V U R D N E C A L S E N N A N E E U Q T V T K U E Z F Q G D G X X X I S W Q I M I T U L I P S U S S I C R A N L C K N R S T E L O I V R Y Q X J Y P P O P X D G R Y C Q G V R H V U L P Y U C C A J J J

What’s cooking thisOctober?

Last issue’s competitionWe received a large number of correct entries for last issue’s competition, who found 11 reminders of TheEuropean Capital of Culture Year of 2008. The first winning entry drawn was sent by Mr Leslie Turner of theWirral, shown right, who won £25 of high street vouchers. Many Congratulations!

Sunday lunch is often the most socially significant event of the week, when people gather with friends and family to catch up over a meal, relax, have fun and make plans. It's all aboutcommunication and spending time together. Yet older people areparticularly likely to be isolated. It is estimated that 1 in 10 peopleaged over the age of 65 live with constant or near loneliness.

Age Concern and Help the Aged are encouraging friends and family across the country to get together for a fun-filled lunchon Sunday 18 October 2009 to take part in ‘The Great Sunday Lunch’ fundraising campaign and host a roast of their own –whether it be in their own home on the day‚ organising an event at work or school‚ or going out for a pub lunch with friends.

If you can’t ‘do lunch’ on that day, don’t worry! You can have your ‘Great Sunday Lunch’ on any day close to 18th Octoberthat suits you and your guests.

If you are interested in getting involved, you can visit the Great Sunday Lunch website at www.greatsundaylunch.org.ukor alternatively, you can phone on 0845 241 7299.

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