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November 2006
After the lazy months of summer I have finally come to terms with the fact that almost everything recorded or written about Feltwell is now documented on the website somewhere or is linked from the website. I have finally come to terms with this fact and no longer feel guilty if major additions are not made each month. This acknowledgement together with my change of job in September marks a strange coincidence which has led me to the conclusion that my life has entered a new phase. The children are now adults leading their own lives, even though one is still at home so, I guess, the post-child, pre-retirement, fewer things to worry about period of my life has begun (some wit of an economist probably has an acronym for these circumstances) and it feels strange but wonderfully empowering at the same time. I now have time to relax, to go for a walk, to try out new things on the website. And above all I have time to think. So when Chris Cock started emailing me some newly discovered, extremely rare photographs of the WW1 RAF Feltwell aerodrome I was able to experiment with their presentation on the website and I hope you enjoy the result. The photographs came from a gentleman in Hockwold whose Great Aunt worked as an ambulance driver on the Station. They took some time improving but I’m very happy with the result. Have a look at them but be warned that I haven’t reduced their file size and some are very big but then the detail is worth it. Of course, if any of you have any other photos in your possession from this period please can I have a copy? Here’s the link - http://www.feltwell.org/raffeltwell/p12a_ww1.htm
The Feltwellian family seems to have settled down to around the 140 size with still only 12 of you registered on the Frappr map. Talking of maps, have you noticed on Google Earth that the satellite photo of the Feltwell area is virtually surrounded by better quality images. RAF Lakenheath and Mildenhall are in incredible detail whereas RAF Marham is nothing but a blur. Fertile ground for conspiracy theorists I suggest. Hope it isn’t that long before the satellite passes overhead and we get the detail that we deserve.
You may recall that back in September I mentioned a free website for Parish Councils but that I was having problems with it. Well, the owners have got their difficulties sorted and I started to set up the Parish Council website a couple of weeks ago. It’s one of those sites which provide ready-made templates which you fill in but, first of all, you have to fill in lots of background information including the url of any existing site relating to your Parish. This I duly did but the result I got was completely unexpected. Imagine my surprise when I clicked to enter the Feltwell Parish Council site to find myself instantly redirected to the site with which I am very familiar, my own! I’m glad we’re not paying for this facility. I’ll keep plugging away at this periodically and if I ever get anything worthwhile out of it I’ll let you all know, but don’t hold your breath!
Now for a few adverts. Next Sunday is the Royal British Legion Remembrance Parade at St Mary’s Church. Wreaths are laid at 11am and private wreaths are welcome.
Sunday December 10th is the date of this year’s Carols by Candlelight service in St Nicholas Church. If you can make it, please do as this is one of the few occasions when you can get inside this redundant church and it is lovely. Finally, the Christmas Tree Exhibition and Festival of Light is on 1st, 2nd December, 6 -7.30pm and Sunday 3rd December 4.30 – 6pm.
And finally, two interesting emails. A gentleman called Gordon Brookes is currently tracing his ancestry through his uncle Wilson Brookes. Last night I got a call from a gentleman who also had an uncle called Wilson Brookes, which means that Gordon is potentially a cousin he never knew he had. The second email is from Steven Dennington, a name some of you may know, grandson of Arthur Dennington who is on at least two photographs on the website, proof enough of his eligibility to join the family.
