ON THURSDAY, December 7, 2017, the Executive Committee of the National Pensioners Convention Wessex Region placed a wreath in memory of the 34,300 pensioners who died from cold-related illnesses during the winter of 2016/2017 adjacent to the War Memorial, High Street, West End, Hampshire.

The numbers were released by the Government's National Office for Statistics Information on November 22, 2017, and received very little publicity; the Budget was announced on the same day.

Two of the main campaigns of the National Pensioners Convention are for the 'End to Fuel Poverty' and 'Warm and Comfortable Housing' for all pensioners.

It is scandalous that in the sixth richest country in the world so many people are dying from cold-related illnesses.

Don Harper

Secretary, NPC Wessex Region