Grimsby, Cleethorpes & District RAFA Newsletter

‘The Lightning Strike’ March 2017

CLUB OPENING TIMES Monday 1900-2300 (subject to the Quiz League playing) Tuesday 1900-2300 (subject to the Quiz League playing) Wednesday Closed Thursday 1900-2300 Friday 1900 – 2300 Saturday 1200-1500 and 1900 – 0000 Sunday 1200 – 1400 (1800 - 2100 Bingo nights)

Grimsby, Cleethorpes & District Branch

Registered Charity No 501145 5 Alexandra Road

Cleethorpes North East Lincs

DN35 8LQ

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Hi Folks

The AGM has been and gone and I managed to cling on for another year! Thanks to all the committee members for continuing with the great work that they do and thank you to those who came along to support us. Steve Barley has now officially joined and Andrea and Rob have left the committees this year and I thank them all for the sterling work they have done. Andrea has been our Honorary Welfare Officer for many years and dealt with the needs of many people in our community in that time, from tea and sympathy visits to complex cases; she and Roly, who has also retired, have carried out their work in an exemplary manner and they will be missed. Tracey will take over when she has done the welfare course, but in the meantime if you fancy joining the team then please let Tracey, me or any of the committee know; it is extremely valuable and worthwhile work and training will be provided at national level.

We have been very busy getting on the with the lounge refurbishment, unfortunately as always seems to be the case, once the walls were stripped a few issues came to light, one of which was just that. With the wallpaper removed you could see daylight through the brickwork! The upshot is the work is now just about complete but the job has taken longer and cost more to rectify; however it needed doing and is looking great. It’s certainly a lot warmer in there now and will allow us to make much more and better use of the room.

The Thursday food nights are going rather well, the chippy tea and the excellent French food night proved to be very popular with 23 turning out for the superb French food, supplied by the Notts Restaurant. Three main courses, Dauphinoise potatoes, salad, etc. - lovely. The 70’s games night was also great fun and proved that hopscotch is much harder than most of us remember, or is that we’re just much older! I haven’t played Subbuteo for years and really enjoyed returning to my youthful pastime. Having dispatched Kim Willoughby 4-0 in the first match, I was narrowly robbed by Iain Massen 1-2 in the second match for three reasons: 1. It was his Subbuteo and he had clearly been practicing 2. My (proper) version of the rules differed to his (bizarre) version 3. His outrageous equaliser was scored when I had a man down injured and his winner came when my goalie was distracted by a streaker (well it was the 70’s!). The final game was played under difficult conditions at the end of the evening, a strained flicking finger and a howling wind rather disrupted my slick Barcelona playing style, the more agricultural Vinny Jones era Wimbledon methods of Graeme Prowse narrowly prevailing in the end to the obvious disappointment of the massed crowds. I don’t know who won the final, I was too distraught and sought consolation at the bar with my fans and my personal flicking finger physiotherapist.

On a more serious note to finish, we have about 150 members from last year who have not yet renewed their membership, so if one of those is you then please do renew as soon as possible, we are missing you already. On a positive note, we are still seeing a steady flow of new members, thank you and welcome one and all.

GM

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FORTHCOMING EVENTS

Events are staged to benefit members, although guests and visitors are always welcome. All members can attend all events, like birthday parties for instance. Club events usually start at about 8:30pm. If there is something that you would like to see on at the Club, please contact any one of the Committee with your ideas.

March Quiz Night

Thursday 23rd March – You know the score by now, come along, get bamboozled, wonder how some people live to know the answers to some of the questions, realise that you are normal after all, have fun.

Buffet Bingo Sunday 26th March – You know the score by now, bring food, play bingo, win prizes, have fun.

April Live Music – Dave Lee Andrews

Saturday 1st April – The coolest man ever will be back with his brilliant show.

Food Night - Indian Thursday 13th April – This month it’s a delicious spread of the finest Indian food.

Live Music – Ian Latimer

Saturday 15th April – First time on in our club for this very highly regarded local musician. Come and enjoy.

Murder Mystery Night Saturday 22nd April – Home grown entertainment in the style of ‘Allo Allo’, so get dressed up and join in the fun.

ANZAC Day Tuesday 25th April – Our trip to RAF Waddington to commemorate ANZAC Day. If you have not been before it’s an excellent day meeting at The Horse & Jockey, a service in the village, lunch in the Officers Mess and a visit to the museum. Let me know if you want to go asap.

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May Live Music – 80’s Night

Saturday 6th May – Lisa and Gary (Soul Provider) are with us with a brand new show featuring some great hits from the 80’s.

RAFA Annual Conference Friday 12th May – Our elite team will move on to Yarnfield Park near Stoke. Our resolutions are presented to the big wigs in what is actually a very impressive weekend. If you want to go, then let me know or you can book yourself in through the RAFA website. There are a few of us going so it will be fun. No heckling!

Regular Events/ Meets

Buffet Bingo Bingo is back on Sunday evenings and going down a storm - bring food! Every other Sunday evening. Doors open at 6:00pm, eyes down at 7:00pm finish at 9pm. Proving to be fun, filling and financially beneficial (possibly). Thursday Night Club open to all members of course. Every other Thursday night is quiz night. Food night once a month. Dr G is in attendance to listen to your problems in person. A great atmosphere and good company. Humber Branch of the Air Sea Rescue Association meet at the Club every 1st Friday in the month. Contact Secretary, Graham Chaters, for any further information on 07734 328765or email grchaters@btinternet.com North Lincs. Air Crew Association meets on the 2nd 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 Louth Golf Club, Westgate Fields, Louthat 11am for lunch. All RAFA members are most welcome. For any further information, please contact Tony Anderson on 01507 606398 or by email haselbury124@tiscali.co.ukParachute Regiment Association meets every Friday night in the Pegasus Bar to discuss the insane practice of jumping out of perfectly serviceable aeroplanes, entrusting your life to a sheet of silk and also generally have a good time. I can personally vouch for their generous hospitality - if I could only remember much about it!

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Welfare Services

Do you need help? The RAFA is there to help serving and ex-serving RAF personnel and their dependents, providing friendship, advice and support, respite care, general welfare and signposting. Big thank you to Tracey Owens who has volunteered to be a HWO is about to join the welfare team.

Membership

There are many benefits to belonging to the RAF Association which includes entry to our local Club here in Cleethorpes. Please contact the Secretary, Anne Prowse or see her at the Club for more details (or any committee member). Membership forms are available behind the bar, so come in and sign up. Ordinary Member (ex RAF personnel) 1 Year with AirMail £20.50 Associate Member (anyone non-RAF personnel) 1 Year with Air Mail £14.50 1 Year without Air Mail £8.50 You can also become a member or renew your membership by ringing HQ at Leicester on 0116 266 5224 and paying by credit or debit card, or do it online through the RAFA website. Don't forget to say you want to join the Grimsby, Cleethorpes & District Branch. We’ll be playing catch up for a while until (hopefully) everyone renews their membership from last year. New RAF Association scheme rewards members The RAF Association has just launched a new scheme to give members discounts on a wide range of products and services. Whether it’s a meal out with friends, your weekly grocery shop or renewing your car insurance, RAFA Rewards could save you money. If you're a member, you can start using your RAFA Rewards straight away, click here. If you've not yet renewed your membership for next year, make sure you renew now to continue enjoying your benefits in 2017. You can renew by calling 0800 0182 361 and pay by debit or credit card. Alternatively, if you have access to our member’s portal you can renew online: https://rafa.force.com/login

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Fundraising

100 Club Draw for February Congratulations to our lucky winners this month. They are

£25 No 69 Tina Wrigglesworth £15 No 93 Terry Pepper £10 No 51 Sandie Clark

Well done to them! We are now the 101 Club! We still have one monthly draws for this year and we will start again in April. If you have a 100 Club number and you would like to keep it for the next year, please reserve it by leaving your name (and 100 Club Number if you know it) with £12 behind the bar or drop it in at the Club please. Any numbers not reserved for April and the next year will go on general sale in March. Please contact me if you would like to be in it! By joining the 100 club you are benefitting the Branch as well as being in with a chance to win cash. Thank you all very much J Branch fundraising The Fundraising Team are always looking out for volunteers to help with collections in stores and events. If you can spare an hour or so anytime, please let either Alex or me know. Thank you. Donna Flint 0771 5559703 or donnarafaclee@gmail.com Fundraising dates 2017 March 25 & 26 – Pennells, Cleethorpes May 20 & 21 – North Coates Flying Club Spring Flying meeting June 16 & 17 – Morrisons, Laceby July 1 & 2 – Armed Forces Weekend, Cleethorpes July 8 & 9 – Scooter weekend, Meridian Point. Marquee event July 15 & 16 – North Coates Flying Club Wings and Wheels event August 27 & 28 – North Thoresby 1940’s weekend event Please don’t forget that as part of Asda’s excellent community work, we have been allocated a charity box inside the store. If you shop in Asda, or have friends or family who do, you can collect little green tokens from the checkout and put them in the RAFA Cleethorpes box (on the wall opposite Customer Services). THIS ENDS AT THE END OF MARCH! The charity with the most tokens in their box will receive a generous donation from Asda. Please help us to secure this valuable funding source

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so that we can carry on supporting RAF veterans, serving members and their families. We are collecting items for the Tombola stall if anyone has anything suitable please? Any unwanted gifts, new items, unused toiletries or general bric-a-brac in good, clean condition. Please drop them off in the Club any time that you are passing please. The money raised from the Tombola stall goes to support your Branch, so thank you!

South East and Eastern Area News

The South East and Eastern Area newsletter can be downloaded from www.rafa.org.uk/areas-southeast.asp or there are some copies in the Club for you to look at.

RAF ASSOCIATION WEBSITE MEMBERS AREA

The member’s only section of the website is now open! We’ve integrated your RAF Comrade Contact website tools into the main www.rafa.org.uk site giving you a unique level of access to both the tools that you used to have but also to bring you nearer to the RAF Association Liaison Officers (RAFALOs) Due to the higher security on our new site, you must set a new username and password. All you need to do is visit www.rafa.org.uk/register and register with the website. Once registered you will be able to login and access member and branch fundraising tools and resources, branch contacts, an online gallery and forum where you can share imagery and mingle with other members plus a unique notice board to advertise for assistance or offer help. If you are unable to fill in any of the details requested by the site, then please get in touch with Len Griffiths by email len.griffiths@rafa.org.uk or on 0116 268 8752 and he can update your details accordingly. Discounts and great local services for our RAFA members Shopping in the Freeman Street area? Feeling peckish? Why not try the Vine Cafe, new premises, situated in the centre of Freeman Street Market. Owned and run by Phil, wife Shirley and their daughter Katie, the cafe offers an extensive, reasonably priced menu offering the most delicious homemade food, cooked to order, using all locally sourced fresh ingredients. Shirley's homemade apple pie is to die for, she can be seen rolling out the pastry on the metal counter. That's the way to do it! Their customers filled a Wings collecting tin in record time and they are now on their way to filling a second. Andrea Shepherd.

The Jedburgh Guest House is owned and run by Graham Malster and his lovely partner, Cheryl. Situated at 26 Albert Road, this great 10 bedroomed B&B is only 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. Many rooms are en suite and ground floor rooms are available. Graham and

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Cheryl can be contacted via their website, which is www.jedburghguesthouse.co.uk, or via bookings@jedburghguesthouse.co.uk or by phone on 01472 508092. More information can be found on their website or see Graham and Cheryl at the Club. There are special reduced rates for RAF Association members; please mention at the time of booking. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Electric Appliances (GY) 213 Freeman Street, Grimsby, (near Boyes) sells everything from gas & electric cookers, tumble dryers, fridge freezers, washers to vacuum cleaner bags. Proprietor Kevin Palmer has a Wings collecting box near the till and is offering 10% discount to RAFA members on any purchase on production of membership card.

Check out Grimsby Futsal – it’s the future for you sporting types. Speak to Kev Bryant for more information on 07980 286663.

SocialMedia

RAFACleethorpesonFacebook.Thisistheplacetobewithuptodateinformationandwhat'son.IfyouareontheoldRafa(note:lowercase)

Cleethorpespageyouneedtomovetothenewallsinginganddancingsite.Wehaveourbrandnewwebsitewithloadsofinformationat:

www.rafa.org.uk/grimsby-cleethorpes

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Sponsor an Event

David Lee Andrews, The Houseshakers, The Dukes, Compton & Bailie, Molly Grace, James Kirby, even Steve Warvil, all cost money to perform in the club. Would you sponsor an event? Dave Johnson, The Paras, Ray & Jean Crosby,

Deadly Don, Grimsby Futsal and Kev Bryant have and so has the Jedburgh Guest House. Please get in touch if you would be kind enough to chip in. _____________________________________________________________________

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 emailed, please contact Graham Malster on 07703067733 or by email graham.malster@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 Graham. The printed newsletter can be collected from the Club around the 4th of each month. Graham Malster (Chairman) 07703067733 graham.malster@ntlworld.com Gavin (Harry) Marshall (Vice Chairman) option911@hotmail.co.uk Membership enquiries Anne Prowse or any committee member/ bar staff Welfare enquiries, Andrea Shepherd 07963975650 or Roly Elliott 01507 601828 Fundraising suggestions, volunteering or questions to Alex Elrick or Donna Flint Branch Committee members Alex Elrick alex.elrick@hotmail.co.uk or 07982912555 Mark Jones mjones7969@yahoo.co.uk Anne Prowse (Secretary/Treasurer) 07796688248 or anne.prowse60@gmail.com Phil Massen Steve Flint Richard Brock Tracey Owens Steve Barley Club Committee members (also including all the above Branch committee members) Don McKay (Paras rep) Lesley Fishwick Brenda Taylor Next Branch/ Club meeting - Wednesday 29th March at 20:00 All members are encouraged and welcome to attend – the bar is open! Please do not reproduce any of the content of this newsletter without the permission of the author and/or buying a round of drinks at the bar

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Aircraft recognition quiz

Victor Sea Vixen Vulcan Hawker Hart Fiat G91 This month’s quiz: