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) CIRCULATION: NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL FOR AGENDA DISCUSSION PC NW 06 014
'
GT/LW PC NW 06 01
29 September 2009
CIRCULATION: _ NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
Dear Executive Officer
RE: LEE CASTLETON - HORIZON
Please see the email below from ex Subpostmaster, Lee Castleton, which has already
been forwarded to you. Both myself and my predecessor have in the past
investigated the issue and corresponded with Mr Castleton regarding his belief that
the system was not robust and failsafe. This issue has now been placed on the
agenda for discussion at our forthcoming Executive Council meeting.
Yours sincerely
GEORGE THOMSON
General Secretai
Encl.
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Dear Bhavna
lam writing fo you as you are an Executive Council member of the NFSP.
My name Is Lee Castleton and I live in Bridling ton East Yorkshire. I used to own a Sub Post Office until
had a problem in 2004. I do not wish to burden you with my own personal story in this letter but I am
more than willing , if you wish, to go into great detail at a later date. I have been asked to ask you if you
feel any responsibility for the safety of your members that you were elected to represent?
I am part of a growing group of Postmasters who are both serving and ex-serving and we have all
suffered problems with the Horizon system . Our goal is to publicize the belief that the Post Office
Horizon accounts system is flawed, and that the way in which this problem is dealt with is systematically
heavy handed and is effectively swept under the carpet, the public In our opinion should be allowed to
hear all sides and decide for themselves. We have evidence of Horizon not performing properly and we
have evidence from IT technical experts who support our claims.
We as a group are actively looking for opportunities to publicize the problems that we feel are not being
dealt with by the Post Office and are being ignored by the NFSP. We have had numerous amounts of
column inches with various magazines and of course the BBC have now shown the Taro 9 program on
BBC Wales. Again as a group we are now embarking into mainstream media coverage with BBC.
Watchdog preparing a program along with various radio shows asking for interviews. At least one MP is
to approach the Government and ask them to launch an enquiry.
This is of course very good for our group and the publicity is good for our cause. Clearly you as a senior
person within the NFSP will be asked for comment on this issue.
It should be of up most concern to you as a senior official that Horizon can go wrong at the very least
your Union should be holding its own enquiry to establish the facts, Postmasters are being sent to
prison, being given criminal records, and are being made bankrupt.
I have been asked to write to yourself and ask you what are you doing with respect to this problem and
what are you doing as a group at the NFSP to protect and educate your membership. I quote from your
website.
Help in difficult times
Our Branch Secretaries provide practical advice and emotional support, and are able to represent
members if they encounter contractual issues or difficulties.
Read more about how the NFSP can help in difficult times...
We hope that this is a question you wish to answer, and prove with actions that you are facing up to this
problem and are doing all you can to protect your members, you do have a personal duty of care to
your members. I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours Sincerely
Lee Castleton
Fice-Addre
IMerine Drive PO
]14 South Marine
BRIDL INGTON
East Yorkshire
YO15 3DB
Scale Mnthly
SUSPENDED
Pal
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KD/mj.2004413/ FM MS 03.
8th November 2004
22 Windlesham Gardens,
Shoreham-by-Sea,
Mr Lee Castleton West Sussex BN43 5AZ
Marine Drive Post Office
14 South Marine Drive
Bridlington
East Yorkshire __YO15 3DB wonn.subpostmasters.org.uk
General Secrotary: COUN BAKER
Senior Assistant General Secretary
Kevin Davis
Assistant General Secretary
MARLYN STODDART
Dear Mr Castleton,
APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP.
! am returning your Postal Orders to the value of £157.08 because I cannot
accept your application for membership.
Yours sincerely
KEVIN DAVIS
Senior Assistant General Secretary
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ANNUAL APPLICATION FORM OF MEMBERSHIP FOR
“THe eee TR yim] {
THIS TURNED UP Ins
Thank you for deck ‘ be processed efficiently,
we require you to “TODAS Pos ,
. Section 4 _
. Section E
Once you have:
National Feder, AM-BY-SEA,
West Sussex B
e (1) £157.08 per annum or £13.09 per month for offices with a salary of £7,390.01 or above
¢ (2) £ 45.24 per annum or £3.77 per month for offices with a salary of £7,390.00 or below
(We are required to notify you in advance of an: changes to these rates)
ADDRESS ((f difforent to offi
FORENAMES.....
OFFICE TEL,.
JMINUMBER:
fe
[*
OFFICE NAME & ADDRESS:
(PLEASE TICK ONE BOX ONLY)
. = £157.08 PER ANNUM 4
ROU TON
- 2 LOWER RATE = £45.24 PER ANNUM
fpst, Yor KS Ce {€7,980.00 PER ANNUM OR BELOW)
\ 3N& 213337
1s sFAD CODE. sSeeceeeees fo
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HQ
Br WS
Reatel
-by-Sea. BN43 5AZ
Please complete this form and post it back to us in the reply paid
envelope provided:
Petal orclers
The National Federation of SubPostmasters 2c ‘©
22 Windlesham Gardens, Shoreham
Telephone:
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213 3377
ost Office Address 3
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THANK YOU
Marian Jones
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From:
Sent:
To:
Ce:
Subject:
Importance:
Kevin
Nicola Ferri _
03 November 2004 15:08
‘Kevin Davis’
‘Marian Jones’
Marine Drive PO
High
David Milner called today if we had heard from Marine Drive PO and the
problems they have bee having. I said I spoke to the SubPostmaster and his
father in law about it and that I have passed it onto Kevin.
Could you please let David know if we intend to help Mr Castleton.
‘Thanks
heiged Wr CaaVleton Cored bal, Bacon
ho
Lo ony wes App cation
Sajorch.
He CA mao}
hol oO monber
wy tes aA
& nov o¢
Marian Jones
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From: Nicola Ferris I
Sent: 02 November 2
T ‘Kevin Davis'
ci ‘Marian Jones’
Subject: MARINE DRIVE PO
Importance: High
Marian
Last night around 4.50 I had a call from a gentleman asking if we could help
his son in law who has been in his office since 18 July 2003. He has been
suspended since March 2004 and he was terminated 14 July 2004.
His problem was that he originally had a loss of £1,100 which he put in
himself. Then a few weeks later he was £2,500 down then the following week
he was another £4,200 down by the end he was told that he was £27,000 down !
"He would like to know if we could help him, I told him it would be very
doubtful as he has never been a member.
His Father in law has stated that he would pay back a year if we could help
him.
Mr Lee Castleton
Marine Drive PO (213-337)
Appointment Date 18 July 2003
Suspended 23 March 2004
Texminated 14 July 2004,
I said that I would speak to Kevin Davis on Thursday and call him back to
tell him the outcome.
Thanks
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r
7
Doc Type Letter Date 19 Jul 08 I
PO Index POCL/BA (Horizon) Seq. 0001418 I
ee I
i]
— -— sTATUs——_,
From:Castleton, L I I INCOMING
To:GT I I NEW SUBJECT
Subject:Horizon problem I I REPLY REQUIRED I
I I MEMBERSHIP
Being dealt with by:GT I I NOT ACKNOWLEDGED I
I I NOT REPLIED
i rm Document Summary
1
\>I explaining his problem with Horizon I