17 October 2018

October-fest Branch meeting: Nancy Platts and Chris Wheal

It’s branch meeting time again – and have we got a stellar line-up for you this month!

Star of the show is suffragette and trade union activist Clementina Black – friend of Eleanor Marx and the first person to move a resolution at the TUC calling for equal gender pay. Sadly, Clementina can’t be there in person owing to the unfortunate fact she died in 1922. But her memory will be honoured by Brighton & Hove City councillor Nancy Platts, who is spearheading a campaign to have a blue plaque put up outside the house in Ship Street where she was born. A small NUJ contribution towards the cost will be proposed.

Also on the bill, and very much alive, is Chris Wheal – a driving force behind the union’s charity, NUJ Active. Chris has some incredible stories to tell of fellow journalists who have fallen on hard times, and how they have then been helped by NUJ Active. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry and – if Chris is on his usual form – you’ll willingly put your hand in your pocket when he’s finished.

There are some branch affairs to attend to as well, not least giving some thought to our Christmas social and how we can best take the show on the road to places such as Worthing, Eastbourne and Lewes. But once that’s done we can get down to the serious business of gossiping, networking and making new friends.

So, make a note in your diary now. The branch meeting is on Thursday, October 25. As usual, the idea is to gather at the Craft Beer Co pub in Upper North Street, Brighton, from 7pm, with the meeting itself starting at 7.30. And parents may be interested to note that, following our last get-together, we are now able to offer a contribution of up to £30 towards childcare costs for those who wouldn’t have been able to get there otherwise.

If you can’t make it to the meeting, but would like to know more, drop us a line. And don’t forget that branch officers are able to help, advise and represent you where there is no chapel official to do so (which, sadly, is just about the case everywhere in the branch at present).

We hope to see you on Thursday, October 25.

Best wishes

Brian Williams (on behalf of the branch committee)

http://www.thecraftbeerco.com/brighton/