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Members started to assemble at the Warwick Hilton Hotel for their 15th reunion on the afternoon of Friday, September 14th, 2007. After meeting and greeting and an early buffet dinner, most moved to an adjacent committee room where Pat Soward showed the RAF Changi Association DVD 'Changi and Singapore (Past & Present)'. Members saw pictures of Changi taken in the 1920's, the building of the barrack blocks in the late 1930's and cine film of Changi and Singapore taken in the 1950's and 60's followed by a Singapore Airlines video showing the building of the present Changi Airport. The 2 hour epic ended with videos of Changi, Kranji, Singapore and the new Metro taken on recent visits by members of the RAF Changi Association.
The following morning most members took the coach to the Heritage Motor Centre at Gaydon where two excellent guides explained how motoring had developed in England. Off again to Banbury with the treats of the historic town, modern shopping centre, street market, the canal and working boatbuilders on a beautiful, warm, sunny, autumn day.
In the meantime, back at the hotel, the rear party had started to assemble and our guest of honour, Brigadier Nigel Wood, Chairman of the Royal Signals Association, had discovered the Oliver brothers, Martin and Fraser. When he discovered that Fraser was not ex Corps but a lowland Scot infanteer, it started a banter which continued into the wee small hours!
Dinner was presided over by Colonel Colin Gilbert who kept a tight rein on the formalities. To mark the occasion of the 15th reunion he read a message of loyal greetings that he had sent to our Colonel-in-Chief and the reply that he had received from her. Later he ensured that the AGM took no more than three minutes, one minute for each agenda item! There were no nominations for committee posts and, with the exceptionof George Brew, all committee members had agreed to continue and were formally re-elected.
George Brew, our founder member and for many years Chairman and Treasurer, was presented with a silver Beaufighter to mark the occasion of his retirement from the Association Committee. Pat Soward was presented with his RSA 50 Year Badge and Brig Nigel Wood gave a short review of the Corp's activities, the future of Blandford Camp and the work of the RSA. After coffee and mints members retired to the 'meeting and greeting' area to quaff ale and to continue reminising and talking of the weekend's events.
Committee members met on Sunday morning for a quick wash-up and discussion of the next reunion. Committee members reported unanimous agreement that the visit to the Motor Museum had been a great success due, especially, to the knowledge, enthusiasm and personalities of the two guides.
Our 2008 reunion will again be held at the Warwick Hilton and those who wish may take a coach to Kidderminster on Saturday morning where we will board a steam train for Bridgenorth to explore the historic town and perhaps(?) indulge in a little 'retail therapy'. The hotel has been booked for the weekend September 12th-14th. Booking forms and full details will be included in the Spring 2008 edition of The Bulletin.
For more Photos from out reunion Click Here
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