Once again it was that time of year where the ex-sappers of 29 Field Squadron (1975 - 1980) meet up for their annual soiree. This year it was being held in York. The group had met here once before and enjoyed it so much we are returning.

This year Deirdre and I are taking along Aunt Jessie. We arrived at the Lady Middleton Hotel in the centre of York at around 1600hrs on Friday 7th.

From LtoR Aunt Jessie, Deirdre, Dawn & Ginge Parker, Steve and Sam Francis	From LtoR Jim & Eileen Gardiner Bob Taylor and Rachel

After a very nice buffet, we all split into groups and spent the rest of the evening catching up on what we had either being doing since we had met last year or the previous 20 odd years depending on if I hadn't seen them for that long. Bob Taylor told a SHOCKING joke to Deirdre and you can see below the results.

The Lounge area of the Lady Middleton Hotel	Aunt Jessie, Bob Taylor and Deirdre

It was great talking to Tony Chouler who came into the 20 odd year category.

From LtoR Norman (Compo) Forsyth, Tony Chouler and Jim Gardiner

Another new face to the '29 Vets Association' was Paddy Fulton. Paddy was the Squadron Sergeant Major. To all civvies reading this, basically that means that whatever he ordered you to do by god you had better do it or have one very good excuse for not doing it.

Paddy Fulton - ex Squadron Sergeant Major
29 Field Squadron, Royal Engineers

Oh was I hungover the next morning. I could have stayed in bed all morning and into the afternoon but Deirdre and Aunt Jessie dragged Dinger and myself through the centre of York. Come midday, Tom and I split from them and made our way back to the hotel, stopping enroute so that I could buy a large box of Resolve. I then had a nap for a couple of hours.

Tom and I then had a look around the York Rail Museum. It's well worth a visit if only for the black coffee!

Everyone had to make their way back to the hotel for 1800hrs as we had to get ourselves ready for the evening meal. A couple of drinks beforehand naturally.

Before the meal was the annual squadron picture.

Ex-sappers from 29 Field Squadron, with wives and Aunt Jessie

Dave Sherman commented during the meal that the main topic this year appeared not to be "what are you up to these days" but "what medicine are you on?". Never a truer statement. It's a sad fact of life that we aren't getting any younger. For example gone are the days when I used to go into a squash court and play squash for about 2 hours at a time. Lucky if I can manage to tie my gym shoe laces these days!!

The meal was very nice. Unfortunately Deirdre was sitting beside Biggi (Geoff's wife) and all they seemd to do was natter natter natter. Bob, Geoff, Tom and myself couldn't hear ouselves talking. SHOCKING!!!

From LtoR Tom (Dinger) Bell, Aunt Jessie, Deirdre and Roy (Mannie) Bloor	My table with Biggi and Geoff Pridmore in right foreground

As can be seen from the picture below, Biggi and Deirdre appeared to find plenty to natter about. I decided to take a pictrure of myself and Tom. Results are not very flattering but I'm sure that Tom's family will get a laugh at it. I should mention that Tom appears on another set of pictures when Deirdre and I took Aunt Jessie to visit the North York Moors and we visited Tom and his family.

Biggi and Deirdre nattering!!!	Tom (Dinger) Bell and myself

After the meal, it was down to the serious business of raising funds for the 29 Vets Association. As usual, everyone digs deep into their pockets to buy raffle tickets. It was a bit one sided this year as Hoppy won about 5 of the 20 prizes with myself winning 4.

The evening wore on to the early hours of Sunday morning and still there was quite a crowd seated in the lounge area. As usual the women folk have a tendency to talk amongst themselves and let the men folk get down to the serious reminiscing of 'all our yesterdays'.

Hoppy collecting yet another raffle pize	Aunt Jessie jigging on the dance floor with Mannie and Compo

All too soon it's Sunday morning and as Mannie calls it 'Paracetamel and breakfast'. Saddly it's time to say goodbye to everyone for another year. Come 11.30hrs the hotel was strangely quiet. Deirdre, Aunt Jessie and myself were staying on an extra night in order to explore more of York.

That evening as I sat at the bar having a drink it was uncommonly quiet. Only myself there, whereas the previous two nights the bar and lounge area were heaving with ex-29.

The next re-union is scheduled for April 2005 in Devon. Aunt Jessie was one of the first to put her name down for it. Deirdre and I will be there as well.