Linda Benton came and gave us a talk about her career in the metropolitan mounted police.

When she started the horses had not received specific training for police work and were not fitted with the safety items we expect today, for example they were not fitted with eye shields/blinkers, and the officers did not have safety hard hats, nor did they have truncheons.

They were initially used in crowd control, like football matches, demonstrations etc. As one mounted officer would have the same effect as a dozen officers on foot.

She told us of how these things changed through her career, she brought along some items of memorabilia, which we could look at on the table after her talk.

George Collins came and gave us a talk on Military Hats along with many examples. George showed us the hat, explained its history and use then passed it around the audience to examine and if wished they could try the hat on.

He moved on from hats that were likened to helmets to soft hats and bearskins ending with some caps and berets.

Gavin Bickerton-Jones came and gave us a very informative talk entitled “Norfolk Wildlife Through the Lens” He showed us images he had taken of many birds and animals that live in the area, from owls to hares, foxes, badgers. He showed us many images some of which had taken him hours of wating for and some by his own admission by luck. He finished his presentation with some interesting facts like how to tell a male from a female kingfisher and images of kingfishers feeding their young.

Watton Society March Meeting

Uncle Sam’s Roots in Eastern England

Roger Pugh who gave us a talk on the creation of the military tank at Elveden, returned to tell us about the links between the many people living in this region who had been involved in the creation of what we now call “The United States of America”

Watton Society November Meeting

Our November meeting was our annual film night with Phil Slater.

He brought along a selection including: – The Sea Breaks Through – about the 1938 flooding of East Anglia and the work to prevent the tide breaking through again. Some film of work to free a train snowbound on the North Pennines at Bleath Gill in 1955, a 1947 Scout and Guide International Folk Dance Festival in London with Princesses Elizabeth & Margaret along with Lady Baden-Powell, a show of Horses of Austria performing at the Spanish Riding School, then a film about London’s last Tram, by British Transport film,  a film of the 1959 Watton Carnival and the unveiling of the Town sign and finishing with Three songs by George Formby.

WATTON SOCIETY

DECEMBER MEETING 2022

Our Christmas meeting was held on Wednesday 21^st December with our usual mulled wine and mince pies, this year we were again entertained by Annette Jude and Susie Turner.

 Susie with her lovely singing voice gave us a varied evening of enjoyable songs, including some carols, with Annette accompanying her on the piano.

2022 AGM

In October we held our AGM, The Mayor Sue Hebborn who is also the society’s president was in attendance. Reports of the last AGM were read and approved, the chairman gave a report on the year’s activities and thanked the committee and our members who had given support to activities during the year, including the removal, refitting and reglazing of the Town Notice board in Chaston Place, which was funded from last year’s mayor’s fund.

The treasurer gave a report of the year’s financial activities and gave thanks to Mr D. Smith for auditing them, these were approved.

The mayor then took the chair for the election of officers, all existing members were re-elected to the same offices along with the additional member of the committee Pam Challand.  Wendy Collins offered to assist with the Society’s publicity.   David and Ruth Stapleton agreed to assist with the production of posters.

The mayor then gave some information on the additional duties the mayor finds they have when elected i.e. President of the Society.

A short talk followed and leaflets were handed out to Watton residents about the group looking into “Flood Defences” in Watton.

After some refreshments a fun quiz was held and prizes given to the first three teams with the highest team taking first choice.