Nightingales and Lancaster Bombers

I've just watched "Bomber Boys" on BBC 1 which you can watch here on BBC IPlayer. Featuring the actor Ewan McGregor and his brother Colin (who was a RAF fighter pilot during the first Iraq war). The programme was pretty moving and made a genuine attempt to explain the total war carnage in Coventry and Dresden as well as the great sacrifice of the RAF Bomber Command during World War Two.

When I was younger I was a member of the Air Training Corp in Holywell, North Wales. One of our ATC officers had been a Lancaster Bomber crew member and had been shot down over the North Sea during his first mission. He was rescued but spent the rest of the war in a German Prison camp. A few years ago there was a Newham Labour Party picnic on Wanstead Flats. One of the Party members who turned up had served in bomber command and had survived 30 Lancaster missions. I really don't know for certain but I think both of them would have thought that the mass bombing of Germany was right. 

This genuine video recording is from 1942. BBC sound engineers were recording the sound of Nightingales in the Countryside when hundreds of RAF Bombers flew overhead on route to attack Germany.

Listen and weep.

Hat tip Captain Swing.

Newham Labour Party Members Summer Social 2011

Picture is from the close of yesterday's (Sunday) Newham Labour Party Social in Wanstead Flats.  There was a picnic as well as football, rounders and badminton competitions. 

I am still trying to recover from the rounders.  Our team won despite me being unable to hit the ball!  I had thought that I was fairly fit. The aches and pains I still feel prove otherwise. Drinking beer beforehand probably didn't help much either.

Stephen Timms MP,  Newham Mayor, Sir Robin Wales and around 55 Party members, children and friends turned up.  The world was put to right.  A good day. Enjoyed by all I think.

Newham Councillors & Mayor 2010: The Largest Labour Group in the Country

 I thought I would cheer up every one's Bank holiday by posting this picture from the AGM of Newham Council. 

The photo was taken in the historic Old Town Hall in Stratford. 

I hope this isn't seen as political boasting but:-

In the London Borough of Newham 60 out of the possible 60 elected Councillors are Labour Party candidates.

The directly elected Mayor, Sir Robin Wales is Labour. So are both MP's,  Stephen Timms (who has the largest majority in the country) and Lyn Brown.  The local directly elected London Assembly member, John Biggs, is Labour as is the directly elected Member for the European Parliament, Claude Moraes.

Is there something in the Newham - clear red water?

Newham Labour Party, Party

This exciting picture features the pink flying saucer seen hovering above all the crème de la crème of Newham Labour Party at last night’s fund raising B-B-Q.

This was organised jointly by Newham Young Labour and Newham Fabians and held in a member's Forest Gate garden.

It was a great success and the entrance fee and raffle raised money for Forest Gate North branch and Newham Young Labour.

In the picture is Newham mayor Sir Robin Wales and East Ham MP Stephen Timms. While local London Assembly member John Biggs was also somewhere. West Ham MP Lyn Brown arrived later as did others who came to break the fast.

It was a good night – many thanks to the organisers.