Old Codgers playing in the snow

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1821703981210&saved

Merry Christmass 2010

John (Dinger) and Margaret would like to wish Everyone a MERRY CHRISTMAS and a HAPPY, HEALTHY and PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR for 2011.


 

A Poem For Christmass

 

T'WAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS, HE LIVED ALL ALONE,
IN A ONE BEDROOM HOUSE, MADE OF PLASTER AND STONE.
I HAD COME DOWN THE CHIMNEY, WITH PRESENTS TO GIVE,
AND TO SEE JUST WHO, IN THIS HOME, DID LIVE.
I LOOKED ALL ABOUT, A STRANGE SIGHT I DID SEE,
NO TINSEL, NO PRESENTS, NOT EVEN A TREE.
NO STOCKING BY MANTLE, JUST BOOTS FILLED WITH SAND,
ON THE WALL HUNG PICTURES, OF FAR DISTANT LANDS.
WITH MEDALS AND BADGES, AWARDS OF ALL KINDS,
A SOBER THOUGHT, CAME THROUGH MY MIND.
FOR THIS HOUSE WAS DIFFERENT, IT WAS DARK AND DREARY,
I FOUND THE HOME OF A SOLDIER, ONCE I COULD SEE CLEARLY.
THE SOLDIER LAY SLEEPING, SILENT, ALONE,
CURLED UP ON THE FLOOR, IN THIS ONE BEDROOM HOME.
THE FACE WAS SO GENTLE, THE ROOM IN  DISORDER,
NOT HOW I PICTURED, A TRUE BRITISH SOLDIER.
WAS THIS THE HERO, OF WHOM I'D JUST READ?
CURLED UP ON A PONCHO, THE FLOOR FOR A BED?
I REALISED THE FAMILIES, THAT I SAW THIS NIGHT,
OWED THEIR LIVES TO THESE SOLDIERS, WHO WERE WILLING TO FIGHT.
SOON ROUND THE WORLD, THE CHILDREN WOULD PLAY,
AND GROWNUPS WOULD CELEBRATE, A BRIGHT CHRISTMAS DAY.
THEY ALL ENJOYED FREEDOM, EACH MONTH OF THE YEAR,
BECAUSE OF THE SOLDIERS, LIKE THE ONE LYING HERE.
I COULDN'T HELP WONDER, HOW MANY LAY ALONE,
ON A COLD CHRISTMAS EVE, IN A LAND FAR FROM HOME.
THE VERY THOUGHT BROUGHT, A TEAR TO MY EYE,
I DROPPED TO MY KNEES, AND STARTED TO CRY.
THE SOLDIER AWAKENED, AND I HEARD A ROUGH VOICE,
"SANTA DON'T CRY, THIS LIFE IS MY CHOICE;
I FIGHT FOR FREEDOM, I DON'T ASK FOR MORE,
MY LIFE IS MY GOD, MY COUNTRY, MY CORPS...."
THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER, AND DRIFTED TO SLEEP,
I COULDN'T CONTROL IT, I CONTINUED TO WEEP.
I KEPT WATCH FOR HOURS, SO SILENT AND STILL,
AND WE BOTH SHIVERED, FROM THE COLD NIGHT'S CHILL.
I DID NOT WANT TO LEAVE, ON THAT COLD, DARK, NIGHT,
THIS GUARDIAN OF HONOR, SO WILLING TO FIGHT.
THEN THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER, WITH A VOICE SOFT AND PURE,
WHISPERED, "CARRY ON SANTA, IT'S CHRISTMAS DAY, ALL IS SECURE."
ONE LOOK AT MY WATCH,  AND I KNEW HE WAS RIGHT.
"MERRY CHRISTMAS MY FRIEND,  AND TO ALL A GOOD  NIGHT."

Plant Troop 410 Butterworth 1961

            Plant Troop 1961 from Ian Hoskins photo album

PJM Presentation Dave Cowell

Dave Cowell receiving his PJM:  'At long last!!!! Ron Tobin also received his at the same time'.

Provisional Attendence list for 410/11 Sqn Reunion

The following have shown interest in attending the 2011 Reunion to be held at the Holiday Hotel Coventry.

Bill and Cecilia Kent. Booked
Dave and Margrit Cowell Booked
Dave WestNot Coming
Brian and Diane Stephens Booked
Jim and Mary LoachBooked
John and Lynne Toase Booked
Mick and Joan Ramsey Booked
Trev and Pat Greene Booked
Ian and Pam Hoskins Booked
Mick and Margaret MilwardBooked
John and Margaret Bell Booked
Ben Davidson Can,t make it
Ron and Wife TobinNot Coming
Jim and Diana RandleBooked
Jim Howells Booked . Jim is now unable to come.
Peter(Percy)Warneck Booked
Clive Wooding + WifeBooked

Olly Ollyat Booked

We should have 26 with Wifes/Partners 

410 REUNION 2011

Hi all,

We have decided that due to the high cost of Hotel charges for a venue in the Cardiff area that we hold our next reunion at the Holiday hotel in Coventry, as this is central for most people, the date we set 20th of May to 22nd of May clashes with the 11 Sqn reunion, after speaking to Hank Lawrence we have agreed to combine the reunion as most 410 members worked with 11 sqn sometime in there service, the details are as follows.

I will try to phone everyone with these details. Please let me know when you have booked.

Cheers Dinger.

410 Indep Plant Troop RE
Coventry Reunion 2011
Holiday Inn M6 Jct2
Hinckley road CV2 2HP

Booking Details

Dear Friends
The reunion will take place as proposed starting on the Friday 20th May at 14 Hrs until the morning of the 22nd May at the Holiday Inn M6 JCT2 again.
You must book and pay for your rooms direct with the hotel using this phone number 02476587420 asking for Natalie Trailor who is managing our bookings, stating 410 Indipendent Plant Troop RE( I have block booked twenty rooms). Please try and book on a week day, as Natalie does not work weekends.
To anyone who has not stayed at a Holiday Inn the rooms are a good size, clean and comfortable with twin or double beds and a good-sized bathroom, and every room has Tea & Coffee making facilities, Satellite T.V. and morning papers delivered to your room.
They do allow dogs to stay in your room for a small extra charge
The package price this year is again only £105.00 per room; Single rooms are the same price so share with a friend and share the cost as most did last year.
This rate is fully pre-paid and will require a credit/debit card in order to reserve the room, although I do believe some people paid by cheque last year!
This covers you for two people in the room for two nights, and will include breakfast on both mornings and the three course carvery dinner on the Saturday evening. Can you please tell the hotel at your time of booking of any dietary requirements?
There will not be a seating plan, just sit with your friends; this seems to work very well.
As well as being to able use the main lounge; they have agreed again to let us have the adjoining upper lounge exclusive for our use. They will also increase the seating in this area again.On the price of drinks the hotel has agreed to increase the discount on all beverages to 20% for the duration of the event, again you will have to use your name badge as a form of ID.

On the Friday evening dinner we have agreed with the hotel to change the menu from a curry evening to what we think is a better selection of menus ideas details of which we will send out at a later date.
This dinner is not included in the weekend package and again is at a cost of £10.00 per person for main course and desert for anyone who wants it (Payable on the night or booked to your room).
Hopefully this will encourage people to stay in the hotel on the Friday rather than go out for meals as this defeats the object of having a reunion!
Alternatively people can choose from the Ala Ca-rte Menu which is priced separately.
If you don’t intend to stay in on the Friday please let us know when you inform us of your booking, this is important so we can inform the hotel of the numbers for the Friday catering.

Can you please tell the hotel at time of booking if you are a member of Holiday Inn priority club to receive your points?
This reunion is totally informal, just a gathering of old friends and comrades from a very special and unique unit to talk over old times.
Again if you wish please wear your medals on the Saturday evening
Included in the price is the use of the hotels large indoor swimming pool, Sauna and whirlpool spas so if you want to use them don’t forget your costumes, towels are supplied.
Please can everyone inform me when they have booked, also if your wife or partner will be with you and names please, this is important to me as it saves having to phone people up to check, Thank you.

will be on the weekend of May 20th 21st 22nd

Boat Accident

For those who didnt see the clip here is the link to it 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3p5U_VNons

Any Ideas for next Reunion

If anyone has any ideas or suggestions for our next reunion or if anybody has anything interesting to post please email me.

Blackpool Fun Run 2010

10k fun run 2010 Finish time 65 minutes

Thanks to all the people who donated we raised £200 plus £34.69 Gift aid for Help4Heroes and I didn't get any  blisters?

My Army Days 2

My Army Days 2

Mick Ramsays Photo Album

Mick Ramsays Photos

Reunion 2010 Blackpool

The 2010 reunion was held in Blackpool this year. We had a total of 29 attended this included wifes and relatives this was double our last year total. The feedback I have had indicates everyone enjoyed themselves and the weather although a little chilly held out for us. I would like some ideas for our next years venue and itinerary. Thanks for supporting my H4H sponsorship, the winner of the scratch card was J Loach and he kindly donated the prize to the charity, so they got £42+£12 and the group photo auction raised £5 making a total of £63.20 with tax rebate for the H4H charity a good effort.
Dinger. 

Reunion 2010 Blackpool 13-14 April

Front row left John Toase, Mick Milward, John Bell, Jim Randle, Back row left Ian Hoskins, Mick Ramsay, Dave West, Ron Tobin, Keith Orrell, Dave Cowel, Bill Kent.


2010 Reunion Members and Wifes Blackpool

Keith Orrell's Photo Album

From Keith Orrell

Jim Loach, Keith Orrell

Mike Milward's Photo Album

2010_04_13

Jim(Timber)Woods BEM

I have just heard that Jim (Timber)Woods passed away on the 4 March, He had not been well for some time I spoke to his wife last September and he was in hospital then. I got the news through Hank Lawence's web site he was a great man and well respected in both 11sqn and 410 plant troop. RIP Jim

Changing Times

John (Dinger) 2010



Young John(Dinger) 1959

Brian (Taff) Stephens Album

 

Click on the above title to view the album

Brian (Taffy) Stephens Photos

Mick Higgins? Jock D.... Danny Delaney. Me (Taffy).Occles G..?

Ray. Me. Archie. Tony Evans.Occles B...?

Major Pike(L) Geordie(Rubberlips?)Chalky White Best man@wedding

Gang of us in NAFFI inc: Me arm up. Scouse Ramsay (backL). with Legs Kent. Dennis Orielly (C). Ginger Walker (FR).

At NAFFI. Ray Carter(L).Jock Fairley.Me. 'Natio'Yorky Jennings.Billy Rose.

From Left Jock McItteric,Benny Mctae, Taffy Stephens,Robbie?,Geordie?,

Danny?,N/K?.

Brummy?, Ray Carter, Tony Evans.

From Left standing. Joe Nelson.Ray Carter.
Smudge Smithers.Jock Webster
Kneeling. Taffy Stephens.Tony Evans.


From left Mick(Higgy)Higgins.Taffy Stephens.
Mick Malloy.Billy Brown.Walt Dixon.





From left rear Jock Webster. Tony Evans.Don Davidson.
Vince Monaghan.Front right Paddy Hutchinson.
Paddy(Bulker)Orielly.Jock(Ting)Watson.Dickie Bird.Walt Dixon .

Ron (Gus) Blake

I recieved the following email today from David the son of Ron Blake who passed away in 1999. If anyone would like to get in touch with David about Ron please email me.

Dear John

I was interested to see your 410 blog because my father, Ron Blake - or Gus as he was known - was a member and appears in your list. Unfortunately he pased away in 1999 and my mum, Jean passed away in 2007.

We lived in Penang from 1959 to 1962, came back to the UK and than went to Hameln in Germany for a couple of years before Dad left the Army after 25 years service. Dad then worked for Hampshire County Council, Somerset County Council and Suffolk County Council before he retired.

I've been doing some research on our family history and would love to hear anything you can remember about Dad's time in 410, if your paths crossed. I've recently started sorting boxes of family photographs and there are a good number of army photographs from Malaya - it would be great if you could identify some of the events or people if I can send you copies. Or if you have any which include Dad, I'd love to get copies, I've looked through your video on the website but can't see any pictures of Dad.

Do you know if the records of 410 are held somewhere, possibly in the Royal Engineers Museum?

Regards

David Blake

OBITUARIES

I have been informed that the following ex troop members have passed away.

Not Forgotten.

Michael Higgins (Plant Op)
Ken Orrel (OC)
Ron Jarvis (Trp Sgt)
Vincent Monaghan (Armourer)
Steve Hall (Plant Op)
Don Davidson (Plant Op)
Ron (Gus) Blake (MPF)
Major Pike (OC)
Mick Malloy (Fitter/Plant Op)
Jim Woods MBE (Quartermaster)
Jim Howels (Plant Fitter)
Ian Hoskins (Plant OP)
Ben Davidson(Plant Op)
Norman Ford(Plant Fitter)

Pingat Jasa Malaysia (PJM)

Dave Cowel has sent me the link for the application form for all those who have not yet applied for their medal click the above title for the link

About the Pingat Jasa Malaysia

The Pingat Jasa Malaysia (PJM) is a special medal of service to
eligible United Kingdom Service personnel who served from Independence
until the end of Confrontation in the security of Malaysia, during the
period 31 August 1957 and 12 August 1966 inclusive.