Roulla's farewell message to members

25 June 2008

Dear Members and Friends,

Today is my last working day at Ofsted. So here I am preparing myself for a few good byes to you, my members and my friends.

This letter is long, slushy, and mushy and full of love – and I make no apologies for it either - so here goes!!!!!!!!!

I want to start by thanking you so very much for the wonderful send off that you gave me yesterday. I want to thank you…..
· ….for the wonderful email messages of love and support you sent me. Thank you my friends.
· ….for the cards, drinks, presents…., and beautiful flowers that you gave me yesterday. Thank you my friends
· ……for the beautiful sunflowers delivered to my door this morning. Thank you my friends

I also want to thank you for the cheque that was presented to me yesterday. It was for a truly phenomenal amount – and I am still overwhelmed by your love, your kindness and your generosity. I thank you from the bottom of my heart – and want you to know that words cannot adequately express how I feel at this moment in time – or how I felt yesterday when I was presented with this last night. Thank you all so much.

Thanks to my CCI members, my CSCI members, my Area Manager members, my ITM members, my admin staff members – thanks to all my ex Ofsted employee members who have always kept in touch and who also contributed to my present – my thanks and love to you all!

Mary Holt – where are you girl! I want to thank you so very much for organising the above, for organising the collection and for the wonderful ‘thank you’ album that you have created with your own hands. I will be forever indebted to you. You are a wonderful person who has had to put up with a lot from this organisation, and I want you to remain strong! Members – please all rally round Mary – she is a lovely person as I am sure you all know – is my friend, and will always be my friend – you haven’t seen the last of me matey!

Ofsted UNISON Forum – there are those of you who I have not seen eye to eye with, and I make no apologies for issuing formal complaints against you – as you need to remember that you are accountable to your members – you must and always should be open, transparent and democratic – and I hope that the investigation outcome brings radical reforms to how some of you operate. To my true friends and highly respected friends in the Forum (Valerie, Lynda, Barbara, Carol and Mike) thank you for you unswerving support, love and loyalty. Members are truly lucky to have you fighting their corner. Keep strong. I love you all.

My ex local authority friends (both present and ex Ofsted employees) words are not necessary – you all know exactly how I feel about you all. You are family now. When a Greek says you are family – you better believe it girls!!!!!!

To Lambeth UNISON – Thanks to Jon, Nick, Andrew, Jackie and Juliet for last night. Thanks to all at Lambeth for their wonderful present – it is truly beautiful. Thanks so much to Jon and Nick for their wonderful speeches yesterday. I want you to know how much I have valued working with you. I want all members to know that Lambeth UNISON will always have my vote in whatever they do. Lambeth UNISON are democratic, transparent and revolutionary – and I love them all!! Seriously though, I cannot emphasise what a privilege it has been working with these wonderful and truly gifted people. I will always be an honorary member of Lambeth – will come to all your parties – and am looking forward to 1st August party!! Chaps – for pities sake – don’t let Jon sing again!!!!!!

Stuart Barber – the best ever flipping UNISON Regional Officer we have ever had. You have the measure of Ofsted! You are not afraid to challenge! You are not afraid to say it how it is! My members are very lucky to have you as their regional officer and you know how dearly they all love you. As for me, all I can say is that it has been an honour Sir. See you at the BBQ!

My beloved husband and my kids – I want to thank my husband who has had a lot to put up with over the years. He has listened to my gripes about this organisation. He has worried alongside me for our members. He has advised me, supported me and loved me throughout. I couldn’t have done it without him. He has been a senior union rep for yonks now and I owe so much to him. Love you babe! To my sons – I love you all and thank you for always worrying about my health and sanity working for this organisation, and for your support. My members all know how much I love you all and how much my family mean to me.

My members - It was 6 years ago that I decided to become a union representative....and what a roller coaster ride it has been! I was so chuffed to be given the chance to represent members who give their all for an organisation that has such a harsh, draconian regime.

I believe it is very important for people to know what you think of them, and to understand that they have had an impact in your life and will be remembered for things. I want you all to know that the vast majority of my members are people I admire and respect greatly; many of whom have become very good friends over the years that we have worked together.

Someone once said that it's always too easy for people to make up funny stories about what's happened on nights out or jokes that have been played, but the persons worth is more than that and more than what they have done, the impressions they have left people with and on people. That is why I want to tell you how much I have appreciated some of the things that make the job of a union rep so special – not just the business side of things, but the fun and laughter we have shared.

Even though I am leaving, I will be watching your progress with interest and I shall never ever forget you. I am certain you will all go on to achieve far better things than I did. If my legacy to you was time spent building this membership up, your legacy to me is one of comradeship, faith in teamwork and an abiding passion for justice!

Why does it take a minute to say hello and forever to say goodbye?

I now raise my glass to you all and say farewell.

…… How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard



Roulla Xyrizos
your UNISON Rep (and proud of it!!!!!)

roullaxyrizos2004@yahoo.co.uk keep in touch!

LAMBETH UNISON MEMBERS MEETING!!!!!

The Lambeth UNISON Ofsted London members meeting, which will now be held on Tuesday 24th June 2008 at University of London Union (ULU).

This is an extremely important meeting and members should make every effort to attend.

Because of this, and to ensure that we have seating for everyone, I am asking members to RSVP me via my Ofsted email address in order to confirm their attendance. This is very important.

This meeting includes Social Care members and Mike Stapley – our Social Care UNISON rep will also be present.

I know that some of you will be in central London attending the EYFS training, and I am hoping that you will attend our meeting once the training has finished. Don’t worry about being late, as we can delay the start of the meeting until 5.30 to enable you all to attend.

Details as follows:
ULU (University of London Union)
Malet Street, (off Tottenham Court Road)
London, WC1E 7XA
Date: Tuesday 24th June 2008
Time: 5pm – 8pm
Room: 3D

We look forward to seeing you there!