835 Royal Naval Air Squadron Old Comrades Reunion Website

Events

835 Squadron Last Reunion

 - Pictures below!

The 2005 reunion of 835 R.N. Air Squadron was held at Honiley, near Warwick on the 2nd of April.  In all fifty three people sat down to dinner and everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves, We have of course Donald Payne to thank for laying on such a superb finale for the old Squadron

There was just one speech at the dinner when I thanked Donald for his tremendous efforts and Jock Bevan for providing a very appropriate menu for the last reunion. The next of kin of Jack Dalton and Ken Wilmot were especially welcomed as was Han Werner Grosse. I reminded the gathering that we often heard tell of "Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines" but we didn't hear very much about those magnificent men who kept the 'planes in the air.   There was a round of applause for Bill Banham and the ground crews who were present.

David Whittick was in everyone's thoughts and Get well cards were circulated for signature by all present.

I closed my speech by asking all  present to remember those of our brethren who gave their lives in WWII and those who have died since then in particular Barry Barringer who died last year.  We also included those comrades of Hans Werner Grosse who lost their lives in combat with us.   We then toasted "Absent Friends". Gossip, chitchat and running over old memories went on for some time after the dinner.    

At the meeting we held on Sunday morning it was decided that this was the last LAST reunion but no-one wanted everything to  come to a sudden full stop, so it was agreed that pub lunch get together would be arranged at regional levels at odd intervals for those who wanted to keep memories afloat.

There will be a squadron news sheet each year to circulate snippets of news I receive from squadron members.  This will also be published on the web site.

I had a very pleasant surprise after the dinner had finished when  Di Dalton (Jack Dalton's  sister-in-law) presented me with a needlework picture of a Swordfish.   It is a magnificent piece of craftwork and I was really gob smacked.   She and her husband Bill were so pleased that I was able to tell them about Jack's last flight - I was out on anti u-boat patrol at the same time as Jack disappeared.

I've recorded as much as I can remember about the reunion but at our age memory isn't our strongest attribute so apologies if I have missed out anything important.

Best wishes

Bob Selley

14 Apr 05

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Pictures courtesy of Humph and Reia Jones

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