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May 2012 Newsletter ‘The Flying Paperclip’

CLUB OPENING TIMES Monday 1900-2300 (subject to the Quiz League playing)

Tuesday 1900-2300 (subject to the Quiz League playing)

Wednesday 1930-2200 (Only on the 1st and 3

rd Wednesdays of the month)

Thursday 1900-2300 Friday 1900 – 2300 Saturday 1200-1500 and 1900 – 0000 Sunday 1200 – 1400

Grimsby & Cleethorpes Branch Registered Charity No 501145

5 Alexandra Road Cleethorpes

North East Lincs DN35 8LQ

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Area Conference 2013 This year’s Area Conference was great! Informative, fun and a great weekend away. Next year, the Conference will be held back in Potters Leisure Resort at Hopton-on-Sea - midway between Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft – at the end of March 2013. The cost will be approx £150 pp for the weekend, including all your food (3 courses at lunch and dinner!) and all entertainment, staying in luxury bungalows. Travel will be provided free of charge by the Branch for all members wishing to go. Because the money is often hard to find in one hit, the Branch are running a Payment scheme, whereby you can pay whatever you like each week or month to cover the cost. This is a great value weekend away and a chance to find out what goes on ‘behind the scenes’ at Area as well as a Parade on Sunday, the RAF Band and more! There is plenty of free time to do other things and meet lots of people. Please ask at the Club if you are interested or see Bill, Trish, Alex, Graham Robinson, Steve Flint or myself about it. Donna Flint

RAF Waddington presentation On Friday 8th June, Flt Lt Dave McRitchie from RAF Waddington is coming over to visit the Branch and give a presentation on RAF Waddington. Dave is the RAFALO (RAF Association Liaison Officer) for the station and is planning on doing a 30-40 minute presentation which will include; a brief on the current and future role of RAF Waddington (undergoing significant expansion despite SDSR) and will also show a 10 minute, unique, video of the Nimrod R1 in its final days of service. This is extremely rare footage of the R1 and was recorded in winter 2011 just prior to the aircraft’s final operational deployment. Dave’s talk will start at about 7.30pm in the Club.

Lincolnshire Aviaton Heritage Centre, East Kirkby visit (or What We Did on our School Trip) by Andrea Shepherd On a typically wet Bank Holiday Easter Monday, Steve, Donna, Alex and I set sail for The Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre, East Kirkby, Spilsby on a recce for the Club. This is the Lincolnshire Memorial to Bomber Command, RAF East Kirkby 1943-1945. The Centre is owned and operated by the Panton brothers, Fred and Harold and was conceived as a memorial to their elder brother, Pilot Officer Christopher Panton and all 55,500 aircrew of Bomber Command who lost their lives during WW11.

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First stop was the NAAFI with an extensive menu serving hot meals to order, freshly made sandwiches and scrummy cakes. All the walls are covered in military memorabilia and photographs and the hut also houses a gift shop. We returned several times through the day as you can't beat a steaming hot mug of NAAFI tea on a cold, wet British Bank Holiday. You feel like you are stepping back in time on to a wartorn Bomber Command Airfield. The Centre is made up of many buildings including the original Wartime Control Tower with a Berlin Raid Reconstruction, Home Front Exhibitions, Nissan Huts, a peaceful Memorial Chapel, an award winning Escape Museum with a replica glider from Colditz, French Resistance, fascinating original newsreel about POW's and the assembling of Red Cross Parcels, the Meridian Line, Hampden and Wellington Workshop and the Main Hangar housing a large collection of Vintage Military Vehicles, Aircraft Wreckages, the Barnes Wallis Bouncing Bomb and the star of the show, The Lancaster Bomber. She is the only privately owned Lancaster worldwide and one of only three that can move under their own power. The public are allowed on board (for a fee) when she taxis down the runway twice daily and one can win a trip in a raffle. It was quite an emotional moment seeing her move and hearing the engines. All credit to her crew and ground crew who swung into action in a well rehearsed and disciplined display. All the grounds are beautifully maintained, immaculate even, and the staff are friendly and well informed. Every tree and shrub has a plaque at its base in memory of one of the fallen officers. There is so much to see that even at the end of five hours we hadn't seen it all and we'd be happy to return.

****We have arranged a coach trip to go from the Club on Tuesday 18th September

for the day. Cost will be only £10 per person, including coach travel and entry into RAF East Kirkby Aviation Heritage Centre. The coach will leave the RAFA Club at 0900hrs and leave RAF East Kirkby at 1700hrs, returning at approx 1830hrs. There is a list up in the Club, so get in early if you would like to go! Beer prices Yes it’s that time of year again! The Brewery put their prices up in January and the Chancellor put prices up last month, but the Club didn’t! Unfortunately, we can’t do that any longer and have had to put some of the beer up by the minimum that we have to. Spirits have also gone up slightly, but wine prices remain the same.

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Fabulous Family Run for Wings Stalwart Branch member and ex-Wings Officer, Phil Massen, is team-leading his family at Humberston Fun Run on Sunday 6th May. They are looking for sponsorship and all sponsor money will be donated to the Branch Wings Appeal. His daughter, Anne Prowse, granddaughter Helen Barley and her husband Dean and other granddaughter, Lani Aldred are all running the 3 miles, starting at 10.30 from Humberston Maths and Computing College in Humberston

Avenue. If you would like to sponsor the team, please contact Cathy Aldred on cathy.aldred@sky.com or on 07722447872 or team coach and captain Phil on 07815554136. There is also a sponsor sheet up in the Club. Thank you very much and good luck to everyone on the team! Branch and Club meeting The next Branch and Club meeting will be on Tuesday 15th May at 2000hrs. The Club will be open for members and guests as well. Thursday nights Numbers drawn out this month on Thursday nights in the Membership Draw were: Thurs 5th April – C Winn would have won £75 if they had been in. Thurs 12th April – E Bootham would have won £80. Thurs 19th April – K Waterman would have won £85 Thurs 26th April – (will be named next month) would have won £90 The next draw is on Thursday 3rd May with £95 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 (nothing too taxing!), bit of Bingo, sometimes another quiz and a general good night on Thursdays, so come down and give it a try!

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. Bill and Andrea, our Welfare reps, have been

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extremely busy over the last few months with lots of local cases. Contact details for our Branch welfare reps are at the end of the newsletter. Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Monday 4th 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. A beacon will be lit on Ross Castle, sponsored by the RAF Association Grimsby and Cleethorpes Branch, and will be registered with the Pageant Master. A list of all the beacons lit across the country in recognition of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee will be entered into a book to be presented to her later in the year. Wings

We collected in Pennell’s Garden Centre on Friday 13th and Saturday 14th April and collected a whopping £313! The staff and manager there were absolutely fantastic and looked after all the collectors extremely well – making them cups of tea and generally spoiling them. We all agreed that it was a great place to collect in! We are collecting there again next month, on Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th May and our next collection after that is in Morrison’s, so if you can help with either of them at all (even just an hour!) that would be great! There is a sheet up on the board at the Club or you can

contact me or any of the Wings Team. As you know, we are opening up the Club on Street Collection weekends (see timetable below) and would love for anyone to come along and help or just pop in for a cuppa (and the bar will be open!). We also need people to collect in Cleethorpes (maybe while you are walking round?) We are going to run a Tombola stall and sell cakes, so if anyone can donate any cakes or Tombola prizes (bottles of anything, smellies, tins...doesn’t matter how small) we would be really grateful. All proceeds of these open days will go to the Branch Wings Appeal. Our next events include: Sat 19th and Sun 20th May – Collecting in Pennell’s Friday 25th & Sat 26th May – Collecting in Morrison’s, Laceby Sun 3rd June – Marquee at Waltham Windmill Fun Day Sat 9th and Sun 10th – Street collection in Cleethorpes, RAFA Club open Sat 23rd & Sun 24th June – Armed Forces Weekend collections in Cleethorpes Tues 26th June – Street collection in Cleethorpes, RAFA Club open (this is the day the Olympic Torch comes to Cleethorpes) Sat 30th June – Street collection in Cleethorpes, RAFA Club open Sat 7th & Sun 8th July – Wings and Wheels event at RAF North Coates Sat 21st and Sun 22nd July – Street collection in Cleethorpes, RAFA Club open Thursday 26th July – Fireman’s Fete, Peaks Lane Fire Station

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Sat 28th July – Cleethorpes Carnival, RAFA Club open all day Sunday 12th August – Hospital Carnival at The Stamford Club, Love Lane Corner Wed 15th August – Street collection in Cleethorpes, RAFA Club open Sat 18th and Sun 19th August – Street collection in Cleethorpes, RAFA Club open Mon 27th August – Street collection in Cleethorpes, RAFA Club open Sat 8th & Sun 9th September – 1940’s weekend at North Thoresby Sunday 16th September – Marquee at Classic Car event, Waltham Windmill Friday 12th and Sat 13th October – Collecting in Sainsburys, Corporation Road Saturday 15th and 22nd December – Street Collection, Grimsby Thank you to everyone who is supporting the Branch Wings Appeal....you are truly amazing people! North East Lincs Council Military Tattoo news

The North East Lincs Council Military Tattoo on Sunday 24th June will be hosted and commentated by Alasdair Hutton, OBE TD. Alasdair Hutton is known as The Voice of the Tattoo to the millions of people who have heard him narrate some 600 individual tattoos from Edinburgh to Las Vegas and Brisbane. He has written and narrated the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo since 1992 and many other tattoos around the United Kingdom and abroad in Australia, New Zealand, the United States and even in the Netherlands. He is also the voice of the Household Division’s annual Beating Retreat ceremony on Horseguard’s Parade in

London as well as countless concerts and other events all over the United Kingdom. The Tattoo is made up of lots of different events and displays and so far, the order is as follows: RAF Falcons present Standard Fanfare – Raising Standard RAF Waddington Pipe Band Military Wives Choir Band of the Gurkhas Police Dog Display Team Humberside Police Pipe Band RAF Cranwell College Band White Helmets Motorcycle Display Team Massed Bands Finale Fireworks Spectacular

The RAF Association Grimsby & Cleethorpes Branch has a block of tickets especially for Branch and Club members and these can be purchased from Bill at

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the Club. They are £15 each. Tickets for the general public are now on sale at the Cleethorpes Library and Tourist Information office.

You are invited.... Kettles Funeral Directors and RAF Scampton invite you to a 1940’s Tea Dance at RAF Scampton on Thursday 14th June. Live music, dancing, Afternoon Tea, Bar available*, Meet the Red Arrows*, Tour the RAF Museum*, Raffle in aid of ‘Hounds for Heroes’ with great prizes to be won! Coach transport will leave the RAF Association Club in Cleethorpes at approx 10am and leave RAF Scampton at approx 4pm. Tickets are only £4 each (and going fast!) and are available from Kettles Funeral Directors, the Royal British Legion in Waltham or the Cleethorpes RAFA Club. Please feel free to wear uniform or dress up in 1940’s attire. Further details on 01472 355395. *dependant on operational duties Staying in Cleethorpes? The Jedburgh Guest House is owned and run by vice-chairman of the Branch, Graham Malster and his lovely partner, Cheryl. Situated at 26 Albert Road, this great

7-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. 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 01472 508092. More information can be found on their website or see Graham and Cheryl at the Club. There

are special rates for RAFA members; please mention at the time of booking. South East & 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. These items may be of interest from the April newsletter:

RAF Retired Service Card Since 1998 the RAF Association has offered a RAF Retired Service Card to members of the Association who have since left the RAF. Many of you who have served will know the feeling of loss you felt when you handed back your ID card to the General Office. The RAF Retired Service Card helps to bridge that loss, whilst having the added benefit of acting as a photographic form of ID in many instances. The card has recently undergone a review and to ensure that it is a viable offer to our members from the Association we have increased the price to £20 per card with immediate effect. The money raised from this card will go towards supporting the ongoing costs of membership and enable the continual improvements being made to the membership offering from the Association. The decision to increase the price of the card has been carefully considered as a result of a recent

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costing exercise. For more information please contact Stuart Haigh stuart.haigh@rafa.org.uk or to apply for a Retired Service Card visit www.rafa.org.uk/members/Membership-types/Retired-Service-Card

Battle of Britain Memorial Day – Capel le Ferne – 15 July 2012 To commemorate the 72nd Anniversary of the Battle of Britain, a Service and Parade will be held at the National Battle of Britain Memorial, Capel le Ferne, Folkestone, Kent, on Sunday 15 July 2012. Standard Bearers of the RAF Association are once again invited to attend.

Bomber Command Memorial Unveiling – 29 June 2012 Those interested in obtaining tickets for the above event should register their details either in writing or by email (contact details below) and they will be sent a form to complete so that their request can be assessed. Priority is being given to veterans of Bomber Command and families of the 55,573 men of Bomber Command who lost their lives in WWII. Supporters and friends of Bomber Command are also welcome. Contact details are:- Bomber Command Memorial, c/o RAF Museum London, Grahame Park Way,London, NW9 5LL Emails to: Bomber.command.memorial@rafmuseum.org Further details can be found on the website: www.bombercommand.com and click on the “FAQ” tab.

Branch Closures and Amalgamations I regret to inform you that the Antigua Branch closed on 1 March 2012. The Dunfermline District and Stirling Branches will amalgamate. The Branch will be known as the “Dunfermline and Stirling Branch” and will retain the Branch number 0553.

Anyone moving to Australia? If any members are considering moving to Australia, they might like to consider getting in touch with nearest RAFA Branch in Australia to where they intend to live. Please feel free to contact theOverseas Director, Simon Martin on e-mail: simon.martin@rafa.org.uk or Tel/FAX: 01684-568457.

Area Wings Appeal ‘Battle of Britain’ Golf Tournament As previously announced in the March Newsletter the Area will hold a Wings Appeal Battle of Britain Golf Tournament. This will take place at Wyboston Lakes Golf Centre, just south of St Neots on 17 September 2012.

RAFA Golf Tournament Scotland

James Fricker, a member of the RAFA Peterhead Branch and a member of the Scotland and Northern Ireland Area Council is organising a Golf Tournament at Elgin Golf Club Morayshire on 1st June 2012 in order to raise money for Wings Appeal. Further information and entry forms can be found at www.rafagolfscotland.com

RAF Masirah/Salalah Veterans Association AGM The Annual General Meeting of the above Association will be held in Harrogate on the 12/13/14 of October 2012 in the Cairn Hotel. The Association welcomes all those who have served at either of the 2 RAF station above. Full details are on their web site including details for joining the association. The link is as follows www.omanrafveterans.org. Alternatively you can contact the Secretary Vic Nugent at jvnugent@gmail.com

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And finally, the fun moment provided this month by Graham Malster. Thanks for sharing these, Graham! Here are some actual logged maintenance complaints and problems as submitted by Qantas pilots and the

solution recorded by maintenance engineers.

(P = the problem logged by the pilot.)

(S = the solution and action taken by the engineers.)

P: Left inside main tyre almost needs replacement.

S: Almost replaced left inside main tyre.

P: Test flight OK, except auto-land very rough.

S: Auto-land not installed on this aircraft.

P: Something loose in cockpit.

S: Something tightened in cockpit.

P: Dead bugs on windshield.

S: Live bugs on back-order.

P: Autopilot in altitude-hold mode produces a 200 feet per minute descent.

S: Cannot reproduce problem on ground.

P: Evidence of leak on right main landing gear.

S: Evidence removed.

P: DME volume unbelievably loud.

S: DME volume set to more believable level.

P: Friction locks causes throttle levers to stick.

S: That's what they're there for.

P: IFF inoperative.

S: IFF always inoperative in OFF mode.

P: Suspected crack in windshield.

S: Suspect you're right.

P: Number 3 engine missing.

S: Engine found on right wing after brief search.

P: Aircraft handles funny.

S: Aircraft warned to straighten up, fly right, and be serious.

P: Target radar hums.

S: Reprogrammed target radar with lyrics.

P: Mouse in cockpit.

S: Cat installed

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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 1st Wednesday in the month at 2000hrs. The bar is open for the evening and everyone is welcome. Branch Committee meeting Every 3rd Wednesday in the month 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 1st Friday in the month. Contact Secretary, Graham Chaters, for any further information on 01354 694825 or email grchaters@btinternet.com Royal Armoured Corps meeting Every 2nd Friday of each month. For further information, please contact Richard Lent on 07773 790111 or by email at richard.lent@uwclub.net The Veterans-in-Humberside RAF Regiment group meet on the 3rd Sunday in every month from 1230 – 1400. All serving or ex-serving Regiment are invited. Contact Graham Smith on rocksreunion@hotmail.co.uk or 01472 505030. North Lincs. Air Crew Association meet 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 the Louth Indoor Bowling Club, off St. Bernard’s Avenue, Louth at 11am for lunch. For any further information, please contact Tony Anderson on 01507 606398 or by email haselbury124@tiscali.co.uk Saturday 5th May – Disco night and a special Guest beer for only £2 a pint! Saturday 12th May – Wild West Night at the Club. Dress up for a fun night out, to include a Wild West buffet and live entertainment. Sat 19th and Sun 20th May Wings Collection in Pennell’s Garden Centre Fri 25th and Sat 26th May – Wings collection in Morrison’s supermarket. Saturday 26th May – Gavin’s Quiz Night. Gavin Marshall will host a lively, fun night of quizzes. Get some friends together and bring your thinking caps! Friday 1st June – Ian Carroll has been booked by the Royal Armoured Corps for the evening. Everyone is very welcome.

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Sun 3rd June – Wings Marquee at Waltham Windmill Fun Day from 10am Friday 8th June 7.30pm – Flt Lt Dave McRitchie is giving a presentation at the Club on RAF Waddington (see earlier article) Sat 9th and Sun 10th June– Street collection in Cleethorpes. The Cleethorpes Festival of Flight will on this day and the RAFA Club will be open all day for refreshments and to watch the event. This event is being organised by Cleethorpes Airshow Ltd and not the RAF Association Grimsby & Cleethorpes Branch. Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th June – Armed Forces Weekend celebrations. Mike Winn will be the entertainment in the evening at the Club. Tuesday 26th June – Street collection in Cleethorpes. Club open all day for refreshments. This is the day the Olympic Torch comes to Cleethorpes. Sat 30th June – Wings Street collection in Cleethorpes – RAFA Club open Sat 7th and Sun 8th July – Wings at ‘Wings and Wheels’ at RAF North Coates. Sat 21st and Sun 22nd July – Wings Street collection in Cleethorpes. Club open all day for refreshments. This is the weekend of the ‘1950’s Rock and Roll’ events in Cleethorpes. Thursday 26th July - The Annual Fireman’s Fete at Peaks Lane Fire Station. Another brilliant event to come and help at – making planes and windmills with the children, talking to parents and grandparents and having a good time. Saturday 28th July – RAFA Club open all day for refreshments. This is the day that the last Cleethorpes Carnival event takes place. Saturday 11th August – Wings Street collection in Cleethorpes. RAFA Club open all day for refreshments. This is also the Cleethorpes ‘1940’s weekend’ event. Sunday 12th August – 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. Wednesday 15th August – Wings Street collection in Cleethorpes. RAFA Club open all day for refreshments. Sat 18th and Sun 19th August – Wings Street collection in Cleethorpes. RAFA Club open both days for refreshments. This is the ‘Cleethorpes Music Weekend’. Monday 27th August – Wings Street collection in Cleethorpes. RAFA Club open for refreshments. Cleethorpes Summer Fayre will be on along the Kingsway.

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Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th September – North Thoresby 1940’s weekend. This is a great weekend with dressing up, re-enactments, military vehicles, entertainment, stalls, crafts and so much more. We will be there with the Wings marquee. Sunday 16th September – Wings Marquee at Classic Car event, Waltham Windmill Friday 12th and Saturday 13th October – Wings collection in Sainsburys, Grimsby. More events are being planned, but if you have a suggestion, please let anyone on 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 emailed free of charge, please contact Donna Flint on either 01472 596745, 07801 440862 or by email 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 5th of each month. Bill McCann (Chairman) 07904228477 bill.mccann2@virginmedia.com. Membership enquiries Trish Fisher 07717028941or trishf.rafa@gmail.com Welfare enquiries to Bill McCann, details above, Andrea Shepherd 07963975650 or Trish Fisher 07717028941 Wings suggestions, volunteering or questions to Donna Flint, as above Branch Committee members Tony Walker 07798526650 Graham Robinson 07983579028 or graham.robinson513@ntlworld.com Steve Flint 07912420551 or steve.flint2@ntlworld.com Gavin Marshall option911@hotmail.co.uk Alex Elrick alex.elrick@hotmail.co.uk Mark Jones mjones7969@yahoo.co.uk Graham Malster 07703067733 or graham.malster@ntlworld.com Anne Prowse 07796688248 Phil Massen Trish Fisher 07717028941 Richard Brock Club Committee members (also including all the above Branch committee members) Pat and Colin Howard Don McKay Brian Green Andrea Shepherd