June 2011 Newsletter The Flying Paperclip

Transcription

1 1 8 Grimsby & Cleethorpes Branch Registered Charity No Alexandra Road Cleethorpes North East Lincs DN35 8LQ June 2011 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 The Body Shop Thank you everyone who came and supported this event. It was very well attended and the Club made just over 75 with commission and the raffle. Sara brought lots of samples and testers and I think most people had a fabulous arm and hand massage. She also very kindly donated a great raffle prize and some for future raffles. If anyone would like to book a party with Sara, her details are up in the Club. We ll be having another one again, with Christmas in mind, so look out for details. Saturday 28 th May Alex Barton Alex came to entertain the Club with her fantastic repertoire of songs. She can be seen on YouTube at or search for Alex Barton at the RAF Club Cleethorpes. It was also Graham Robinson s birthday (21 again, eh??) that night, which was celebrated in style! The Dickie Collins Trophy WE WON! The Dickie Colllins Trophy is awarded annually to the Most Efficient Branch of the RAF Association, nationally. Part of the criteria is to have over 200 Ordinary or Life Members and to increase membership of the Branch annually. And the Grimsby and Cleethorpes Branch have only gone and done it! Well done to everyone who encouraged friends and family to be members of the Branch and who work so hard to improve things at the Club for all our members. We will be presented with the trophy very soon! Wings We have lots of events are coming up and if you are able to help at any (or all!) of these events, please let me know. So far we have booked; Friday 17 th June - Swing Wing Concert in aid of the Wings Appeal, Central Hall, Duncombe Street. Tickets only 10 each for a fabulous night of entertainment! Saturday 25 th June Armed Forces Day in Cleethorpes. The Mobile Exhibition Trailer is coming along to help promote RAFA, the Branch, sell items and collect for Wings. Lots of help is needed for this please. Friday 8 th July collecting in Sainsbury, Grimsby Saturday 16 th July Help For Heroes Villages Unite event on Keelby Village Green. This was very popular last year with entertainment and stalls. Saturday 23 rd July Laceby Summer Festival. From 2pm onwards there will be a summer fair event and from 5pm, local bands will be appearing on the Butt Lane Playing fields. Thursday 28 th July Fireman s Fete, Grimsby Fire Station. Friday 19 th and Saturday 20 th August collecting in Grimsby Tesco. Tuesday 22 nd and Wednesday 23 rd November Collecting in Asda, Grimsby 2

3 We now have another 3 Wings Collecting tins out in the community for people to put any spare change in, but if you know of a pub, shop or business that might like to have one for us, please let me know. Also, Jodie Clark from Advantage in Grimsby has been collecting aluminium cans for the Branch from the firm. This brings in a small amount of money, which adds up over the year. If anyone else can do this with their firm (aluminium only though please, not steel cans!) then please do. Thanks, Jodie and everyone at Advantage! Club joins the 21 st Century! Yes, it s official! We now have our own website! Bill has spent a lot of time developing the site and it s now up and running. If you go to you can join it and see what s going on. There are various sections on there to do with events, news and photos. Have a look, put a picture up of yourself and see what it s all about. It s having new things added every day still and there will be links to other sites of interest coming soon. 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 reps are at the end of the newsletter. Thursday nights These are becoming more popular with the new Membership Draw taking place, as well as entertainment with Graham Malster for the evening. The first draw took place on Thursday 12 th May and the winning number drawn out belonged to A. Kedar. However, they weren t in the Club to receive their 50 and it rolled over to Thursday 17 th May. The number drawn out belonged to M. Jenkins but again, they weren t in the Club to receive their 55 and it rolled over again to Thursday 24 th May. The number drawn belonged to J.Moody but again, not in the Club and so it rolls over to Thursday 2nd June, with 65 to be won. So just a reminder about the rules: You have to be on the Club premises at 9.30pm on a Thursday night and produce your membership card if your number is drawn out. Simples! Wings Lotto - The new name for Lift-off Lotto. Lift-Off Lotto has had a refresh. But don t worry, everything is still the same. Tickets are still only 1 with the chance to win up to 1000 EVERY WEEK! There are guaranteed prizes of 1000 and 100 per week, with a top rollover prize of 10,000! 3

4 Money raised from the lottery helps the RAF Association to offer residential care, short welfare breaks and supportive and sheltered housing facilities throughout the United Kingdom. It also helps our volunteer Welfare Officers to provide much needed advice, care and support for both current and ex members of the RAF and their families. AND, if you join through the Branch, the Branch will benefit from 10% of what you spend with the Lotto. More information is available at the Branch or see Donna Flint. Leaflets are also available at the Club for you to join. Thank you for your support. SWING WING CONCERT There are lots of our members going to this (and taking friends) and tickets are selling well! This was a really popular event last year and it has been organised for FRIDAY 17 th JUNE this year. It will be in Central Hall, Duncombe Street, 7pm for a 7.30 start. Tickets are on sale from the Central Library in Town, the Caxton Theatre or see Bill McCann. Bill has obtained the best seats for RAFA members and it would be great to see this fabulous event well attended. Tickets are going very fast! Tickets are only 10 each, which is a bargain for a great night out, with excellent music. The Club will be closed earlier in the evening but will open about 10pm as we did last year. Staying in Cleethorpes? The Jedburgh Guest House is owned and run by membership secretary 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 bookings@jedburghguesthouse.co.uk or phone More information can be found on their website or see Graham and Cheryl at the Club. Armed Forces Day Saturday 25 June Yes, it s nearly here 4

5 TIMINGS 0900 Static events open in the Pier Gardens 1000 Club opens 1330 Parade meets up at St Peter s Primary School (as last year) 1400 Parade marches off with the N E Lincolnshire Pipe Band 1415 Salute the Reviewing Officer 1430 Service and Wreath laying at the Strike Wing Memorial 1455 If Timings permit - Presentation of Veterans Badges 1502 Standards March Off 1503 Parade Dismissed 1505 Flypast by the Lancaster Bomber from the Battle of Britain Flight 1515 Flypast by The Blades Aerobatic Team in front of the RAFA Branch 1517 Display by The Blades Aerobatic Team in front of the RAFA Branch 1535 Red Arrows flypast (to be confirmed within the next 2 weeks) 1550 POSSIBLE Flypast by the Vulcan on training flight (Not classed as part of the Flying Display) 1600 Dignitaries visit static displays Band concert by the Sea Cadets at the Strike Wing Memorial 1630 Dignitaries retire to Town Hall and RAF Club for Buffets 2000 Live entertainment in the RAFA Club PARADE The order for the parade will be the following: NE Lincs Pipe Band Standard Bearers Royal Navy and Royal Naval Associations Merchant Navy Association Army and Army Associations RAF and RAF Associations Cadet Services Sea Cadets, Army Cadets and ATC Cadets Cadet services from Market Rasen, Immingham and Grimsby squadrons Havelock Academy of the Combined Cadet Forces The parade will be followed by Monty If you are a serving or former serving member of the Armed Forces, or know someone who is, you are more than welcome to join the parade and wear your medals and/or veterans badge. In the Pier Gardens we will have: National Service (RAF) Association Brigg Branch caravan and awning 3 rd Battalion Royal Anglian Regiment (recruiting tent and landrover) Save the Vulcan exhibition stand RAF Coningsby Survival Equipment Flight (presentation stand) 195 Grimsby Air Training Corps display Grimsby and Cleethorpes Parachute Regiment Association 5

6 Grimsby Air Training Corps display Pink Berets display stand Carpathian Lancers display stand Parachute Regiment Association Royal Naval Association Royal Army Medical Corps Cleethorpes Airshow display marquee Grimsby Institute of Further Education Public Services stand Thorpe Camp Radio Museum mobile display team (min. 2 vehicles) Possible (awaiting confirmation): Re-enactment of the Home Front Car park outside Nat West Bank Typhoon simulator RAFA Mobile Events Trailer 1936 ice cream van Across from the Nat West Bank, in the gardens Bofors Gun Military vehicle Kingsway Kiosk opposite Leisure Centre 1940's Swing Band - With Re-enactors If anyone has any military vehicles that they would like to display on the day, please contact Bill McCann on Free car parking will be available on the day in the Council Offices Car Park, Knoll Street, BUT ONLY if you display a special car pass that can be collected from Bill at the Club anytime from Monday 20 th June. There will be a buffet on the day, but we request that members please bring something on the day to contribute towards it. Thank you. 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. The June newsletter wasn t available online at the time that this newsletter went to print, but this is from last month s that may be of interest. Shoreham Airshow 20 th 21 st August 2011 The Royal Air Forces Association Airshow at Shoreham is one of the premier family airshows in the UK. The airshow regularly attracts the best UK and European display acts to its unique garden party atmosphere event each summer. The show is held to support the work of the Royal 6

7 Air Forces Association. Since the shows inception, the event has raised over 1.5million for RAFA.Organised by the Shoreham-by-Sea Branch of the Royal Air Forces Association, Shoreham Airshow 2011 will celebrate the 70th Anniversary of Search and Rescue. The five hour flying display will feature strong support from the armed forces as well as exciting aerobatic and emotive historic aircraft displays. On the ground there will be extensive static displays, arena displays, classic cars and trade stalls. Gates Open at 8.30am Flying Display 11.30am-4.30pm (approx.)ticket InformationDespite the economic doom and gloom, the organisers have been able to keep prices at the 2010 rates for this year s show. Advanced tickets for Shoreham Airshow will be available ONLINE up to the 11th August.The Herald Group will be running a Credit Card Ticket Hotline for airshow tickets from 1st May South East and Eastern Area Council meeting This was held on 21 st April and some of the items that affect our Branch include: The Milton Branch and the Luton Branch have now closed. The Woburn Sands branch will close on 1 st June. The Motorcycle Branch is now likely to formally close. The new RAFA Tribute Fund has been launched and the website address is RAF Uxbridge is now fully closed. This year s Area Conference was very successful. Next year, the Area Conference will be held on 31 st March to 2 nd April at South Downs Holiday Village, Bracklesham Bay. You might want to put these dates in your diary if you would like to go. (It was very good this year!) Credit and debit card terminals in Branches were discussed. Has anyone got any thought on these? The RAFA holiday homes at Selsey are still available if anyone is interested in making a booking for this year or next. Please see Bill McCann for details. Help! There will be a working party at the Club on Wednesday 22 nd June to get the Club ready for Armed Forces Day the following Saturday. If you fancy helping out, having a natter and meeting others, you are MORE than welcome to come along from 6.30pm onwards. The work will involve moving things around, putting bunting up and general sorting out and tidying. You can do as much or as little as you like, but the bar will be open and there will be a fish and chip run for dinner at about Please come along and join in! Uniform too tight? Trouser/skirt zip gone? Help is at hand! And especially with Armed Forces Day around the corner! I can recommend a lady who is an expert at alterations, including letting out, taking in, zips (including anoraks), badges sewn on, pockets replaced, jackets and trousers shortened, curtains etc, etc. Her prices are very reasonable. Her name is Edwina and she can be contacted on

8 Caption competition Yes, it s Mr Malster s turn in the hotseat, so to speak, and here are your very brilliant captions It wasn t me, mister! I ve been framed! Trevor Smith Oh no! Not that group again! Alex Elrick Well done everyone who had a go! So, on to this month s picture for you to add your comments to. It s the lovely Cheryl this time, with one of the Pilot Teddy Bears. Do you have a comment or a caption for this picture? If you do, please let me have it and all the best ones will be published in next month s newsletter. Calm down dear, calm down! I m only asking for your name, not your vital statistics! Trevor Smith No caption needed! The blank expression says it all! Trish Fisher My! Doesn t Peter Sellers look good for his age! Richard and Kim Lent (Hmmm, I see what they mean!) 8

9 Branch Anniversary This year is the 65 th Anniversary of the Grimsby Branch of the RAF Association being formed. Quite a milestone! So to mark this event, we are going to hold an anniversary/reunion of all the members and have a social evening looking at old photographs and talking about the changes, meeting friends and past members and just enjoy the evening. This will be on Saturday 20 th August from 7pm onwards and everyone is welcome. More details nearer the time. Carpet man For a prompt and reliable service in choosing and fitting your carpets, contact Kevin Bryant on Home: , Mobile: , Other: or kevin@carpet-fitter.co.uk. He also has a website, Kevin is a regular RAFA Club member; please mention you read this advert in the Branch newsletter when you ring him. FORTHCOMING EVENTS Lots going on at the Club now.and thank you everyone who sent in their suggestions! Keep them coming. 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 Wednesday in the month. Contact Secretary, Graham Chaters, for any further information on or grchaters@btinternet.com The Parachute Regiment Association Branch have a meeting at the Club every 3 rd Friday in the month. More information from Brian Dingley or The Veterans-in-Humberside RAF Regiment group have a meeting at the Club every 3 rd Friday in the month, 8-10pm. All serving or ex-serving Regiment are invited. Contact Graham Smith on rocksreunion@hotmail.co.uk 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 9

10 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 4 th June Visit by the Doncaster RAFA Branch. They will be arriving at approximately 10.30, so the Club will be open all day. There will be live entertainment at 2.30pm when Jeanette will be performing for us. It is hoped that as many of our members will be here to help meet them. Everyone is very welcome. Tuesday 7 th June Special Quiz League Quiz from 7pm. This will run for eight weeks. If you wish to make a team up of 4 people, you are more than welcome to come down and join in. Monday 13 th June Quiz League AGM at 7pm Friday 17 th June 7pm for 7.30pm Swing Wing concert at Central Hall, Duncombe Street. Tickets are on sale from Bill McCann, the Caxton theatre and Central Library (Bill has the best seats for sale!) The Club will be closed this evening but will open about 10pm as we did last year. Wednesday 22 nd June cleaning and stocking party (!) at the Club from 6.30pm Saturday 25 th June Armed Forces Day. LOTS going on! See the article earlier. Saturday 2 nd July Call My Bluff night with Graham Malster Another night of hilarity and double-entendres are in store. Not one to be missed! Friday 8 th please? July collecting in Sainsbury, Grimsby. Can anyone spare an hour Saturday 9 th July Mike Winn, singer. Mike appeared here recently and there were lots of requests for him to come back as he was so good. Saturday 16 th July 2011 Keelby Help for Heroes Villages Unite are holding a fair on the village green in Keelby. We are having a Wings stand there to promote the Branch and of course, collect money for the Wings Appeal. If anyone would like to help with this, please let me know. Thank you. Saturday 23 rd July 2011 Laceby Village Summer Festival. This will be held on the Butt Lane Playing Fields in Laceby, from 2pm until 7pm. We are having a Wings stand there to promote the Branch and of course, collect money for the Wings Appeal again. If anyone would like to help with this, please let me know. Thank you. 10

11 Thursday 28 th July 2011 Fireman s Fete, Grimsby Fire Station, Peaks Lane. Collecting for Wings, promoting the Branch and maybe running a game. Any help gratefully accepted as ever! Saturday 30 th July Cleethorpes Carnival. Come and watch the Carnival from the Club or use it as a base to meet others. A sociable evening awaits! Friday 19 th and Saturday 20 th August Collecting for Wings in Tesco, Victoria Street, Grimsby. Just an hour or two of your time over these two days would be brilliant! Saturday 20 th August Branch 65 th Anniversary/Reunion at the Branch. A chance to see and hear how things started and meet friends. Tuesday 22 nd and Wednesday 28 th November - Collecting for Wings in Asda, Grimsby. Same as before, if you can spare an hour or two to stand and collect and promote the Branch, it would be really appreciated. CONTACTS 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 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. For any comments or enquiries about the Club or Branch, contact Bill McCann (Chairman) on mobile or you can bill.mccann2@virginmedia.com. You can also contact any Committee member. Membership enquiries to Graham Malster on mobile or graham.malster@ntlworld.com please. Welfare enquiries to Bill McCann, details above, Andrea Shepherd on or Trish Fisher Wings Appeal enquiries or suggestions to Donna Flint on the above numbers, thank you. 11