71st Entry Reunion April 27-29 2007

  It only seems like yesterday we were reporting our last reunion. Where have two years gone?

 A party of 34 members/wives and partners of the 71st Entry assembled during the afternoon at the ‘Branston Hall’ hotel in Lincolnshire to an informal reception followed by dinner. Just the thing for getting people in the holiday mode. We welcomed Alan Bickers for the first time since leaving Halton 55 years ago to the day. (Entry reps note, never to late to dig out old colleagues). It was not very long before Alan was ‘Swinging the Light’ with the rest of us.
 
Next morning after a leisurely breakfast we boarded a coach for a full day itinery. First drop was ‘Downtown’ a retail park for those suffering from shopping withdrawals. Those alighting here would be collected at midday for onward travel to the final venue. Those remaining on the coach were driven to the Newark Air Museum. As expected this venue conjured up considerable nostalgia and saw members climbing aboard the Vulcan, Hastings and Shackleton reliving their service careers and triggering the memory for more, ‘I remember when’ scenarios. (For those that haven’t the Newark Air Museum is well worth a visit). As planned the ‘Shoppers’ were collected en route to our final venue of the day, Belton House. This is an excellent National trust property with interests for all ages. The beautifully manicured gardens were enhanced by a warm and sunny day.
Arriving back late afternoon to our hotel we made ourselves presentable for the Saturday evening informal dinner and chat.

Sunday as always is left open for local sightseeing, just putting your feet up and reading the Sunday papers or the visit to a local hostelry for that leisurely Sunday lunch time drink. (No fear of being late for the Sunday roast on this occaision!!). ‘Timothy Taylor’ and the local publican were pleased to see us. 

By 19.00 hrs we were ‘All Scrubbed Up’ and on parade in the hotel bar ready to be piped into our seven course Gala dinner. Geoffrey Payne opened the evening’s proceedings by reading our Roll of Honour for departed colleagues, which was followed by grace.
The food for the Gala dinner was excellent served by a dedicated team of restaurant and bar staff who looked after our every wish.
After the Cheese and Port course Allan (Butch) Laycock asked us to be upstanding for the Loyal toast. This he followed by reading a letter from Her Majesty wishing us a successful and pleasurable reunion. Allan has always written to our Queen informing her of a forthcoming reunion of the 71st Entry to which we have been honoured by her replies. Peter Cunningham then read the list of apologies for absence and read e-mails etc from members who couldn’t be present wishing us a successful reunion and bringing us up to date with news from their part of the world.
Geoffrey Payne gave a vote of thanks to Peter Cunningham and not forgetting Peter’s wife Ann for their efforts in putting together a first class reunion. Peter Honeyman iterated this and said that work would start on the next reunion planned for 2 years time in the Lake District.
The ever-attentive Staff was then set to work with an amazing array of digital cameras to capture group shots.

Monday morning farewells were made after breakfast and arrangements made to see each other in 2 years time or earlier at Halton. (NB. AGM and Triennial this year)
Well done everybody

Geoff Munge