HARTLEPOOL BRANCH Quarterly Newsletter March 2021 BRANCH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING This year, it is not possible to hold our Annual General Meeting (AGM) in the usual manner, but an AGM is required to report the activities of the Branch to the membership, and for the members to have their say in the running of the Branch for the coming year. Arrangements are being made to hold a virtual AGM. The following Official Notice is for all members and gives the information nec- essary to comply with the Association’s Governance Regulations. Please read it carefully and contact the Branch Secretary for any points of interest. NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING FOR RAF ASSOCIATION HARTLEPOOL BRANCH (RAFA NO 0637) To the Members of Royal Air Forces Association Hartlepool Branch (“the Branch”) NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN [in accordance with paragraph 14 of the Branch Terms of Reference] due to the present COVID pandemic circumstances the Annual General Meeting of the Branch will take place Virtually on the Tuesday 30th March 2021 at 19 -15 hrs. for the following purposes:- 1. To receive the report on the activities of the Branch for the past year. 2. To adopt the Trustees’ annual report and accounts and receive the independent examination report for the year ended 31 December 2020. 3. To elect Branch Officers, Trustees and Members to the Branch Committee. 4. To consider resolutions for submission to the Annual Conference Committee. It is unfortunate only those Branch members present at the Virtual Meeting are eligible to vote. However, Branch Members will be able to download and view Trustees’ annual report and Independently Audited 2020 accounts from March. If you would like to join the Virtual AGM, please email [email protected] with a minimum of 2 weeks’ notice and a Meeting Link will be emailed to you. We will be using Google Meet for the Virtual AGM. Any member with a resolution or a nomination for a committee/ Trustee position for the meeting must give a minimum of 14 days’ notice via email to the Branch Secretary at the above email address. Nominations for a Branch Officer/Committee/Trustee position must meet the criteria set out by the RAF Association guidance. If a Branch Member does not have internet access, they can contact the Branch via the Branch Phone 07907 874654 and request a printed copy of the AGM reports and Audited Accounts. If required, the Branch will send out all the criteria and application forms for nominations for a Branch Officer/Committee/Trustee position All of the current Branch Officers/Trustee members are willing to continue their current role/roles for this year. If any Member objects to these nominations, please contact the Branch, again with a minimum of 14 days notice. The roles and names are listed on the next page. Page header photo; A 5 Sqn Gloster Javelin, the type flown in as navigator by our late president, Norman Sterling. Photo © Jerry Hughes, airphoto.net Patron: Her Majesty The Queen. Registered Charity: 231584 Role Full Name You also have a Postal Nomination Objection Pro Chairman/Membership Secretary Steve Davis forma (below) which must be received by the secretary no later than 23 March 2021 to enable accuracy of the Vice-Chairman/Publicity Paul Rodway votes. Branch Secretary Ian Fraser A member who has not paid their membership sub- scription in the current year shall not be entitled to vote Treasurer/Welfare Officer David Stacey at any General Meeting of the Branch in that year if Wings Appeal Organiser David Hinde their subscription is in arrears by more than one month Social Secretary Hazel Davis unless payment of their subscription has been sus- Branch Standard Bearer Dene Gillespie pended, postponed or waived under Byelaw 7 (6). BY ORDER OF THE BRANCH SECRETARY 01 March 2021 2021 AGM Postal Nomination Objection Pro forma Full Name ______________________________________________ Membership Number______________________________________ Confirm First Line of Address or Email Address_________________________ Role Full Name X to object Please return by post to arrive no Chairman Steve Davis later than 23 March 2021 or your Vice-Chairman Paul Rodway objection may not be recognised. Branch Secretary Ian Fraser Post to: Treasurer David Stacey Wings Appeal Organiser David Hinde The Secretary, Hartlepool RAFA Social Secretary Hazel Davis 100 Marine Drive Branch Standard Bearer Dene Gillespie Hartlepool Membership Secretary Steve Davis TS24 0DT Publicity Paul Rodway Welfare Officer Dave Stacey 75th ANNIVERSARY OF RAFA HARTLEPOOL Following a meeting held in the “Travellers Rest” public house in Stockton Road, Hartlepool, in September 1946 the Hartlepool Branch of the Royal Air Forces Association was formed and formally registered as Branch No. 0637 with RAFA CHQ on the 29th October 1946. This means that our Branch will be celebrating our 75th Anniversary on Friday 29 October 2021. The Committee will be arranging some form of celebration to record and commem- orate this achievement. Details on how we celebrate the anniver- sary will be discussed and communicated to Branch members when known. In the meantime, if any member has knowledge or information on the Branch’s formation or its early years history, please contact the Branch. The committee would also welcome suggestions of how this milestone event should be commemo- rated. Photograph printed in the Northern Daily Mail shows the new RAFA Club at No 20 Stockton Road officially opened 15th September 1948 by Squadron Leader Bill Gregory DSO DFC DFM. Patron: Her Majesty The Queen. Registered Charity 231584 FAREWELL, MR. PRESIDENT Branch President, RAF No 584444 Flt Lt Norman Sterling BA RAF (Rtd) sadly “passed away” on 2 February. Born 24 August 1931, Norman joined the RAF in 1947 as a Halton Aircraft Apprentice. Leaving RAF Halton in 1950 as an Aircraft Fitter 2c he saw action in the Suez in 1951. Commissioned in 1952 as a Navigator he flew Meteors with 55 Sqn and Javelins with 5 & 33 Sqn. He flew over 500 sorties recording over 3600 flying hours. On leaving the RAF in 1970 , Norman entered the teaching profession and taught at Hartlepool King Oswy School (now Henry Smith School) until his retirement in 1986. Norman was elected President of RAFA Hartlepool Branch in 2007. He was a valued and much respected member who fulfilled this position with a dedicated and enthusiastic manner attending most Branch meetings, Remembrance Day Ceremony’s, Funerals, social events and was very active during Wings Appeal fundraising collections. His remarkable memory and sense of humour was obvious and enjoyed by many with his countless and detailed story’s of his RAF service and flying experiences. Despite the Covid restrictions eight Branch members and the Branch Standard attended his funeral on the 15th February. Departing respects were paid during the service with the playing of the “Last Post and Reveille”. Norman’s family have set up an online donation through the JustGiving site with funds raised being donated to the Branch. Anyone wishing to donate please visit the JustGiving site or contact the Branch. https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/flt-lt-norman-sterling-ba-retd RIP Norman Sterling. We Will Remember Him BRANCH WELFARE SUPPORT Members are reminded that during these difficult times if any support is needed or just to have a chat, please contact our Welfare Officer Dave Stacey on the Branch Phone No. He will do all he can to help. Dave will continue to regularly contact the more “senior” aged members of the Branch to check that all is well? In the meantime do not hesitate to contact him if help is needed. EASTER COMPETITIONS Easter is coming in April and there are Two Easter Competitions for you to take part in from the comfort of your own home. 1. Easter Bonnet - make and decorate your 2021 Easter bonnet. Model it for your photograph. 2. Easter Egg Competition - decorate a hard boiled egg. Take a photograph. Send a photograph of your entry to [email protected] Closing Date: The RAF Anniversary. There will be prizes!!! In Memoriam Norman Sterling David Wright of Scarborough 24 Aug 1931 - 2 Feb 2021 Aged 85. Life Member for 38 yrs. Served 1947 - 1970 as aircraft fitter and later, navigator His funeral was held on Branch President since 2007. 17 February. Patron: Her Majesty The Queen. Registered Charity 231584 BEES AND BEEKEEPING, BY PHIL BOWDEN Branch member, Phil Bowden, lives near Whitby and has been a bee keeper for 40 years, following on from his father being a bee keeper. Here he shares the joy of his hobby with our members. Bees have been on this planet for over 3 million years. We know this because bees have been found in amber, which millions of years ago was the sap from pine trees, in which the bees became trapped. Man has been keeping bees for over 2000 years; they were first kept in hollow logs close to their villages. About five or 6 hundred years ago, man made straw skeps to keep them in. A skep is made from twisted straw, fashioned into a cone. The now traditional hive seen in gardens today, was designed by William Brian Carr in 1827. I use National hives as it is easier for me when I take my hives and bees to the moors in late July for the heather. My season starts in late January / early February. Everything in bee keeping is dictated b the weather. If it is too cold, below 8C, the bees won’t come out. They don’t like wind or rain. The first source of nectar is from snowdrops and crocuses, the main crop is from oil seed rape in mid Phil with grandson, Jack, at the hives.