Q. How and why did you initially become involved in the CSPA? I was a Customs Officer and a Trainer in the Department based at Prestwick Airport. I was also Branch Chair of the CPSA Glasgow and Clyde Branch. I served in the Department for twenty six years. Upon taking early retirement in 1995, I went and played trains with Scotrail, and then became an extra for TV and movies working my way up until I had an Equity card and the title of (Sounds ‘walk-on’. like I was on a lead). When I was between parts’, I think it ‘resting was because of my Trade Union involvement that an ex colleague recommended me to the Chair of the Glasgow Group, and the rest is history Q. As you look ahead to 2018 and beyond what do you see as CSPA priorities? As I look around the Alliance Nationally, it is quite alarming to see so many groups closing with some care’. Somewhere in the region of ‘in 28 groups in England and Wales have closed, and now one in Scotland. It is the remit of all groups to recruit, and has been since the conception of the Alliance. In Scotland since the 1950s. We have to seriously look at who and how we recruit, and extend our membership to other organisations, and maybe also consider amalgamation. We are a campaigning and lobbying organisation, but perhaps it’s time to become a bit more political in our approach. Q. How do you see deepening member engagement? It is a constant battle to keep members informed and up to date with everything that is going on both in Westminster and Holyrood, which makes this is a very difficult question in many ways because by the time the information reaches the majority of membership it’s usually out of date. At present the only way information can reach members is in the Pensioner magazine or if they attend group meetings, as I email all Group Secretaries. You can’t force people to use computers, which would, no doubt make things in Scotland a lot easier. This would certainly deepen member’s engagement with the Branch, as it would open up a whole new horizon, especially as we have a Scottish
Q. How and why did you initially become involved in the CSPA? I was a Customs Officer and a Trainer in the Department based at Prestwick Airport. I was also Branch Chair of the CPSA Glasgow and Clyde Branch. I served in the Department for twenty six years. Upon taking early retirement in 1995, I went and played trains with Scotrail, and then became an extra for TV and movies working my way up until I had an Equity card and the title of ‘walk-on’. (Sounds like I was on a lead). When I was ‘resting between parts’, I think it was because of my Trade Union involvement that an ex colleague recommended me to the Chair of the Glasgow Group, and the rest is history Q. As you look ahead to 2018 and beyond what do you see as CSPA priorities? As I look around the Alliance Nationally, it is quite alarming to see so many groups closing with some ‘in care’. Somewhere in the region of 28 groups in England and Wales have closed, and now one in Scotland. It is the remit of all groups to recruit, and has been since the conception of the Alliance. In Scotland since the 1950s. We have to seriously look at who and how we recruit, and extend our membership to other organisations, and maybe also consider amalgamation. We are a campaigning and lobbying organisation, but perhaps it’s time to become a bit more political in our approach. Q. How do you see deepening member engagement? It is a constant battle to keep members informed and up to date with everything that is going on both in Westminster and Holyrood, which makes this is a very difficult question in many ways because by the time the information reaches the majority of membership it’s usually out of date. At present the only way information can reach members is in the Pensioner magazine or if they attend group meetings, as I email all Group Secretaries. You can’t force people to use computers, which would, no doubt make things in Scotland a lot easier. This would certainly deepen member’s engagement with the Branch, as it would open up a whole new horizon, especially as we have a Scottish
Interview%20with%20Julia%20Grier%20from%20Edinburgh%20Group.docx