 A campaign to clamp down on car tax dodgers has been taken to another level with the introduction of a special enforcement phase. It follows a launch of a county-wide partnership between Norfolk Constabulary and the Driver and Vehicle Licence Agency (DVLA). The publicity campaign was the first of two stages, beginning with a two-week warning to motorists to make sure their vehicles are taxed, have MOT certificates and are insured. Now, following the completion of the first phase, motorists who have ignored the warnings are being urged to beware as the message is simple - there will be no hiding place. The police are delighted to work with the DVLA to target this small hard core of drivers who refuse to pay their car tax. The Force will be carrying out extensive roadside checks in support of the campaign. The DVLA will be bringing in wheel clamping units and Stingray camera units to target the thousands of road tax cheats in Norfolk. Norfolk Constabulary officers will also be stepping up their enforcement activities to detect motorists committing other road safety offences including driving without insurance and MOT certificates. As part of the campaign, members of the public have been encouraged to call a freephone hotline to report people they believe are not paying their road tax. The number to call is 08000 325 202. The DVLA estimates that there are some 33,000 unlicensed vehicles in Norfolk which equates to £3.3m in lost Government revenue for the county. BLOOD DONOR SESSION
Norman Lamb, Liberal Democrat MP for North Norfolk, along with County
Councillor Brian Hannah, has organised a public meeting in Sheringham to hear views on
Crime & Disorder issues affecting the town. It will take place at the Youth &
Community Centre in Sheringham on Friday 18 March at 7:30pm. "This meeting is
an opportunity for people in Sheringham to have their say and to talk direct to the police
on Crime and Disorder issues locally," said Norman Lamb. "From my perspective, I
feel it is important to be aware of how crime and antisocial behaviour is affecting the
lives of residents in Sheringham." KELLING PROBUS CLUB LUNCHEON MEETING Very tasty Pan-fried Escalopes of Turkey with Norfolk Sauce served with four vegetables and two different potato dishes was followed by a citrus and lime tart which was greatly enjoyed by 34 members at their monthly meeting at the Pheasant Hotel in Kelling. This month's speaker was Frank Muirhead known by many local residents for his 20 years service on the Cromer lifeboat and who is now the curator of the RNLI museum in Cromer. In Frank's very lovely Norfolk accent and turn of phrase he gave a very informal talk about the lifeboats of Norfolk. In October 1804 when the Norfolk Shipwreck Assoc had their first boat at Cromer funded by good hearted local folk, mainly merchants such as the Gurneys and Barclays and well supported by the clergy and raising £600 in very short time. The first lifeboat was launched in England at North Shields in the 1700's so Cromer's was not the first nor the last. There was a need for one overall authority to run this public service and so the RNLI was formed in 1858. Since this time the service has only had to ask for government money and that was twice in the early 1800's for £2000 on each occasion. No charge is ever made for rescue at sea. There have been two or three new stations recently having taken over the Thames, at Tower Bridge, Chiswick and Teddington. The Thames is a fast flowing river so at Tower Bridge the RNLI crew are paid ( elsewhere it is always done voluntarily) because they have to be in readiness to be launched in 90 seconds. Hovercraft now work on the mud flats at Hunstanton, Southend and of course Morecombe Bay for the cockle pickers. Early lifeboats were rowing boats with six oars and the boats got larger until sail came into use. The existing Cromer lifeboat came in '85 and was self righting and did 15 knots. This will possibly be replaced in two years time with a larger and faster boat capable of 30knots and costing in the vicinity of two million pounds and ' Yes' it will fit nicely into the boathouse. Frank was speaking without notes and told countless stories too numerous to mention here about rescue helicopters and heavy duty lifeboat launch tractors which can run under water for 5 minutes! and other topics. The diaries of Cromer minimise bravery. A vote of thanks was going to be given by member Alex Alexander who was rescued by the RNLI in the last war after being torpedoed, however John Jennings who is very shortly to become the new Hon Secretary was rescued more recently by the Cromer lifeboat. In making his vote of thanks John recounted how he was at sea some 10 miles or so off the North Norfolk coast the last Sunday in June '97 at 11.00am when from nowhere a massive storm blew up and in 30 minutes all the sails had gone, 18ft waves were pounding his 18ft yacht and he and his colleague were wet and freezing cold and taking a beating. The lifeboat appeared alongside and John was then lifted off by helicopter and taken to Cromer hospital suffering with hyperthermia.So John's vote of thanks was to Frank for a very interesting talk and question session and also to Cromer lifeboat of '85 for saving his life and also his boat which was taken to Wells. Len Turner, the Club's chairman handled the club business. Next month's meeting will be the AGM and the April meeting will be 'A life of Crime' by Geoff Mitchell with costume changes and will be very special, lasting for 60 minutes. If you had thought of joining our friendly club for a monthly meeting with lunch plus the occasional outing then do contact Mr Terry Penrose, our Secretary on 01263 588772 for a chat to gain further details. PARKINGSON's DISEASE SOCIETY
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