4 Royal Norfolk OCA Dinner Apr 02 from Issue 98 Jun 02

4 Royal Norfolk
Regimental Association Dinner Apr 02

Norfolk Section
The Britannia and Castle

4 ROYAL NORFOLK REGT OCA DINNER 2002
41 Old Comrades, and some quite young, met at the Gorleston Cliff Hotel on Sat 27 Apr. President Maj Tom Eaton particularly welcomed the younger element, below the salt: a strong contingent from serving members of the successor A (Norfolk and Suffolk) Coy, The East of England Regt, Michelle Stone, Mark de Kretser, Andrew Steward, Steve Mills, Edward Sayer, Paul Hipperson, Simon Hatch and Stephen Jones; 5 members of Thetford ‘Destroyer’ Platoon, A (R Norfolk) Coy, 6 (V) Bn The Royal Anglian Regt: Bob Dick, David Eyles, Vic Turner, John Williams and the Norfolk Editor, all wearing their MF and Rentamob decorations. (Sadly, Mick Rampling remains unwell and was unable to attend.) With the exception of Alec Barr who was unwell, every former A Coy CSM from 1972 was present: John Housego, Colin Sadd, Pat Budds and Alan Debenham. Two of the 3 officer survivors from 4 R Norfolk who went overseas in 1941 were present: Maj Tom Eaton and Vice-President Capt Mike Ashton MC. The 3rd survivor is Vice-President Capt John Barratt. Suffering from angina, Chairman John Bilyard sent apologies. At the AGM the healthy Annual Accounts, complete with customary adjustments, were presented by the Treasurer, ‘The Master’, Maj Fred Ayers TD, and the existing Committee were re-elected.
B&C 98 - Photographs not in print copy

Royal Norfolk survivors who went overseas in 1941:
Capt John Barratt, Maj Tom Eaton TD DL
and Capt Mike Ashton MC

(Capt Barratt wasn't present but imagery trickery places him there!)
Obituary Capt John AL Barratt TD - died 9 July 2002

Ben Turner, John Housego, John Williams,
Vic Turner

Bob Dick, Colin Sadd, David Eyles

Pat Budds and
Ray Pillar (d 2005)

Ted Sayer,
Paul Hipperson

Alan Debenham,
Andy Steward,
Steve Mills

Matthew de Kretze,
Michelle Stone,
Pat Budds

Stevie Jones,
Simon Hatch

Billy Blythe,
Charlie Keeble,
Maurice Eke,
Stan Hawes
and others

Bill Ladmore,
Peter Petrou

Wally Watson (d 04)
Reg Gunton

Freddie Parsley,
Billy Hansen (d 04),
John Howes,
Arthur Whittleton

Jack Lingwood (d 2005),
Bert Leech

Click photographs to enlarge

ABOUT THE STUFFED BEAR?
Maj Tom Eaton told of the 4th Bn at Gt Yarmouth when the funfair was looted and the Offrs Mess acquired a stuffed bear. In the summer of 1940 King George VI visited and the bear was hidden in the tennis courts. The Bn 2IC, Maj Knights, took the King to the Mess - via the tennis court! ‘I know what that’s for,’ said the King, ‘putting in subaltern’s beds!"
See B&C 100 Jun 03 for another tale: 'The King takes tea and coffee'
B&C 98

Editorial Rule
To qualify for inclusion in the B&C there is only one rule - something described must have been said to have happened.
The authority is the Editor, British Army Review No 114 Dec 96, `If the facts don`t fit the legend, print the legend’.
However, the rules of good taste, respect and confidentiality are always applied.

Rule Britannia!

Site edited and maintained by Major JL Raybould TD
Editor, Norfolk Section, The Britannia and Castle
B&C Norfolk Editor