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Friday.
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Although a week later than the usual dates for the
reunion, the normal traffic reports of Friday congestion on the motorways
decided us that once again the cross country route would be the best option
and so it proved. We arrived at our destination, Winnersh, in plenty of
time to catch up on all the news with our very good friends who put us up
for the weekend each year.
Suitably refreshed and fed I set off for Arborfield,
a trifle apprehensive it must be said after the problems of gaining access
to the camp over the past few years. However this year all was well. My
name was on the list of attendees at the security post and I was waved
through with a welcoming smile from the gate guard and his armed to the
teeth companion.
I drove up to the Regimental Restaurant and joined
the queue to book in. First part OK but at the next station I was loudly
informed that as I hadn’t paid, I couldn’t partake of the Evening Supper.
Er, if I had wanted to partake of the supper I would willingly have paid
but as everything on the menu was curried I had taken the precaution of
eating a nice traditional British meal before leaving Winnersh. I gave up
curries after experiencing some hostile recipes when serving with a cavalry
regiment who measured success by the sweat and burning sensation the diners
experienced. However, at least all my fellow queue members would know that
I wouldn’t take supper.
No accommodation being booked my next step was to
collect my name badge. Slightly different this year in that it bore various
initials, FS for Friday Supper which everybody now knew I wouldn’t be
eating, BBQ for the Saturday lunchtime barbeque which I would be eating
because I had paid and it was on my name badge. Then on to purchase two of
the AOBA Calendars for 2011. the profits (£173.00) from which would go to
swell the coffers of the Army Apprentice National Memorial fund. One was
destined for my friend up in the wilds of Scotland where a calendar is more
appropriate than a watch.
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Meal Deals and I.D. Badges.
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Photo 10-2333 © Max Warwick 49B
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Now officially booked in I returned to my car and set
off for the WOs & Sgts Mess where the gathering would be taking place.
On the way, at the last, roundabout, I was stopped and informed that there
would be no parking available at the mess and that I should return to the
restaurant where a minibus was laid on for transport. So be it.
It was to be a rather lonely evening as just one of
my 52A Intake contemporaries had put in an appearance. During the evening more
cash for the memorial fund was generated with Gordon Bonner 49B selling a
very remarkable number of raffle tickets with the draw to take place in the
evening. The sum raised by the raffle was £615.00, quite outstanding. Tony
Church 55A raised more funds with sales of his limited edition mugs,
emblazoned with a choice of King’s or Queen’s Crown AAS badges, along with
one of his verses. Tony also had copies for sale of his well received DVD
of the 2009 AOBA Reunion. It was his intention to video this years reunion
with a view to raising more funds for the memorial project. If last years
production was anything to go by we are in for another treat this year.
With a very generous donation from AOBA Funds the weekend ended with the
magnificent total of £6,079.00 for the memorial.
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The Supper.
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Photo 10-2313 © Max Warwick 49B
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Photo 10-2314 © Max Warwick 49B
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Photo 10-2317 © Max Warwick 49B
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Good Company
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Photo 10-2326 © Max Warwick 49B
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The Raffle.
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Photo 10-2324 © Max Warwick 49B
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On the right the Pickworth brothers, Ian 50A and
David 52A checking their tickets.
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Photo 10-2330 © Max Warwick 49B
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Gordon Bonner 49B sold all the raffle tickets and all
he won was this bliddy empty cardboard box.
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Photo 10-2332 © Max Warwick 49B
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During the evening there were mutterings from some
diehards about the young families who were in the mess “not being allowed
in our days”. Times have changed and today’s army has to be much more
family orientated or wither on the vine and the moaning BOFs should have
been aware that we were guests in the mess and that those young men, women
and their youngsters were our hosts who had kindly allowed us to share
their facilities.
And so it was time to retire for the night which
meant a steady walk back from the mess, via the lakeside path, to the
Regimental Restaurant to collect my car and from there, back to Winnersh
for more chat with friends.
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Published: 1st
September 2010
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  Saturday
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