THE 51ST Re-unions
As the years go by this area of the photographs, videos and other memories of our reunions is going to grow to the point we have now reached - where these need a zone of their own (parallel web sites called Online Xntres that are free forever and so will maybe be there for our great great grandchildren to wonder at!).
For the time being however the plan has been to develop things here, and then, one by one create a Online Xntre (Xntres are very simply structured online holding centres) satellite within our '51st universe of sites' for each reunion, containing all our records and memories of them.
Whilst not 'strictly' reunions there have in addition been, and will be more random '51st gatherings' at locations around the UK.
Two of these have been happy 'ad hoc' events organised by Ron Stevenson. Two further occasions when a number of us assembled, sadly, have been the very well attended funerals of Ron Stevenson and Terry Bates. And there are some 'meet ups' where there are (probably) no or few photos. John 'JR' Parker's travels, for example.
1st re-union - Hereford - 22nd-23rd January 2014 - marking the 50th Anniversary of the attestation of the 99 lads - on 22 January 1964 - as the 51st Entry RAF BEs, .
The reunion idea and group was developed by Rob Ross, Ron Stevenson and Ray Wilkinson. This - our first reunion - was a little over one year in the making.
2nd re-union - Hereford - 21st-23rd July 2015 - The 50th Anniversary of our Passing out day on 22nd July 1965.
Though logical - on reflection the gap was too long. Being the same 18 months as out training has been. However, that gave the reunion organisers time to grow the group significantly.
3rd re-union - Hereford - 20th-22nd/23rd July 2016 - marking the 51st Anniversary of our of the 51st Entry Passing Out day.
4th re-union - Hereford - 21st-23rd July 2017 - marking the 52nd Anniversary of our of our Passing Out day.
5th re-union - Hereford - 21st-23rd July 2018 - marking the 53st Anniversary of our of our Passing Out day.
6th re-union - Hereford - 21st-23rd July 2019 - marking the 54th Anniversary of our of our Passing Out day - in the 55th year since 22nd January 1964.
Next - on July 2020 - comes our 7th Reunion - celebrating the 55th anniversary of our 23rd January 1965 passing out parade.
The 1964-1965 Journey
Parents day - May 1964. The 51st arrived at RAF Hereford on 21st January 1964 and signed up (attestation) on 22nd January. The first significant hurdle was parents day in May 1964, by which time a number of Boy Entrants had been promoted to Senior Boy (red lanyard) playing their part in organising our development.