Well the event has gone and passed and we had one hell of a time. It was great to see so many new faces but a little disappointing that others couldn’t make it this year. We miss you all.

The organisation of the event as usual was conducted by Arthur Mullender help by his good lady, Kath without whom Arthur would never, be able to make the 19th hole. No, I mean sort all the members, booking, payments, and allocation of rooms etc etc etc. The back up team of Dave Stumpy Walker, QM Fred Walker and Joe Wattam all mucked in to make sure the event went with the minimum hitches. Some may realise that I did not include the webmaster in the list that to ensure if there were any problems, I had nothing to do with it.

Early arrivals made it for the Thursday afternoon with Ian Pringle making an early lead to the RBL and an early exit to his pit. Well done Ian. Friday saw the arrival of the main party and the organising team soon had the members booked in, rooms allocated and the assault on the bar commenced with a gusto required if we were to make any headway on the standard set by 2 Para the previous week. I reckon we just about did it, 'Smokey'?

Members were soon to be seen looking in wonder across a crowded room, not at some gorgeous long legged beauty of the opposite sex, but some knurled old parader sat in a chair, or maybe two and leaning on a stick for balance, and wondering, "Was he really an Army champion Boxer?" only to find out later that he had the names and the faces mixed up yet again. The meeting, banter, and the recollections continued well into the night with the odd foray into down town Blackpool to help with rest, recuperation and resupply of funds etc.

Saturday Morning and there was no let up with stall set up, sales of all things Reunion going well along with raffle tickets for prizes donated mainly by members. Pete Elcock the coordinator for the H4H charity for the Worcestershire area also setting up stall ably assisted by the ever present Caroline making sure Pete got the best support for his task. Needless to say the lads and lasses of the Reunion Club did us all proud and considerable funds were raised for the benefit of the club and those Heroes of today from current conflicts.

That evening with about 280 sitting down to the Gala Dinner the night was a resounding success. I have to thank my old pal Andy Welsh who in his own inimitable way helped my no end by nicking by notes half way through the evening and doing wonders for my blood pressure. Never the less all ended fairly well with Arthur only awarding be five extras for the evening.

Our Guest of Honour this year was none other than my 1st Platoon Commander in the mortar platoon, Brigadier Hamish McGregor, a man well known and highly respected amongst the Airborne Fraternity. As is often said, behind every good man is an even better woman and Hamish is no exception and he was accompanied by his good lady wife, Kate. The Brigadier made a very entertaining speech with particular mentions to his first ever command, 10 Platoon, D Coy and Joe Starlings introduction to him of his first ever Pl Sgt, the infamous veteran Sgt, Spike Delaney. Spike promptly sat in down in the middle of the desert and told him to have a cup of tea, watch his front and do nothing. Clearly the old members of the Pl that were present knew only too well the danger of crossing the old war horse Sgt Delany and the young Lt McGregor learned quickly.

The second mention was for the number of members in the audience of the 1966 to 1968 Mortar Platoon who he had the honour to command in Aden, where after a little inter action with the mutinous local Police and Army, in between swapping rounds with the Terrorist groups earned him the MC. Cpl Andy Welsh another member of the platoon at the time also earned himself an MM, while only managed to earn a spell in the air-conditioned billet as a result of over exposure to the sun.

We also paid tribute to Andy & Alice Welsh and Charlie and Helen Meek for their Golden Weddings this year and both ladies were presented with a bouquet of flowers from the club as was the Brigadiers wife Kate. We also presented bouquets to the women behind the team, Kath Mullender for her endless support to Arthur, Norma 'Stumpy' Walker for the hours manning the desk, selling raffle tickets, raising funds and for being an all-round good egg to Dave. There were three other ladies who each year offer to help in manning the desk and any take on other task that is asked of them to ensure the smooth running of the event. Sharron Ghani, Julie Rodgers and Stella, the club are grateful for you contribution without which the weekend could easily fall flat.

Last but not least we made a special mention to Pete Elcock, for his outstanding effort as the Worcestershire H4H fundraiser who in a little over twelve months raised over £58k. To add to that, Pete raised a further £1500 at the reunion by the sale of goods and donations etc. taking the total over £59k. A sterling effort if ever there was one.

The night continued in the renewal of old acquaintances and many a lamp was seen glowing over the odd sandbag, well into the night until the dawn when sadly all things had to come to a close. As is our usual practice we found time before we dispersed to visit the cenotaph just outside the Hotel and lay a wreath in remembrance of those who paid the ultimate sacrifice and those who have passed to the final RV. The wreath was laid by two Honourary members and WWII veterans, Hammie Mooney, 88 years, North Africa, Crete, Norway and Bert Marsh, 85 years, Normandy, Ardennes, and Rhine Crossing. We were lucky enough to have Pete Richens, the PRA champion Standard Bearer, and The Blackpool PRA Standard bearer to pay homage to the sound of the pipes played by Al Young, a very moving event at any time. Thanks Al

The event came to a close and most returned home to recover and mull over the event, the mates that they had once again been able to relate to and to retreat into times gone by. Most importantly to look forward to next year when we can once again re unite and maybe that old buddie you are still looking for might just appear.

I have been informed me that  'The Duke of Connaughts' Military Wing of Musgrave Park Hospital Belfast is to be offiially closed down on 28th March 2010.

Many a squaddie landed up in there and one medic who was attached to 1 Para was actually killed there after the IRA planted a bomb inside. There is to be a memorial erected in memory of those who pased through the gates.

Another Military Hospital and one of the last is now closed.

Parachute Regiment mascot gets new box from Equi-Trek

PEGASUS the pony will be representing his military masters in style, thanks to a new liveried horsebox. The Shetland pony is the Parachute Regiment mascot, and attends a number of engagements each year. But his travel arrangements hit a snag 12 months ago, when the horsebox he was using was condemned. Since then, he and Pony Major Alex McCrea have been relying on friends and contacts to lend them trailers and horseboxes. Now Equi-Trek has presented them with one of its best models in the regimental colours of maroon and silver. Lieutenant Colonel John Handford said: “Alongside the Red Devils freefall team and the regimental band, the mascot is very important to us, and highly popular with the public. This will ensure he takes his rightful place at many ceremonial events and military shows.”

 The Pony Major, Lance Corporal Alex McCrea, said: “We have not really had any proper transport for the past 18 months, so this is fantastic.” Pegasus, named after the winged horse of Greek mythology, tours the country and appears at shows and military ceremonies. L/Cpl McCrea looks after 13-year-old Pegasus and his 26-year-old companion, Dodger, in the stables at the Colchester Garrison Saddle Club, in Fordham.

 Help 4 Heroes
On 16th January 2009, Pete Elcock our resident raiser of funds for H4H set a target of £10,000 in 2 year and by all ways and means available to him? He roped in his wife and daughter and old friends Joe Harvey and wife and a few others including some on this site selling wristbands and waving the old tin. They attended many functions and created their own as well as being at the Fan Dance, and Joe and his wife were in Normandy. Peter and his LHG were over in Arnhem for the 65th celebrations and supporting both the H4H fund raising and selling 1 Para Reunion Club. He was also able to lay a cross for myself and Jack Fergi at relatives final resting places  and we shall be forever grateful. Pete was out again in Worcester at the weekend with his fantastic family to raise even more funds for the lads, accosting the locals for their hard earned. He continues to do so. 

Following his remarkable success at raising funds Pete up'd the anti and raised the bar to £50k, in 2 years. Guess what he went beserk and pursuaded the Rugby club to help out and they come up trumps and he as now passed through that goal. As the figures of £53'387.43p on 22nd Jan 2010  show 1 year after his start. As pete himself says, "The target is now £100,000 by Xmas 2010 or more, we like more , so the bar is raised again to;

 The figures so far.

 On line £730  with gift Aid at £128.33and £56,092.79p banked off line.   Balance for H4H Team Worcester.

 THAT'S a staggering £56,951.12p Todate  for H4H. So if you feel like you have a copper or two spare let Pete have for our Heroes.

 www.justgiving/Peter-Elcock

 Pete will not have to do a Zulu warrior at Blackpuddle Beach this year

     Well done Pete & Team Worcester great work 

http://seetickets.com/ticketsfortroops/

click on the above and find out how serving soldiers and those medically discharged after 2001 can get free tickets to major events around the country including football, rugby etc.  If you are or know anyone give them the heads up.

We landed in the early morning of the 5th and quickly made our way to watch 100 members of 3 Para drop onto 'DZ N' as they did 65 byears earlier and quick as you like Bert and Les became the personalities of the year. People of all ages and origins gathered round to ask them what it was like and the stars that they are they were soon signing shirts, books, leaflets, autograph books and any other media with a gusto that would make any celebrity envious.

Later that day after a little refreshment we assembled at Breville wher 65 years earlier they and 350 men the 12th (Yorkshire) Bn attacked and acheived where others had failed and took the village. It was this act tha secured the left flank of the Allies and not without cost. After being recieving the French Commemerative Bar from the Lady Mayor of Breville they presented her with a plaque to the people of the village in memory of the hundreds who died to securee their freedom. The plaque will be housed in the Mayor's Town hall. We also laid a wreath in their memory.

On Staurday there was no let up parades in Ranville Cemetery where Bert was able to lay a cross to his old mate, 'John  Bull', a very moving event. I too had my own task and laid a cross at the grave of my fathers Cousin 'Albert Wattam' who died during 'Op Paddle at the age of 21 years. We later walked the Pegasus Bridge and paid tribute there to the men of the Airborne Forces that spearheaded the start of 'Op Overlord'.

It was not all tribute and no fun though and the 400 men of 3 Para made us feel at home in the local hostelry wher once again the celebs triumphed with more autographs doled out to so many appreciative soldiers and civilians alike. The weekend went on in almost brilliant sonshine and the stamina of these Guys makes you proud to be their friends and Airborne Brothers.

Alas all good things come to an end and the weather did not disappint us when at Pegasus Bridge on Saturday we were drenched. It did not however dampen our spirits and we adjourned to a chinese for a celebration Dinner. Sunday brought a new task and we were asked to attend another service in Grangue a beautiful village where on the 6th June 1944 an aircraft crash landed and the 11 engineers on board were taken prisoner and held in a barn in the local Chateau uswed by the Gestapo as their HQ. The following day the were executed by the Nazi's.The farmer closed up the barn after this murder and never allowed access to it but it remains as it was.

The day saw a continuence of the bad weather during the day but we managed to visit a few sites and eventualy returned to Ranville where once again we met up with the men of 3 Para and enjoyed a few hours of libation before returning to get some shut eye. Of all the weekend activities getting to bed for 10 pm  was the only deadline we failed to make. However we were up at 5 and made the Ferry in good time fore the journey Home. A special thanks to Bob Marshall who supported me along the early days and throughout the planning to make it possible.

The final farewell between Les and Bert was extremely emotional for both and for many of us that witnessed this very moving time but it was not the end and their renewed friendship I am sure will go on. If ever there was an event worth taking on, then this was it? God Bless them both and all those who made it possible.

WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.