Weeton Annual Reunion 2009
After Action Report - Dave Clawson
Click here for WAR 09 Photos on www.remfs.co.uk Website
I’d hoped to be the first on the battlefield this year, arriving on Kirby Road before midday, but many of the boys were already in attendance and had had a few warmers into the bank. The weather was with us and, after a few hours at the bar, we set off for a stroll around town.
There were lots of new faces and quite a few old ones, and although I did begin counting heads sometime during Friday evening I gave up due to the sheer volume of people we were dealing with. I will make some attempt to mention people’s names, however if I miss you out, do forgive me, it’s not intentional.
Friday evening saw us returning to the King’s Own Border Club in Fleetwood, which many of you will remember was very successful last year. Chris Melia had laid on an excellent cold buffet for everyone; this was actually paid for by Ian Mattinson, who unfortunately wasn’t able to attend. Thanks to Mal Neill for co-ordinating the Fleetwood connection. There were several newcomers: Fred (Tom) Berry, George Foreman, Mal Nicholson, Bill Haddow, Keith Donoghue, Alan Smith, Tommy Gore, Dave Gallagher, Jimmy Dunne, Mark Dickinson, Sid Little (who bought his dad a few pints), Kenny Russell, Martin Holohan. And of course the returning members: Kev Fieldsend, Mick Lynsdale, Tony Keane, John Ingleton, Bob Thompson and family, Mervin T., Taffy Evans, Mark Kinahan, Bill Ozenbrook, Paul Quinn, Les Rudd, and Billy Frackelton and family. Six of the nine founding members were in attendance: Pete Collier, Ronnie Boulton, Ken Cannan, Jack Jones, Shaun Savage, and myself.
The evening went well with the buffet disappearing quickly and the pints even more rapidly. This is the second consecutive year that we have used the King’s Own Border club and due to the considerable success we’re enjoying here we plan to continue spending the Friday evenings here for the foreseeable future.
A fleet of taxis returned us to Blackpool where we continued the movement in a variety of pubs and clubs. The club scene was surprisingly quiet given the good weather, however it was the opening night and we didn’t want to get too carried away. As always happens, people drifted off to various places, several of us ended the night sitting outside that old favourite the Royal Windsor watching the drunks go past and directing people to fictitious hotels. Chris Thornhill made a memorable entrance in the early hours, regaling us with some excellent military stories and keeping the western side of Blackpool awake until dawn. A good opening night.
Saturday morning began with a full Blackpool breakfast at 09.00. Only Steve Ashcroft made the morning run this year; Steve Wallace was on duty, Felts was in India, and I was halfway through a fried egg. Next, it was showers and shaves and taxis to the Eagle and Child.
Tremendous turnout this year. Good to see people like Tom Hanna, Dave Isreal, Steve Dowsett, Gary Houldsworth, and former 9 platoon’s Stevo, who had some fascinating stories about his time in Latin America; Dav and Vanessa, Nik Esty, Gary and Sue Lovatt, Graham Proctor, Kev Mahon, Derek Mason, among many others. Returning to the WAR after a brief absence were Gary Deverson, Billy Kirkbride, Ray Bill, Kenny Doran and friends, John McCarrick, and John Hobbin; Sebastian made a welcome appearance and took some group photos. Brief but welcome appearances from Ronnie Dawson and Ian Wildley. Dave Ashbolt returned with his brothers. Geordie Hart and his good lady, Mark Beavers, Mark Twentyman, Steve Ashcroft, Roy Emms, Gary Foster, Richie Aitken, Steven Bain, Gary Barnett, Michael Croft, Jeff Banks, Stephen Wilkinson, Colin Docker, Dodge Dawson, Winker Watson, Mark Hussey, Derek Chisnall, Bob Morris and his wife, and Terry King. Thanks to Bob Thompson for the wonderful entrance.
This year, more than most, saw a noticeable increase in the female contingent – which, of course, we encourage: Sandra O’Loughlin, Michelle and Sue Causer, Linda Bill, Jacqui Deverson, Babs Isreal, Babs Dowsett, Nikki Williams, and many more. It was suggested that the women should have a WAR T Shirt of their own; this is now being put into operation – Sue Causer has kindly agreed to co ordinate this; more details on the forum closer to the time.
The barbecue tent was operational as requested, however there were some misunderstandings about pricing that put a brief cloud on the horizon, but that was sorted out almost entirely by Ken Cannan. Thanks to Ken for handling this so tactfully, and thank you to Mike, the landlord, for understanding.
Apart from a brief shower, conditions were good, and the group photo-shoot went off as planned (well almost; I don’t think Chris Thornhill’s backside was part of the original script). An attempt to raise our glasses to fallen comrades was made – Chris kindly volunteered for this. It has been decided that each year there will be a Toastmaster who will conduct the toasts; more about this closer to the time.
As early evening arrived, it was time to return to Blackpool. The taxis this year were handled entirely by Ken Cannan who, I think everyone would admit, did a superb job; Ken will now be OC Reunion transport. After a brief respite at the hotel, we set off to the pubs and clubs. A large contingent ended up at the Tower Bar (many thanks to the doorman, ex-King’s Own Border, for waiving the entrance fee). The night ended in a slightly more dignified fashion than the previous one with most of us relaxing in the hotel bar or sitting in the street.
On Sunday morning it was handkerchiefs out again as we said goodbye for another year. Most of us chatted on Kirby Road until around noon, when we slowly made our way home.
Thanks to Mike and Isla at the Eagle and Child, Gordon and Christine at the Light House, who really looked after us again; Chris Melia and all the staff at the Fleetwood King’s Own Border club. Ken Cannan for handling the transport so efficiently and having a few quiet words with people when necessary; Mal Neill for doing such an excellent liaison job with Fleetwood; thanks to Ian Mattinson for paying for the buffet; Pete Collier and Jack Jones for being there from the beginning; Ronnie Boulton for being Ronnie Boulton; thanks to Bill and Joyce Ozenbrook for all the hard work designing and distributing the WAR T Shirts at no profit to themselves, and finally thanks to Sebastian for all the hard work in the background to keep the websites running.
Just a brief word here about a possible memorial. At previous WARs a collection was made and the proceeds were sent firstly to RHQ, where it was never heard of again, and then to Northern Ireland, where it again to seemed to disappear into the same bottomless pit. Last weekend the idea of our own memorial bench came up. The suggestion is to have a bench bearing a plaque that says something to the effect of: ‘Dedicated to all the fallen members of the King’s Own Royal Border Regiment,’ or something similar. The money for this would be raised through an annual collection and any other (legitimate) means available. The details of how much it’s all going to cost, where it’s going to go and such, will come at a later date. All of this can be discussed on the forum.
Finally, there was some background talk of a possible change of location for the WAR. The Reunion committee later discussed this idea for more than 15 seconds. The answer was unanimous: The Reunion stays where it is; no negotiation. Anyway, if it did move, it wouldn’t be the WAR; we could hardly have the Blackpool Annual Reunion in Fleetwood (BARF).
So, if you haven’t attended a WAR yet and you’re uncertain about making the commitment, read the feedback, and above all, look at the photos, that should convince you. You need to remember two things: Eagle and Child/last weekend in June. No more excuses. The dates are 25th, 26th June 2010. Facebook invites will be sent out on January 2nd. WAR10 Warning Order will be sent out through the usual channels on March 15th. Anyway, that’s my thousand word + limit so I’ll leave the final thoughts with the great military historian Sir Lawrence Keyman.
See you all next year,
Take good care,
Dave.
‘We didn’t realize it at the time but we had created a monster. It grew and grew and became bigger and better, and when we got old we were proud of what we’d created because it reunited us in ways we would never have believed. It made us laugh and sing and dance again; occasionally it made us cry. It made us young again, too’ (p.56).
Keyman, L. (1958) The Irregular Army, SND Military Press.
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