The Group Website has it's own unique domain name:
http://www.raynet-forestheath.info

The Annual General Meeting of the group took place on Wednesday 26th September; this year at the Forest Heath District Council offices in Mildenhall.

The District CEPO welcomed the gathering with a short introducion to the role of emergency services within the County contingency plans.

Guest speaker Phil, G8KLC, Zone 4 Co-ordinator, outlined his, and the National Committee's roles in the wider perspective of national awareness of contingency provision, particularly in view of recent world calamities.

The Group Controller - John G6EUO - reported that although a large number of commitments had been tabled for this year, a considerable number had been either postponed or cancelled due to the outbreak in February of Foot and Mouth disease. Nevertheless, those which did go ahead were concluded without many incidents of a serious nature. Two missing person searches were among the more worrying of these, but both ended in satisfactory recoveries.

The major event of every year in our calendar is the huge Air Fete at RAF Mildenhall, which this year drew an unprecedented crowd of some 600,000. The annual marathon walk - The Thetford Chase Walk, and the prestigious two day Motor Cycle Enduro - a British Championship round - were early casualties of the epidemic, the Forest Plantations being completely closed to the public for many weeks. An extensive series of Mountain Bike events kept the leisure scene alive, and a lively Barbecue for the members and supporters made up for the shortfall in field events.

Membership has remained satisfactory, and acknowledgement was recorded for the considerable assistance given by members of other neighbouring groups when the workload became heavy.

The Treasurer's report showed a strong position, a tribute to the excellent husbandry of our Treasurer, Ray G6HGD, who now, regretfully in poor health, has become unable to continue.

The acquisition during the early summer of last year of a new mobile control unit, has enhanced the group's potential to respond to any forseeable incident. (see Presentation in Gallery Feature).

Election of Officers for the forthcoming year produced no changes from the existing team, apart from the necessity of filling the vacant Treasury position. Thanks were expressed to all who have contributed to the group's activities throughout this difficult year, which draws to its end with a couple of remaining events, and the promise of an excellent Christmas Dinner together on December 1st.