Hi Everyone.
Is there a stone somewhere, on which it is writ that the UK reunion has to be at Loughborough? The German site is obvious but I don’t think the same can be said for the UK end. Of What significance is Loughborough to I Corps members? During the early 60’s I believe Maresfield near Ashford was the favored spot, but no doubt this changed over time, and for all I know the Language arm and Traffic Analysis side trained in completely different locations. If we could contemplate another location, we don’t necessarily just have to consider former training sites, a previous service location might be just as appropriate, somewhere like Winchester or Cheltenham could prove just as attractive in luring back absent members to the fold.
All the best. Dave
jr
Re: Cats and Pigeons
David Thomas wrote:
Of What significance is Loughborough to I Corps members? During the early 60’s I believe Maresfield near Ashford was the favored spot, but no doubt this changed over time, and for all I know the Language arm and Traffic Analysis side trained in completely different locations.
The I Corps Analysts trained at Loughborough (Det. 4 Comms Unit) from the late 50s, and the language wings moved from Cheltenham/London in 1977. At the same time, 224 Sig Sqn dissolved and the unit became Comms & Sy Group (UK) with an I Corps Lt. Col. (and R Sigs RSM! ). 2 Squadron did the Spec Op training while 3 Company contained the Analysis/Language wings. (For those still with me, (and the record) 1 Squadron was originally 223 Sig Sqn which moved up from Winchester, but was so small in numbers that it was changed to "O" Troop and swallowed up into 2 Sqn.)
David Thomas wrote:
If we could contemplate another location, we don’t necessarily just have to consider former training sites, a previous service location might be just as appropriate, somewhere like Winchester or Cheltenham could prove just as attractive in luring back absent members to the fold.
When the branch was formed we had this discussion, all the locations you mention were all considered, London as well, as was a rotation. The choice fell on Lobo because of;
1. its associations (training, Y Service history)
2. its central location (M1, main line trains, airport)
3. a lot of our members live within easy reach.
I personally would have nothing against a move, (I've got a longish journey anyway to whatever part of the UK we choose).
There are hotels which specialise in reunions advertising in the Legion magazine, they seem to be mainly in large seaside towns, though.
David Thomas
Thanks for that JR,
At least I now know what links the I Corps has with Loughborough. As you say some other places host reunions, the BVA go to Torquay (I don’t know why, but someone will be able to tell me), I’ve known units go to Scarborough, even Barnsley!!!! But both those are very close to those rough types from the North and we don’t want to encourage too many of them! The Denbury reunion is in Newton Abbott, which makes sense being the main metropolis of the area where the camp was. Stewart organises a super do, the one I went to was in Chester, which is a cracking place in its own right, whereas Loughborough, when all is said and done is not the prettiest place in the world. Hence my raising the question which has probably been answered already, a dozen times or more.
All the best.
Dave
jr
David Thomas wrote:
As you say some other places host reunions, the BVA go to Torquay (I don’t know why, but someone will be able to tell me), I’ve known units go to Scarborough, even Barnsley!!!! But both those are very close to those rough types from the North and we don’t want to encourage too many of them!
All the best.
Dave
I don't know what you've got against my home town We have a better class of punch-up on Saturday nights, especially in the days of what was known as "Glasgow fortnight". And don't forget the town's historic connections with the Y Service (albeit mainly Naval). There must be a few ex-Langeleben men who have done time up at Irton Moor, too.
Bill Fry
What about other unit members who did no training at Loughbrough? At least loughbrough is central to the country so for those traveling from the North or South it can be considered the same. Just a thought.
paul croxson
There was never more than one hostelry at Maresfield. It still exists - The Chequers. It is now an exceedingly up market hotel way above our means! There are quite a few littered aroung Cheltenham too I reckon and an advert in the local paper or GCHQ might well serve to expand our membership. Porsmouth together with Southsea could be considered if really desperate. Plenty of good value hotels.
David Thomas
Hi Bill and Paul,
True Loughborough is somewhere in middle England, has reasonable access, a good hotel, memories for many of us, and a good track record. But apart from that what’s it got? And Paul if it comes to a popular vote between Pompey and Loughborough, I think you might be in for another days driving. Alternatively we could try to divert the No. 9 bus to pick you up, but that would be a bit like the day we went to Birmingham by way of Beachy Head.All the best. Dave
paul croxson
Ah Dave. You must have the same model Sat Nav as mine. I did not confess it before but returning from Konigslutter this year I ended up genuinely in a multistorey carpark in the centre of Bruges when I was suoposed to be on the Ring Road.
Someone please put me out of my misery. Are they genuinely foolproof and it is me at fault or can they actually give wrong information? I have had the proverbial 'bum steer' on 3 occasions now.
Tom Neal
I may be wrong but I thought that at the AGM Ernie asked if everyone was happy for him to go ahead with Loughborough next year and I cannot recall anyone saying anything against it.
Regarding your SATNAV Paul, it may need updating.
Tom
paul croxson
Thanks Tom.
It was brand new and a very new edition of Tom Tom bought for the trip to Konigslutter so I don't think that is the problem. Possibly my technophobia breaking out again. Anything mechanical and 'I'm your man' but these new miniaturised gadgets like phones and cameras seem to irritate me and bring out the worst in me, totally bizarre. I suppose that at my age this is to be expected but others seem to master these things. it's like computers - some things seem a light age away in the comprehension stakes whilst other aspects, such as Excel, Word, data bases and acounts programmes I seem as happy with them as a pig in the proverbial brown stuff.
I think that you are right that there was no dissention when Ernie asked about Loughborough but we only represented a minority of the membership so it is a subject worthy of being offered for discussion to the full membership.
Ernie Callaghan
Just a quickie, the quarum at the Konigslutter AGM represented about 90% of our members that do attend reunions, to put the subject up for discussion to the 300 or so of our members that do not attend reunions would seem to be a waste of time and not very democratic, however nothing is cast in stone and if someone comes up with a destination that is central, cheap, reliable, sympathetic to our needs and relevent to our cause then please speak up, we are here to serve.
marleneandgypo
Rough types from up north Mr T - not sure what young Gypo from Lancashire would have to say about that...
Idea, why not put a box in the Reunion Special asking ALL members to respond either here or to their buddy what they think in general? Have they strong feelings either way? Remember not all members with internet access come to the forum so won't read this.
Marlene
Petra
Ernie Callaghan wrote:
Just a quickie, the quarum at the Konigslutter AGM represented about 90% of our members that do attend reunions, to put the subject up for discussion to the 300 or so of our members that do not attend reunions would seem to be a waste of time and not very democratic, ...
Ernie,
we have an ongoing problem with this in the Herforder association, then the Herforders have no UK location to feel attached to.
The question is not if the 300 or so that do not attend should have a say or not, but maybe if it were held in rotation (say one year up north, then one year down south) would that enable any of the three hundred to attend?
Maybe the question (For you Marleen) should be asked "If the reunion were held in the half of the country you live in, how far would you be willing to travel to attend?" or similar.
The Herforders try the following; we meet every six months (March and October), One meeting in North Wales, (great for the Liverpuddlians and the Midland members) One meeting in Scotland (Boarders area), Next year then One in South coast Area of UK, and then one in Herford Germany.
Due to the Combat demands on the Camp, we have pushed the bi-anual Herforder trip off to maybe every five years but that is not relevant to this example.
For the south coast and Herford trip, Jim Sloan organizes a coach that travels down the country collecting victims along the route so that it is full by the time it gets to Harwich or south coast. Also at times this goes to Hull and makes a loop down west then over to pick up people who do not want to drive to hull and join them there for the ferry.
Many members are too old to drive long distances involved or do not have a car or license, and would not be able to attend if we did not have the coach or move the venues around like gypsies.
When trying to get prices, Jim has the additional advantage that he can say to the hotels involved, they are not only competing with other hotels in their town, but also with other towns nearby... (I am sure he tels them fibs about how low the cost were at the last place we used... Also he gets the Local tourist agency of the town to put some pressure on them to get cost our mainly OAPs can afford.
Moving around also lets people see this as a holiday, then the chance to visit the (for example Steam Museum in York) and next trip (Kilt and Tweed Making in Coldstream), etc. make it worthwhile to come again and again.
Also the non-army-agm-reunion stuff like these trips very attractive reason for the spouses who then have a reason to go as well.
Maybe some of these ideas would actually increase attendance, even if only that those who came one year did so because it was only an hour's drive from where they live, and the next three years would not?
Also for the German trips with the camp being now long since demolished, what if you found a (typical Radio times small ad) bus tour company offering trips (with hotels, etc.) to say Hanover, or Harz Mountains, and did a deal with them to fill a bus and hotel contingent but only if the bus would make a half day stop over in Königslütter and Langeleben? Then it would be a Holiday as well as a reunion trip, and may get more going who would not otherwise just want to got to Königslütter.
Best Regards
Petra
paul croxson
Well done Petra. A tremendous number of what I consider to be very constructive ides for the future 'Bunfests' and I hope that the present committee does not dismiss them out of hand too readily.
Some additional points that should be bourne in mind. Like it or not we will probably lose 5 members this year and even more next year as the Group gets older and older. We recruited quite a few this year as a result of various efforts. This won't be repeated; it is not a bottomless well to draw on. I am constantly beseeching Old Langelebens that I know to come and join us but totally without success so far (Yes William, I mean you!)
On a personal basis, I hope to attend the UK gatherings but I do think that my visits to Germany are at an end (Did I hear cheers?) and I think that this may apply to others. Unveiling the stone brought to an end to an era for me and a fitting end it was too.
It is a burdensome task setting these things up and this was why we had a sub-committee formed to handle the 2009 event and (with all due modesty) it paid dividends. perhaps we should have the same sort of set-up again. There is a limit to what we can dump on the shoulders of the Committee, however willing they may be.
I am sure that if we sent a 'Round Robin' to say a dozen Tourist offices telling them that we were a group of say 125 looking for accommodation, feeding and amusement and asking what they had to offer we should, in these straightened times be buried under offers.
That's another point. Anyone who has relied on interest for an income will have been sorely hit over the past 9 months and, although I am not with the Treasury, it doesn't need a financial genius to work out that it aint going to get better for a year or two - if ever - in my lifetime.
The unveiling was a tremendous draw and sadly we won't be able to equal it let alone top it. I think that we can expect quite a decline in numbers if we don't offer something a little bit special. Despite Ernie's reluctance I think serious consideration has to be given to joining up with the Schutzenfest once again. That's about all, frankly, Konigslutter has to offer to those who do not have family(ies) there.
As for me everywhere seems a long way from Southsea and Portsmouth except the Isle of Wight so I honestly don't care where we end up next year. I've got a beach hut and you are all welcome there at any time!
Tom Neal
Being an older member but only in age and not in spirit I do not mind where we have our UK reunion. I attend reunions to meet old friends and to meet friends I have made from attendng reunions.
I would suggest that for next year we let Ernie carry on with Loughbough but at our next AGM members who feel strongly about another location stand up and state their case and perhaps can come up with locations they have researched.
Tom
James Husband
Loughborough Reunion
Here is an extract from a letter that Ernie sent out in November 2007."The hotel has proved to be a popular choice over the last four reunions held in Loughborough and members have been full of praise for the hotel arrangement, the food, and the friendliness of the staff".
May I also add which hotel can provide secure parking for approximately 40 cars.
ken vipond
I must agree with Jim regarding the Burliegh court hotel for our reunions in the U.K.. the hotel is very centrally situated with easy motor way access,the accommadation is nice and comfortable,the prices are reasonable,and as Jim say,s the car parking is good and very secure,i think all in all its the ideal place for our meetings,i have only one little complaint about the hotel,and that was the Saturday night bash arrangements where the room dividers had to be kept semi closed for the noise, and members were sitting in different rooms,but im sure Ernie can overcome this happening again(he has the gift of the gab)and as he has done in the past couple of years organise another swell reunion,certa cito and best regards from Ken,(another satisfied customer)
P.S.and the little bus into town is only a quid(free if you have a senior citizens bus pass.
paul croxson
It may well be that Burleigh Ct Hotel does turn out to be the best on offer but why on earth do some members object to a discussion on the possibility of an alternative?
I well recall the objections to our trying to put on something a bit special for the memorial week-end; such remarks as "we can't afford it" and "you'll never do this". Well we could and we did!
It is from such discussions that new ideas and improvements come.
Oh, and by the way, if it wasn't for this subject the Forum would be pretty silent at the moment so, that in itself is a good thing
ken vipond
Hi Paul,i don,t think anybody is objecting to a discussion on where we have our meetings etc,but bear in mind a lot of thought and travel went into the place for our reunions by the commitee,and i think anyone who is getting a bit sick of Burleigh court and would like a change of scenery to do a bit of home work on another hotel and present the facts at our next reunion in Loughborough,in November time us lot from up north have a little get together at some exotic venue,one year it was in York,another year in Chester,and this year Stuart and i will be looking at Lincoln,but in each case we go and visit the hotels to see if they are any good and then we try and do deal with the manager,what i am trying to say is that we get our information and facts together befor we approach our member,s,and i think that whoever wants a change of venue needs to do similar,best regards from Ken (and still a satisfied customer)
paul croxson
Good morning Ken.
At the risk of being considered 'Difficult' may I point out (ever so nicely) that if we leave any discussion until the AGM Loughborough in 2010 the first chance, should we agree to a change, to go to another UK hotel will/would be in 2012.
Personally, that will give me serious problems as my training for the Olympics will be just reaching its peak. (I may, of course, not be selected and then it will be no problem for me).
Great canal pictures, by the way. After your mentioning the 'Wall' I went along and was extremely moved and mentioned it to several people including Ron and Bob Berg. Bob took some stunning photos.
I've just worked it out! If I don't go to Switzerland before then I will be 77 by the 2012 re-union. Ouch
marleneandgypo
Tom Neal wrote:
Being an older member but only in age and not in spirit I do not mind where we have our UK reunion. I attend reunions to meet old friends and to meet friends I have made from attendng reunions.
I would suggest that for next year we let Ernie carry on with Loughbough but at our next AGM members who feel strongly about another location stand up and state their case and perhaps can come up with locations they have researched.
Tom
The only thing wrong with asking at a reunion what the members think, we will just get the views of the regulars. If we want 'new blood' as well as regulars we need to reach everyone with this question and ask for ideas which is why I suggested the newsletter initially. Nothing changes if nothing changes...
paul croxson
I agree totally, Marlene... what on earth is wrong with throwing it open? We may well not find anything better but at least we will then know that we have the best available. "The wider the better" ... I says
I recognise the quote that you refer to 'plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose'. It was a chap called Jean Babtiste Alphonse Karr who first produced it (that is really a useless piece of information but might give you a win on quiz night) and it one of those things that we say but in my case never really understood what he was getting at. 'The more things change the more they stay the same' sounds to me more like one of those incredibly erudite epigrams that I throw out when I'm well into the 2nd bottle of 'red' which sadly nowadays isn't that often. I mourn the fact that I seem to have lost my taste for red wine which may be good for me or may be bad. C'est la vie..
Au revoir
marleneandgypo
paul croxson wrote:
I recognise the quote that you refer to 'plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose'. It was a chap called Jean Babtiste Alphonse Karr who first produced it (that is really a useless piece of information but might give you a win on quiz night) and it one of those things that we say but in my case never really understood what he was getting at. 'The more things change the more they stay the same' sounds to me more like one of those incredibly erudite epigrams that I throw out when I'm well into the 2nd bottle of 'red' which sadly nowadays isn't that often. I mourn the fact that I seem to have lost my taste for red wine which may be good for me or may be bad. C'est la vie..
Au revoir
Interesting Paul, and what a mouthful for a name there. My all time favourite saying is "If you always do what you always did, you'll always get what you always got."
paul croxson
I should have apologised for the unforgivable lapse into Frog.
It is, after all, Bastille Day today so I do have a sort of excuse. Off tonight for a plate of pommes frites (that's chips to you and me) and to see the film Moulin Rouge.
Bon Chance
ken vipond
Paul,my dad used to say to me"if its not broken dinna try and mend it"in other words leave well alone and be happy with what you have,allways seems to work for me,best regards from Ken.
P.S.Bastille day is it,well ive just been out in the garden and culled about 10 big juicey snails which have been eating my veggie.
jr
I don't see any harm in kicking the ideas around, but I think the advantages of Loughborough would be pretty hard to better. The reasons for which we chose the location in the first place are still valid.
I have always been quite happy with the hotel, the only thing I can say against it is that it is a bit on the expensive side, (but then just about everything in UK is) .
The only reason for changing -I would suggest- would be if we could be thereby certain of attracting a reasonable number of new attendees, but I suspect a change of location or reduction in costs wouldn't influence those who don't attend -whatever their reasons may be.
It would still be interesting to hear any opinions/suggestions.
paul croxson
Ouch Ken!
Your Dad and mine would not have had much in common I reckon.
Mine was a one for self improvement and for always trying to do better and to better one's self. My Wife is even worse and in the nicest possible way, is never satisfied except in her choice of current husbands.
So, as a result I am always looking to see if there is anything better. That's how I am now after a lifetime. Can't do bugger all about it. Far too late.
By the way, I manged to translate your note without the aid of a dictionary which aint bad for a miserable Southerner - is it?
paul croxson
After just seeing Moulin Rouge the chances of a decent night's sleep are NIL. I am told that Nicole whatshername (its Kidman, I think) is quite pretty. Sadly I never got that far up, Legs, legs,legs and more legs and black stockings and suspenders not to mention a delicious pair of ......... peaking out of a black basque. I am told it was a lousy film. I never noticed.
I never thought of eating the damned snails Ken. Some of them are the roman kind too with pretty black and white spiralled shells. How do you cook your slugs, by the way? They are much more of a problem!
ken vipond
Hi Paul,so pleased you managed to translate my message without to much bother,but while you have your dictionary out have a look at snail and slug,i think you will find that although they are related,they are also two very different animals,and as for eating them i will leave that to the froggies,i let the hedghogs eat the slugs and the poor little snails get their little houses smashed in and the thrushes do rest,and by the sound of your previous entry you have the makings of a dirty old man and can you be a little bit more explicit,it makes interesting reading,best regards from Ken.
paul croxson
Well Ken, where shall I begin?
Firstly hedgehogs don't or can't climb at least here in Southsea and the only ones I see tend to be rather like dinner plates and hardly likely to be interested in the odd slug or two. So, that's no help to me! Isn't 'Thrush' that thing that ladies get and to which they refer to very delicately in TV ads? Where do slugs fit in?
I confess to being Old, a man, but dirty? I haven't had a bath for years I do confess but I do shower extremely frequently.
Explicit?
That's something a bit different. I've been a keen water colour painter for a number of years even though it is dropping off a bit nowadays. By the time they have been mounted and framed it also gets a bit pricey and I don't get much for them, I think £110 was the highest ever. I have though sold more paintings than Vincent van Gogh ever sold which is some consolation.
What's this got to do with 'explicit' or the price of cheese" I hear you ask?
Well its all about what they call Life classes; that's birds and blokes with no clothes on standing, sitting or lying very still for 20 minutes. That gives one quite a long time to have a really good look and you end up by thinking such thoughts as "she's got dirty feet" or "I wonder if mine is as big/small as that". Sex doesn't come in to it - well not a lot!
Many years ago in my affluent middle years I went with a party of Hong Kong millionaires (I was trying to sell them a mirror - making plant) to Paris. We ended up in the Crazy Horse Saloon, front Row! I still shudder when I say that even then in the late 70's a round of six drinks cost me £92 and one was an orange juice.
Was it worth it?
There were several acts most with delicious young ladies taking off all their clothes and smiling sweetly. Then the stage darkened and when the lights went on there was this beautiful woman completely naked. She stood there for some time and then slowly, Oh so very slowly, started to get dressed. Underwear, stockings, shoes and so on. It was quite the most erotic act of the night and, of course knowing that what you were looking at would shortly disappear made it twice or was it three times, as exciting.
Nakedness doesn't excite me nearly as much as a lovely body being beautifully displayed in sexy clothing. I still recall (frequently in those lonely moments) Sophia Loren in the 'Millionairess' taking her dress off to be examined by Peter Sellars playing the part of a Doctor. When Dilys Powell reviewed it - I think it was in the Observer - she made reference to the sound of "fly buttons hitting the ceiling like machine gun bullets". I knew exactly what she meant Ken. It was the same with Nicole Kidman (which, after all was where I was starting from). She looked absolutely glorious in a black basque, stockings and suspenders and high heeled shoes. far more clothes than any girl on the beach but ... Oh so sexy.
See what I mean?
Off for a cold shower now.
David Thomas
Right you two. This was a very serious discussion concerning the future of our club, and you two have brought it to ladies unmentionables, what on earth is going on?. I half expect it from those rough types from up north, but Croxton I’m surprised at you, go stand in the corner, and no posting for 48 hours. I’m very cross with both of you! David.
paul croxson
it's alright Guv, I was just putting another cat amongst your pigeons.
). 2 Squadron did the Spec Op training while 3 Company contained the Analysis/Language wings. (For those still with me, (and the record) 1 Squadron was originally 223 Sig Sqn which moved up from Winchester, but was so small in numbers that it was changed to "O" Troop and swallowed up into 2 Sqn.)
We have a better class of punch-up on Saturday nights, especially in the days of what was known as "Glasgow fortnight". And don't forget the town's historic connections with the Y Service (albeit mainly Naval). There must be a few ex-Langeleben men who have done time up at Irton Moor, too.
.