90th Anniversery of the Co-operative Party
A post on behalf of John Smethurst
Trip to London 29/01/07
Left 81 Parrin Lane at 8.15 am. Jim picked us up, met Pat Wheatley and Kath Cousins at the station. They were going to Newcastle to the Guild of Co-operaters Conference.
Train left at 10.15 am. We were in London at 12.30, buggy met us and took us to the taxi. Taxi driver very helpful and got us all in, also the wheel chair.
We phoned Ian Stewart the MP from the taxi and he told us to go to the Riverside entrance of Portcaulis House opposite Big Ben. Went in through security and Ian met us and took us for lunch. He rang upstairs and asked his wife Mex to join us, which she did.
Then he took us upstairs to the co-op party meeting on Ethiopian coffee film show called Black Gold.
Representatives from Ethiopia and Third World Agencies were there.
Photographs taken with Co-op Party banner, with Ian Stewart, MP for Eccles.
After the meeting Jim collared Peter Hunt to see if it would be possible for me to get into 10 Downing Street, as I would have to be on my own. He said he would see what he could do, came back and said he had got me on the list, asked if I had ID and I had my passport.
We came downstairs and had tea from the snack bar, then Jim pushed John along Whitehall to Downing Street. Went through security at the gates and then through a special security before arriving at No, 10. Took photos on my camera so hope they come out.
It was a real honour to get in there as we never ever thought that we would ever enter the doors of 10 Downing Street, or even sit on a chair in one of the state rooms!
We were able to look in some of the rooms and the cabinet room. The silver and candelabra were out of this world!
Mr. Blair was shaking hands with people and Jim asked him if he would come across and meet John, who presented him with a copy of his book, The Historical Directory of Trade Unions volume 5 and we had our photographs taken with Mr. Blair.
After drinks and canapes we left and got a taxi back to the station.
We cannot thank Jim enough for all his help and that he and the Co-op party have done for us to allow us to have this wonderful day out and to meet the Prime Minister.
Thank you. An absolute honour.
Dictated by Alice, John's wife and typed by Elaine, whose fingers are faster than John's!!
Trip to London 29/01/07
Left 81 Parrin Lane at 8.15 am. Jim picked us up, met Pat Wheatley and Kath Cousins at the station. They were going to Newcastle to the Guild of Co-operaters Conference.
Train left at 10.15 am. We were in London at 12.30, buggy met us and took us to the taxi. Taxi driver very helpful and got us all in, also the wheel chair.
We phoned Ian Stewart the MP from the taxi and he told us to go to the Riverside entrance of Portcaulis House opposite Big Ben. Went in through security and Ian met us and took us for lunch. He rang upstairs and asked his wife Mex to join us, which she did.
Then he took us upstairs to the co-op party meeting on Ethiopian coffee film show called Black Gold.
Representatives from Ethiopia and Third World Agencies were there.
Photographs taken with Co-op Party banner, with Ian Stewart, MP for Eccles.
After the meeting Jim collared Peter Hunt to see if it would be possible for me to get into 10 Downing Street, as I would have to be on my own. He said he would see what he could do, came back and said he had got me on the list, asked if I had ID and I had my passport.
We came downstairs and had tea from the snack bar, then Jim pushed John along Whitehall to Downing Street. Went through security at the gates and then through a special security before arriving at No, 10. Took photos on my camera so hope they come out.
It was a real honour to get in there as we never ever thought that we would ever enter the doors of 10 Downing Street, or even sit on a chair in one of the state rooms!
We were able to look in some of the rooms and the cabinet room. The silver and candelabra were out of this world!
Mr. Blair was shaking hands with people and Jim asked him if he would come across and meet John, who presented him with a copy of his book, The Historical Directory of Trade Unions volume 5 and we had our photographs taken with Mr. Blair.
After drinks and canapes we left and got a taxi back to the station.
We cannot thank Jim enough for all his help and that he and the Co-op party have done for us to allow us to have this wonderful day out and to meet the Prime Minister.
Thank you. An absolute honour.
Dictated by Alice, John's wife and typed by Elaine, whose fingers are faster than John's!!
posted by elaine at 11:14 AM
2 Comments:
February 05, 2007 8:01 PM
Well what a morning we had this morning! What with John's& Alice's trip to London and the group coming to term's with the updating on zoomers(some of us!not pointing at anyone in particular, more slowly than others) So good for you John Glug
February 07, 2007 11:28 AM
Look forward to seeing the photos.
Post a Comment
<< Home