COLIN PAYNE #3 AND ALAN WILSON #80

It is with great sadness that I report the death of two of our members who passed away within a few days of each other.

Colin was one of the founder members of BAFRA in 1984 and was our original Director of Operations. He was a hard-working member who, even when he had ceased active officiating, came back for a second period as Director of Operations for a period when the then incumbent had to step down. He was one of the first people to be awarded honorary membership of BAFRA and kept an active interest in the progress of our organisation.

Alan was a player with Strathclyde Sheriffs for a short time before becoming a coach at youth, junior and senior level with Glasgow Tigers. He joined BAFRA in 2011 and was one of our most active, popular and respected officials earning the affectionate nickname of Papa Smurf. Alan officiated the Scottish Junior final only a few days before his passing.

In their different ways, both Colin and Alan have contributed hugely to the development of American Football in Britain. Comments on social media and to the Directors have showed the high esteem in which both were held, not only by fellow BAFRA members but much more widely in the football community and beyond.

We are all enriched by having known them and diminished by their passing.

Paul Sutton

secretary@bafra.org

BUCS SEASON STARTS ON SATURDAY 31ST OCTOBER 2015

Due to the final NFL International Series Game being played on 1^st November almost all games (eighteen) in Week 1 of the College Season will be played on Saturday 31^st October. As a number of officials will be unavailable due to their participation in the Wembley game it is really important that as many active officials as possible make themselves available for a game on the Saturday. This will enable us to cover the vast majority of these games.

We want to assign officials to these games next week so please update Arbiter now so that we have an accurate record of who is available. If you are not available and see that you have a game pending and have not amended Arbiter then you must inform us straight away. However we hope all officials will amend Arbiter to accurately reflect their availability to avoid this situation.

As in previous years, if any official is coming to London for the NFL Game (Kansas/Detroit) and wants a game on the Saturday, away from their usual area, let BAFRA Operations know immediately.

Thanks for your co-operation with this.

Ricard Vernon

operations@bafra.org

MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL

The membership renewal notices have now all been sent out by e-mail. If you have not received yours, please contact me. All of the renewal details are on the form but, if you have any queries, please get in touch. Membership renewals should be made as soon as possible with those being made before 1^st November being at a lower rate. Members will be pleased to note that yet again this year there is no rise in membership fees. However, if you anticipate any difficulty in paying, you should contact Charles Young, Director of Finance at finance@bafra.org and arrange a payment plan with him. This will, of course, be in strict confidence. Accompanying the renewal notice, the Directors are again conducting a survey of the membership. It is requested that you return your survey with your renewal.

I have already (30^th September) received 25 renewals and all are acknowledged when received. If you have sent yours and not received an acknowledgement please contact me. I will, from next week publish lists of 2016 members in Newsflash.

Finally, in the unlikely event that you are not planning to renew your membership, it would be helpful if you would let me know (if possible with your reason(s) for not renewing).

Paul Sutton

secretary@bafra.org

ALL-TIME BOWL CREWS

The list has been updated to reflect the recent bowls and is available in the member’s area of the website at: http://www.bafra.org/members/other/BowlCrewsAllTime.pdf. There are some gaps in information from the early years (and in one or two places for more recent bowls). If anyone is able to provide any further information, please contact me.

Paul Sutton

secretary@bafra.org

DISCIPLINARY CASES

GAME MANAGEMENT REPORTS

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