A 208 reunion took place in Northumberland
on the 9th of September. The weather that had been forecasted as wet
turned out to be a beautiful early Autumn day. The first guests
to arrive as guests of 208 were Jim and Mary Henry. Jim crewed with Martin (Scouse)
Ratia and myself on RRB's at 2 Signal Regiment and went on to served a grand
total of seventeen and a half years in the Corps . Mary was of course an
army wife. Although we had spoken to each other on the Skype we hadn't
seen each other for 42 years. Sandy and her husband Graham arrived
next accompanied by Ian who is the son of Sandy and the late Allan Sixsmith.
Ian is a Sixsmith through and through. Graham served for 36 years and
10 days in the mob and is a great raconteur ( Kens record still stands).
Brian and Pam Wigley arrived next and they came armed with enough Tiger for
a 10 day exercise. Old faithfuls Belle and Alby Simpson motored in from
Sunderland to hoots of welcome.
The afternoon took the course of our
last get together, boozing eating and laughing and enjoying the company of
old friends. Skype calls were taken from Pam, JD and Carmol and Ernie.
The folks who had sizable drives home were obliged to leave which
was a sad moment but it also meant we could talk about them! We
sat out until a chill set in so we walked up to the top field to watch
the sun-set at nearly the end of a smashing day .
We then went back indoors in front of
the fire to some more boozing eating and the telling of stories. Once again
Pam, Ern and JD joined in via the Internet. About 11. 30pm Jim and
Mary lit-out for the B&B 500 yards down the lane and we hit the
pit.
Usual
hang-overs , but no complaints .