Reunions
Click on the bullet points below to view photographs of the reunions.
(Reunion: a social gathering of persons with a common interest)
For those people who read this as ex members of HQ Battery 49 Field Regiment you missed one hell of a weekend, but I am already looking forward to Blackpool for the 49 reunion, and may I plant the seed and suggest a trip to Lippstadt in 2007? More on that once I've spoken to Dave and Ilona Askham who live in Lippstadt.
I travelled down with Wiggy and met Tucker (shitty-Tony – reader you can ask him what the names about) in Peterborough, hugs and handshakes were exchanged in the railway bar and a couple of beers had before onwards to Ipswich, we were met by Bob & Kerri Barker and Sparky & Liza Allen more hugs and handshakes, well done Sparky on getting rid of that mad hairy lipped ex-wife. And so we went out into Ipswich for several more beers (Tucker was on the snakebite a lethal combination of half lager & half cider). We than moved onto Bobs home turf to a local pub/hotel, full of local people, and no sooner had we got their than Norm showed up on his m-bike, this was to be mine and Norms accommodation, others were too tight to pay and bunked in Bobs gaff, we then moved onto Bobs local social club, very nice and clean, too nice and clean, again full of local people, sadly no sign of a little man playing a banjo (a scene from the movie Deliverence), we stayed in there for a few games of pool and a couple of drinks, I was somewhat disappointed that they allowed people into the social club in dirty clothes covered in oil, but it was Matty Garnett arriving!! more handshakes and greetings, more alcohol, we eventually moved very slowly to Bob & Kerri's, now I am assured by Bob & Kerri that they had pre-warned all there neighbours of our impending arrival, but it still must have been a bit (under statement) noisy, and so we drank, laughed, took photos, met Bob & Kerri's gorgeous daughters Abi & Chloe I hope by now Bob & Kerri that your girls have mentioned the USA and Florida I primed them too, well if they haven't it's here now, it was a late night or an early morning, for some (and you know who you are) it was earlier as the alcohol took over and boo boos was needed.
Onto Saturday, bright and early (well late morning) Norm and I were collected by Bob and transported back to his for breakfast, Bob & Kerri had a mini domestic, his kids kicked off at him and we all sat and watched it eating bacon butties. Out came the old Fortyniner Magazines and loads of photos, and into the garden to what do you think reader?? Yes drink some more alcohol, and of course reminisce of those good old days back in Lippstadt (just to remind you reader 2007 trip to Lippstadt?) we were still a few people short by early afternoon, and sure enough our group was increased with the arrival of Matty Adams, greetings all round hurrah!! Later in the day Bob was wondering about Taff Pennock at which point Matty Adams said he had a mobile number for Taff, so the number was rung and there was Taff (well his voice), two more ex 49 turned up in mid afternoon Sheena and Pez and their son oh and the dog who politely curled one up on Bobs garden! now Sheena got what can only be described as crying drunk (I had wanted to write a more descriptive word but kids may read this so saying so this write up is as much for her as for the website), she and her family left early, but not before we had all poured over the pictures Pez brought. As the afternoon drifted into the evening those of us who follow football teams rejoiced and cried, not just for our own teams but because other teams whom Sparky, Mrs Sparky & Bob hated (Norwich). And so into the evening, plenty of beer, red wine, bratties, frickies. Bob & Kerri's friends popped round for a quick drink and promptly got drunk very quickly, all I can say is that as he is ex RHA!! they never could and never can hold their alcohol, they were escorted home before midnight and managed to bump into a couple of houses.
So we carried on and on and on, well some of us, I'm unsure as to who left early to bed was it Tucker or Wiggy? I do know that at around 3 or 4am, Norm was unsuccessful in getting him and me a taxi, so he had the great (alcohol idea) idea of walking back to our pub/hotel, I'm not sure how long it took 1 or 2 hours, but I do know that if I known that it's a very well known area for UFO sightings I don't think I would have gone, I have a very vivid imagination after several bottles of wine, Bob kindly came through the next to collect me and Norm followed on his m-bike, tea and brekky at Bobs, and time for us to bid each other fond farewells. We all know what an emotional man Tucker is and he showed it again to Wiggy and me on the platform at Peterborough.
Well my friends we'll see each other soon – for me October 05 back to Ipswich – through the means of emails, texts or phone calls. March 2006 in Blackpool is the next venue for the 49 reunion and a smaller one for us ex HQ Batteryians, and then of course the big one October 2007 to Lippstadt!! Until then my friends Happy Christmas and A Happy New Year, take care and if you can't be good be careful.
Derek Ralphs
