21st ANNIVERSARY REUNION
WEEKEND 9th - 12th SEPTEMBER 2016
The Hilton Hotel, Old Common Road, Basingstoke & North Camp Methodist Church. Farnborough
Friday afternoon started with an informal "Meet & Greet", giving all an opportunity to meet each other, tell us all "A Tale Or Two" about their time and service in The Canal Zone and receive their Canal Zoner Fez. New friendships were formed and old one re-united.
Saturday morning, after breakfast, it was a coach trip into Windsor with plenty of time to see the sights, do some shopping, have a bite of lunch or just hop-on hop-off the local buses for a trip round the area. It was then back to the hotel to prepare for our evening Dinner/Dance.
Guests attending this year were: Air Commodore, Ian Kirkwood, RAF & WO1 Keith Weller, Royal Navy
Everyone was individually introduced to our guests during our pre-dinner reception. A formal Dinner followed with speeches which proved to be most amusing and entertaining. We were then entertained until the early hours by Nara, a vintage singer who not only sang to us all but never refused the offer of a dance with the guys.
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SUNDAY SERVICE & PARADE
After a leisurely breakfast, at 11:30am everyone caught the coach to the Royal British Legion Club in Farnborough for pre-Parade refreshments and to await the arrival of further VIP's, local cadet forces, other Standards, band etc.
Guests of Honour for our Canal Zoners Service & Parade included: The Worshipful Mayor of Rushmoor, Cllr. Jacqui Vosper - Air Commodore Ian Kirkwood, RAF - Commander Daniel Thomas, Royal Navy, HMS Kent - Major Tom Donohoe, Royal Engineers - WO1 Keith Weller, Royal Navy.
At 1:15pm we formed up under the direction of Parade Marshall, Neil Hickman, Sgt Major Instructor. The Old Basing Band then lead the Parade to the North Camp Methodist Church. Also joining us on Parade were Army & RAF cadets from the local units in Farnborough, complete with Standards.
Upon arrival at the church, we were met by Padre Pat Aldred, Senior Chaplain 11 Inf Bdge & HQ South and David Betts, Aldershot Garrison Chaplaincy Team, who were to conduct our Canal Zoners Service of Remembrance.
Following the Service, the Parade re-formed and the March Past was taken by all visiting VIP's. We continued to the War Memorial for our Wreath Laying Service, with wreaths being laid by all our dignitaries.
It was then back to the British Legion for well earned refreshments and a chat. All our dignitaries joined us and spent time meeting everyone who had taken part in the days events. At 5:00pm the coach returned us to the hotel in time for evening dinner.
Our thanks go our to the St. John's Ambulance Brigade (luckily not needed), Farnborough Police who guaranteed our safety on Parade by halting the traffic along our route, North Camp Methodist Church for being so accomodating to us and, of course, to the Royal British Legion, Farnborough, for all their support and use of their facilities.
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