March 2012 Newsletter The Flying Paperclip

Transcription

1 1 Grimsby & Cleethorpes Branch Registered Charity No Alexandra Road Cleethorpes North East Lincs DN35 8LQ March 2012 Newsletter The Flying Paperclip CLUB OPENING TIMES Monday Tuesday (subject to the Quiz League playing) (subject to the Quiz League playing) Wednesday (Only on the 1 st and 3 rd Wednesdays of the month) Thursday Friday Saturday and Sunday

2 HMS Grimsby Freedom Parade The parade through the Town took place on Sunday 19 th February at 1030hrs. It was a bright, sunny morning though freezing cold when the crew of HMS Grimsby marched from the Riverhead, through Osborne Street, the precinct and up to St James church led by the Royal Marine Band. The parade was joined by members of the Sea cadets, Marine cadets, standards from military organisations and veterans of all the Armed Forces. There were lots of people out applauding the parade as it passed by and was an emotional time for many. Our own Tony Walker was interviewed for BBC s Look North and autographs will be on sale soon! It was great to see some Club and Branch members come out to show their support and everyone said how much they enjoyed the event. Many thanks to Michael Reah for the photographs. Armed Forces Day & North East Lincs Military Tattoo More information is that there will be a full Typhoon display on Sunday 24 th June in the afternoon along the seafront. Hot Off the Press... Chairman Bill McCann has managed to acquire the Military Wives Choir singing their No 1 Hit Wherever You Are and other songs at the North East Lincolnshire Military Tattoo on Sunday 24 th June Patriotic Night On Saturday 21 st April, there will be Patriotic Night in the Club, with entertainment, to celebrate both the Queen s birthday and St. George s Day. More details next month. Branch and Club meetings The next Branch and Club committee meeting will be on Wednesday 21 st March in the upstairs lounge at 8pm. The following week, Wednesday 28 th March, is the Club and Branch Annual General meeting. This will be an 8pm start for the Branch AGM followed by a buffet and the Club AGM. Everyone is very welcome to attend both meetings. 2

3 Membership cards Members are reminded to carry their Membership card on them in the club and to ensure that all guests are signed in please. (The signing in book is in the hallway, under the telephone.) This is a legal requirement to comply with the Licensing laws. Guests will also be required to pay 2 entry fee (ONLY on outside entertainment nights) towards the cost of entertainment provided. Thank you for your support. Welfare Services Do you need help? The RAFA is there to help serving and ex-serving RAF personnel and their dependants, providing friendship, advice and support, respite care, general welfare and signposting. Contact details for our Branch welfare reps are at the end of the newsletter. This year, Welfare have received 3670 from the Benevolent Fund/Wings to give to local ex-raf members and families and have given out 445 in local welfare grants. Thursday nights Numbers drawn out this month on Thursday nights in the Membership Draw were: Thurs 2 nd February B Green who would have won 50 Thurs 9 th February G Dixon who would have won 55 Thurs 16 th February S Merrett who would have won 60 Thurs 23 rd February Not known yet The next draw is on Thursday 1 st March when we start again with 70 to be won, so good luck everyone! Don t forget the rules for the draw; you have to be IN the Club at 9.30pm and have your membership card with you! There is also a quiz, bit of Bingo, sometimes another quiz and a general good night on Thursdays, so come down and give it a try! Area Newsletter competition The Grimsby and Cleethorpes RAFA Branch have been awarded a joint Runner-up certificate in the Area competition. Only the winning entry usually wins a certificate, but apparently, the standard was so high this year that there were two joint runnerup prizes awarded too. Thank you to everyone who sends items in to me for publishing to make this newsletter more interesting for everyone. Keep them coming! 3

4 Wings We had a collection in Ramsden s in February and collected ! It was great to have such fantastic support and thanks go to Alex Elrick, Neil Gammon, Graham Robinson, Tony Walker, Phil Massen, Andrea Shepherd, Steve Flint and Terry Griffiths for giving some time to talk to people and collect. We all agreed it was a great place to collect in with the bonus of a lovely cafe! We have lots more events coming up where we need people to collect and talk to people so if you re interested in any of these, please let me know. Friday 13 th and Sat 14 th April Collecting in Pennell s Garden Centre Friday 25 th & Sat 26 th May Collecting in Morrison s, Laceby Sun 3 rd June Marquee at Waltham Windmill Fun Day Sat 9 th and Sun 10 th Street collection in Cleethorpes Sat 23 rd & Sun 24 th June Armed Forces Weekend collections in Cleethorpes Sat 30 th June & Sun 1 st July Street collection in Cleethorpes Sat 7 th & Sun 8 th July Wings and Wheels event at RAF North Coates Sun 15 th July Laceby Festival Sat 28 th July Cleethorpes Carnival Sunday 12 th August Hospital Carnival at The Stamford Club, Love Lane Corner. Sat 8 th & Sun 9 th September 1940 s weekend at North Thoresby Sunday 16 th September Marquee at Classic Car event, Waltham Windmill Friday 12 th and Sat 13 th October Collecting in Sainsburys, Corporation Road If there are any local events that you think we could attend, please contact me. Thank you to everyone who gives some time to support Wings for your continued support. It is much appreciated. Queen s Diamond Jubilee Monday 4 th June is a Bank Holiday to celebrate HM the Queen s Diamond Jubilee. The Club will be open to help celebrate this occasion, with an inside Street Party. More details next month. Your Club Needs You by Pat Howard The Club appreciates members renewing their memberships, but we need you and new members to support the Club in person! There is an excellent Chairman, Vice-Chairman and Committee who are all doing their best to keep the Club open. PLEASE support them and come along to events! USE IT OR LOSE IT! Footnote: Another RAFA Club closed last month! 4

5 Aluminium recycling We are doing well with our Aluminium recycling and I d like to thank everyone who brings their cans in. Thanks also to the person who brought their old aluminium cooking trays in; they certainly added to the weight! Don t forget, any NON IRON metal can be recycled and the money goes to the Wings Appeal. Thank you. Staying in Cleethorpes? The Jedburgh Guest House is owned and run by vice-chairman of the Branch, Graham Malster and his partner, Cheryl. Situated at 26 Albert Road, this lovely 7- bedroomed B&B is a 3 minute walk from the RAFA Club and an ideal place to stay if visiting the local area or coming to a Club event. Some rooms are en suite and Graham and Cheryl can be contacted via their website, which is jedburghguesthouse.co.uk, or via bookings@jedburghguesthouse.co.uk or phone More information can be found on their website or see Graham and Cheryl at the Club. South East & Eastern Area News The South East and Eastern Area newsletter can be downloaded from or there are some copies in the Club for you to look at. These items may be of interest from the February newsletter: Club Closure I regret to inform you that the Northampton Club has closed. However, the RAFA Northampton Branch continues. For information on where the Branch now meets please contact the Branch Chairman, Glen Connor on Tel: or by to: connors.farnworth14@btinternet.co.uk Annual Conference Blackpool May 2012 I would be grateful if Branch Secretaries would publicise Annual Conference as widely as possible to their members and encourage them to attend. If you wish to attend the Annual Conference, please contact Bill McCann at the Branch. Lytham St Annes Fighter & Bomber Command Memorial 24th June 2012 John Coombes, Chairman of the St Annes Spitfire Display Team has contacted RAFA with details of an unveiling ceremony on Sunday the 24th June It will be the first phase of the new Lytham St Annes Fighter & Bomber Command Memorial. The memorial has at its centre a full size replica of a Mark Vb Spitfire finished in 19 Sqn RAF markings. The unveiling ceremony will take place at Fairhaven Lake, Lytham St Annes on the morning of the 24th June 2012 and they would like to extend an invitation to all RAFA Branches throughout and the UK. More Details will be released via their Lytham St Annes facebook pages or through the Fylde RAFA branch or contact Mr John Coombes, Team Chairman, on or at johncoombes@talktalk.net 5

6 WAAF Association The WAAF Association welcomes ex-waaf as members and WRAF Shortly to become full members Annual Subscription is 8 includes twice yearly magazines, reunions etc. A warm welcome awaits! WAAF AGM Bournmouth 20 th 23 rd April For further details contact Iris Sheppard on Memberships are due! It s great that so many people have popped in to renew their Branch and Club memberships, and if you re one of those people, well done! There are still some people (you know who you are...!) who haven t renewed yet and you can renew at the Club we have forms on the bar as either a Full Member of RAFA, Associate Member of RAFA or Club member. Contact Trish Fisher, Membership secretary for further details on or trishf.rafa@gmail.com. Forms are also available at the bar for direct debit/standing order payments. RAF Regiment Veterans in Humberside group The Regiment group will in future meet on the third SUNDAY of the month commencing Sunday 18 th March 2012 from 1230hrs-1400hrs. Just for laughs! Kulula is an Airline with head office situated in Johannesburg. Kulula airline attendants make an effort to make the inflight "safety lecture" and announcements a bit more entertaining. Here are some real examples that have been heard or reported: On a Kulula flight, (there is no assigned seating, you just sit where you want) passengers were apparently having a hard time choosing, when a flight attendant announced, "People, people we're not picking out furniture here, find a seat and get in it!" On another flight with a very "senior" flight attendant crew, the pilot said, "Ladies and gentlemen, we've reached cruising altitude and will be turning down the cabin lights. This is for your comfort and to enhance the appearance of your flight attendants." After a particularly rough landing during thunderstorms in the Karoo, a flight attendant on a flight announced, "Please take care when opening the overhead compartments because, after a landing like that, sure as hell everything has shifted." From a Kulula employee: " Welcome aboard Kulula 271 to Port Elizabeth. To operate your seat belt, insert the metal tab into the buckle, and pull tight. It works just like every other seat belt; and, if you don't know how to operate one, you probably shouldn't be out in public unsupervised." "In the event of a sudden loss of cabin pressure, masks will descend from the ceiling. Stop screaming, grab the mask, and pull it over your face. If you have a small child travelling with you, secure your mask before assisting with theirs. If you are travelling with more than one small child, pick your favourite." And from the pilot during his welcome message: "Kulula Airlines is pleased to announce that we have some of the best flight attendants in the industry. Unfortunately, none of them are on this flight!" Overheard on a Kulula flight into Cape Town, on a particularly windy and bumpy day: During the final approach, the Captain really had to fight it. After an extremely hard landing, the Flight Attendant said, "Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to The Mother City. Please remain in your seats with your seat belts fastened while the Captain taxis what's left of our airplane to the gate!" 6

7 Another flight attendant's comment on a less than perfect landing: "We ask you to please remain seated as Captain Kangaroo bounces us to the terminal." An airline pilot wrote that on this particular flight he had hammered his ship into the runway really hard. The airline had a policy which required the first officer to stand at the door while the passengers exited, smile, and give them a "Thanks for flying our airline. He said that, in light of his bad landing, he had a hard time looking the passengers in the eye, thinking that someone would have a smart comment. Finally everyone had gotten off except for a little old lady walking with a cane. She said, "Sir, do you mind if I ask you a question?" "Why, no Ma'am," said the pilot. "What is it?" The little old lady said, "Did we land, or were we shot down?" After a real crusher of a landing in Johannesburg, the attendant came on with, "Ladies and Gentlemen, please remain in your seats until Captain Crash and the Crew have brought the aircraft to a screeching halt against the gate. And, once the tire smoke has cleared and the warning bells are silenced, we will open the door and you can pick your way through the wreckage to the terminal." A plane was taking off from Durban Airport. After it reached a comfortable cruising altitude, the captain made an announcement over the intercom, "Ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain speaking. Welcome to Flight Number 293, non-stop from Durban to Cape Town, The weather ahead is good and, therefore, we should have a smooth and uneventful flight.. Now sit back and relax... OH, MY GOODNESS!" Silence followed, and after a few minutes, the captain came back on the intercom and said, "Ladies and Gentlemen, I am so sorry if I scared you earlier. While I was talking to you, the flight attendant accidentally spilled a cup of hot coffee in my lap. You should see the front of my pants!" A passenger then yelled, "That's nothing. You should see the back of mine!" Thank you for those...does anyone know any more? FORTHCOMING EVENTS It s really important that members try to come along and support the events that are planned. Events are put on to benefit members, although guests and visitors are always more than welcome. If there is something that you would like to see on at the Club, please contact any one of the Committee with your ideas. Club Committee meeting - Every 1 st Wednesday in the month at 2000hrs. The bar is open for the evening and everyone is welcome. Branch Committee meeting Every 3 rd Wednesday in the month is the Branch Committee meeting at 2000hrs. The bar is open for the evening and everyone is welcome. Humber Branch of the Air Sea Rescue Association meet at the Club every 1 st Friday in the month. Contact Secretary, Graham Chaters, for any further information on or grchaters@btinternet.com Royal Armoured Corps meeting Every 2 nd Friday of each month. For further information, please contact Richard Lent on or by at richard.lent@uwclub.net 7

8 The Veterans-in-Humberside RAF Regiment group have changed their meetings to the THIRD SUNDAY IN EVERY MONTH from hrs commencing on Sunday 18 th March. All serving or ex-serving Regiment are invited. Contact Graham Smith on or North Lincs. Air Crew Association meet on the 2 nd Wednesday of every month Any serving or ex-serving Air Crew are invited to attend meetings of the North Lincs. Air Crew Association, chaired by Air-Vice Marshal Martyn Gardiner. They meet at the Louth Indoor Bowling Club, off St. Bernard s Avenue, Louth at 11am for lunch. For any further information, please contact Tony Anderson on or by haselbury124@tiscali.co.uk First Friday in every month Children are welcome to stay later on this Friday. Come and play the games here or bring your own. Pool and darts available. Saturday 3 rd March Ramblers Social Night Saturday 10 th March Disco Night with DJ Graham Malster Saturday 17 th March Ian Carroll is coming again to sing and entertain everyone at the Club. Come early for a good seat! Wednesday 21 st March Allotment Society meeting Wednesday 28 th March Club and Branch Annual General Meeting. A buffet will be provided and everyone is invited to hear and comment on the Club and Branch achievements of the past year. Friday 30 th, Sat 31 st March, 1 st April Area Conference at Bracklesham Bay. Friday 13 th and Sat 14 th April Wings Collection in Pennell s Garden Centre Saturday 12 th May Wild West Night at the Club. Dress up for a fun night out, to include a Wild West buffet and live entertainment. Sat 25 th and Sun 26 th May Wings event. Collecting in Morrison s supermarket. Saturday 23 rd and Sunday 24 th June Armed Forces Weekend celebrations. Sat 30 th June and Sun 1 st July Wings event. Street collection in Cleethorpes Sun 3 rd June Wings Marquee at Waltham Windmill Fun Day from 10am Sat 9 th and Sun 10 th June Street collection in Cleethorpes Sat 7 th and Sun 8 th July Wings event. Wings and Wheels at RAF North Coates. 8

9 Sun 15 th July Wings event. Laceby Festival. This was a great event last year in Laceby. Fun for all the family, live bands and entertainment throughout the day. Sunday 12 th August Wings event. Hospital Carnival at the Stamford Club, Love Lane Corner. We shall have the marquee there to promote Wings, RAFA and have a good time ourselves. Saturday 8 th and Sunday 9 th September Wings event. North Thoresby 1940 s weekend. This is a great weekend, with dressing up, re-enactments, military vehicles, entertainment, stalls, crafts and so much more. Sunday 16 th September Wings Marquee at Classic Car event, Waltham Windmill Friday 12 th and Saturday 13 th October Wings event. Collection in Sainsburys, Grimsby. More events are being planned, but if you have a suggestion, please let the Committee know. CONTACTS You can contact any committee member below for information or agenda items. If you would like anything included in the next newsletter or would like it ed free of charge, please contact Donna Flint on either , or by donnaflint2@ntlworld.com. If you would like it posted out to you, please send an A5 SAE (or several to cover several months) to the Club, marked for the attention of Donna Flint. The printed newsletter can be collected from the Club around the 5 th of each month. Bill McCann (Chairman) bill.mccann2@virginmedia.com. Membership enquiries Trish Fisher or trishf.rafa@gmail.com Welfare enquiries to Bill McCann, details above, Andrea Shepherd or Trish Fisher Wings suggestions, volunteering or questions to Donna Flint, as above Branch Committee members Tony Walker Graham Robinson or graham.robinson513@ntlworld.com Steve Flint or steve.flint2@ntlworld.com Cyril Monks or cymon2@btinternet.com Gavin Marshall option911@hotmail.co.uk Alex Elrick alex.elrick@hotmail.co.uk Mark Jones mjones7969@yahoo.co.uk Graham Malster or graham.malster@ntlworld.com Anne Prowse

10 Phil Massen Andrea Shepherd Trish Fisher Club Committee members ( also including all the above Branch committee members) Pat and Colin Howard Rowena Brock row@fenric.co.uk Don McKay Brian Green 10