This year saw a slightly later club gathering March rather than February as we felt the weather would be more clement. What used to be a two day event in some cases it has turned to five. Our brother Dave Graham arrived on Tuesday to make sure he saved us a place at the bar and myself and Allen joined him on Wednesday. The journey to the hotel slightly more entertaining by the fact that they decided to rebuild the tram system along the promenade but in the true airborne spirit we all managed to find the hotel.

On Friday the main body started arriving. As our numbers have increased over the years almost 300 hundred people trying to book in made for frantic entertainment. Among some of our older members although he won’t thank me for saying it, Padre Alan Steele stood in for the current Padre Anthony Feltham-White who as you know is currently deployed to Afghanistan. Once again our Arnhem vets and Chelsea Pensioners arrived at the crack of dawn and started reliving old wars.

The evening then continued with its normal quiet understated way going into the very early hours. Saturday morning came around all too soon with the more hardy members seated at breakfast early (the restaurant did not open until 0800 hrs but no-one bothered to tell them). I believe the reason for this is age, it takes them longer to walk to the Legion so they leave early.

Cpt James Hooley gave a presentation on the battalion prior to deploying and his new appointment on recruiting at Catterick. Judging by the way that the battalion’s are working he is doing a good job.

By 19.00 hrs nearly 300 people were seated ready for the reunion dinner. We were highly delighted that the CO Lt Col Andy Harrison MBE had managed to attend although the method he chose (being shot and hit by a rocket seems a bit extreme) but he is airborne. As we thought that the CO and our President Nick Copperwait would not be attending due to prior commitments we were very thankful that Ruth Copperwaite and Caroline Harrison were able to attend. After dinner the CO gave his last speech on present day operations for 2 Para which was well received.

The CO presented Pat Farley a 52 year old teenager who had run from his home in Bolton to Blackpool and back raising £1600 for the club with an engraved mirror. The prize donated by John Mitchell a holiday for two in Nepal was won by Mr Bill Stanaway and the second prize of a holiday in Blackpool was won by Mr S Sullivan. A big thank you goes to everyone who participated and made this a success.

Finally the church parade on Sunday morning was well attended by our members and extended families.

Church parade over goodbyes were said and plans made for next years reunion which will be Friday 9 to Sunday 11 March 2012.

Dave