FOR more than 30 years an action group has campaigned for the rights of pensioners across Oxfordshire.

But facing a dwindling number of members and nobody to take on the role of secretary the Oxfordshire Pensioners’ Action Group (OPAG) is at risk of closing. At its peak the organisation, which was formed in 1982, had about 200 members.

Now it has just 90 which includes two of the city’s former Lord Mayors – Betty Standingford who served in 1987/88 and Queenie Hamilton who served in 1990/91.

Chairman John Mackie, 74, who lives in Hendred Street, Oxford, said a decision will have to be taken about whether the group can continue.

He said: “We have declining membership and nobody to take on the officerships.

“We had our annual general meeting recently but because of declining membership we cannot find any successor to our secretary, who is 80 and can no longer carry on.

“If we cannot find someone we will probably have to disband and we don’t want to do that. It is not a particularly onerous role but we meet four times a year and publish a newsletter.”

The creation of OXPAG came just three years after the formation of the National Pensioners Convention by trade unionist Jack Jones, the former general secretary of the Transport and General Workers Union.

Over the decades the Oxford group has campaigned for various causes affecting elderly people. In April 1993, Arthur Church, the then secretary, warned that pensioners could die because of increased gas and electricity bills. Four years later the winter fuel allowance was introduced.

And in July 1996 members of the group protested over a lack of seats in shopping centres.

More recently the organisation has been campaigning to improve the door-to-door dial-a-ride service, which has been cut back after Oxfordshire County Council took over running it and reduced its budget.

Mr Mackie added: “We continue to campaign by writing letters to ministers, MPs and to the press.

“Pensioners are under attack at the moment because of gentlemen like Iain Duncan Smith [the secretary of state for work and pensions] who has been talking about people giving up the heating allowance and the bus pass.

“There are many reasons why a pensioners’ campaign group is needed.”

Rachelle Kennedy, a spokeswoman for Age UK Oxfordshire, said: “There are a number of groups in Oxfordshire which offer older people the opportunity to make their voices heard.

“We would regret any reduction in these groups and encourage that older people continue to be supported in having their say on subjects that matter the most.”

Mr Mackie said the group, which was previously open to anyone ‘of pensionable age’ would now accept members aged 50 or over.

Anyone interested in joining OPAG should contact Mr Mackie on brett.mackie@hotmail.co.uk or call 07906581382.