CSSC | Centenary Voices

In this special edition of CSSC's Centenary Podcast, we are marking this year's Mental Health Awareness Week.

For this episode, we are joined by Alan Billington, Head of Programme for Health & Wellbeing at CityLit Education in London. Alan has recently received the Health & Wellbeing Award, sponsored by CSSC, for his work developing CityLit's wellbeing centre and for the support he provided to students and colleagues during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2021, Jon caught up with Ash Robinson to discuss his introduction to the sport as a teenager, how he fell in love with the sport and how it lead him to become the club captain of CSSC London Barbarians.

To mark International Women's Day 2022, Jon caught up with Abbie Barnes, creator of WILD. WILD was created by Abbie in 2016 to inspire and empower individuals to don their walking boots and head outside for the benefit of mental and physical wellbeing.

During this episode, Abbie talks about what gender bias means to them and how they champion women's equality to be a part of the creation of a diverse and inclusive World. We also learn about Abbie's role models and how their influence has affected the way in which Abbie works now.

To mark International Women's Day 2022, Jon caught up with Rachel Smillie, Civil Servant and elite rower.

In 2023 Rachel will be rowing 3000 miles unsupported across the Atlantic as part of Team Excelsioar, a crew of three women, in pursuit of a new world record, to raise money for two amazing charities, and to inspire girls and women to challenge themselves and change their perception of what’s possible.

During this episode, Rachel talks about the trials and tribulations of being a woman in the world of rowing, her role models and what she feels can be done to #BreakTheBias

To mark International Women's Day 2022, Jon caught up with Sam Brookes (Senior HR Policy Consultant), Julia Bradley (Personnel Adviser), Alizay Agha (Strategy Lead) from the Cabinet Office to discuss gender equality in the workplace.

During this episode, they talk about their projects within the Gender Equality Group (GEG). Their aim is to promote gender equality and equal treatment for all colleagues regardless of gender identity, across all our locations, through events, workshops, communications and collaboration to create impact both in and out of the workplace.

On this week’s episode, Clare is joined by David Grundy, the captain of the Rutland Civil Service Sailing Club. With plenty of nautical-miles under his belt, he shares his experiences of sailing at the club, being a CSSC member and organising events and taster sessions over the years as a CSSC volunteer.

This week on Centenary voices we are joined by Brian Smith. During this episode Brian tells us about his experiences of volunteering, his employment with CSSC as a Regional Liaison Officer for Wales and the West Midlands and his varied and interesting engagement with areas, regions and club houses over the years.

This week Clare is joined by Ann Coward. After travelling down to London from Manchester to take part in the Ministry of Transport’s sports day in the early 1960s, Ann soon after moved to London and became a member of CSSC. 60 years later, Ann is still an active member with plenty of stories to tell from her years of playing Hockey and Cricket for the Civil Service.

This week we are joined by Paul Rawkins, a long serving member of Cygnet Rowing Club, author of a book telling the club’s story and also author of the forthcoming story of CSSC.

This week, Clare is joined by Paula Hadfield. Paula has been the "beating heart" of the Yeovil Area Association for the last 21 years. As new event organisers are found, Paula regularly volunteers to mentor them, thus ensuring their retention. Paula’s commitment has seen her assisting with producing and running volunteer training & development evenings as well as a member’s training evening to help them maximise their CSSC membership. Tune in to hear about her experiences as a CSSC volunteer.

Join Jon as he talks to Anna and Claire and gain a fascinating insight into the world of open water swimming.

This week on CSSC's Centenary Podcast, Jon is joined by Tom, Gav and Liam from the Newport CSSC Rugby Section. They discuss how they rejuvenated the club, the forth coming centenary rugby match between Wales and England at Cardiff Arms Park and a little bit of banter about the forthcoming Lions Tour in South Africa.

This week on CSSC's centenary podcast, we are joined by Stuart Fraser. Stuart has been a member for many years and has been involved with CSSC in many ways, including being a part of the committee and a member of CSSC's board. During this episode (recorded in Autumn 2020) Stuart tells us stories about different rowing at events for clubs such as the Cygnet Rowing Club and also recounts his experiences of being a CSSC member throughout the years.

This week on CSSC's Centenary Podcast Hedley is joined by Jacky McHugh. During the episode Jacky tells us about her time as Sports & Leisure Executive, the successive role to the Regional Liaison Officer role, introduced to CSSC in the 1970's. They reflect on the role, visiting sports grounds, liaising with volunteers and CSSC's multi-sport event.

For this weeks' episode we are joined by Jamie Callaghan. With a strong familial tie to CSSC, Jamie tells us about his involvement in getting his area association more active and how he and his family have contributed to CSSC over the years.

Vanessa and Michelle have shared their blogs talking about physical exercise, weight loss and nutrition. Listen to both of them talking to Jon from CSSC, where they share more about their journey and offer some great tips and ideas in the hope that they inspire you too.

This week Clare is joined by a real character of the CSSC community, Alan Hall.

Alan was an integral part of the MOD's Departmental Association as National Secretary for the DRSA, and spent many years a member and a volunteer, including a period as the Chair for the South West Region. During this episode, Alan talks about his drive to recruit more members, the MOD sports day and his memories of the Chiswick Sports Ground.

This week on Centenary Voices we are joined by Carson McNab. Since joining CSSC on his first working for the Civil Service 30 years ago, Carson has gone on to become the National Tenpin Bowling organiser for CSSC and is a very familiar face on campus at the CSSC games.

This week on Centenary Voices, Clare had the opportunity to catch up with Madeline Skelley who joined the civil service in 1949 and enjoyed many sporting moments with CSSC including playing cricket in front of the Queen and Prince Phillip when they visited CSSC’s sports ground at Chiswick in the year of her coronation  - 1953.

In this podcast, Ellen Devine, Wellbeing Projects Manager at Forestry England, discusses the benefits of forest bathing - a sensory experience that can help us all to regain balance and escape the pressures of everyday life.

This week Clare is joined by CSSC volunteer, Jill Gouge. During this episode Jill tells us about some of her favourite memories, how CSSC has changed since she became a volunteer 20 years ago and shares her experience of being the second recipient of the Volunteer of the Year award in 2014.

On this episode of CSSC's Centenary Voices we speak with Bob Farmer. Bob joined CSSC on 23rd October 1983 on his first day as an employee of the Valuation Office. Over the years he has been a very active member of his departmental association in East Kilbride, including acting as general secretary of the East Kilbride Revenue Customs Sport and Leisure (RCSL) which is affiliated to CSSC.

Bob also used to run the bar in Queensway House until it no longer became the thing to have a bar in government properties; but they still run a gym, snooker room, pool room and sports hall for the various affiliated sporting clubs and societies in the area.

One of Bob’s abiding memories of being a member of CSSC is taking part in Tug of War competitions, Clare caught up with Bob to speak about his experience and one event in particular.

This week on Centenary Voices, Clare is joined by CSSC Board member and theatre enthusiast, Janis Cammell.

During this episode Janis talks about her memories of working in London for the Ministry of Technology in the late 1960’s and joining its drama club, The Fortune Players.

On this episode of CSSC's Centenary Voices, Clare catches up with Sonny, who served on the CSSC Midlands Regional Board for around 12 years.  He was a much valued and respected member of the committee, always contributing to CSSC with his constructive and sound comments.

Sonny set up and ran the Coventry Civil Service Football Team for at least 15 years.  When his playing career ended he took on the role of manager.  He led the team to several trophies in a golden spell for Civil Service Football in the area and his achievements are unlikely to be matched.  During this time he also remained very active on the area committee, supporting the senior officers to keep the club going.

For this week's extended episode we're joined by Jodey Hughes (CSSC Sportsperson of the year 2018 & Commonwealth Games representative Team Scotland Weightlifting - 58kgs). Jodey speaks about her story about joining CSSC, her participation in the 2018 Commonwealth Games and the challenges she faces as a female athlete and successful civil servant.

This week Clare has caught up with Sandra Jackson, CSSC member and author extraordinaire. When entering CSSC's 100 Words Competition in 2020, Sandra wrote a story about how her CSSC membership has been a part of her life through its different stages. In this podcast Sandra discusses her early days as a CSSC member, her writing and reads her story for us.

On this episode of CSSC's Centenary Voices we speak with Hedley Featherstone, CSSC's Centenary Development Executive. Hedley tells us all about the history of CSSC and its affiliation with the Civil Service Football Club.