Reunion 2009

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    The 50th Reunion of the date we all joined the RAF and arrived as raw young recruits to Halton went off well. Around 80 people turned up for a two day stay at the Telford Whitehouse Inn and the shindig got off to a good start on day one with copious amounts of drink consumed in the evening get-together in the room laid aside for us. many thanks to Mike Bryant for the running display which went on for most of the evening. I’m to blame for switching it off early, as announcements needed to be made and starting it up again slipped my mind – blame age and drink! The following day started with a tour of No 1 S of TT now at RAF Cosford (until it moves again to RAF St. Athan) where we were treated to a whistle stop tour of the modern training facilities. Personnel at RAF Cosford could not have been more helpful from the CO down and both myself and Dick Bogg have expressed our thanks to them. After the tour, there was time to visit the museum next door and to see the Cold War display – a must if you go to the museum. The evening was taken up with a trip to Dusty Browns Inn – the Jack Mytton – at Hindsford. The reason being that Dusty is never able to go to reunions – so I decided to take the reunion to him.  A bit if a trek but well worth it.  This was the only hitch of the day as I inadvertently left Al Hougham and his wife behind, however, being true brats, they immediately realized what had happened and drove to the venue. Dusty pulled out all the stops and the meal and the welcome were superb. For myself I must thank all who contributed to the framed Vulcan picture on glass that is in pride of place in my lounge and for the whiskey (all gone now sadly). After the trek back, the bar at the hotel had been kept open for us and the last of us trooped to be around 3 am. Next morning, breakfast took some time as no-one, I think really wanted to leave, but eventually the hotel was vacated .

 

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The reunion at the Bailbrook House Hotel went extremely well. Sadly only 18 of our number were able to attend and I suspect COVID had a lot to do with that. However, 31 guests sat down to a splendid 3 course meal on the second night. The hotel lived up to its recommendation and I have to thank all the staff for looking after us so well. Those of us who went to the Aerospace at Filton enjoyed the experience – the ribald comments by our riggers on the state of riveting being used on a Blenheim adding to the fun. None of their work would have passed the eagle-eyed instructors on basic workshops. Thankfully, this aircraft is for static display!

The Bell Hotel at Winslow that I chose as our base for the Reunion at Halton turned out to be very good as well. Bob French turned up in his wheelchair on the Friday night, having forgotten that he had only booked for one night. However, even though the place was full, the hotel managed to fix him up with a temporary room. On parade at Halton were 10 from the entry and also on parade was our refurbished banner – still the orginal but now strengthened and with the paint uplifted.

We still have no news on 63 of our members that seem to have vanished without trace. It would be good to try and track them down but I suspect it will not now happen.

5th Oct 2022