Retreads Reunited

The first weekend in June saw a retread reunion by the first group who went through the School in 1971. An enjoyable weekend, as will be seen from the report and photographs below, was had by all. Should any other have a get-together, don’t forget to send a short report and a couple of pictures to the secretary for inclusion on the web site.

Retreads Reunited Weekend.

When retirement eventually arrived, and I had more time to reflect on what had been I guess a reasonably successful career, it dawned on me that while I had made hundreds of acquaintances during my civilian working life, I had not made any real friends.

My closest friends were mates who had been in the mob with me, and this started me thinking why were the people I had served in the Navy still such close friends, and not the people I had worked with in Civilian life. It didn’t take me long to realise that it was because I had never really had to rely on my civilian colleagues for my safety (Carrier Flight Decks sprung to mind) and of course I had never spent months or even years in their company to even attempt to form the long lasting friendships made on board the old “Grey Funnel Fleet”.

I decided then on impulse to see if I could track down the Guys who had been on the first Met Retread course with me back in 1971, and to find out if we would still be mates after not seeing each other for nearly 40 years? So with a little undercover work and help from the Cloud Observers site I managed to find six out of the nine of us who passed the course, and then using a mixture of bribery, corruption and flattery I managed to get them to agree to meet up for a one off reunion weekend.

The venue chosen for the meeting was at an hotel in that well known Naval Town “Grantham” (Don’t ask it’s a long story) and we all arrived on Friday at 14.00 with partners. By 14.10 I am pleased to confirm we were all in the bar swopping “sea stories,” in fact by the time Gill and Arthur turned up to join us for dinner, it was as if we still all on the course and all still in our twenties.

On Saturday everyone did their own thing during the day, but by 17.30 we were once more in the Bar waiting for Gill and Arthur to pick us up for dinner at their local pub, which they did in some style by arriving in 60′s double decker bus, driven by Arthur (Obviously a frustrated chockhead). And yes we did sing songs from Summer Holiday somewhat giving our ages away.

We had a really fantastic evening full of fun, good food, the odd drink and lots of laughter, and I am sure that Gill and Arthur’s landlord will eventually forgive them for bringing us to his nice country pub and allow them back in one day.

Sunday morning saw us all in a slightly fragile state, meeting for a very late breakfast, which is was where we all agreed that we had all enjoyed the weekend so much, we decided to meet again in 2012 for the 2nd annual Retread Reunion weekend, which somehow or other I seem to be organising.!!!

So did our time together prove the mate for life theory? on balance I think it did, but we still have three more guys to find to prove it completely, so if you know where Tony Frame, Chris Fray, or Fred Walker are hiding please let us know as we need them to join us in 2012.

Many thanks to everyone who attended this reunion, and made it such a great weekend, roll on 2012 and a fun weekend in down town Benbecula???
Jeff (Taff) Morgan.