"SENIOR TIMES" JULY 2026

 OUR THEME FOR JULY IS “UNITED KINGDOM”

THE SENIOR TIMESTM

A publication of The Senior Network

July 2026

GOLDEN NUGGETS

Our focus this month is the United Kingdom.  Consisting of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, these countries are very diverse with rich heritages and customs. 

immediately thoughts of bagpipes, kilts and the Loch Ness Monster come to mind.  The telephone by Alexander Graham Bell and the sporting game of golf are just two of the inventions from Scotland.  Wales built the first suspension bridge in 1894 and is home to the oldest record store, Spillers Record Shop, established in 1896.  Sheep outnumber people 3-to-1 in Wales as well.  Yet despite all these differences, they remain united as one. 

This important concept about being united is also found in the Bible.  Paul writes in Philippians 2:2, “Fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord of mind,” Even though we are not carbon copies of each other, we need to learn to concentrate on those things we hold in common. Our basic belief in faith, family and love for our country should be a bond that knits us together, not tear us apart.  Yes, we will never agree on everything.  We focus on the obstacle of our diversity instead of standing on the common ground of the love of a Heavenly Father, who cares for each of His children. God created us with differences, but He wants us to be UNITED in Him.

Brain Teaser

(answer on the last page)

A man gave one son 10 cents, and another son was given 15 cents. What time is it? 

Words Of Wisdom

“They say that nobody is perfect. Then they tell you practice makes perfect. I wish they’d make up their minds.”

Winston Churchill

GRANDMA’S COOKING CORNER

UK Sticky Toffee Pudding

Ingredients:

8 ounces dates

1 cup of boiling water

1/3 cup of butter, room temperature

2/3 cup light brown sugar, firmly packed

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

2 large eggs

2 tablespoons molasses

1 2/3 cup all-purpose flour

1 ½ teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon of baking soda

¼ teaspoon salt

Ingredints for Toffee Sauce:

1/2 cup butter

½ cup heavy whipping cream

3/4 cup light brown sugar

1 Pinch salt

2 tsp vanilla extract

Chopped walnuts, optional

Instructions: 

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a 12-cup muffin tin or ramekins.

Add the dates to the bowl of a food processor or blender and pour boiling water on top. Set aside for 5 minutes.

Meanwhile, prepare the batter: Cream together butter and brown sugar. Add eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition. Add the molasses and vanilla and mix.

Sift together the flour, baking powder and salt, and then stir into the batter.

Pulse the date mixture in a food processor, then stir in baking soda. Pour date mixture into batter (no need to strain) and fold in gently to combine (don’t over-mix).

Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake for about 18 – 20 minutes or until toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with few crumbs. Don’t overbake or cake will be dry. (For square baking pan, bake for 22-25 minutes). Serve muffin cakes flat side up, with warm toffee sauce on top.

Instructions for Toffee Sauce:

Add cream, butter, brown sugar, and salt to a saucepan. Cook over low heat, stirring, until sugar dissolves and sauce is smooth, and slightly thickened about 7-10 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla. Spoon toffee sauce over cake and garnish with chopped walnuts, if desired.  Store the cakes and sauce (in an airtight container) separately for up to five days in the refrigerator.

NonProfit of the Month

Save The Children is a non-profit based in the United Kingdom. 

As a children's rights charity, the movement operates in 115 countries, providing unique care to children based on their specific needs. 

Whether vaccinating children in remote regions, providing anti-  biotics for pneumonia treatment, setting up learning centers after disasters, or working to bring British children home from Syria, they do all they can to support them.  They work in homes, nurseries, schools and communities to narrow the gap between children living in poverty and their better off classmates.

They are proud of the work that has been done in the UK but recognize there is a long way to go.

MILITARY SALUTE

Field Marshal William Joseph Slim, 1st Viscount Slim (6 August 1891 – 14 December 1970), usually known as Bill Slim, was a British military commander and the 13th governor-general of Australia from 1953 to 1960.  Slim saw active service in both the First and Second World Wars and was wounded in action three times. During the Second World War he led the Fourteenth Army, the so-called "forgotten army" in the Burma campaign. After the war he became the first British officer who had served in the Indian Army to be appointed Chief of the Imperial General Staff. In the early 1930s, Slim also wrote novels, short stories, and other publications under the pen name Anthony Mills.

Who’d A Thunk

In early 1923, and in poor health, Baird moved to 21 Linton Crescent, Hastings, on the warmer south coast of England. He later rented a workshop in the Queen's Arcade in the town. Baird built what was to become the world's first working television set using items that included an old hatbox and a pair of scissors, some darning needles, a few bicycle light lenses, a used tea chest, sealing wax and glue that he purchased. In February 1924, he demonstrated to the Radio Times that a semi-mechanical analogue television system was possible by transmitting moving silhouette images. In July of the same year he received a 1000-volt electric shock, surviving with only a burnt hand, and was asked by his landlord to vacate the premises.

Humor Me

 At Sunday School the children were learning how according to the Bible God created everything, including human beings. Johnny paid particular attention when the teacher told him how Eve was created out of one of Adam’s ribs. Later that week, Johnny’s mother found him lying on his bed as though he were ill, and asked him, “Johnny, what’s the matter?” Johnny replied, “I’ve got a pain in my side. I think I’m going to have a wife.”

Grandpa’s Sports Stories

The 1950 FIFA World Cup was held in Brazil, where England was considered one of the favorites but suffered a shocking defeat to the United States in their opening match. This event was significant as it marked England's first appearance in the World Cup since the tournament's inception in 1930.

REMEMBER WHEN

Queen Elizabeth II was crowned on 2 June 1953 at Westminster Abbey, London, in a historic ceremony broadcast on television for the first time. Queen Elizabeth II acceded to the throne on 6 February 1952, following the death of her father, King George VI, at the age of 25, while she was on an official visit to Kenya. She was proclaimed queen by the privy and executive councils shortly thereafter, but the coronation was held more than a year later to allow a period of mourning and extensive preparations for the ceremony The coronation took place at Westminster Abbey and was presided over by Dr Geoffrey Fisher, Archbishop of Canterbury. During the service, Elizabeth took an oath to uphold the Church of England, was anointed with holy oil, invested with robes and regalia, and crowned Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms, including Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Pakistan, and Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), The Duke of Edinburgh, her husband, paid homage immediately after the anointing, though he was not crowned The ceremony involved representatives of the peers, the House of Commons, leading citizens, and officials from Commonwealth countries, reflecting the international significance of the event  The Queen wore the State Diadem for the procession and a coronation gown designed by Norman Hartnell, featuring flowers representing Commonwealth countries The coronation was the first British coronation to be fully televised, allowing an estimated 27 million people in Britain and millions more worldwide to witness the event  Street parties, decorations, and commemorative souvenirs marked the occasion, with Londoners lining the streets to see the Queen’s procession in the Gold State Coach The ceremony cost approximately £1.57 million at the time, equivalent to over £53 million today  Elizabeth II’s coronation was the fourth and final British coronation of the 20th century and symbolized continuity, tradition, and the unity of the Commonwealth.  It combined centuries-old rituals with modern technology, bringing the monarchy closer to the public than ever before and leaving a lasting cultural legacy.The coronation remains a defining moment in British history, celebrated for its pageantry, solemnity, and the Queen’s lifelong commitment to her role, which she expressed in a radio broadcast to the Commonwealth on the eve of the ceremony: “Throughout all my life and with all my heart I shall strive to be worthy of your trust”

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People with later sleep schedules have more anxiety and feelings of loneliness.

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SENIOR OF THE MONTH

July 2026

Ray McNeill

Ray left home in North London when he was fifteen and joined the Fleet Air Arm branch of the Royal Navy. He trained as an engineer specializing in airframes and engines. Twenty five years later he retired as the Regulating Chief Petty Officer on  815 squadron at Portland in Dorset. In between times he serviced many aircraft from helicopters to fighter bombers, in the jungles of Malay and Borneo with commando squadron 848 to the flight deck of the carrier Ark Royal.

Ray also travelled the East coast of America for nearly a year from New York to South Carolina along I-95 staying at the NAS Patuxent River and the US Marine base at Camp Lejeune in NC.

In 1982, Ray was on a ship working the Autex range off Andros Island near Nassau but based in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. One day he was on the flight deck about to move the helicopter into the hangar, when he noticed a young woman watching from the shore. Later, she came aboard the ship with some friends to welcome the British to Fort Lauderdale. Ray and this woman became very close and still are in touch today over forty years later. (You can read more of this story under “blogs” on our website: theseniornetwork.org.)

After retirement from the Royal Navy in 1986, Ray joined a local firm heat treating and stress relieving steels and alloys for the aerospace and defense sector. The company Bodycote is now the biggest company of its kind in the world. Ray’s job was Production engineer, and he was the manager of the Health and Safety and Environment Systems. Bodycote has numerous sites throughout North America and still keeps in touch with Ray.

Ray retired at the end of 2014. He says, “Don’t let anyone tell you that when you retire, you will have rest.”He decided to get involved with a hobby he had had since before he left school. He volunteered to be an engineer on a steam railway, rebuilding mainly steam locomotives and coaches, and anything else to keep the railway running. All locos have to meet the requirements of a boiler inspector every ten years. Some are running engines; some are wrecks from scrapyards. It takes three years to rebuild.

England is known for its high culture.  She gave the world Shakespeare, Keaton, Dickens and Handel.  Northern Ireland is renowned the world over for its music and song lead by

Van Morrison and Teenage Kicks. 

 Answer to Brain Teaser

1:45. The man gave away a total of 25 cents (a quarter) to 2 people. "A quarter to 2:00" is another way of saying it.

 CALL US TODAY!    954-666-2040

DATES TO SAVE

Saturday, August 15^th

“Bridging the Gap Variety Show”

St. James United Methodist Church

Raleigh, NC.

Wednesday, August 19^th

“Golden Age Expo”

Rolesville Baptist Church

Rolesville, NC.

Thursday, September 10^th

Charity Golf Tournament

Heritage Golf Course

Wake Forest, NC.

Saturday, December 5^th “Candy Cane Stroll & Expo”

Triangle Town Center

Raleigh, NC. 

Look under “events” for additional info

or call 

954-666-2040

“Senior Day at the Mall”

If in the Raleigh area, on Friday, July 17^th, please join us at Triangle Town Center for our monthly “Senior Day at the Mall”. The theme is the  “United Kingdom”. Continuous entertainment on stage from 11 am until 3 pm. Seating available. Music, vendors, raffles, fun!

Friday, August 21^st, Theme: “Disney”

Friday, September 18^th,

Theme: “Country/Western” (Indoor Parade)

Friday, October 16^th, Theme: Fall Fest

We hope you will join us at one of our “parties”. They are FREE!  They are FUN!

Are you interested in helping as a volunteer, a vendor, a musician? or just come, relax and meet new people.

email to: info@theseniornetwork.org