Dortmund Skyline

A familiar landmark graces the Dortmund skyline. This tower stands in Westfalen Park. I spent many happy days visiting this park with my family and made frequent journeys up the tower. I expect you did too.

The location of the 2000 Reunion

Another familiar Dortmund landmark. I am sure that every soldier who was stationed in Napier Barracks sampled the amber nectar brewed in this building.

Smiles from the Men

Bob McSeveney, Archie Cairns, Steve Freeman-Pannett, Bill Lawrence, Roy Andrews, Tony Morgan, Ted Williams, John Seymour, Tom Burdett, Peter Lori, Geoff Scott & Joe Radford (RA)

A familiar landmark in Napier Barracks

Can you Help?

Do you have any photographs of the reunion in Dortmund that you would like to share on the web site?

If you have please send them to Roy Andrews the Secretary or if you have the facilites to scan them. Please scan them in at 150 dpi , save them as a jpg file and email them to the Webmaster

Smiles from the Ladies

Lorraine Burdett, Anne Seymour, Pat Andrews, Beryl Scott, Hilda Cairns, Heather Scott, Marlene McSeveney, Margie Lawrence, Rita Lori & Ulla Freeman-Pannett

Other ladies present but not pictured in the photographAnn Morgan & Brenda Radford

A Reunion in Dortmund

By Roy Andrews

Some came by plane, some came by boat, car and with caravan, some by the Channel Tunnel, to our reunion in "Dortmund" Germany. All to join two members Peter Lori and his partner Rita plus John and Anna Seymour who still reside in Germany.

It was marvellous to see 24 members coming from far and wide, intent on enjoying themselves and they certainly did. The Weather was kind to us, more like midsummer the early May with temperatures soaring to 30 degrees centigrade. The Majority arrived Friday 12th May and was quick to find the watering holes, a snug little bar in the cellar of the "DREES Hotel" our home (the hotel I mean) for the weekend.

On the Saturday morning a little worse for wear (say no more secretary) it was time for a little nostalgia. Members made their way to various parts of Dortmund and surrounding areas that they were acquainted with. Steve and Ulla Freeman - Pannett teamed up with Geoff, Beryl and their daughter Heather Scott and went in search of the old Napier barracks and their old abodes. Yes they found the barracks gates barred and over grown but still there, looking over the gates there is the old RHQ even the old P.O.L pumps and gym, but the rest is now a golf course (Oh well that's progress for you). The trip included a run out to Summern to visit their old quarters. Heather was burn in December 1973 at the near by BMH at Iserlohn, not found this visit (has anyone got a map reference for Geoff). Heather decided to play in the sandpit that her older brother and sister had played in 26 years previously, when they lived there. The road system had changed a little and there were more houses, but they could identify their flat.

Several members visited the nearby Westfalen Park, which was having a motor show, Roy and Pat Andrews were impressed and almost come away with a brand new Mercedes, cars appear to be £1000's cheaper than the UK. At 18:00 hrs on the Saturday night everyone appeared for our annual General Meeting and Dinner. To start with photographs were taken mostly by Heather Scott (thanks Heather) who was afterwards voted honorary photographer for 260 Signal Squadron. We were all pleased to see our Chairman Major (Rtd) Tony Morgan back in the harness after a long struggle with illness; his charming wife Ann accompanied him. We were Pleased to welcome, for their re-union, Heather Scott who joined her parents, now becomes an associate member, Peter Lori's partner Rita, Archie and Hilda Cairns and Ted Williams. Also in our midst we had an old soldier Joe Radford, who was a National Serviceman in 1952 in Dortmund, he was in the Royal Artillery. After a log if leg-pulling i.e. "Plankie", he asked if he could join his wife as an associate member of the branch, everyone agreed. Well done Joe and Brenda we enjoyed your company and look forward to meeting you again on another occasion. During dinner a toast was made to absent friends After dinner it was back to the cellar bar to listen to tales and anecdotes of Dortmund and Ireland in the 60's / 70's. Everyone was saying how delighted they were that they has decided to come to Dortmund for the re-union. A thanks goes to Peter Lori for finding the Hotel and putting in the groundwork

On Sunday morning some members disappeared as quickly as they came, to catch boat etc. others caught planes in the evening to return to work on Monday, back to reality. A few stragglers hung on until Monday making a long weekend of it. What can I say, It was a wonderful weekend, see you all next year in Southend.

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