|
Commuters heading for home at the start of the
weekend, school holidays underway, not the best time to be using the
motorways and so we set off on the tried and trusted cross country route
which takes us through Halton Camp, scene of many
a competition between RAF and Arborfield
Apprentices. I was under orders not to make any rude gesture this year as
we passed the entrance, but she didn’t say I couldn’t mutter dire threats
under my breath.
A comfortable journey took us through to Winnersh where we were to spend the weekend as guests
of friends from the Arborfield 1950s days. As we
sat catching up on the news the skies darkened very ominously, rain came
down in vertical stair rods and thunder and lightning started with a
vengeance. Thoughts turned to 2007 when the only way to get into Arborfield was by boat. Surely it couldn’t happen
again. The storm racketed around for a while and we noticed a lack of
aircraft passing overhead. London Heathrow had grounded all aircraft, no
take offs and no landings. That spoke volumes for the severity of the
storm.
By the early evening things had calmed down and I set
off for Arborfield via the Sindlesham
and Barkham route, passing over the narrow bridge
by the Barkham Bull. It’s hard to visualize that
this was the main Arborfield to Wokingham road
and in olden days transport into town was on a double decker bus which
would now take up both lanes of the narrow road.
I felt quite confident as I approached the entrance
to Hazebrouk. Last year I had to talk my way in
as my name wasn’t on the list of those attending for the Friday night do.
This year I had taken the precaution of including a separate letter with my
application form, indicating that I would be there for Friday. What could
go wrong? Producing my car and individual passes I waited for the barrier
to rise. All I heard was “Sorry Sir, but your name is not on the list”. Is
somebody trying to tell me something? Once again it was down to the silver
tongue and sweet talk to get my name added to the list, sweet talking a
burly male MOD policeman doesn’t come easy.
Through the barrier I headed for the car park to book
in at the Regimental Restaurant where reception was being held this year.
Some of the 51B stalwarts were there already, Alan Morton, Keith Tilley, Graham Goodwin, obviously loitering to welcome the
missing member George Fleck, who swept into the area and clanked to a halt
in a Roller, as the photo shows. Next year George is going to try and park
it between the white lines.
|
