63rd Royal Marines Association Reunion CTCRM 2009
Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 September 2009 saw record numbers of the Corps Family descending on CTCRM for the RMA Annual Reunion. On Saturday, in the Saville Room, there were many different stalls offering various merchandise to purchase or just admire. The RMA Central Office had a shop for the first time selling a new range of canvas shopping bags, tea towels, car stickers and Corps Colour ties/scarves etc. These are available at any time for you to purchase from Central Office.
The shooting competitions and Inter Branch Quiz were very well contested and the results will be posted in full in the next newsletter (out in November). We are all very grateful to Phil Mills for his donation of a cup and winners medals for the next 10 years for the best Lady shot. Brenda Adams won this distinction as well as being second overall.
The indoor shooting competition had a cup for the first time named after Phil Garner from Grimsby who had been a very active Corps shot throughout his life.
Saturday night we were enthralled and thrilled by Ted Whealing and the RMA Concert Band. They played for almost 2 hours non stop to a full house, much to the delight of members and their guests. We then were truly privileged to witness a floodlit Beating Retreat by the Band of HM Royal Marines Commando Training Centre Royal Marines whilst sipping pimms. The evening’s entertainment continued with the buffet supper and dancing to the ever popular Dance Band.
On Sunday we witnessed nearly 3,000 members and guests for the Reunion Parade and Dedication of the Royal Marines Memorial Wall in memory of those killed in action since the turn of the century. Graced by the CGRM, the 800 members on parade were joined by two serving Royal Marines companies, troops under training and cadets. It was commented that it must be a long time since over 1,000 were on parade at the same time.
Throughout the weekend we were joined by family members of those whose names we treasure on the Memorial Wall.
A full report will be in the next newsletter, but the following photographs give you a flavour of the weekend.
Chris Terrill, made the documentary series for ITV called 'Commando; On the Front Line'. To film the series Chirs went through 32 weeks of training before going out to Afghanistan to join the Royal Marines from 42 Commando. Chris said "My time spent with 'Royal' was one of the most special of my life and I do not want to lose contact with the Corps". He has alos written a book called 'Commando' which is being reprinted at the moment (8th Edition) to which Chris has added a further postscript after attending the unveiling and dedication of the new Memorial Wall, CTCRM at the RMA Reunion on the 27th September 2009.