Meeting reports and what’s on’s for Thetford’s clubs and groups this July.
Thetford Inner Wheel
At the June meeting, held on Tuesday 9th June at the Church on the Way, members enjoyed a workshop creating an Ikebana-style arrangement. The session was thoroughly enjoyed by everyone.
Our next meeting will take place on Tuesday 14th July at 2.00pm at the same venue. We are delighted to welcome our dear friend Crystal Dyball, whose floral demonstration is entitled “A Hat Occasion.” Visitors are very welcome at a cost of £8, while admission is free for members. For details, please contact Lynda on 01842 762919.
Lynda Moore
Thetford Inner Wheel
Thetford Inner Wheel met to thank Janey Mackay for steering the club through the last two Inner Wheel years.
After a delicious meal at the Golf Club, reports were read about what the club had achieved over the last year. Members have tried to draw attention to the various local and international charities they have supported, as well as hearing from some very interesting speakers.
Although the club is now small in number, enthusiasm continues, and next year Annalee Clarke will hold the reins. She already has plans in place for the year ahead.
To thank Janey for her service, she was presented with a beautiful blue hydrangea plant.
For further information about Inner Wheel please go to www.innerwheel.co.uk.
Marian de Bass
Club Correspondent
Probus Club of Thetford
The Probus Club of Thetford welcomed two new members at its latest meeting before hearing a fascinating first-hand account of the First Gulf War.
Gill and Ian James, who have recently moved to the area, were officially welcomed to the club by Vice Chair Ivor Andrew, who presented them with their Probus badges.
Members then enjoyed a talk by Andy White, a former RAF armourer, who shared his experiences of being rapidly deployed to Dhahran in Saudi Arabia during the First Gulf War.
Andy described arriving in what was little more than a stretch of desert before helping establish an armament preparation and storage area under challenging conditions.
One of the themes of his talk was the remarkable speed at which the operation was completed, demonstrating what could be achieved when peacetime procedures and regulations were set aside.
Illustrated with photographs from the time, the presentation provided members with a personal insight into life on deployment and the logistical challenges involved in supporting military operations.
The Probus Club of Thetford meets on the first Tuesday of every month at 10.30am at the Church on the Way, Churchill Road, Thetford, IP24 2JW.
The club also organises monthly lunches at local venues and welcomes prospective new members.
More details can be found at:
https://probusclub.net/thetford
Doug Stephen
Thetford u3a
May’s U3A Thetford meeting hosted a presentation on the history and ongoing work of the Norfolk & Suffolk Aviation Museum.
Founded in 1972, Steve Bell explained how the museum seeks to preserve and promote the region’s aviation history. Based at Flixton, near Bungay, it now houses many aircraft and associated artefacts, with particular exhibits on RAF Bomber Command, the USAAF Bomber Group and RAF Air-Sea Rescue.
Steve brought with him a few items to give members a taster of the history, including a radio and an early wooden propeller. The site is ever expanding and members confirmed that it is well worth a visit.
The next meeting, on Thursday 24th July 2026, will be a midsummer social celebrating all things 66, not forgetting that this year marks the 60th anniversary of England’s win in the 1966 World Cup. There will be a quiz and fabulous prizes.
U3A Thetford’s regular monthly meetings take place on the fourth Thursday of each month at the Church on the Way, Churchill Road, Thetford, IP24 2JZ. Doors open half an hour before the start at 2pm.
New members are always welcome. Contact membership@thetfordu3a.org for details.
David Thompson
Thetford Parkinson’s Group
Members enjoyed a summer social with a picnic and games at June’s meeting.
The next meeting takes place on Tuesday 14th July at 11am at Thetford Methodist Church in Tanner Street, when Yvette from East Anglian Driveability will speak about ways they can help people with Parkinson’s and other disabilities stay safely on the road. All are welcome.
For more information please contact Rachel at rwaid2@gmail.com
Rachel Woods
West Norfolk Aviation Society (WNAS)
West Norfolk Aviation Society member Ann Morgan gave the latest talk at the group’s meeting at Mundford Bowls Club on Tuesday 2nd June 2026.
Ann began by illustrating her family tree with a series of photographs, proudly mentioning a connection dating back to the sister of Sir Christopher Wren and another to a member of the Royal Society.
Born in Harrow shortly before the outbreak of WWII, Ann told members she had only a few memories of the war. Highlights included visiting her grandparents in Woodbridge, being given sweet treats by American troops and, on one occasion, narrowly avoiding a strafing German fighter. Despite that incident, she developed a love of aircraft.
She won a scholarship to a nearby grammar school before going on to secretarial college. Early jobs at a London chemical company and the Western Australia Government Agency in the Strand followed.
Whilst working in London in the mid-50s, Ann rediscovered her interest in aircraft and regularly visited Heathrow Airport to watch the flying activity from the roof of the newly built Queen’s Building. She later found a job in the airport engineering department, working with Qantas and BOAC.
After leaving Heathrow, Ann met and married her husband. She followed him as he moved from job to job via Bristol, Cambridge, Newton Abbot and Coggeshall.
With her marriage over, Ann and her young son moved onwards. She took up new hobbies and worked her way up in management at various earth-moving and road haulage firms. She later moved into marketing for a renowned pharmaceutical company and finally finished work at the age of 56.
West Norfolk Aviation Society thanked Ann for giving such a fascinating insight into her life.
Next month, Keith Thomas returns to talk about his tour on Search and Rescue helicopters with 22 Squadron at RAF Chivenor.
All are welcome on Tuesday 7th July at 7.15pm. Further details are available on the society’s website. Non-members’ entrance fee is £5 per person, including a light buffet.
Further details are available via the society’s website: www.westnorfolkaviationsociety.com.
Barry Raphael – Stand-in Scribe
