Our January AGM meeting turned out to be a very convivial meeting with the Committee being re elected en bloc. Heather Caley is Chairman; Brenda Manning is Secretary, with Pam Neve as Treasurer.  Ann Keeble, Gerald Marsh, Christine Mitchell and Linda Richmond comprise the rest of the committee members.
Members paid their subs for the coming year, ate delicious cakes and pondered on the variety of the programme for the year to come. Because of a pre booked date, the Annual Show will be on Saturday 11 August 2012.
The next meeting on March 22nd looks really promising. It is a talk by Shelagh Ash called “Mind the Gap” She will give advice on infilling in borders and those awkward spots during the year, to give continuous colour. If this might tick your box, why not come along and join us. We meet at 7.30pm in the Institute on the fourth Thursday in the month and there is always a raffle and delicious refreshments to tempt your palette.             
Meg

Winter Count: Small teams of birders start from different parts of the Valley to see how many species they can record in a day. The day ends with a count up and conviviality at the Fox and Hounds. Best sightings were a Short Eared Owl at Great Ryburgh and a Tundra Bean Goose near Fakenham. A record  94 species was recorded for the day. The ace team of Ian Brittain, Paul Riley and Tony Forster turned in an impressive 77 species and were presented with the winter count trophy.
Indoor talk: Dr Kevin Elsby is a world travelled naturalist with a particular interest in the wildlife of the Arctic, the Antarctic and tropical rainforests. He is also a wildlife tour guide and has a  Masters Degree in Wildlife Biology and Conservation and, if that was not enough, he is also a full time Norfolk GP (who says’ men can’t multitask!).
Dr Kevin’s talk described a visit to the Galapagos, a world heritage site of thirteen islands situated 1000Km off Ecuador. The Galapagos were visited by Darwin in 1845 and are thought to have been the inspiration for his publication ‘The origins of Species’. The islands are fed by the nutrient rich Humboldt Current which travels up the coast of South America from Antarctica and are home to some of the world’s rarest species, many endemic to individual islands. We were shown unusual birds such as the nocturnal swallow tailed gull, the red billed tropic bird and the comic courtship dance of the blue foot Booby and of course the different species of Galapagos finches who have adapted in order to survive the different habitats of each island. We also saw  land and marine iguanas, lizards, tortoises and thousands of sea lions who can be seen snoozing in various places in town. In all it was easy to see why the Galapagos attracts over 100,000 visitors a year. An interesting and informative talk which attracted a record attendance of well over 70 members.
Dates for March: Thursday 15th, at Weston Longville Village Hall, bird artist Steven Cale, will be talking about the art of birds. Starts at 7.30 p.m. On Sunday 25th we have a trip to the Brecks looking for Breckland specialities.

Colin Wright [01603 740548] www.wvbs.co.uk   

Everyone enjoyed our first get together for this year with an informal 'Pot Luck' lunch, when everybody brought something to eat, so we had a chance to taste something different, yummy! We paid our subs and caught up with all the normal WI business and discussed our plans for this year.

Unfortunately several members were poorly including our new President, Rosemary Dyer-Perry so they could not attend, but hopefully they will be fully recovered for our February meeting, which as I write we are looking forward to, when we will be having a demonstration by Sue Elliot on making Pewter Ware. If we all enjoy it, as I am sure we will, we will then organise a workshop for a future date, where will be able to have a go at making something of our own.

Our March meeting on Wednesday 28th will be a talk on Poisons of Burnham Market by Mrs Hogarth.

If you are thinking that it's time to make some new friends, or even join some old ones, why don't you come along to one of our meetings and find out what it's all about.

Kate Wyatt

The Men's Section of the Royal British Legion held their meeting at the King's Head on Thursday 2nd February at 2000hrs with eight members present. The silent tribute was taken and our Chairman asked us to remember the servicemen and women who had made the ultimate sacrifice since our last meeting. Eva Marsh, Chairwoman of the Ladies Section was also in our prayers.

Mr David Green who is Elmham and District Poppy Appeal organiser stated that he had collected £3305.40 for the appeal which was slightly up on last year. He said he wished to thank everyone who helped in this excellent collection.

The Motorcycle Section said that they were doing an Easter Egg run to Halsey House Legion Home in Cromer on the Saturday after Easter. Anybody who would like to donate an Easter Egg please get in touch with Ian Taylor.

Last Year before the Flower Festival, a 40s night was put on at the Memorial Hall. The same organisation plan to do it again this year and dates will be announced in the Elmham News in the future.

Our secretary Nobby Clarke who is also the Poppy Appeal organiser for Norfolk said that he was going to a conference in March and will be taking David Green with him. From this it is hoped both will have their eyes opened to the future of the Poppy Appeal.

The meeting closed at 2130hrs and the Last of the Summer Wine group made their way to the bar. Topic of the night was about the Landlady and whether she had changed her football team from Norwich to Ipswich as the toilets now have a nice coat of blue paint.

RGC