Malcolm Metcalfe came to our October meeting when he gave us a talk with slides entitled "Riding the Iron Horse across America".
He said he had travelled 175,000 miles over a period of 20 years by Amtrak, the American rail system and Greyhound buses. It used to cost £250 for a month's unlimited travel. He said it's too expensive now at £400 plus insurance.
He told us it had all started during the war when he made friends with an 8th Air Force B24 American bomber crew member based at Attlebridge. They kept in contact for a while after the war and many years later he decided to try and find him. Unfortunately, his friend had died before he made contact.
This started his interest in America and each year he would plan his itinerary and visit all the places on his list. Atlanta, Washington, Chicago, Orleans, Jacksonville, the Rocky Mountains, San Francisco to name but a few. He made many friends over the years and still corresponds with some of them.
Our next meeting will be on Wednesday 12 December at 7.30pm in the Community Centre when we will have our Christmas Party with a buffet supper and entertainment by our members. We always enjoy ourselves and have a good laugh!
Visitors are always welcome and if there any queries, please contact Pam Cooper, President on 01508 491674 or Lesley Sanders, Secretary on 01508 492155.
Finally, on behalf of our members, may I wish all of you reading this, particularly if you are on your own, a happy and healthy Christmas and New Year.
Shirley Shackshaft
