answer found
listCtrl = MyListCtrl(New MyListCtrl.Create(panel, LIST_CTRL, ,, ,, flags | wxSUNKEN_BORDER | wxLC_EDIT_LABELS))
doh !!!
listCtrl = MyListCtrl(New MyListCtrl.Create(panel, LIST_CTRL, ,, ,, flags | wxSUNKEN_BORDER | wxLC_EDIT_LABELS))
doh !!!