The 62nd Reunion at CTCRM on Saturday and Sunday 13th/14th September
After weeks of torrential rain the sun shined on the righteous again. The AGM was fruitful, but the highlight was a truly inspiring talk by the Commandant, Brig Bill Dunham OBE, about the Corps and training today. He praised the RMA mentoring scheme as most valuable. The South West Region won the Drysdale Trophy again for the best fund raising performance and 3 Presidents’ Awards were given to Bill Brown (Leicester), Anne-Marie Taylor (Canterbury) and Ted Small (North Devon).
Hundreds flocked to the Saturday activities where the competitions were very well supported with impressive results achieved. The top four shots all had groupings of fewer than 25mm at 25m with an unzeroed weapon – not a bad effort. The team winners (Grimsby and Cleethorpes) managed a combined average of 45mm by the four man team. The inter Branch Quiz competition took place outdoors again and was won by North Devon with 40 points (50 being the maximum). The top 12 teams all scored over 30 on a very hard quiz. The detailed results are in this tab too.
The Savile Room took on the appearance of a small fair with more stalls than ever. Of particular note was the teams from Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre and the “once a marine website” who did spectacularly well for Help for Heroes. Both the Museum Shop and the Gold Wire Badge Company did a roaring trade over the two days and the raffle was extremely well supported. Even Central Office managed to sell plenty of RMA Ties and Bowties (£6) and RMA Ladies Scarves (£9). These can still be purchased from Wendy at CO.
The Standard Bearers Competition was very hard fought with 6 excellent competitors. Sharky Ward (Poole and District) was narrowly beaten by Marty Power (Reading and District) and Roy Rigg (Windsor and District) ran them a very close third. Congratulations to Marty on his success.
The day culminated in a superb concert given by the Band of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines CTCRM. Following the concert everyone made their way to the Drill Shed where the Corps of Drums performed Mess Beatings whilst the sports hall was being transformed into a dance hall. During the dance a superb hot buffet was served and the dance band played for everyone to dance the night away – and they did till past midnight.
Sunday dawned bright and clear with roughly 500 on parade and around 1,500 all told. The Parade was excellent as Wynne Jones dedicated the new Bath and Bristol Standards. It was particularly pleasing to see the new Branches of Highlands and Scarborough and District having their brand new standards dedicated too. We were privileged to have the CGRM, Maj-Gen Garry Robison, as our Reviewing Officer and he was joined by the Commandant, Corps RSM, WO1 (RSM) Barry Dawe RM and countless other serving Officers and SNCOs. CGRM applauded the efforts of the RMA over the last year and urged us to do yet more to support the corps in their punishing commitments.
The day ended with drinks in the Drill Shed listening to the fantastic RMA Concert Band that maintains not only the highest professional standards but a gruelling recording programme too. Our thanks must go to the Recruits and the Royal Marines from 40 Cdo RM who made Reunion so special.
Next year’s Reunion will be held on 26/27 September 2009 and will coincide with the official opening of the Memorial Wall at CTCRM. There will be well over 2,000 there next year – make sure you are one of them.
For the latest pictures from Reunion please click here
