Report on the 2021 Reunion

REUNION 2021

Well we have had some excellent reunions in the past but this year’s took some beating. Over 70 ex 19 Signal Regt. personnel and their families and friends met at the newly named M40 (the old Hilton) hotel , Warwick for a weekend of sightseeing, eating , drinking and swinging the lampshades. Some of us arrived on the Thursday to ensure that the hotel staff were aware of the high standards required of a reunion weekend but the majority arrived on Friday 10th September.

The hotel out of tradition had put on an excellent buffet dinner in the evening which as always included a very tasty and well presented curry. Saturday morning started early when over 50 of us boarded the coach and set off to Cheltenham racecourse. Here we boarded a steam train ( and had a carriage all to ourselves ) and set off for Broadway in the Cotswolds. On arrival in Broadway, we were fortunate to have arrived on the very day of the local craft fair and fete so not only were we treated to a number of sideshows, but also a rally of very vintage cars.

Saturday evening and a fine menu was prepared for the dinner. By this time our numbers had extended to over 70. Pat Soward (the association Chairman) gave a very warm welcoming address before we remembered some of the association who had died during the two years since the last reunion . (“At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember them !)

He mentioned several new comers at the dinner this year including Rene and Martin Prior, Ken and Angela Durrant, Rajinder Funnell (daughter in law of Capt Gerry Funnell ex Seletar troop), Chris and Lawren Chucta (of the US Air Force) Tracy Vassic (daughter of the late John Horne) Louise Robinson, Fiona Plant,Oliver Cobbold and members of Pam Craven’s family, Dave and Vicky Matthews , Emily Craven and John Matthews, and friends of John Hill who had served together in 603 Signal Troop Masirah namely Billy (Fiji) Allen, Malcolm and Yvonne Hopper , Julie and Cliff Kerry and Betty and Chris Williams. However perhaps the” luckiest find” was that an ex LEP of Seletar and Changi Troop, Gaz Fadzillah and his wife Lyn were now resident in the UK and have now joined the Association.

The ubiquitous John Hill quizzes stopped some of the older members discussing hip, knee, heart and arthritis problems for a short time and the winning tables were presented with well-earned boxes of chocolates. At the end of the dinner, Mr Vice (Frank Smith ) proposed toasts to The Queen, The Princess Royal and The Ladies.

A very short AGM was presided over by Pat Soward who thanked all his committee for the extended hard work put in during the pandemic and further explained that due to the influx and new members and intelligent investment, the association funds were very healthy.

On the Sunday, the committee held a short meeting, welcoming Georgie Jayne to the committee. We have decided that next year’s venue will be the same as this year if we can get a similar package, but by that time the hotel will have been refurbished and renamed as a Marriott hotel. The Saturday visit will be to Bletchley Park.

Photos See the attachments above