It is with such deep sorrow that I have to announce to the Association the death of our dear friend and comrade John Taylor.

I called John's home this evening for a chat to be informed that John had died in hospital on 11 May 2007 after a long and painful battle with cancer.

This comes as a bitter blow as I was calling John to tell him that in recent weeks I had managed to trace some of his old friends from 654 Signal Troop.

John had planned to attend this years Reunion in Dortmund and when he didn't turn up I sent him an email. John didn't check his emails often so I wasn't unduly concerned when I didn't get a reply straight away.

I am at a loss for words hearing the news of John's passing hard on the heals of Andy two great chaps that it has been a honour and a privilage to know..

May they rest peacefully now that all pain has gone.

It is with great saddness that I have to announce to the Association the death of our dear friend and comrade Andy Longhurst.

Lucia called me to tell me that Andy passed away after suffering a heart attack at home in bed at about 3.30 on Sunday morning 27 May 2007.

Andy has been unwell for a number of years and had only recently returned home from hospital after suffering a minor heart attack.

Andy joined 260 Signal Squadron (SAM) whilst it was based at Shoeburyness and served with the Squadron in Dortmund and in Belfast in 1973. He left the Corps about 1975 and I met him at Helles Barracks Catterick Garrison when he was leaving the Army. Naturely I gave him a good ragging when he left which he never let me forget. Andy joined the Association in 2002 and he attended two reunions in Dortmund in 2004 and 2007 with his wife Lucia.

Whilst we were waiting for our return flight from Dortmund Andy told me in confidence of his plans to move to Florida to retire and I was quite honoured that he thought to share his plans for the future with me.

Andy aquired a great many friends whilst he was serving in the Squadron and a great many more in the Association and I know his loss will be felt far and wide.

John Seymour

The forecast said bright and sunny and lovely and warm. I took this to mean the weather but it turned out to be the 10th annual reunion of 260 Signal Squadron (SAM) Association, and without a doubt they do get better every year.

At this point, I must say a special thanks to the Committee especially to Geoff and Beryl Scott who's ability to organise knows no bounds. They really are a very special couple and for that the members of 260 Sig Sqn give a very special thanks.

Being local I was one of the first to arrive but within minutes I was having a beer with Peter Sellers and his good lady, and for the rest of the day the members drifted in from as far away as Australia 'John McBain' and Cyprus 'Sam & Helen Sahota' which shows me we are the best reunion to be seen at.

We must also extend special thanks for all the hard work carried out by our Webmaster Archie Cairns through his determined efforts our Membership increases year on year.

So if there is anyone out there from 260 Sig Sqn (SAM) looking in please contact us NOW and we look forward to seeing YOU at our reunion next year.

Our A.G.M. went off without a hitch and from two proposals for the reunion in 2008 the one put forward by Chris Conroy, which may I say was extremely well presented, won the vote from the floor, and from what we have learned from our members who have attended reunions at Bannockburn in the past you can rest assured another excellent reunion is on the cards for 2008.

I have heard that flight's to Scotland are quite cheap and anyone experiencing difficulties attending the reunion please don't hesitate to let us know as we may be able to assist. Details of our plans will appear on the website soon. Remember the website is here to enable you to contact us so please visit us regularly and please don't hesitate to drop us a message from time to time we really do want to hear from YOU.

Saturday climaxed with a wonderful meal and the odd beer or two and what could make this reunion into the best ever, we hear once again. Well we were entertained by the truly talented Goldie Peters who accompanied himself on piano. Hearing him sing 'House of the Rising Sun' was not only very emotional, bringing back lot's of fond memories, it made the whole weekend worthwhile.

Sunday is always tinged with a little sadness as some of us have to make our way home leaving behind those lucky ones who stayed on till Monday, and following on from the News that the best day is always the last, the numbers staying on behind this year increased remarkably from those who stayed on during the Reunion in Dortmund in 2004. It really goes without saying that the Reunion in Dortmund 2007 was ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC and we are so sorry if you missed it.

My final thought's for the weekend are that I am truly lucky to have such great friends from my time in the Army and without a shadow of a doubt the time spent in their company is a real pleasure every reunion surpasses the previous years event.

This is clearly reflected in the efforts made by members and their partners to be part of the experience. Bannockburn 2008 will surely be a Reunion to Remember and we hope YOU will be there to share in the experience. Dates and Details will on the website soon.

To our President Stan Howard, Our Committee and to all of you who made my weekend the splendid occasion it was. MANY THANKS

See you all soon

John Seymour
Chairman

In the last week or so we have made contact with several ex-members of the Squadron. Just like buses you wait ages for one to come along then a dozen turn up all at once.

Signalman Syd Wilson an Ed was stationed at Hubblerath Düsseldorf serving with 217 Signal Squadron. In 1966 Syd with a bunch of other lads from 217 Sig Sqn moved to Duisburg to join a small detachment from 217 Sqn already embedded with 36 Heavy Guided Weapons Regiment RA providing communications for Thunderbird MkI Missile. Yes the 'Mark One' it is not a typo.

In response to the East German Government's decision to construct the Berlin Wall in 1961 the British Government ordered extra troop's be sent to BAOR. The Regiment was deployed to Sundern in Gütersloh and not long after that moved to Düisburg.

The elements from 217 Signal Squadron joined 654 Signal Troop (SAGW) which had been formed at Pembroke Dock in 1965 and moved to Duisburg to take over responsibility of the communications for the Regiment using the SR B70 Radio Relay System at about the same time the Regiment was re-equipped with the Thunderbird MkII and a short while later moved to Napier Barracks, Dortmund.

In 1967 Syd left 654 Signal Troop on posting to 22 Sigs, where he stayed for 7 months before being posted to 30 Sigs.

Syd remembers Troop OC Capt Greatrix, Mick 'Blue' McKigney, Alec Johnstone, Alex Forbes, Jock Mahoney, Paddy Macardle, Titch Dryhurst, Jock Padderson, Cuts Cunningham.

In his email to me Syd writes: " Except for the OC we all came across to 654 Troop from 217 Sig Sqn in 1966."

Syd has recently been appointed Chairman of 60's 16ers Association, an association for ex members who served with 16 Signal Regiment including HQ BAOR Signal Troop during the 1960s.

Never the less with a little bit of coaching we have managed to persuade him to come back and join us, and we look forward to meeting up with him later this year at Blandford during the Corps Reunion weekend.

Syd has sent me some photographs of his time in 217 Signal Squadron which includes several photos of some of the lads that joined 654 Signal Troop and ultimately 260 Signal Squadron (SAM). CLICK HERE to check them out.

Can your remember the old art images which were transmitted over our D11 Radio's and printed out on teleprinter's in the COMCEN's back in the 1960's and 70's especially around Christmas & Easter..

I have always been fascinated as to how these images were designed and created and when I first became interested in computer's I learned that the term use to describe this form of art is ASCII or Digital Art.

I recently downloaded a small piece of free software from the Internet and used it to create this piece of digital art using a small image of the 'Golden Jimmy' which I used to make the website logo.

The software simply converts Image Pixels into HTML Code replacing the pixels with alphanumeric characters and substituting pixel colours to create font colours. Sounds complex I know, but the end result is quite amazing. CLICK HERE to check it out. Hope you like it!

Michael aka (Tich) Wray made contact on the 27 December 2006. Tich served with the Squadron in the late 70's at Dortmund, Derry and with 5 HAD in Portadown before being posted to 249 Sig Sqn. Tich would like to hear from anyone who remembers him especially those who owe him money. If you would like to contact Tich CLICK HERE to send him an email. Tich has just sent in these couple of photographs for the rogues gallery..

On my arrival home after a trip to Exmouth I was delighted to find that Tom Benson had provided me with a number of important clues which I believe will assist greatly in tracing many of the lads listed in the Search for Old Comrades pages.

Tom writes: "Following a presentation by 216 Para Signal Squadron in 1974, ten members of 260 Squadron showed an interest in joining the 'ParaSigs'. Nick Neilson, Ray Fallowfield and I were among them." So who were the other seven volunteers? Tom also mentions Jack 'Clippy' Miller big fan of CB Radio. Clippy was last seen at 1 Div Verden circa 1981.

But where is 'Clippy' now?

Those of you who served in 260 Sig Sqn in Shoeburyness and Dortmund will surely remember Tom Benson's Artistic skills. Tom attended the 2002 Reunion in Loughborough and was recently back in touch with me. Tom sends his regards to everyone and has sent in a replica of his (Support & Manpower) logo which graced the Stadt Bin in the Vehicle Compound in Dortmund. CLICK_HERE to check it out.

RADIO CHECK OVER Click Here

An interactive image map displaying ariel images of Napier Barracks from outer space. You can scroll and zoom in on the image map and even check to see if your old army married quarter is still where you left it. The page is slow to load so be patient

In May 2006 Chris Conroy walked the Great Glen Way and has the scars to prove it. What with midge bites, nettle stings and great bulging blisters. So who notices the rain anyway. Join Chris as he goes in search of the Loch Ness Monster.

SOLDIER MAGAZINE Click Here