37 members and 4 visitors attended our June meeting when Matt Cloke, Chairman of Essex Search and Rescue, came along to tell us all about this worthwhile charity. He explained that it was run by a highly trained and experienced group of volunteers who came from all sorts of backgrounds and work alongside the police to help search for high risk and vulnerable people that go missing in Essex and the surrounding area. We were surprised to hear that every year this is some 5,000-6,000 people. They receive no public funding but manage on donations, street collections, grants and the lottery. Their most recent involvement was with the Steven Reis case in June this year, a local Rowhedge man, which involved 500 man hours over 6 days covering some 375 acres of land but resulting tragically in his body being found by a member of the public. Matt was very obviously passionate about his work and was very interesting to listen to.
Our next meeting is at 7.30pm on July 26th when we will be having our annual Social Night. This year’s theme is “Great Britain Evening” and we will be having music and singing provided by Helen Abbey and her accompaniment and suitable refreshments. There will also be a prize for the best hat! Membership is full but visitors are very Welcome, at a cost of £5.00 for July’s evening, by contacting any of the following committee members.
If you would like any further information about P.A.W.S. please ring any of us on any of the following numbers. Alice 01206 735510, Jane 01206 735004, Julia 01206 735053 or Sue 01206 735212.
46 members and 6 visitors attended our May meeting when Jane Maylon (right in the photo) told us all about “Adopting an Attitude”. It was a most intriguing title and most of us had guessed incorrectly when Jane proceeded to tell us all about her Adoption in the mid 50’s, at the tender age of just 6 weeks from the “Waifs and Strays” now known as “The Childrens Society.” She talked about the change in attitude to adoption relaying many amusing stories along the way. She also told us how she had tracked down her birth Mother in Canada, and having written to her for several years, finally meeting her. It was a very uplifting experience and Jane was a delight to listen to.
44 members and 3 visitors attended our April meeting when Brian Curtois told us all about his “30 years with the BBC.” Brian started his early career as a Reporter with a small newspaper in Hornchurch before progressing onto the Ilford Recorder. He then moved to Nottingham before returning to London as part of the Press Agency. He covered a number of major events including the Great Train Robbery and the wedding of Peter Sellers to Britt Ekland. On his first attempt at joining the BBC he got a rejection letter but one year later his second attempt to be offered the post of General News Reporter. For 3 years he covered the Middle East and then Northern Ireland. Over the years he has interviewed numerous people including Ian Paisley, Margaret Thatcher, Mohammad Ali and Bruce Forsythe to name but a few and worked with people like Alan Freeman and Terry Wogan on Late Night Extra and David Dimbleby when working as the Political Correspondent at Westminister. He saw lots of changes over the years with the change from radio to television and relayed several amusing stories. Another very enjoyable evening.
42 members, in a variety of wigs and waistcoats, attended our AGM in March when we appointed a new President, Gen Fretwell, from the re-elected committee. Gen takes over from Julia Dymond who had a very “enjoyable year” despite her original misgivings. Once the business side of the evening, which included reports from both the President and Treasurer, had been conducted, we then had a lovely supper of shepherd’s pie followed by a choice of sumptuous deserts made by various members of our very talented committee. The evening was rounded off with a Quiz.
38 members and 10 visitors attended our meeting in February when we welcomed back 
40 members and a number of visitors attended our meeting in January when June Crisfield Chapman came along to talk to us about “Wild Plants, Myths, Magic and Medicines.” June is actually an Artist/Painter, who through her love of nature which started at an early age in Scotland where she was bought up, has created an extensive range of wood engravings which she has exhibited at the National Theatre amongst other galleries. She also wrote for the Countryman magazine for 11 years. She showed us a slide show of numerous engravings of flowers and flora and explained where some of the myths had started. It was a most interesting evening.
Nearly 40 of us attended our Christmas Dinner at the