Langeleben

David Thomas · Posted: Fri Oct 20, 2006 7:26 pm Post subject: 2007

Hi All, I see Ernie Callaghan has booked the date of the 2007 reunion for the first weekend in June. Not having been before can anyone advise suitable accommodation? Unlike certain long distance father Christmas’s who must remain nameless, but are obviously very flush, us poor pensioners who are forced to stack shelves in order to eek out a living, I can only afford the simplest 5 star hotel. I hope to attend along with my first wife, probably arriving in Germany on Thursday 30th May then wending our way towards Langeleben for the weekend. At the recommendation of the Viper we’ll hopefully spend a few days looking around the old Eastern area before zooming back to bonny Bristol. Any tips on places worth seeing will be gratefully received.
All the best. Dave.

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Dave Thomas 2 Sqn 13 SR, '63-'66

shorep · Senior Member Joined: 12 Jun 2005 Posts: 192

That has made all the difference,I was orf that weekend and had planned to go,but Konigsplutter is such a small town I'm bound to bump into the Hanham higwayman.Ernie and the gang arrange 'digs' at good prices,me and her indoors stayed in Wolfenbuttel a few year ago in B&B and it was reasonable for a long weekend.We travelled on the train,and had a ride to Braunsweig from Berlin on the ICE train,you can get a euro rover ticket.Is the misery from Fulford turning up?That picture is the spitting image of him as I remember,have you seen his passport photo.?

jr · Posted: Sat Oct 21, 2006 9:58 am Post subject:

Most people stay at the Königshof, which does a package for our members, and is the location for the Saturday evening jamboree. Ernie will be sending a booking form out around Christmas, containing prices etc. (You can, of course stay in one of the local doss-houses if the Königshof is too posh).
Lots of things to do and see in the region, to suit all tastes. And of course Berlin is nowadays within easy reach (one hour on the train)and is always worth a visit.
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John Richardson

ken vipond · Posted: Sat Oct 21, 2006 3:45 pm Post subject:

Hi David,i think you will find that almost everyone stops at the Konigshof,its a nice hotel and the prices are not too bad,one place that i would certainly reccomend to visit is the Auto stadt (V.W.factory)at Wolfsberg,its an all day job but only 30 minutes drive from base,a bunch of us went in 2005 and it was a fantastic day out,its not all cars but a lot more,to me its a tourist asset that is not well advertised for people visiting the area,there is also the windmill museum which is also not to far to travel,so yes there is plenty to do in between the odd beer or two(mandatory)and can you please explain what you mean by my first wife,you have people thinking you must have harem or something,
regards from ken Confused

David Thomas · Posted: Sat Oct 21, 2006 7:29 pm Post subject:

Hi Guys, thanks for your suggestions, I especially like the idea of the Volkswagen factory, I do recall hearing of it while I was over there, but I’m not sure that it will be very far up wife number 1’s wish list. Ken asked what the story was on wife number 1. I was well on the way of establishing wife number 2, and had opened the book on wife number 3, then wife number 1 caught the merest whiff of a possible opening in the market. The black eyes have gone, and both the arm and the leg are recovering, there are however other vital parts where the swelling has yet to subside. Shorep mentions his love of dressing up in bulled boots and looking forward to meeting old friends, that’s all very well, but what do the rest of us do who have no friends?
All the best, Dave.
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Dave Thomas 2 Sqn 13 SR, '63-'66

ken vipond · Posted: Sun Oct 22, 2006 9:40 am Post subject:

All say ah for Dave who states he has no friends,its no the wonder he has no friends with all of this drivel he is putting out(only joking Dave) but all joking aside Dave the V.W.factory has numerous international eating places and the lakes and gardens are a delight,you must try and encourage your wife to make the effort to visit,you won,t be dissapointed,plus i will get my bonus from V.W.for the promotion.

Regards from Ken

jr · Posted: Sun Oct 22, 2006 11:24 am Post subject:

Yes, the Autostadt is certainly worth a visit. Take a good stout pair of shoes, though.

Here is the Homepage for the Autostadt for those interested (in English):

http://www.autostadt.de/info/cda/main/0,3606,2~1,00.html
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John Richardson

Merv · Member Joined: 17 Oct 2006 Posts: 7

Ken's mention of the Wolkswagon factory takes me back to the latter end of 1963 when on a longish exercise up on the border with 225. A trip was arranged for us to visit the factory in Wolfsburg. I was amazed even then to learn that the "waste" energy from the factory was used to supply the local houses. I also remember seeing huge machines pressing out Wolkswagon body parts, and seeing completed cars coming of the assembly line every few minutes. Thanks for the trip down memory lane Ken.

derek fowler · Groupie Joined: 06 Jun 2005 Posts: 20 Location: harrogate

Anybody remember Revs Southgate? Didnt he marry a girl from Wolfsburg and end up working at the factory?? I'm sure there was also
someone else who did something similar, but can't remember his name
(not unusual these days!!).
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derek fowler

ken vipond · Posted: Sun Oct 22, 2006 7:27 pm Post subject:

Hi Derek,i think many of the lads that married the local girls ended up working for V.W. the guy who arranged our trip round the factory was ex Langeleben,infact i was best man at his wedding ,the guy,s name is Vince Regan and i believe he was employed for some 30 years by V.W.as an electrician,we could,nt have had a better guide he speaks fluent german and knows the plant like the back of his hand and some of the staff in the different departments,i would certainly go back for another visit.

regards from Ken.

derek fowler · Groupie Joined: 06 Jun 2005 Posts: 20 Location: harrogate

thanks for that, Ken, but he was obviously before my time. The lads I'm thinking of were from 226 (the holiday posting), and it sounds like the VW factory was staffed with half the Brit Army that retired up there!!
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derek fowler

ken vipond · Posted: Fri Oct 27, 2006 8:52 am Post subject:

Hi Derek,yes im sure you are right about a lot of british being employed on the V.W.site,infact i think German was the second spoken language on the factory floor,regards from Ken.

David Thomas · Posted: Wed Dec 13, 2006 7:34 pm Post subject:

Hi Guys, Just a quick note to say that by booking flights now I have got Bristol to Berlin return on EasyJet for £115 for the two of us. I’ve booked 31st May and 6th June, see you there. All the Best, Dave.
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Dave Thomas 2 Sqn 13 SR, '63-'66

shorep · Senior Member Joined: 12 Jun 2005 Posts: 192

Will your car manage the journey up the hill to Dudry and beyond?
Remember it is a big hill that A38,of courde a man of your means will have made 'arrangements for transportation'

David Thomas · Posted: Sun Dec 17, 2006 9:03 pm Post subject:

Hi Shorep, No problems, my Skodal will make it Lulsgate, if not, as you say, I can simply detail off one of the men to take me, after all its only a few miles out of their way, and they may not be doing anything anyway. All the best. Dave.
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Dave Thomas 2 Sqn 13 SR, '63-'66


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