Old Bartonian- Newsletter
Spring 2009

For RAF and Civilians who worked at ATCC Barton Hall at any time from 1940s till its closure in 1976

First of all I want to let everyone know about some changes to the way we distribute the newsletter. As you will all be aware, the cost of postage is rising and though not wanting to lose contact with anyone, we need to look at ways of reducing the mailing and printing costs as we now have over 200 people on our member’s list. I know that not everyone is hooked up to the internet, but more and more people , even mature people like us, do have access to it via a relative or friend and failing that the local library are most helpful in assisting newcomers to access a web site. However, this may not be the case for everyone so if you need to continue having the newsletter sent by post to you that’s fine—but you need to let me know.

A few of you who attend the reunions can let me know at the next one. So anyone who normally receives the newsletter by post but can access our website or receive emails, let me know your email details or at least keep an eye on the website which will be updated very soon with details of the reunion and any new people that we find. www.barton-hall-atcc.org. All names and addresses currently held by me will be kept so that we don’t completely lose touch but as you can all appreciate, with a list now of 200 people and rising, it is becoming more time consuming to maintain and update mailing and emailing lists.

Often people move and don’t always let me know so the postage is completely wasted. This is not a reprimand, it is just a fact of life. Also we get very little feed back from the postal addressees and it is difficult to know if they are still interested in our activities. Having said that, some do send me charming anecdotes about their time at the Hall and it is always good to hear from those who are interested but for one reason or another cannot get to reunions.. For those who currently receive emails from me you will continue to be informed when the newsletter has been added to our website. I know a lot of you couldn’t open the newsletter when I sent it as an attachment last year, so this year I will just let you know as soon as Andy has added it to the website and you can read it or print it off from there. If you have any further comments or questions about these arrangements do let me know, either by phone 07890 196 316 or by mail to Tass Cotton, P.O. Box 813,
Garstang, Preston PR2 0GR. Also tasscotton@msn.com

Invitation As some of you know, I spent part of the Winter in Malta this year and met up with Pete Kelsall and his wife.—the 1st Malta reunion you might say. It is a popular place, especially in winter, and it is quite possible that other Old Bartonians were also holidaying there in Jan/Feb and could have joined us if only they had known. Well here is an invitation to the next one. I will be back in Malta staying in Xemxija ( St Paul’s Bay) in Jan/Feb again next year so if you have plans to visit this interesting island just let me know where and when and we can perhaps meet up for coffee. Wherever you are staying it can only be an hour away at most. Kath and Val have shown an interest so think about it.

A Tribute to VLA /DEFRA, members of the Military Vehicle Trust and Dave Burrow Those of you who attended the reunion in April will, I know, join me in thanking all the staff at VLA/DEFRA involved in our visit as well as the MVT. They put on an absolutely splendid show for us and pulled out all the stops to ensure we had a truly memorable day. ( I even got a ride in a jeep) Dave Burrow, yet again gave up a couple of precious hours to give us free access to his land. A card has been sent to each of them in appreciation of their efforts.

Do the Lindum Hotel a favour. Someone has left a derogatory comment on “Trip Advisor” a web site that lets the public recommend ( or otherwise) hotels around the world. I have already left a message on there on behalf of the Bartonians, but it would be really good for the Lindum if as many people as possible could also leave some positive feed back for them. You are not expected to lie, but it should be pretty easy to say something good about the food and the staff etc.

Local Get -Together
Plans are afoot for a get-together of all the people who live within striking distance of Preston. Hopefully there will be quite a few ex Local Service WRAF but we are not excluding RAF or Civilians who are also very welcome. Summer is always a busy time for people so a date sometime in October is planned. EVERYONE who is interested should let me know ASAP so that a venue and date that is convenient for most people can be chosen. ( I am away 28th June—2 July but can receive emails). This is a good opportunity for those of you who would like a quick catch up on what old colleagues are up to and how their lives panned out. Contact detail above.

Book The Reunion Now Before You Forget!!

REUNION 2009
Many have said that this was the best reunion yet and it would be difficult to argue otherwise. Most of us would have been happy just to have access to the site of the old hall, to admire the view and motor up that long drive. A sentimental journey if you like. What we got was all of the above with bells and whistles. Caroline MacKenzie of VLA ( Veterinary Laboratory Agency) at DEFRA had first invited us to the site before last year’s reunion and about 50 of us were keen to accept along with family and friends of their staff. Fortunately for us, two members of staff and their husbands were members of the Military Vehicle Trust and what started off as simple visit became a real nostalgic feast. As well as several old vehicles, motor bikes and push bikes they also had on display, many articles from the 40s and 50s. Uniforms, guns, gas masks, photographs etc. Val Cain kindly lent her working blue uniform, raincoat, brass buttons and badges plus 2 P.E Shirts. She also had other personal items ( female for the use of) on display which caused something of a stir not to mention puzzlement by a few. We were greeted at the top of the drive by Howard, on an old army motor cycle, suitably dressed as a dispatch rider and later were shown around by three delightful ladies, Susan, Sam and Angela wearing WRAF uniforms from several eras. Susan and Sam were as excited as us about the visit and were mainly responsible for the whole event. Angela is a collector of all things 40s fashion, shoes, dresses, hats and handbags in particular. She looked very convincing as a war time WAAF. Joe Bamford , co-author of “the Eyes of the Night” gave a short talk on the war time history of Barton Hall . While the film of the Dam Busters played on the TV we spent time talking to the Military Vehicles Trust people who were keen to hear our stories and anecdotes about our time at the old Barton Hall. Ex Corporal Val Cain wasted no time telling the WAAF sergeant Susan to remove her earrings and SACW Sam to get her hair off her collar. They complied instantly—just as well or I think Val would have had them on a charge. Dave Burrow allowed us, yet again, to wander at will around the old canteen and club house and our hosts were very interested in it too as they had never been over the fence before. Most of us left the site around 2 pm and though we had scheduled a sand castle building competition for the afternoon, most of us needed a little rest after all the excitement. What we needed and what we got of course are two different things. Half a dozen brave souls ventured on to the sands together with a handful of supporters and though all efforts were worthy of a prize, mine was deemed more worthy than the others by Pam our judge for the day. Rita’s little pile won a very well deserved booby prize. In fact a little girl called Grace was the true winner as her and her widowed grandma also joined in the competition. There was a fair bit of banter going on between Paul and Jim as to which of the two was the widow woman’s favourite. Grace got an ice cream for her efforts and Paul and Jim left without the widow woman’s phone number. Thanks Peter and Christine for organising that. Later The “Who’s the Baby “ competition proved nigh on impossible and most people gave up before they had even got started which made me the winner by default really since I only got 8 right out of 24!) Thanks again to Kath and Pam for the time taken organising this. It certainly kept everybody’s brain working overtime for a while.

It was good to see Helen Dobson (nee Davis) and Pete and Hazel Rushton who were newcomers to the reunion as well as Jim Melville and Mel Chapman with his partner Margaret. Jim and Mel have both been before but quite some time ago so we hope they don’t leave it as long next time. As always, Ron’s Raffle and the Bring and Buy did really well . We get some amazing stuff for these two events and Kath, Pam and Paul between them manage to part most of us from our money without us even noticing . Paul once again ran the quiz so many thanks to these three who are always kept busy making the weekend special for the rest of us. Also, on behalf of Pam. Kath and myself, can I say a huge Thank You to everyone for our flowers and wine which came as really lovely surprise. Pam continues to recover well from her operation and is looking forward to plenty of hugs next year.

REUNION 2010 Lindum Hotel St Anne’s Friday 23rd to Sunday 25th April Cost is £115 per person DB&B plus Sunday Lunch. Telephone Hotel Direct to book and don’t forget to let them know if you have any special requirements. Tel: 01253 721534 or via website
www.lindumhotel.co.uk Those of you who have already provisionally booked should be getting a letter soon asking for a deposit. If you haven’t heard by end of August, send the £20 anyway.

Notes for Next Years Reunion Next year’s reunion coincides with St Georges Day which the town of St Annes is keen to promote so with that in mind we have decided to have a Fancy Dress evening on the Friday( after dinner) themed around St George, fair maiden and dragon though anything medieval will do. If you “don’t do” fancy dress then an outfit of red and white will be acceptable. It usually gets very warm in the lounge once we all get in there so once the parade has been judged you will be free to change into something a little more comfortable though you are welcome to remain dressed up if you wish. Gordon Pashley and Roy Burdin are excused fancy dress and they will be the judges. Kite Flying has been suggested for our Saturday afternoon frolic on the beach. You may make your own or buy one and according to Pete, the one who keeps it up the longest—wins! Hmnn not sure if he is in the same event as everyone else.

Have a look at the Lindum website ( address above) and check out their blog page. Scroll down to the Barton Hall Reunion and see some photos ( courtesy of Ron Bretherton) that the Lindum have posted.
Finally just thought you might like to know that Val and I have attended a mini reunion in Wales with Pete and Christine Garbutt and Pete and Iris Roberts, followed by a brief reunion on the Wirral with Ken and Edna Harper. Why don’t you organise a mini reunion near you, take some pictures and either send them to me to put on the web site or bring them to the reunion in St Annes next year.

FINALLY Please send me photographs of your Holiday Travels . A picture of yourself with a famous landmark or place name is perfect. Perhaps a country crossroads with sign post or a Theme Park entrance would also be good. Preferably by March 2010. Don’t ask !! - You don’t need to know ……..yet and DON'T FORGET TO BOOK YOUR PLACE AT THE REUNION