RAFA

There was a record attendance of 95 members at the Branch's special annual luncheon at RAF Coltishall on the 30th November; this was followed by another record attendance at their lunch on the 22nd February with an attendance of 92.  The Branch AGM was held at the Pheasant Hotel, Kelling on the 22nd March with an attendance of 70. It was the largest recorded attendance at an AGM in the Branch's history!  The President, Sir Colin Turner, welcomed the special guests. They were Air Vice Marshal Jack Furner, W/C Ken Wallis of Autogyro fame, NF Potter, the Founder Chairman of the Branch now living in Norwich, Flt.Lt. Ian Forster, the Branch's Rafalo for RAF Coltishall, and Kenneth Clarke, Manager of RAFA's Eastern Area.

Derek Shrigley, the Branch Chairman, presented his report outlining the continued success of the Branch and its increasing membership.  The Hon Treasurer, Des Gallagher, reported that the Branch's finances were in excellent order and as previously reported the 2004 Wings Week Appeal had raised £9,006, which was a record.   The president gave a short report on the successful 2004 Wings Week Appeal. On turning to the 2005 Campaign he said that if we were to raise at least as much money as last year, Cromer, Holt and Sheringham would each require a minimum of 24 collectors on Wings Saturday, 17th September. The same number would be required for the Alexandra Rose Day collections in June.  The Chairman reported that as there had been only one nomination for each Officer and Committee members, he asked that they be elected on block.   Sir Colin announced that the Winner of THE COLIN TURNER MEMBER OF THE YEAR TROPHY was Mrs Dorothy Baker for her outstanding efforts in organising Branch Raffles, which had achieved a record profit of £1,280 for the Wings Week Appeal.  Kenneth Clarke, the Eastern Area Manager, RAFA, thanked the Branch for its hard work and excellent organisation. He said that many other Branches could learn much from this and the effect of the monthly reports sent to the North Norfolk News and all the free sheets in the Branch's catchment area outlining the success of the Branch's meetings and events.   Following an excellent lunch, Air Marshal Jack Furner spoke about his visit to the Smithsonian Institute in Washington and a chaired public discussion with an American Air Force colleague of the varied heavy bomber tactics of the American Air Force and RAF Bomber Command.  The raffle at the lunch raised £225.90 for the Wings Week Appeal.

READERS LETTER

Dear Editor
Sheringham in Bloom have as always worked very hard to make our town look really lovely once again. It therefore saddened me the other evening to see some young people destroying the hard work in the flowerbeds opposite the bus stop on Station Approach. This garden had been an eyesore for years and I was really looking forward to seeing the lavender and roses bloom.

Sadly, one Friday evening a few weeks ago some youths, who had been drinking most of the afternoon decided that for 'fun' they would rip up a sign and use it to dig up some of the plants. Do they not understand that this mindless vandalism, not only upsets people, but also is actually ruining THEIR town? After all, many of them will remain here and when they are adults they will want a nice place to live, not a slum.

I did call the Police, but as is often the case they did not turn up. Imagine my thoughts when I read the last issue of your magazine about what we can do about anti-social behaviour, as an older person I was most definitely NOT going to approach them and tell them what was disturbing me, they were under the influence of drink!

Well done to the Sheringham in Bloom team for replanting it, I realise that sometimes you must wonder why you bother. Please rest assured that for the majority of us here in Sheringham, your work brings untold pleasure all year round. Hopefully this time those youths will leave it alone. If they don't, I AM making a diary!

KIDZ CORNER Okay, all you children aged 1 - 12 years, this column is for you.  Enter the competition(s) and you may win a prize. Put a coin in a bottle and then stop the opening with a cork. How can you get the coin out of the bottle without pulling out the cork or breaking the bottle?

when my son was about three years old he came to me and wanted to know what “thinking” meant? I could not, for the life of me, figure out a way to explain it so that he would understand. Unfortunately this upset him and he stormed off to his room. About ten minutes had passed when he opened his door, came to me and said; “Mum, I know what thinking is. It’s when your brain keeps talking but your mouth stays shut.”