Page 5, At Sheringham paper, Norfolk UK

ANY OLD SPECTACLES?

Have you any old spectacles that are no longer needed? Cromer and Sheringham Rotary Club has launched an appeal asking people not to throw away redundant spectacles but hand them in to local outlets. They will be re-used by Vision Aid Overseas to help thousands in African countries who are partially sighted. The campaign was given added impetus following a recent talk by Tony Nelson, a practising Norfolk optometrist who has been on three VSO tem visits to Sierra Leone.

He explained that spectacles collected in the UK are providing a life-changing experience for many people in Africa who have no access to eye clinics. He recounted examples of patients entering VSO clinics almost blind and leaving 20 minutes later able to see.

"Tailors who were able to resume their intricate work, and school children able to take up studies again", he said. "People walk for miles as soon as they hear on the 'bush telegraph' that VSO is in the area." Vision Aid Overseas works by sending skilled teams of volunteer optometrists and opticians who set up clinics in different areas.

Each volunteer goes for two weeks and pays their own expenses, The dates and venues of the clinics are advertised and although thousands are treated, many have to be turned away through lack of time. "It is amazing what can be can be done by re-using cast off spectacles", said Rotarian Tony O'Shea who is leading the Rotary appeal.

"The Club has been collecting spectacles for over ten years, but Tony Nelson's talk gave added impetus to the annual appeal and emphasised what a crucial charity this is". Spectacles can be handed in to either of the Lloyds Pharmacies in Cromer and Sheringham, Creative Crafts in Sheringham or Randalls Electrical in Cromer.

SHERINGHAM PLAYERS REQUIRE NEW MEMBERS

Of any age or sex. With any willing skill. However young actors/actresses between the ages of 17 to 40 would be especially welcome!

CONTACT: THE SECRETARY GREG POPE.
Tel. CROMER (01263) 513287
www.sheringhamplayers.co.uk

RECORD-BREAKING '40s WEEKEND ON THE POPPY LINE

In glorious Indian summer weather the Poppy Line welcomed the record number of 9,046 visitors to the ever-popular 40's Weekend on September 15th and 16th.
A motorcycle detachment of military police kept a close eye on the thronged platforms at Sheringham Station, whilst at Weybourne the local Dads' Army platoon carried out bayonet training and rifle drill. Civilians in period costume - many of the ladies with the fancy hats and furs of the time - jostled with those in more modern dress as they queued patiently for austerity meatless pies (Woolton pies, named after the Minister of Food) at Lynda's Weybourne barbecue or waited in line for Spam sandwiches at the Holt Railway Institute canteen. Guarded by Tommies armed with Lee Enfield rifles and Bren guns, stalls in the open market at Holt Station did a roaring trade in 1940s clothing, equipment and memorabilia.

A splendid turn-out of vintage civilian and military vehicles added to the atmosphere, and on both days the roar of the Merlin engine was heard as the RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight's Spitfire swooped low over the line. Keeping morale up were the three close-harmony girl singers of American Tan, who delighted passengers at all stations. At Sheringham Station, star singer Fiona Harrison donned ATS, WRENS and WAAF uniforms to present three performances each day to a packed crowd waving Union Jacks and joining in the choruses of nostalgic numbers like "We'll meet again". And at Holt, the Timescape Singers put on four shows a day.

A nice touch was the programme, which reproduced pages from the Eastern Daily Press of June 3rd 1940 and May 8th (Victory in Europe Day) 1945. In those days the EDP cost just a penny ha'penny (less than 1p)! Star locomotive on the line was the massive engine built for the War Department in 1943 and later sold to Greece for operation on the crack Athens - Istanbul express. But perhaps most interest was centred on the streamlined Battle of Britain class engine, built for the Southern Railway just after the war and renamed "Biggin Hill" in honour of that airfield's role in 1940. When the stations went quiet after the crowds had left on Sunday evening, the Railway's largely volunteer staff were exhausted but triumphant. Commercial Manager Chrissie Rayment summed up the feelings: "We're knackered, but it was all well worth it!"

P & R Property Maintenance, Norfolk