About three years ago I was browsing Channel Four's 'Service Pals' looking for old mates from my National Service, when a name I knew sprang out at me, Ted Trott ex REME also looking for mates he served with at 237 Signal Squadron COMCAN GHQ Tanglin Singapore 1959 to 1963, as it included an e mail address I sent him a brief message to the affect we knew each other, at least I remembered him, shortly after on the same day Ted phoned me, we chatted for about 45 minutes during which time he told me he had also found one other ex REME mate, one Arnie Tromans.

Our thoughts now turned to the possibility of a small get together, as I was still in touch with two others from this period. Ted was using the UK Info disc to search for any name we could remember and posting short letters asking "Did you serve at........................?" Etc.

We quickly found one other ex REME bod from Wales named Brin 'Taffy' Walters, who took up the search with us, between us we sent out hundreds of letters and were rewarded with quite an impressive response and an eagerness to meet again. (I think there were only about three or maybe four who wanted nothing to do with our reunion) But the majority were keen as mustard.

We set a date for June 2004 at the Elgin Hotel Blackpool and set a deadline for booking as the hotel had only so many rooms to let us have, in the event we were taking late bookings and old pals were 'doubling up' so as to be all together again, despite this several had to book into nearby hotels.

Being one of the organisers I and my wife Freda decided to arrive a day early as I had been asked by Ted to take photos of the boys and girls as they arrived, and we were surprised to find Dave Ryall (EX R Sigs) and his wife Joan (Ex WRAC) had arrived before us!

I have to say here that about 09.0hrs on the day the main body were to arrive, indeed for some days prior I had had some misgivings, would everyone sit around muttering, "Who the H**l is that?"

But with Freda at my side we met just about every guest, ex squaddies or not, and took our photos made introductions where necessary, gave directions to the bar etc, many I recognised immediately, some had to jog my memory, I had to jog a good many more I have to say.

At about 10.30hrs I thought I'd see how they all were getting on in the bar, any doubts I had were vanquished by what I saw, it was like the NAAFI on pay day!! Almost seemed that the last forty odd years had never happened, fantastic to see and here, old pals meeting again after so long and carrying on as per usual.

We had three wonderful days of nostalgia, remembering absent friends and enough photos to satisfy a papparatsi convention.!

In all about 100 attended being made up of Royal Signals, REME and WRAC girls many with spouses, oh yes, we also had one ex Royal Navy guy who corned me on the last night and told how glad he was he had come along with his ex WRAC wife, and would I please make sure we have another one?

That one will be on 21st, 22nd and 23rd October 2005 at the Moathouse hotel Telford.