Untitled Document

For those of you reading this on the web site, please print a copy so that you have the information to hand.

The advance reconnaissance party has scouted an area to the East of York searching for a suitable location for a land based invasion of the East Coast. The target area of Whitby/ Scarborough yielded many
possibilities but the Clifton Hotel in Scarborough was deemed, by far, the most suitable to set up HQ. Billeting is spacious, clean, comfortable and in most cases, recently refurbished all with en suite ablution blocks. Canteen facilities are excellent . Special arrangements have been made with the MT section which will provide car parking free for most cars within the grounds of HQ and a disc system outside HQ for just 10p per vehicle. There is no parade ground but those in need of exercise or indeed anyone flouting SSOs will find the climb to the ramparts of the castle challenging- with or without a full pack. For those 'excused PE' there are other more gentle ways to stretch legs and mind and a slow march around the headland is still very bracing. All billets must be booked in advance directly through the central reservation desk of English Rose Hotels - the earlier the better as there are other units wishing to avail themselves of these facilities

Costs per person for Fri 21st - 23rd April 2006, 2 nights bed, breakfast and
evening meal plus Sunday Lunch is £95.

There is no single supplement but a guaranteed sea view will cost an extra £5 pp per night.
To book your room, telephone Central Reservations ,Telephone number 01723 374374 tell them you want to stay at the Clifton Hotel and mention that you are with the Barton Hall party.. Also mention at this time any special requirements you may have. Note: There are a few rooms at the back of the hotel with windows which are at fairly close proximity to another building so another reason to book early to ensure a reasonable view.

**As an extra treat a Full Day Mystery Tour, by coach, has been arranged for the Saturday and the cost will be only £2.50 if you are demobbed (OAP) or, if you are still serving your time and are coining it in, you will pay £3.50. A variety of food will be available at lunchtime for a small extra cost. The tour will include a 4 hour stop and should not be too tedious. This will be followed by a scenic drive over the North Yorkshire moors.

" If you wish to avail yourself of this trip, please let Tass know so that the appropriate sized coach can be booked"

Once again you are asked to bring a small gift suitable for a Tombola or Raffle prize.

Scarborough can be reached easily by train, lying on the fringe of both the Leeds Metro and Midland Mainline systems, which have regular services to York. Intercity train connections from London and the rest of the UK can be made from either of the mainline stations at York or Darlington.

Journey times to Scarborough ( please check timetables, connections, costs etc yourself)

London King's Cross - 3 hours 20 mins approx Birmingham New Street - 3 hours 10 mins approx
Edinburgh - 3 hours 40 mins approx Manchester Piccadilly - 2 hours 20 mins approx
Preston - 3hours 18 mins approx

BOOK NOW - at our age it doesn't pay to put things off, lest we forget altogether.

Once again the Lindum Hotel in St Annes was the venue for our 4th Biennial Reunion. We were honoured to have amongst our ranks Elsie Judd, pictured right. Elsie was a WAAF cook and served in the officer's mess at Barton Hall from 1942-45. She now lives in Nelson and brought along some items of interesting memorabilia including a 1944 Christmas Day menu signed by all the officers, a letter from Sid Phillips (see article at bottom of page) of dance band fame who was also an officer at Barton Hall during the war and a picture of herself in uniform. It was a delight for all of us to meet her. She came on her own and if she can do it, so can you! Also new on the scene were, Jimmy Melville, Beryl Pape (Wilton), John Hamilton, Terry Mclaughlin, Knobby Clarke, Mel Chapman and Terry Tierney .It was especially good to see Linda Hayes again and we hope she enjoyed the weekend. John (Monty) Martin was also enjoying his first reunion. He is a founder member of the Boy Entrants Association which now has over 2000 members - Will we ever reach that number?

ELSIE JUDD

I am indebted to Geoff Gaunt (1949-50) who sent me seven foolscap sheets of his memories of Barton Hall. It makes very entertaining reading but, of course, is too long to publish in its entirety so here is just a snippet for your amusement. If you want to read the rest, you will have to attend the next reunion!
You b….y rotten b…..d!
It was the custom of one of the WT/TPOs ( who shall be nameless) when his off-duty day was in conjunction with a Saturday evening, to become seriously 'newted' He always came back after 'lights out' and counted by feel the number of beds on his left side in order to identify his own bed. One Saturday in early 1950 this conjunction was coincidental with his birthday and it became obvious that he was going on a real bender. Some of his closest 'friends' therefore switched his bed for one of the two wood trestle tables in the hut and waited. Eventually in he came, tripped over something, started counting beds
quietly but audibly, reached his own and there was more than normal muttering as he endeavoured to climb in. By this time most of those present ( including, I have to admit, me) had our heads deep under our bedding in attempts to stifle our mirth. Come the dawn and he was still fast asleep. By the time a few of us were about to leave for morning watch he partly woke up, put a foot out, couldn't feel the floor ( which must have completed his awakening fast) sat upright, looked wildly around and started his lesson for the day with “you b….. rotten b……. “ before elaborating in ripe eloquence his views on the rest of us, our ancestry and our ultimate destiny. By this time our watch, all lads with obviously limited vocabularial knowledge, had made an excuse and left. )

Sid played clarinet in various bands and also worked in music publishing and recording. He began leading his own group in the early 1930s but it was the bands he led from 1949 onwards that built his reputation. His band became one of the best known Dixieland groups in the UK. Amongst the many fine musicians employed at one time or another were George Shearing, Kenny Ball and Tommy Whittle. Sid was also a skilled arranger and
composed jazz orientated dance tunes and several classical works.

Anne Reeves (McMillan) also told us that he used to entertain the staff at Barton Hall on the long 36 hour stints of duty and played clarinet locally in the pubs around Broughton.

SID PHILLIPS

Reunion April 1st - 3rd 2005
Great Hotel, Fabulous Food,
A Leisurely Weekend to Remember.
Two nights Dinner Bed and Breakfast plus Sunday Lunch all for £93 pp. What have you got to lose?

Having checked with the Lindum Hotel it would appear that several of you are leaving things till the last minute—again! The last reunion was such a great success, it would be a shame to miss out on this one. Those of us who have already booked our weekend of great food, friendship, tall tales, scary tales, romantic tales, imaginary tales and other miscellaneous bull**** that our reunions are famous for, would really like to share the fun with many more ex colleagues. We are now in touch with 127 ex Bartonians from the 1940s through to the mid 1970s. Of these about one third pay subs and about 25% turn up for reunions. Many of our colleagues live overseas and obviously cannot get to all the reunions though there are always two or three ex pats turn up each year. Also some are elderly or suffer from poor health. That still leaves a large number unaccounted for. However, those remaining people made the effort and got in touch either with Ron Freer or myself over the past five years or so and must have had some wish to be in touch with the group. Whoever and wherever you are, what have you got to lose? The weekends are relaxed, friendly and there is lots of time to go off and do your own thing. Partners are very welcome and are not excluded from anything. We meet up in the evenings for dinner and retire to the bar for a natter and a noggin. You are free to spend as much or as little time as you like with the group. The Lindum Hotel, St Annes on Sea makes the perfect centre for golf, walking, driving or just chillin’. Come on – you know you want to!! The price of £93 per person includes 2 nights Dinner Bed & Breakfast plus Sunday Lunch. There is a supplement for sea views and as there are only 6 single rooms available, hurry up if you don’t want to pay a supplement. Book directly with the Lindum Hotel Tel No. 01253 721534/722516 Please mention, when you book, that you are with the Barton Hall group.
Kath Sey will again be organising Ron’s Raffle throughout the weekend and the Bring and Buy will also take place on Saturday morning so please bring something for one or other (both if you want to). It doesn’t have to be expensive or exotic. Unwanted gifts or bric a brac will suffice. There are about 25 people so far who will definitely have a wonderful weekend, why don’t YOU join us?

Thirty odd people attended this event which took place at The Crofters Hotel , once a transport café, situated just up the A6 north of Barton Hall. The meal and accommodation were excellent as was the company. We had quite a few newcomers too. Chris Simpson and Gail from Calgary, Canada and their close neighbour Charles Bryson, Terry Patterson made the trip from Australia and from closer to home, John Stevenson and Richie Houlihan. Sandra (Coulthard) and George Hawkes joined us after dinner with Sandra’s sister Elaine and close friend and old Bartonian from Australia, George Prattly with wife Irma. On Sunday afternoon some of us made a pilgrimage to the site of Barton Hall. The Hall is demolished but the Canteen and some familiar outbuildings are still standing though used for an entirely different purpose. ( Some people would argue and say that feeding and housing dumb animals is what it has always been about). The piece of tarmac outside the canteen that passed as a parade ground once a year is still there, but covered in manure, straw and other farmyard debris and the walled garden probably hasn’t changed much. The goal posts are still there but the magnolia tree that I remember so well is long gone. It was a very interesting trip, though, and we have to thank the generosity of David Burrow whose family own the land. David, his wife Joanne and children William and Thomas were there to show us around and allowed us to roam freely wherever we liked. We were rather like a kindergartenclass let loose at the zoo . It’s amazing what photographs you take when in state of nostalgia. Who else would take photographs of an old serving hatch or an empty bar, or for that matter a group of middle aged fogies who have forgotten how to “right dress” for a parade? (these photos are all available to see on the web site). Also there, was Joe Bamford who is writing a book about 9 group, he is looking for anecdotes and information from people who were stationed at the Hall during the war years in particular. If you have any information for him contact me for his address. Finally, the day is edging ever nearer when the following prophecy will be fulfilled.

The Last Man in the Air Force (or are you listening Mr Blair?)
I’m the last man left in the Air Force, I’ve an office in MoD
And a copy of Queen’s Regulations which only apply to me.
I can post myself to Leuchars and detach me from there to Kinloss,
Or send me on a course to Halton, then cancel the lot, I’m the Boss.

I’m the last man left in the Air Force, but the Great Parliamentary Brains
Omitted, when cancelling people, to sell off stations and planes.
The result is my inventory bulges with KD and campstools and quarters,
Plus a signed book of verses by Trenchard, which I keep for impressing reporters.

I’m the last man left in the Air Force, I suppose you imagine it’s great
To be master of all you survey but, I tell you it’s difficult, mate!
I inspected three units last Thursday as CinC (Acting) of Strike,
Then I swept half the runway at Laarbruch and repaired Saxa Vord’s station bike.

I’m the last man left in the Air Force, it’s not doing a lot for my health.
Station Sports Days are frankly exhausting, when the Victor Laudorum’s oneself.
On guest nights the Mess is so lonely, there are times when I wish I was able
To pass the port to the chap on the left without seeing it fall off the table.

I’m the last man left in the Air Force, it’s quiet – but that apart,
There are plenty worse off, for example the only Sea Lord, for a start.
He was called out last Wednesday evening, (Joint Ops with the Army, my oath),
But their rowing boat sank in the Channel, which obliged me to rescue them both.
I’m the last man left in the Air Force, my wife says I’m never at home.
When I’m not flying Hercs, I’m at Manston, laying gallons and gallons of foam.
Or I’m in my Marine Craft off Plymouth, shooting flares at the crowds on the Ho.
Or I’m Orderly Corporal at Wyton, it’s an interesting life, but all go.

I’m the last man left in the Air Force I’m ADC to the Queen.
I’m Duty Clerk at St Mawgan and the whole RAF Rugby Team.
Tomorrow I paint Bruggen’s guardroom and air test several planes.
The day after that I’m for London to preach at St Clement Danes.

I’m the last man left in the Air Force and I’m due to go out before long.
There’s been no talk of any replacement and I won’t even let me sign on.
I hope to enjoy my retirement, I’ve put up a fairly good show. And I won’t cut myself off entirely, there are always reunions, you know.

Last man out - switch off the lights!
PS Subs are due this month - Still £5.
send cheques made out to "Bartonian" to Pam Chandler, 9 ST Andrews Ave, Ashton, Preston, PR2 1JL.

WARNING
The following pictures may be of a disturbing nature and may cause alarm to some people of a nostalgic disposition

Richie Houlihan, Ted Barnes Phil Houldsworth and Terry Patterson recapture their youth on a lads night out in Blackpool after the reunion - well the beer looks the same!

HERE IT IS! The news you have all been waiting for, our next Biennial Reunion will take place from Friday 1st to Sunday 3rd April 2005. The venue is of course the Lindum Hotel in St Annes. This proved to be a very popular hotel with excellent food and reasonable rates. Sunday Lunch is again included in the price. The management have asked that everyone book as early as possible. They are holding accommodation for about 40 people for the next few months, but after that they will let the rooms to the public. Two nights dinner bed and breakfast plus lunch on Sunday costs £93 and there will be a deposit of £15 per person required at the time of booking. Don’t worry if you can’t commit to the whole weekend, the hotel are happy to take bookings for just the one night. It is also possible, if you live locally, to just pop into the bar on either/both evening and join us for a few bevies or even just join us for lunch on Sunday. The hotel staff are very helpful.

Make sure you mention that you are with the Barton Hall Reunion group and if you have special needs, don’t forget to mention this when booking. For those of you who have not been to the Hotel before check out the website

Now, if you are one of those people who only “think about it” but never get around to booking, here is a salutary lesson from Paul Austin. Paul and Pat (Gregson) attended their 1st reunion last year where they had a ball. For all of the following week Paul was in deep depression because he realised what he had missed from failing to get himself and Pat to the previous ones. Since then he has asked if perhaps we could have another reunion sooner than the St Annes one in 2005. Whilst not wanting to pander to Paul’s every little whim—I leave that for Pat, there are a number of other people, including myself who can’t wait for the next BIG one so here are the details of a get together taking place at what was once the Transport Café a few miles up the road from Barton Hall. Hopefully any Boy Entrants living overseas, who are home for their annual reunion, will be able to attend this event too.

Please make a note of the date. The event will take place at The Crofters, Garstang, nr Preston.
A three course Meal with coffee has been booked and costs £17.95. Rooms, for those that want to make a real night of it, cost £32 per person for a double including full English Breakfast. Unfortunately only one single room available and its mine! Still you have more than 8 months to find yourself a partner or friend to share with you. If you decide to go it alone the cost will be £46 ( unless you can barter them down) Please begin booking your meal/room as soon as possible so that we have an idea of numbers.

Book directly with the Hotel Tel: 01995 604128 and don’t forget to tell them that you are with the Barton Hall Reunion group. If by chance you leave things to the last minute and the Crofters is fully booked, there are other hotels nearby so no excuses please. Of course, anyone traveling great distances could book extra nights and take a trip around old haunts. Barton grange garden centre is just down the road which sells a lot more than plants and of course Garstang is a pretty market town and an easy drive to the Lakes.

The Crofters is reached from the M6 by junction 33 if you are traveling from the North or Junction 32 if coming up from the South. Alternatively, from Preston it is on the A6, past Barton Hall BOOK NOW ~Rooms available from 2pm Saturday and must vacated by 10am Sunday.
Dinner will be served at 8pm so meet in the bar from 7pm onwards.

E-Mails

Here are extracts from some of the emails received since the last newsletter. Most of them are asking for information about colleagues so if you know the whereabouts, e-mail Ron Bretherton, his details are at the end of this newsletter.

Mark Gaskell from the RAF Millom museum, who is putting together a display about the role of Barton Hall during the war, contacted me asking for information. He was particularly looking for photos taken inside during the war, I sent him the picture of the outside of the Hall and referred him to the history of the hall which is on another web site. He seemed grateful and passed on their web site address for you all, he also recommends a visit there if your are ever in the area. Its in Cumberland for those of you who don’t know

Tom Mcguigan sent a couple of photos (one pic in a kilt) to let you all know that like the rest of us he now has grey hair. They will be on the website shortly. He was a ground to air wireless operator at the Hall from 1952-53 and now lives in Cheshire.

Mel Chapman congratulates Andrew and Craig on the super website. He recognised all the lads on the photo sent by Cass Cassidy especially Gordon Elliott. Mel and Gordon were inseparable. They joined the Boys together (12th May 47) went through boys service before being posted to Stanbridge Then Off 2 Egypt together, on their return they went to Barton together. Both were made corporals on the same day, from Barton they went to Withnal and there they finaly split up. Mel went to 291su Scharfodenhof and Gordon to 256su (both 2nd TAF units). Mel thinks Gordon could be working at a Tax Office in Preston. Anyone with connections to the Tax Office ( spare us the comments please !) please see if you can contact Gordon. Mel has been on rest and recuperation in Devon after a recent illness but unfortunately whilst there he lost his wallet with cash, credit cards etc. As if that wasn’t bad enough when he got home he found he had been burgled . Bring back National Service I say!

Grant Macintosh who was in ADNC from 1966-68 remembers, amongst others, Val Yates (Cain) as a stick insect. (weren’t we all ?) He has seen the current pictures of her and says he would never have recognised her and probably have walked past her in the street. Do you want to smack him Val or shall I?

David Leah ex cpl admin. One of the last serving personnel at the hall and remembers, Val, Trill, and Judith Cooper .

Jon Clapham wrote to say he had discovered the web site and had enjoyed looking at the various pages. Many memories rekindled. He was a relative late comer to the Met Office having joined fresh from school in 1973, the day before Princess Anne’s wedding. He lived in the hostel and remembers Mrs Sherriff who managed the hostel, Margaret Dickinson in the admin offices, Elsie served in the canteen which was run by Mrs Salthouse, and her husband George ran the bar, Also a groundsman called Joe? He also remembers Trill and from the Met Office, Jack Hall, Jim Heptonstall, Michael “Andy” Anderson, Harry Gillette, Cyril Mason and more. He is now in post at Edinburgh.

Mike Voges who wrote - I'm trying a long shot....
I'm looking for an ex air traffic controller who trained at RAF Shawbury in 1955 and was then posted to Tangmere. Ffrom there he was posted to Xmas island for the tests. He was Mickey Brown from Chingford London E4.
(if you have any info let Ron Bretherton know and he will pass it on)

Jim Quinn who was computer sitting for his daughter, decided to make use of the equipment to look for old friends from ATCC Gloucester. Here is his message:

Found your web site through Service Pals and read your letter on the successful reunion you had. I served at ATCC Gloucester from about September 1958-April 1960. Have tried in vain to make contact with anyone else who served at Gloucester ,just wondered if any of your crew knew anyone there. Would be grateful for any help. As a matter of interest I still have a teleprinter Christmas card for 1959 sent from the lads at ATCC Preston to the lads in the signal section Gloucester. Wishing you all at Barton Hall a very happy and Healthy New Year. Cheers for now Jim

Madona and Child.
Probably sent from Uxbridge around 1959ish They
always sent the best ones.

Choirboy. Again probably from Uxbridge, late 50s early 60s

Did you do This ?

Compared to the other two - it just about sums us up doesn't it ?

I was able to find just one ex colleague for him on another services web site. Since then we have corresponded almost daily and he very kindly sent a copy of the teleprinter Christmas Card sent by our lads to Gloucester . He also went to the trouble of going to his local library and getting 2 more of these cards put onto disc so that he could send them to me. Here they are, thought you would like so see them. Jim and his wife Dorothea are now on my Buddy List and considered friends. Hopefully they will soon have a computer of their own and they can carry on corresponding.

Where you a National Serviceman?
If so you may be interested in the following little snippet I found on the reunion page of

National Service (RAF) Association
A chance for any ex National serviceman or Regular who served from 1939 to 1965
(War and peacetime conscripts) to once more meet and parade - with a band - and salute the
Ensign. A day of RAF nostalgia. The RAF Museum, Cosford, Shropshire.

I contacted the site and asked for more information . Here are some extracts from 3 emails received from Pat Honey who is one of the organisers. For those of you with internet access, check out the websites mentioned they are absolute gems and will transport you effortlessly back to your square bashing days (not just National Servicemen but Regulars and even the WRAFs). For those of you reading the paper version, I suggest you make a note of the websites and get your self down to the local
library and ask someone to access the site for you and (if you are a complete novice) maybe help you negotiate your way round them—well worth the effort. There are lots of intake photos on the
Hednesford site too.

There will a reunion parade taking place at the RAF Museum at Cosford, Shropshire on Sunday 27th June 2004 (National Service Day) organised by the National Service (RAF) Association. (NOTE: entry to the museum and all parking is free).

All ex RAF personnel who served from 1947 to 1965 - be they National Service OR Regulars - are invited to come along for the day. (You do not have to be a member of the NS(RAF)A). A parade and march past, with a band. will take place about noon - under the tender care of ex 1950s Drill Instructors - true ! and it will give you the opportunity to once more march and salute the Ensign under which we once all served.

Join us, with your families, for a memorable day of nostalgia and all things Royal Air Force.
For any information about the 2004 Cosford Museum reunion event :-

PS: we are holding a Hotel weekend in Coventry to co- incide with the Cosford parade plus a full
annual weekend in Oct at Hayling Island - details of both these from Mike Crowe (bottom of page)

Initially herewith news of an invitation to all ex RAF National service and Regulars up until 1965.

…………...the Commemoration would involve a small ceremony with representatives from Staffordshire County Council, RAF Stafford, Local ATC Squadron etc and therefore would be a good opportunity for us to join together once more for an on site re union similar to the one we held in 2003, the projection of this event seems to be in September 2004. (It is hoped that we will have a positive date etc by the next issue of ASTRAL)

If any ex RAF Hednesford recruits (National Service or Regular) would like information about this event - as and when WE get notification - then please let us have your Telephone number OR e-mail address which we will file and it allow us to get in touch with you quickly when the time arrives.

For information on the National service (RAF) Association contact Mr M Crowe, 7 Heath Road. Lake, Sandown. Isle of Wight. PO36 3PG. (e-mail: mike.crowe1@btopenworld.com).

Note from Pat Honey: The Cosford day is for ANY ex RAF Personnel - we would be extremely pleased to see a WRAF contingent, they can bring their partners along for the day, to sit and watch !!! We are liasing with other RAF Associations and different Colours will be marched.

If anyone is interested in the Cosford parade, please contact Jack Kent or Pat Honey direct and if you are going, let Val Cain know and we can then arrange for all Bartonians to meet up before the parade, also let her know if you plan to stay over for the weekend.

We have links to several ex service sites and I have received emails from several people who have found us via these links—so it works, though progress is still a bit slow. I have also included a link on a couple of genealogy sites as well as leaving the address on several message boards too. Patience is the key I think.

There is a facility for anyone to leave a message on our message board and one or two people have done this, but for some reason people still email me with reminiscences and queries—cut out the middle (wo) man and go direct !! Not that I mind people getting in touch, I love reading all your emails and look forward to the jokes and banter that inevitably follow initial contact. I have made friends with several Bartonians who were not of my era yet I feel like I have always known them and I have already spent a most enjoyable weekend with Chris Simmons in Calgary with another stay with him and Gail planned for sometime in March. All this just from the click of a web site button.

Great Adventure
Speaking of clicking on web site buttons. By doing exactly that I am off on a great adventure in April to the Canadian Maritimes. I shall be spending the summer in the Bay of Fundy with an opportunity to go whale watching on a beautiful schooner and watch seals basking on the rocks as well as lots of other wildlife. Since I am due to go to Alberta, Canada in February for a couple of months, this just means that my holiday has been extended by a few extra months (and a few thousand miles) and though I plan on being back for the mini reunion in September—don’t hold your breath! Val’s husband Sam, whom some of you will remember as one of the Gharry drivers, has lent me his spare sea fishing rod. If I catch anything the pictures will be on the web site soon after I return—If I return. Who says Gap Years are for students?

NOTE New Contact Numbers
As I shall be absent from UK for some time you will find contact numbers at the botton of this page . If you find any typing mistakes, grammatical errors etc in this newsletter, I apologise in advance, my mind is somewhere in the Bay of Fundy imagining other more exciting things. Have a great summer and hope to see everyone at the Crofters in September.

The reunion weekend took place at the Lindum Hotel in St Annes on Sea. In fact it was less like a reunion and more like a return to shift after three days off. The humour has not changed and, in essence, neither have the people. There was an opportunity to catch up on the lives of old friends and colleagues, a chance to tease, insult, tell old jokes, bullshit and booze. Of course, some had more talent for the last two than others- no change there then. We were very fortunate to have Dave Brown from Australia, Ron Bretherton from Holland and Diane Nelson (now Kelly) from California, fly in to join us. There were people from Scotland, Wales and many areas of England but to my knowledge no one to represent the Irish - unless you count the Liverpudlians (and there were pleanty of those).

Although there were many new faces there were also one or two people from previous reunions missing - for a variety of reasons. Jock Devlin, Jim Preston and Bill Kendall were excused duties on medical grounds and Mel Chapman was a non starter due to a last minute oil leak on his car. Bill Edgar and Jack Tyson went AWOL. Alma Barrow (now Barlow) was in Australia greeting her 1st great grandchild - probably as good an excuse as any. Ron Freer, our founder and organiser of the previous 2 reunions, was temporarily posted overseas (sunning himself on the Costa Brava actually). Gabby Hayes and Ron Sey were particularly missed but their names were mentioned, with affection, so often that I am sure they were not really too far away. Kath Sey organised raffles throughout the weekend with prizes donated by herself and Ron also Hermin Sprat.

Stan Jones ran the Grand National Sweepstake which kept him out of mischief for a while. The raffle money, together with a bring and buy sale held on Saturday morning and a donation from the sweepstake, raised £138. Thanks Kath for all your effort and everyone who donated items for the sale. Following the bring and buy, a brief meeting was held and it was agreed that the proceeds will help to fund raffles and treats for future reunions and the concensus of opinion was that we should continue to pay subscriptions each year. If we get a large surplus this will be put towards an extra free event ie; admission to an airshow or a lunch etc. Pam Chandler agreed to take over the "Kitty".which is a huge relief to me and Val will continue as second signee.

Several ideas were put forward for a venue for the next reunion and whilst they were all good ideas, for one reason or another they were gradually rejected - the fact is, everyone thought that the Lindum Hotel was the best option. April is a good time weather wise, location is quiet but central for other activities, and the Hotel has good facilities, nice accommodation and lounge areas. The food is exceptional for the money and there is reasonable car parking on the forecourt as well as unrestricted parking on the road close to the Hotel. It would have been nice to hold the reunion to tie in with Boy Entrants reunions in September, but due to the illuminations, the prices will rise tremendously.and, as the the hotel will fill up quickly, there would be no facility for late bookings.However, if in the future we decide to hold a reunion outside of the Fylde area, this would be an option and would make it possible for those Boy Entrants travelling from overseas to kill two birds with one stone.

So if you missed this reunion - Tough - Shame - Hard luck, you missed a great weekend but you will get another chance. To those of you who did make it, thankyou for the fun, the humour the fellowship and for helping to make it so special. Special thanks are also due to those partners who came along to give their support . It must be very difficult to spend a weekend with strangers .However, we are a friendly lot and I hope that we made you feel very welcome. See you all next time - (April 2005)

New Web Site
The web site is at last up and running and looking pretty good. It was launched on the Friday of the Reunion. Constructed by Kath Sey's son Craig together with Wilf Gerrard's son Andrew, the site is still being fine tuned and updated. They have done a great job and are continuing to maintain it for us. A huge vote of thanks is due to both Craig and Andrew. There is a message board and a member's list together with a brief history of the Hall and a chat room. Hopefully by the time you recieve this newsletter, there will also be a gallery of photographs too.

For those of you reading this on the web site, I am sure you will agree that Craig and Andrew have done a great job..It is still in its infancy but hopefully, as time goes on, it will become ever more interesting.

Photo Gallery
If anyone has photo's they want including in the gallery, please either scan them and send them via email to Andrew or myself or copy them and send by post to me: My address is only on the hard copy newsletter. Both our email addresses are on the message Board.

New Members
The search continues for more members and I am sure the web site will help with severel links in place from most of the ex forces sites.If anyone knows the whereabouts of anyone else from the old days, try to get in touch with them and encourage them to write or email me.If you read specialist magazines eg fishing, gardening, sport etc. Try sending a letter to the editor searching for ex Bartonians.Stick a notice up in your local Asda, Tesco etc.You never know who might be living around the corner from you. If you go by car to a national event eg Air Show, Flower show etc. Stick a big notice in your rear window with the web site address on it.Even on holiday, some Hotels have a notice board.- use it. A letter to you local newspaper would help too. Get Creative!

Finally
The web site will be updated regularly as and when new information is received and the next hard copy newsletter will be in September. For those of you with holidays planned, take extra notice and if you find a great bargain, beautiful locations, fantastic hotels please feel free to share your information with us. Also let us know if you come accross places to avoid. If you are just staying home, enjoy your garden, your golf or whatever keeps you happy and stay well.