WOULD YOU LIKE TO SIGN OUR ON-LINE PETITION?

Please encourage all your relatives and friends to sign too

ARMED FORCES PENSION GROUP

(Represented by)

AFPG LIMITED

The Mathom House

9 Broadmead Green

Thorpe End

Norwich.

NR13 5DE

Arthur Watters Cycle Ride

Arthur Watters the best man at Nigel’s wedding some 41 years ago, who is also an old school friend, is cycling the length of the United Kingdom and is seeking to raise money for the Royal British Legion (RBL).

He, and his family, are bearing all the costs but would welcome contributions to the RBL. Arthur has agreed that donations to the RBL from our members and friends may contain a reference to AFPG. In this way we will be able to calculate how much AFPG has contributed and draw this to the attention of RBL, RBL is aware of our campaign and is supportive of our quest for “Equality”.

If you can make a donation against the website, link shown below, it would be most welcome.

UK.Virginmoneygiving.com/there-and-back

Nigel’s 69 year old friend, who recently had a Double Hip replacement is well aware of our cause and welcomes this opportunity to give some support in this way.

EfVA’s incorrect Statement on their Website

Whilst AFPG endorses the principle of "Equality" we consider it correct to inform members of EfVA and readers of the AFPG website that there are inaccuracies insomuch that EfVA is 'passing-off' in respect of AFPG's principle role in the campaign. EfVA has a few members who were formerly members of AFPG and other new members.

However, AFPG would like it known that whereas AFPG, CAFF www.caffuk.co.uk and EfVA complement the aim to obtain equality of pensions for those who served for less than 22 years prior to April 1975 and who were thus denied recognition for the pensionable years served, it is important that there should not be the following misconception as written on their website:

EfVA has no relationship with AFPG.

EfVA was not established in 1992 but after March 2010.

EfVA has not taken over and does not do the work previously undertaken by AFPG.

AFPG is only too willing to work with other organisations to obtain fair treatment for those who were serving as volunteers between 1949 and 1975 and who have been denied a pension. Our current aim is to get Parliament to honour the Military Covenant as written by the last Government and which was supported by the then opposition and is today seemingly promoted as the work of today's coalition Government.

The wording below has been copied from the EfVA website.

Company Description for Equality for Veterans Association (EfVA).

Established in 1992, Equality for Veterans Association has over 17 years of experience in the Service Charity arena, and provides support to Service Veterans throughout the UK and overseas. The association Chairman is located in Rustington (Littlehampton).

The Association incorporates activities previously undertaken by the Armed Forces Pension Group (AFPG) and through the Equality activity stream of the Association will continue to seek to rectify the inequality in occupational pensions for UK ex-Service Veterans. The Association will also provide advice to UK Service Veterans and their families who require help or guidance by directing their enquiries to the most appropriate Organisation whether Governmental, Voluntary or other Statutory body, and where appropriate to assist in those enquiries. This need arises from the multiplicity of bodies catering for the different needs of ex-Service Personnel and which many Veterans find difficult to navigate.

The Association is managed by an Executive Management Committee (EMC) who have been focusing on the Ex-Service Charities sector for many years. Having previously served in HM Armed Services followed by successful second careers in civilian life. "

There is no other comment to make.

AFPG LIMITED IS ALIVE AND WELL, THANKS TO YOU.

Since writing to members and also sending by email in the matter of the Articles of Association for AFPG, Jim Filby and I have received over 1000 responses by letter and email. In response the generosity of members has been astounding.

The cost of postage in terms of stamps, print, envelopes and papers came to almost £1000. Communicating by letter post remains a need. There remain almost 1200 members who do not have easy access to either email and/or the web, hence the expense. Funds of AFPG Limited had, as I am sure many of you are aware, had been depleted and there was doubt as to whether we would be able to continue to communicate by post. Since the letter we have received email addresses for many more members which will help to reduce costs in the future.

Of even greater significance is the fact that so many members have come up trumps.—

AFPG has received donations in excess of over £9000 .

Over the coming weeks I shall be writing to – by post or email – to each donor expressing AFPG’s thanks. To those of you awaiting an acknowledgement, I apologise for the delay but please be assured that all monies are accounted for and will be spent solely in pursuit of the aims of AFPG. In the coming days the Management Team will meet and consider the next steps. One suggestion I will be putting forward is that there should be a meeting, this time in London, at the Union Jack Club – your Club / my Club – in Waterloo. However, please let Jim or I know your views. The Management Team still needs to expand. If there were more involved on a day to day basis I could have replied to each correspondent by now!

Please consider if you can help by giving your time.

Parliament 2010 is a good place to start. Making your MP aware of the issues. Discussing the MoD’s so inaccurate response is the real starting point. Phrases like in these days of financial constraints “we can’t deal with legacy issues” are a cop out. We must however be realistic. No Government is going to say ‘because you have been treated wrongly we will pay pensions back to the date when you should have qualified’. We should be explaining that we want payment from NOW. Similarly we should be considering what we mean by Equality. As the ‘card’ that we produced at the AGM states “Equality with whom, with what”. We cannot expect Equality with those leaving the service today. We want Equality with our contemporaries. We want to be treated no less than the Civil Servants who are the ONLY other Crown employees and the only other group whose pension is non-contributory, albeit like our pay, subject to undefined abatement to take into consideration the non-contributory nature of the pension.

Please work on your MP. To date I have received letters from 42 MP's. So far follow-up letters have resulted in continuing correspondence with 10 of them. In several instances the MP has asked for details of constituents who are affected by the in-Equality. It would be helpful to know that we have that permission without our having to phone or write to get permission to release that data. Once again – thank you for your continuing support. Please continue to do so. Please let us know, so we can tell others, about your successes – or failures with your MP.

Nigel H Lodge Director,

AFPG Limited

STATEMENT OF INTENT

Our aim is to secure equality of pensions for former regular members of the Armed Forces who served for fewer than 22 years at any time to April 1975 and who were discharged before 5th April 1975. This also applies to those regulars who were discharged prior to 1981 who do not meet the criteria of length of service and age. We ask Her Majesty's Government for pension rights based on years of service and related, pro rata, to pensions received by contemporaries who completed 22 years of service..

MEMBERSHIP

Membership of the Armed Forces Pension Group is open to all ex-servicemen and women who meet the criteria in our Statement of Intent. Supporters of the aims of AFPG may also apply for membership. To apply, forward your full name and address to The Membership Secretary, AFPG Ltd, 72 Appleton Road, Blidworth, Nottinghamshire, NG21 0SQ or download an application.

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