ARBORFIELD - Friday
21st to Sunday 23rd July 2006 inclusive.
The following report &
photographs contributed by Trevor STUBBERFIELD (52A) Saturday The Safely back behind the wire it
was time to prepare for the Reunion Dinner, to be held in the Restaurant of
the Bailleul Sergeants'
Mess. Having freshened up in the accommodation block we made our way to
the mess and joined our fellow diners. Some liquid refreshment was
taken in the bar prior to locating our table position on the charts. It
is certainly a tight squeeze, seating all those who were attending. Set
by intake it's necessary to have a mixture on each table, some would be a
single member from their lot, others would number two or three. Some of
52A were with 51B, which was not inappropriate as a good number of 51B stayed
around long enough to join 52A. They knew a great intake when they
saw it and were prepared to do another six months for the honour of joining us. Sharing the
next table with 52A were several jeeps from 53A and 53B.
One, seeing my name badge said "I remember you". Sinking into
my chair I waited for the blast from the past. He was from the first
intake who joined on my return as an A/NCO to HQ
Coy. I remember me as very quiet, very gentle sympathetic lad, a big
brother to the younger ones. What he
actually said was that I had recently picked up his name and circulated
it around his own intake and because of that he was paying his first visit to
a reunion. Phew, got away with that one then.
Mick Costanzo 53B, Aubrey Gardner 53A, John Todd 52A, Trevor Stubberfield 52A, Pat Forde 53A.
Keith Tilly 51B, Graham Goodwin 51B, Bill Gibson 52A, Arthur Fenlon 51B, George Fleck 51B, George Thrower 52A, Bill Butler 51B. Once the Chief Guest, Brigadier Williams had arrived, serving got under way very efficiently, wine flowed in copious quantities and I drunk about two jugs full of water on my own. The heat had not abated one jot, and in the crowded room the temperature started to rise. "Gentlemen may remove jackets" was received with some relief. The music to eat by was provided by the REME TA Band, a very nice selection of tunes played at a comfortable volume. As an interlude a lone piper marched around the room, playing various Scottish airs and tunes.
With the meal served we had a welcome break and many slipped outside to get some fresh air. Seated once again it was time for the speeches. The main content of the Brigadier's speech will be reported in other places. I will content myself with passing on just one item that brought things home with a bang. We were celebrating the 50th Anniversary of intakes from 1956. It would appear that 1956 was the same year the Brigadier was born. He were nowt but a lad, but hasn't he done well? Of course, also present were eight lads from 1946, celebrating sixty years, a real diamond occasion for them. The address for the celebrants was made
by Peter Gripton who gave an amusing and
interesting speech. Peter is the author of The Arborfield Apprentice, a
very well researched and written history of the An expression of thanks was made to the members of the staff who had looked after us so admirably during our stay. Things went very well and that makes for a very good weekend. Amongst the lasses and lads were a good few of Ghurkha origin with lovely happy faces. It was a feat of endurance for them as they did their tasks around those of our lads who had seen service with the Ghurkha units and were proud to have done so. Toasts were made for The Queen and also our absent friends, each table no doubt remembering those of their own intake and drinking a private toast to them. The meal over it was time to catch up on the last bits of news before retiring for the night. Sunday was just around the corner and time to leave.
Sunday, it's time to
go. |
