Halton Triennial Reunion 2010(under construction)

Thirteen members of the 87th entry attended the Halton Triennial Reunion on Saturday 25 September 2010.
Here, forming up ready to march onto the square are: Chris East; Tony Lawrence; Colin Piper; Derek Parks; Charles Davis; Sid Foster; Barrie Johns; Colin Franks; Paul Sweetman.

This was the first Triennial reunion which was not to be based at the airfield. Cars were parked near Schools as normal and instead of the walk to the airfield, I walked to 1 and 2 wing up the hill past skates' alley and the guardroom. The difference to 50 years ago was that there is now an underpass and you do not go near the Main Point crossing. I wonder what Joe Bollard would have made of that?

Approaching the guardroom I remembered how 50 years ago Slim with his jaguar and spotlight caught me cutting through the woods. I was obviously feeling relaxed as it was the last night. He let me go, possibly because Bill Russell and myself had been with him in the Corporals' Club a couple of nights ago. He did say that he had been trying to catch me for a long time.
I walked past the parade square and turned left towards 2 wing tank where the Golden Oldies pipe band were practising.

Needing a pee, I found that the first barrack block by 2 wing tank was open. As this was the block I had lived in during the last year sharing the outer bunk with Paul Kelly, I had a shufti. The bunk was locked but not the main barrack room. I was surprised to see blanket packs still in use. But where was the ubiquitous brown lino and bumper?

On past the Tank to the new enormous indoor drill/parade hangar which was the meeting point on the same basis as the hangar at the airfield at previous reunions.

There I found Colin Franks (first left) who had stayed overnight in the barrack block and so had been the first to arrive. We were especially pleased to see Ross Skelton (second right) and Charles Davis (second left). Ross had arrived with Robin Riley (on right) and had flown over from Dublin; it was the first time we had seen him at an 87th entry event. Likewise it was the first time we had seen Charles who lives near Folkestone.

The eventual complete list of members present was: Chris East; Colin Franks; Charles Davis; Robin Riley; Ross Skelton; Sid Foster; Tony Lawrence; Derek Parks; Colin Piper; Ken Smith; Paul Sweetman; Mike Rodd; Barrie Johns.
Mike Batty and Brian Evans had booked, but were prevented from coming by recovery from operations.

Derek Parks speaking with Robin Riley.

As most will know Halton's main activity is now recruit training. Even on a Saturday a few of the recuits were marching around with arms swinging shoulder high.

2 Wing HQ is now Recruit Training HQ.

The barrack block exteriors have not changed much, except that they have now been given numbers and names. This is the barrack block in 2 wing 2 squadron which I went to from the rook block.

The Pimple is now overgrown with trees! So it is no longer possible to erect a visible gallows with a hanging dummy.

The parade square now has a permanent aircraft on a display. A line-up of beautiful classic cars was displayed, including Derek Park's red MGA.

Derek opens the bonnet to show the engine of his rare twin cam (ie no push rods) MGA.

In the backgound can be seen the old gymnasium/ band room which is now the Halton museum. Derek and I had just looked around the huge display of artefacts, including a gnat aircraft.

I challenge you to spot anything here which still exists for the recruits training at Halton. I note the Housewife in the centre of the table. I still have mine, marked with my service number 1933846; I still use it. Wonder if they are still issued. And what about drawers cellular, known as "shreddies".
Looking round the museum spurred me to proceed with my project to put the whole museum, including the many documents stached away, onto a web site. So far, because of a hectic life in the past year, it has got no further than designing the site navigation plan.

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A fantastic spitfire aerobatic display over the square was performed by Cliff Spink. I realised how difficult it is to take action aircraft pictures with a compact camera with no view finder. I wish our professional aircraft photographer Colin Smedley had been there.

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