Reunion 2013 Norbreck Castle Hotel Blackpool

                                                              

 

2013 Reunion Norbreck Castle Hotel Blackpool 28-30 June

Booking list Confirmed

John Toase and Lynne
Dave Cowel and Charmene
Jim Randle and Diana
Bill Kent and Cecilia
Jim Loach and Mary
Norman Ford and Elaine
Mick Ramsay and Joan
Trev Green and Pat
Dave West
James Macauley and Anne
Clive Wooding and Mary
Olly Olliet
John Bell and Margaret
Ian Hoskins and Pam
Keith Orrell and Karen
Brian Stevens and Diane

My Finished Jeep at ww2 military show

Veteran vs Civvie

When a Veteran leaves the 'job' and retires to a better life, many are jealous, some are pleased, and others, who may have already retired, wonder if he knows what he is leaving behind, because we already know.

1. We know, for example, that after a lifetime of camaraderie that few experience, it will remain as a longing for those past times.

2. We know in the Military life there is a fellowship which lasts long after the uniforms are hung up in the back of the closet.

3. We know even if he throws them away, they will be on him with every step and breath that remains in his life. We also know how the very bearing of the man speaks of what he was and in his heart still is.

These are the burdens of the job. You will still look at people suspiciously, still see what others do not see or choose to ignore and always will look at the rest of the Military world with a respect for what they do; only grown in a lifetime of knowing.

Never think for one moment you are escaping from that life. You are only escaping the 'job' and merely being allowed to leave 'active' duty.

So what I wish for you is that whenever you ease into retirement, in your heart you never forget for one moment that you are still a member of the greatest fraternity the world has ever known.

NOW... Civilian Friends vs. Veteran Friends Comparisons:

CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Get upset if you're too busy to talk to them for a week.
VETERAN FRIENDS: Are glad to see you after years, and will happily carry on the same conversation you were having the last time you met at the bar of the Beaufort Hotel.
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CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Have never seen you cry.
VETERAN FRIENDS: Have cried with you.
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CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Keep your stuff so long they forget it's yours.
VETERAN FRIENDS: Borrow your stuff for a few days then give it back.
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CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Know a few things about you.
VETERAN FRIENDS: Could write a book with direct quotes from you.
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CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Will leave you behind if that's what the crowd is doing.
VETERAN FRIENDS: Will stand by you no matter what the crowd does.
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CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Are for a while.
VETERAN FRIENDS: Are for life.
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CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Have shared a few experiences...
VETERAN FRIENDS: Have shared a lifetime of experiences no citizen could ever dream of...
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CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Will take your drink away when they think you've had enough.
VETERAN FRIENDS: Will look at you stumbling all over the place and say, 'You better drink the rest of that before you spill it!' Then carry you home safely and put you to bed...
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A veteran - whether active duty, retired, served one hitch, or reserve is someone who, at one point in their life, raised their right hand and swore a personal oath to Her Majesty, pledging their loyalty to the Crown, her heirs and successors, not to a politician, a vague area of ground or a rag on a stick.

From one Veteran to another, it's an honour to be in your company. Thank you for your service to our country and defending the freedoms we enjoy

Dingers Jeep

Jeep Trial run  <Click this link to watch on you tube

2013 Reunion

Reunion 28-30 June 2013

Below is our booking for our reunion this year, the copy is not very clear so I will spell out the relevant points.

Reunion Weekend Friday 28th June - Sunday 30th June 2013.

Rooms allocated 10 doubles 10 twins and 5 singles are being held any rooms unsold 2 months prior to the event will be released.

Rates £96.00 per person Dinner Bed & Breakfast 2 night package or £114 per person 3 night DBB package.

Package includes 2013 Armed Forces Celebration Dinner.

Rooms to be booked individually with Norbreck Castle Hotel on 01253 352341 quoting '410 Ind Plant Trp Royal Engineers' to receive the contracted rates.

A £35 non refundable deposit covering the first night stay will be requested for each person booking.

 

 

You must book before 26 April to ensure your room and in particular the Gala dinner as there is a waiting list for the Dinner.

My telephone number is 01253 356872. would you let me know when you have booked

 

 

Dinger

 

Veterens Discounts

This Discount scheme is well worth looking at.

Forces discounts

People serving in the Armed Forces, veterans and their families can get discounts for many goods and services.
You can find out more about the discounts available at www.rewardsforforces.co.uk  click the link.

410 pin Badge

If anyone is interested in purchasing a lapel badge with the unit insignia the Kris dagger on scarlet background and edged with 410 Ind Plt Trp RE let me know, the cost will be around £6.50.

                                                                                                                                    

Re: Bulling boots.  Thank god for our Boot Boys!!!!

1. Cover entire surface of new boots with Kiwi Parade Gloss (and to all the old sweats, mine have NEVER gone blue when it rains!)

2. Heat the smooth rounded end of a spoon to red hot and use it to "iron" down any stipples and lumps. Move quickly and ensure there's plenty of polish between the spoon and the leather or you'll ruin the boots. This action also pushes the polish into the leather to keep them watertight. Get it just right and you'll have black socks forever!

3. Apply a generous coat of polish with a "putting-on" brush and keep brushing until you get a dull shine.

4. Use your "taking off" brush (the softer one) until you get a civvie shine.

5. Wrap a yellow duster around a finger (just one thickness of duster) and dip it into warm polish (a new tin - not the one you used for brushing). Make circular motions in the polish until it has warmed up further and soaked into the duster. You will end up with a black finger, but that's part of the game.

6. Transfer the polish onto one boot using circular motions until the entire boot is covered.

7. Do the same with the other boot. From here on, whatever you do to one boot, you do to the other to the same degree before going on to the next instruction or repeating an action. If you don't, you'll end up with odd boots!

8. Spit on a small area of the polished boot and, without moving your finger from it's position in the duster, polish the boot with wide circular motions. The spit reacts with the polish to bond the layers together. (Old sweats - wait until I've finished before you criticise). Keep spitting on different parts of the boot until all areas have been covered. Work quickly during the spit phase.

9. Repeat from 6 to 8 many times until a lustre starts to develop.

10. Now move your finger to a different part of the duster, pick up a small amount of polish and work it over as large an area as possible, the aim being to apply a very thin coat. Keep doing this until the whole boot is covered.

11. Using very cold water, buff the polish using light circular movements. Keep buffing until the polish starts to shine. On a hot day, do this bit with the boot in a fridge or freezer or you'll be there all day. Otherwise do it under cold running water, but then you'll have a sink to clean and polish isn't easy to remove from porcelain!

12. Repeat 10 and 11 until you're quite impressed with the shine that develops.

13. Repeat 10 but with a linen handkerchief, making sure that there are no creases in the cloth under your finger.

14. Repeat 11 but with a linen handkerchief and NO water. Be very gentle.

15. Get the wife's best newest tights, or the girlfriend's stockings or your best mate's wife's tights and twist them into a tight ball, finishing with a smooth layer, no wrinkles. Very, very gently, use circular movements to finish the boots to a high gloss.

16. Try to get polish off finger. Vim, swarfega and fairy liquid help but there's no substitute for a new white towel.

It seems like a lot of effort (and it is) but you can trog across the moors, soak them, scrape them to buggery and once they're dry, they will polish back up within a few minutes. (Okay - it may take up to half an hour).

On the other hand, for a quick bodge you can pile tons of polish on the boots, pour petrol lighter fluid on them and ignite. Extinguish quickly by blowing, allow to cool, then do action 15. Walk very stiffly to parade as the polish will crack easily.

Dingers Winter ProjectMy Rebuild Jeep

I had intended to purchase a short wheel base Land Rover to tinker with over the winter months but I was persuaded to buy something with a bit of military history that would be an increasing asset so I went for a ww2 Willy's Jeep, so now I have inherited over sixty years of bodge ups, so I have started my rebuild. Click on photo for more pictures of rebuild.

As seen in a barn near Darwin

 

Pick up

Start of project

Getting there

To Date

New Inlet Manifold Fitted

There are more photos in my Album Click on Photos