MY FINAL NEWSFLASH

As you will be aware, I am retiring from both officiating and from BAFRA in total at the end of this month, and so this will be my last Newsflash. At the end of this week I shall be hanging up my boots, whistle and flags.

My last game was on Sunday and I was fortunate enough to have been selected for the Premier Bowl. I do not remember exactly what my last whistle was, but my last flag was for a Sideline Warning - the coach was so far in my way I actually ran behind him. I know a flag is not relevant, but it underlined what I had been trying to get the coaches and players to do all evening and I had no trouble after that.

What will I miss now that I am stopping?

• I will miss coming home every evening and logging on to my computer before I have taken my coat off so that it will be warmed up and ready for me to use the instant I have eaten my tea so that I can start BAFRA work.
• I will miss sitting on the computer most of Saturday finishing off the week's BAFRA work.
• I will miss my wife making an appointment at 9:00pm every evening to see me.
• I will miss driving long distances every Sunday to get to a game and the same back home again.
• I will miss not seeing Sunday night TV because I have fallen asleep through it.
• I will miss hobbling around like an octogenarian for the first part of the week as I get over Sunday's game.

OK, so I lie - but what I will really miss is the camaraderie of working with you guys.

If you want a motto for the future, try servo vexillum volatilis - it roughly translates as "keep the flags flying"...

Roger Stangroom
newsflash@bafra.org

BRITBOWL WEEKEND

Thanks all the BAFRA personnel who helped out at the BritBowl weekend, especially...

• Charlie for organising the shirts
• Davie for organising the excellent rookie session and assisting me with the John Slavin Award presentations
• Chris Jarvis for organising all the John Slavin Award certificates
• Scott and Mark for helping with the signing of the company paperwork
• everyone on the 4 crews, all of whom did a good job
• everyone who wasn't on the crews but who turned up to watch and help

Jim Briggs
president@bafra.org

BAFRA RENEWALS

Renewal time is upon us once again. Roger, in one of his last acts as General Secretary, has sent out renewal forms which should be returned to me along with payment as I move into this role for the future. From queries I have had there may be some confusion about how much is to be paid. The BAFA fee is in addition to the BAFRA fee, so your renewal needs to be accompanied by a single cheque made out to BAFRA for £55-00 (or £60-00 if after 31st October), and should accompany your renewal form. If you are a BAFA member through another organisation, please write your BAFA membership number on the renewal form and your cheque will be for £20-00 less. I will also be pleased to receive your completed questionnaires, should you wish to submit one.

The following renewal forms had been received by Tuesday morning’s mail:
Robert Banks, Bernard Bradley, Phil Cottier, Martin Gibson, Ralph Lenoir, Andrew Lovell, Peter Parsons, Norval Scott, Paul Sutton.

I will keep this list updated weekly through October, both to remind those yet to pay and to provide notice of receipt for those who have sent in their renewal.

Finally, may I take this opportunity to thank Roger personally for his work as General Secretary over recent years and for the support he has given me during the handover period. He has left me with big shoes to fill.

Paul Sutton
General Secretary (elect)
secretary@bafra.org

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The opinions expressed in this Newsflash are those of the contributors, and are not necessarily those of BAFRA or its Directors.