Archive for Langeleben Internet forum for Langeleben Reunion Members.
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ken vipond
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Paul FildesJust to say how sad it is to hear the bad news on Paul(lofty)Fildes,a really smashing person and one who will be greatly missed at our reunions,my sympathies go out to his family and friends at this sad time,God bless you Lofty it was a honour to have you as a friend,regards from Ken.
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Ernie Callaghan
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Yes I agree with you Ken, a gentle giant who livened up our reunions with his exhuberence and humour, I shall miss "Lofty" a lot and was devistated when his son phoned me on Thursday with the sad news.
I shall keep you all posted with the funeral details when I hear and hope that some of you will be able to attend. I shall be offering Pauls family the sympathies of all our members who knew him and the use of the Langeleben funeral drape.
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Ernie Callaghan
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Herewith are details of Puls funeral. It will take place on Thursday 3rd April 10:45am at Stockport Crematorium. The wake will be held at Stockport Lacrosse and Cricket club on Beech Road.
(http://www.stockportlacrosse.co.uk/website/general/directions.html).
Pauls family have asked that people refrain from sending floral tributes as they feel that Paul would have liked instead that donations should be made to the Langeleben memorial fund.
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David Thomas
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Sunday evening. Hi All, Just a note for Paul. Sorry mate I can’t make Tuesday, but I will be thinking of you. In former years we would have shared a bier or two, these days, as the prostate gets larger so the bladder capacity gets smaller, so tonight it’s a bottle of red between the two of us. We met just the once at Koningslutter last year, you came across and we talked about our time at 2 Div, the people we knew and the things we did, a far cry from what we did at our different times at Langeleben. You’ll be the first the wear the Langeleben overcoat, but not of course the last. Hang in there mate, there’s a lot of guys rooting for you. All the best. Dave T.
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GerryK
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Loftys FuneralHave not long returned from attending Paul (Lofty) Fildes funeral. He had a good send off, the Chapel was full to overflowing. Good attendance from our members, namely John (Rusty) Rosson, Pete Ellis, Bob Wells, Jim Jones, Brian Niell, Mick Sposito, Barry Winson, Mick Sheehan, Peter Jones, Tom, Derek Watkins plus Janet and myself. Dont think I missed anyone out!
Our Coffin Drape was used, and the family were impressed.
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David Thomas
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Hi All, Gerry thanks for the report back, it’s good to know lots of you could make it. I didn’t know the drape had been used before, it just shows, you blink and miss something important. The thought came to me, that perhaps it might be an idea to put the names of members who have died onto the drape. Perhaps I’m just being morbid, but it would be a way of remembering them at our reunions. Just a thought. Dave T.
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Tom Neal
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Hello Dave,
Our members who have died are already recorded on this site under 'Last Post' and their names are also read out a every AGM so they are not forgotten. To date there are 51 names on the list.
Tom
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ken vipond
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Hi Tom and Dave and the rest of our readers,looking at our last post and that of the Birgelin vets last post,have they got some secret of longevity that we should know about  best regards from Ken.
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Ernie Callaghan
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Hi Dave, I do not know if any of our members are any good at needlework but it would be quite a job to embroider 51 names on to the drape, we have lost seven this year alone, perhaps you could ask the missus!! As Tom wrote we have the 'Last Post' on the website and all the names are read out at the AGM, I think that that we have enough reminders of our mortality.
Ken, as for the Birgelen Vets longevity I think that the age profile of their members is a lot younger than ours and they do not have as many as us.
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James Husband
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Long livesKen, just a reply to your comment on the forum. Well, the Langeleben lads seemed to have lived their lives in the fast lane, thus aged a little quicker.
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ken vipond
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Hi James,i think you are probably right about the fast lane and over indulgance taking its toll,but looking around us now i think a lot of us are running on the hard shoulder,a bit like a Trabbie that runs on for ever with a little bit of TLC.regards from ken. 
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paul croxson
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Could I book you all for my funeral please?
I can't think of a finer seeing off!
We have a miliotary tailor here in Portsmouth who has an embroidery machine for exactly this purpose. If this is a serious idea that catches on I would be happy to take it further.
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David Thomas
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Hi Guys, My suggestion about putting names on the drape was just that, a suggestion nothing more. Their names are on the Last Post page, and like the Viper, I occasionally scroll through it; I don’t know what for, perhaps a stroll down memory lane, a morbid curiosity, a foretaste of my own mortality, who knows, but I do it in quiet moments when I want to recall things we did before. Reading aloud the Last Post at the reunion is a smashing idea, but our own particular friends’ names are over in a flash, then someone else’s is ere to take their place. If the names were on the drape, and on display at reunions, those who want to, could spend a bit of time in quiet contemplation of friends we knew.
Ernie asked if the first Mrs Thomas was an Embroiderer, she is, which perhaps is where I got the idea from, between us we’ve put on about a dozen embroidery exhibitions in Bristol, so I do appreciate the time and effort which would be required for the task. So far I have not mentioned it to her, as, until we all agree it’s a job we want doing, there is no point in seeking someone to do it. Mrs Thomas is one option as is Paul’s tailor, which I might add, if, he’s doing it by machine, will be very much quicker and easier. All the best, Dave T.
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paul croxson
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It is a machine job Dave. He does a lot of cummerband and so on for the navy mess dress
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