At sheringham paper, norfolk uk

@ Sheringham Community Paper - Issue 98 - 27 February 2009

THE OFF SEASON

Welcome to Sheringham. The rain is tipping down,
The Sea looks better when its' blue, but now it's muddy brown.
The seagulls seem quite miserable and gather in a huddle
As I look and sympathise with them I wade into a puddle.
I run for refuge from the wind and horizontal rain
To a pretty Edwardian shelter without a single windowpane!

I give up healthy walking, decide to settle for a book
And head off to the library to browse and have a look
At their interesting selection, but it' Wednesday, they are shut!
I'm getting rather cross by now and coffee beckons, but
My favoured venue's also closed and others don't appeal
So I wander down the High Street past Woolworths and then feel a twinge of sympathy.

What now? Down Gun Street to that symbol of ambition
Oddfellows Hall, It's closed, alas no further exhibition.
Its doors stay shut, its function little, but it has won awards.
What use is it I ask myself as I turn my steps towards
My home. Perhaps I should go out tonight, Little Theatre offers treats
But I simply can't get comfortable I 'm too tall for the seats.

Instead I'll settle down to the task that I love best
Putting pen to paper to get my grumbles off my chest.
Then I'll get the car out and together with my wife
We'll go supermarket shopping without the stress and strife
Of dodging dripping brollies as we hunt from door to door
Whilst our shopping bags grow heavy and then drag along the floor.

Well, never mind the winter - Summer will come round again
And at least it will be warmer then, even if the rain
Still falls upon the town. ...
VICTOR MELDREW. (AKA MALCOLM BASS )

LOCAL BOOST FOR POLIO ERADICATION CAMPAIGN

Cromer man off to India.  The international campaign, 'Polio - the final push', initiated by Rotary International and the Bill and Melissa Gates Foundation has received a substantial boost from a north Norfolk Rotary Club.  Cromer and Sheringham Rotary Club last week handed over a cheque for £3,000 to the Rotary Foundation Officer for East Anglia. It is one of the largest individual donations made a Norfolk Rotary Club to this humanitarian campaign and represents the proceeds from last September's Carlo Curley charity concert in Cromer.

POLIO ERADICATION CAMPAIGN

In November, 2007, The Gates Foundation offered a grant of $100 million for polio eradication, provided Rotary world-wide could match this dollar for dollar. Rotary took up the challenge and by January of this year had raised $60 million. Bill Gates was so impressed with this enthusiasm and commitment that, only four weeks ago, he offered to donate a further $255 million if Rotary could match this with $200 million! Now, Rotary Clubs throughout the world are busy organising activities and fund-raising events to raise the money.  As the money is raised, it will be used to purchase vaccine and equipment, support immunisation days, undertake research into new vaccines and surveillance to detect and contain new outbreaks.  "This is the largest single donation we have made", said John Dunsire, Cromer and Sheringham's Foundation Officer. "But the Gates challenge is huge incentive and we are so near to eradicating polio completely. If we can finish the task it will be a tremendous achievement".   A team of Norfolk Rotarians left this Friday for India and will spend time assisting with the National Immunisation Day in March giving children polio vaccinations. Among the team is Guy Boocock from Cromer, a member of Norwich Rotaract and the son Rotarian Jill Boocock.
Alan Caine