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Once again we gathered at the guardroom for passes, but this time, Jim Sparks was with us. Not only him but Jim Colclough, Colin Moat and Mike Lee were with us for the first time too. There were 11 of us accompanied by 5 ladies, the biggest collection of Luxies we’ve assembled since the 20th anniversary that Steve Tank organised. Those attending were; Malky and Sue Blease, Dave and Sally Colbert, Jim Colclough and Ann O’Connor, Mike Lee, Rod McKenzie, Colin and Diana Moat, John Robson, Rob and Gill Savage, Adrian Small, Jim Sparks and Chris Stratford.
The Trenchard museum doesn’t get any less interesting if you have been before, there is always something different to look at which may have been missed last time. It was good to see the ladies enjoying the exhibits and it gave the blokes a chance to share their intimate knowledge of a RAF apprenticeship. We owe a big thank you to Min Larkin and his colleagues for turning out on a Sunday again and for the work and time they give in keeping the museum going.
The WW1 trenches were fascinating. They had been there since 1914 when they were dug for troop training prior to action on the Western Front. The last Station Commander learned about them and decided they should be excavated and restored to their original condition. A gang of trainees who were waiting for trade training were given the task and have done an excellent job. They have uncovered large sections of front-line, rear support and communication trenches and have restored them using military manuals from the period. We were shown round by Flt Lt Andrea McFarlane who was very enthusiastic and knowledgeable. She explained that work was still in progress in uncovering further parts of the trench system and that MoD archaeologists were soon arriving to search for more buried information.
If you’d like to know more, there is a good explanation at the RAF Halton web site.
The Shoulder of Mutton had done us proud in setting a table for 16 and providing a waitress to collect our orders.
The food was splendid but it didn’t stop the banter and laughter that had been going on all day. We didn’t drink as much as we used to in the Shoulder in the old days but all the drinks were paid for by Roddy and Jim Colclough. I’m tempted to try a joke about two Scotsmen in a pub, but I will restrain myself. We all thank you both for your generosity. Jim Sparks was in fine form and in a typically Texan way wanted the biggest of everything. When the time came to pay, we had just started to tot it all up and were throwing money on the table when Jim came back from the bar and said he’d paid for the lot! A truly magnanimous act Jim, thank you very much indeed. I think, in part, it was a way of throwing down the gauntlet to Steve Tank in his apparently constant battle to out-do him!
Many more generous contributions were made to the window fund after lunch for which, many thanks. We still plan to have it installed and inaugurated next year (2012) but the date is yet to be confirmed. Please see the windows page for further details.
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