Editors Letter

I don't often write my own opinions in this paper, but this subject is sufficiently horrific to me that I feel I can allow myself to comment. My father was a worker on a local dairy farm and my childhood memories are full of the animals he had so much pride in. All the cows in the herd had names and personalities, he knew them all and we knew most of them, which ones to avoid walking behind, which ones would allow us to ride them, which would eat out of our hands and which would eat our hands!

Back in the late 1960's we had an outbreak of foot and mouth and believe me, it was not the price of beef, dairy products, shortage of supplies, financial hardship, etc, that worried us, it was the animals. I have witnessed grown men who were brought up in the old-fashioned stiff upper lip way, sobbing their hearts out at the loss of their beloved animals. Sights, sounds and smells cannot be forgotten. Yes, farmers are in business to make money, but that does not mean that is all they care about.

Third Age University

The next meeting of U3A (University of the Third Age) North Walsham will be held on Friday October 5th 2007 at 2.30pm at the Roman Catholic Church Hall on Kings Loke Road North Walsham, with guest speaker Caroline Jarrold. The AGM will also take place at this meeting.  The speaker for the meeting being held on November 2nd 2007 will be Lady Walpole speaking about the history of the Walpole family. Thereafter meetings will be held at the same venue on the first Friday of the month at the same time. Entrance is free for members of U3A & £1 for non-members, who will be made most welcome. Those unable to attend can get details of U3A from Membership Secretary Janet Chamberlain on 01692 406069. See also the U3A website at www.u3a.org.uk. Jim Costello, Publicity Officer U3A North Walsham