tonyturf

It is 20 months since my father "Big Ray" passed away. He wrote in this thread many times of his affection towards the men he served with in Germany 56-58, about the re-unions which he attended each year with eight members making the annual meetings on a regular basis. I drove my mother and father to his last re-union (oct 2013) which was barely 2 months before he passed away. Although he only made it for the Saturday and the evening meal he was especially grateful to me for "getting him there" as he knew he would be making his last week end with these special men. These men have met annually every year since 1958 and I know my father was saddened to be leaving them. Though he will not know, he made it to every re-union. In the year that followed my father`s death, two more of these elite men were to succumb to illness, my mother and I attending their funerals in Doncaster and Mansfield to "represent my father". The remaining five men have vowed NOT to attend any more re-unions but to remember their time together. I guess we will meet four more times (there will be no one to meet at the last funeral) Our area does not seem the same without my father as chairman, meetings seem to be accompanied by a hollow void in my chest, a dry throat and a yearning for things to return as they were. It`s a wonderful group though and the future of the club looks to be in safe hands.Tony NORTH STAFFS AREA M.V.T.

Well you lot have a good sense of humour,......I hope. Ofcourse we don`t all claim Eisenhower was driven around in our jeeps, that`s just people trying to add glory to a simple machine, trying to add value or esteem, pathetic really, besides. Theres no way Patton would of given up MY jeep to Eisenhower!!!!! :-D

Thankyou for the welcome comments, As for telling any good tales, I`ve spent too much time listening to my Dads to have any of my own!!!! Though myself and Mr Symmonds did once bring London`s embankment to a standstill with a K2 naafi van on route from Kent to the potteries on it`s maiden voyage following purchace. A stamping of feet, a kick and a profannity or two and it fired back into life in the nick of time. Our very own ice cold in alex journey, We were even accompanied by a lovely nurse, My wife Karen (well somebody had to drive the car back and it wasn`t going to be Mark "the purchacer" or me giving up a 250 mile trip in the katy):-\

It`s that short term memory playing up again I suppose. Anyway, Dad, Don`t forget that £50 I lent to you YESTERDAY!!!!

Hello, Tony from Stoke on trent or Tonyturf by my username, Here to brighten your day, make you laugh, cry, snigger or simply poo your pants, Usually at my expense!!!!!. Proud owner of jeep and BSA m20 motorcycle. Member of Northstaffs area MVT. I get inside an 18 yr old everyday!!!! but it`s an old ERF lorry. Hope to put faces to usernames in time. See you on the show scene.:nut:

ABWO= Airborne Battle Wheels Oosterbeck

Typical, a sunday morning surprise!!!!. Why not a saturday evening surprise so I get a FREE room!!! Oh, and for FREE don`t read AVAILABLE ha ha!!!!

That is the GMC aquired mid 80`s, Not the photo taken mid 80`s, Else I`d be as OLD as you now dad!!!!. ha ha. Anyhow, sorry to jump on the welcome thread so WELCOME Ross, I`ll expect my invitation to PA forthwith!! I`ll drive the damn jeep there if I have to!!

Well, I may run THE business now but you`ll always be welcome to come and make the coffees! Anyway, The GMC will need readying soon!!!! My first post by the way!