Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council

Wednesday, 29 September 2010

This morning I attended a Charities meeting  at the Natwest Bank, Dunedin House, Teessdale. I had been invited to this meeting along with Ray Goddard, the Mayor of Redcar and Cleveland, for our local knowledge of the charities involved in the competition.  The bank had been gathering a list of nominations from members of the public via the internet and in branch and this meeting was to shortlist the nominations. There were charities from the Stockton and Redcar and Cleveland areas and we all had to reduce them to a short list of 3 charities from each area. With officers from the Natwest Bank and an independent charity fund raiser we had a very good and open discussion to pick the 3 charities from each area with a reserve.  

These charities will be shown on posters in the bank branches and on-line for people to pick which charity they want to receive which grant. Three grants were being offered - one of £3,000 and two of £1,000.  I enjoyed this meeting and everyone felt as though they had an input.  

It will be interesting to see which charities are chosen by the public to receive the grants.

Hawker Demon Propeller Ceremony, Thornaby Library, Thornaby

It was then over to Thornaby the unveiling of the propeller. Ian Dalgarno, the Mayor of Thornaby Town Council and myself with our wives were escorted into the library and shown to our seats in the library. We were welcomed by the RAFA Association master of Ceremonies before the Mayor of Thornaby Town Council gave his speech and thanked everyone for all their hard work in securing the propeller and gifting it to the former Thornaby Borough Council.  

Councillor Eileen Craggs had worked very hard to bring the propeller back to Thornaby, as she is very proud of Thornaby and its history.  

It was then my turn to say a few words and I gave my support to the Mayor of Thornaby Town Council on this occasion and also to Councillor Eileen Craggs. I also used the event to let everyone know about our success in gaining a Gold Award in the Entente Florale.  

Ian Hindmarsh, the Vice-Chairman of the RAFA, gave a potted history of Thornaby Aerodrome from its inception to its use during the war. Following his presentation Flight Lieutenant John Pollock said a few words as it was his gift of the propeller that allowed this event to be held.

We held a one minute's silence for those airmen who lost their lives in the war and  a trumpeter from the Salvation Army played the last post as a commemoration of the event.

We now had time to talk to people who attended this event and also met the artist who painted the background of a Hawker Demon Aircraft with the propeller mounted as if it was part of the aircraft.  It will be something that the young people of Thornaby can see it will hopefully encourage them to learn more about the RAF history of Thornaby.

We all had our photographs taken with the 266 Squadron of the Air Cadets to use which they will use in a forthcoming recruitment drive.