Holding on PTA's newest member hangs in there

New Years Eve 6 days to go... Beck's Hopes

Happy New Year to All.

Tilly's Christmas Party

Tilly sorting out the entertainment at Gail's works Christmas party.

Hope all have a great Christmas, looking forward to seeing you all in the New Year.

Gail Chris Nat & Tilly.

Invitation to take the guns to Almansa 24-26 April 2009

Hi All
Firstly happy Christmas and all the best for the new year.
Following Oudenaarde earlier this year there is an invitation to take the guns to Almansa 24-26 April 2009. Details of what is involved at www.almansa1707.es particularly "Programa 2009"
The organisers have offered a bag of Euros which should cover ferry costs to Spain for two guns and towing vehicles and most of the diesel/petrol required.
Nothing is written in stone but if Arnie goes and is towed by my Landrovermy probable itinerary will be Wednesday 22 at 11 from Portsmouth to Santander arriving 12.00 Thursday (Brittany Ferries). Google distance to Almansa is 495 miles so it will be two 250 miles legs and an overnight stop.
Return to get back for May bank will mean an overnighter to get to Santander in time for the 16.00 ferry on Monday. There is no real alternative on the return but going could leave Sunday and see a little bit of Spain. I will have 2/3 seats available' Boss for this trip is Roger Emerson wearing a Holcroft-Blood hat. It will probably be necessary to join (£10) for insurance purposes. Roger is probably taking Babel and will also have several seats available. At this point I don't know if we will be fed or housed there or if there will be a plastic camp. Max cost each will be B&B travelling and there, drinks and meals. Roger also suggests £100 deposit to cover possible short fall with expenses refundable when they come through. For the 2007 event I gather a group flew dead cheap to one airport, hired a car and left it at another when they flew back saving several days leave. Do not miss out on a balmy spring mini cruise on the Bay of Biscay and a short break in southern Spain
Cheers Ian

Christmas

Hello everyone,

Christine and I would like to wish everybody a very Merry Christmas and (hopefully) a Happy and prosperous New Year.
Looking forward to seeing you in 2009

Pass the Port!!!

Best wishes

Roger and Christine (Wass)

Chalky called me but i was out. He put a message on my answer phone teling me to phone him back but didnot give me his phone no and blocked caller id so auto phone back did not work.

If you can contact him tell him to phone me back and leave his phone no if i am out.

Or if you have his phone no you can email it to me on garth11home@aol.com

English Oak.

Its a good size, it takes a load OK, it has potential.

Locust spent Sunday morning starting the Red Cross relay marathon at Powderham Castle, a good day was had by all.

ORDCON 2008 1st November

On the 1st November Ordcon 2008 - to be held at the Thames Valley Police Force Training center

If you require full advert and booking form drop me an email. Speakers for the day below.

9:45 Registration

10:00 till 12:50 Morning Session

Major Ken Cross,Vice President IExpE - IExpE Supporting Explosives Practitioners

Emily Burns, English Heritage - The importance of Firearms and Explosives in interpretation

Adrian Whiting - Firearms

1:00 pm Lunch

1:45pm till 4:30pm Afternoon Session

Chris Chew of BERR - Exporting and OGELS

Don Mansfield - Firing Bombards for Filming

Malcolm Ingry President IExpE - Film Pyrotechnics

Locust to start Powderham Castle Relay Marathon 2008

Sunday 28th September 2008 at 10:30am at Powderham castle Locust will be setting off a Relay marathon in aid of the Red Cross.

If you are interested in helping please give me a ring/email for further details.

From the organisers bit.

Join us in the beautiful grounds of Powderham Castle, Exeter and run to raise vital funds for the British Red Cross. This year teams of four will run 10 kilometres each in a relay style to complete the marathon distance. Each runner will complete three laps of the off-road course, running around the castle and through the deer park. A cannon will signal the start of the race! Your supporters can get into the castle spirit, enter the family fun run and feast on a delicious hog roast as they cheer you on! Don't live in Exeter? Enjoy a weekend in Devon with special offers on hotels for relay marathon runners.

Membership Reminder

This is a timely reminder from Christine our very own Adjutant that the membership renewals for 2009 need to be arriving with her.
Final date for forms to be with SK membership secretary is 30th November, they need to be with Chris 2 weeks before this!!!
Those going to the Ordcon can bring theirs with them.

Melche is the teachers pet he was first to have his in.

JUST THE BIGGEST THANK YOU IN THE WORLD!

Arne went out to help Hammonds with run a training weekend for 100 scouts drawn from various Daventry District scout groups, to help them achieve their Master at Arms and Heritage Badges

Below are extracts referencing Arnie's team from the thank you email

My Dear Friends,

How can I ever say thank you enough for the efforts you all made for the Scouts Training Weekend in water-logged Woodford Halse – quite frankly you were all superb! The Scout Leaders are so grateful and so many of the Scout Association hierarchy are impressed by what we achieved so much so that they are falling over themselves to help do this event again. The success of the event is all down to your hard work and skills throughout the weekend. The ‘Buddy’ system seemed to work really well, the instructors quickly developed their routines and everyone seemed to be engaged in really impressive demonstrations.

Ian Milne and his happy crew of Gunners – Arnie was such a massive asset for the weekend, and I know that all Hammonds would like to thank you all for bringing the gun and all of your equipment and carrying it up the hill to the display area. The children loved the opportunity to work the gun, and I think that young Megan from Disney’s company will forever remember her time as Gun Captain.


full diary to follow from Bobbi.

Silly Hobbies

The south west section of the PTA took a trip out to the Great Dorset Steam Fair, at last people who pull around a larger loads than us.
The one above could be useful to move artillery?

Smoke fix you can get even dirtier just watching these.

August Bank Holiday at Belvoir Castle 2008

Saturday a visit to Belvoir Castle and a short trip to Melton Mowbury.

The big eat Saturday night.

Nurse Tania Says!!!!

The PTA's very own Greek Goddess. (oops sorry Roman Goddess)

Hope everybody got home safe. Chris and I really enjoyed the weekend and your company. We thought the tribute to Keith was really nice and I was so proud to stand guard on Keith's cannon. Chris and I are now looking forward to some sunshine in Rhodes ha! ha! ha! It's nice to be retired!!! So keep on working to pay my pension.

Yours in the cause

Roger

Keith's tribute:

We plan to hold the salute on the battlefield on the Sunday prior to the battle - please be at the battlefield ready to set up at 13.30 hrs. There will be both Parliament and Royalist guns taking part, and I would like to see ALL Artillery personnel, who are not crewing a gun on the day,form up behind the gun line.

There will need to be 3 set places for those guns who are doing particular shots (see below) - Locust, Donna & Arnie - These will be made apparent on the day. Keith's gun, Bellona will be set apart from the rest, the barrel will be draped with Keith's personal gideon, and the gun will remain significantly silent. Keith's family will be present specially for this salute, and it would be nice for them to see the Artillery acting as one.

The salute will take the form of a eulogy by our LG, a single shot from one of the PTA guns to start a minute's silence, followed by a rolling volley encompassing all the artillery and ending with the final shot from the 2nd PTA gun. Our infantry will salute as the rolling volley takes place.

NB Timings for this may have to be moved slightly (possibly approx 15 minutes earlier), but I probably won't have this information until the day so please be ready for it in case it changes.

Alan Stainsby has arranged with one of the Traders for a supply of black ribbon to be available. This will be heavily discounted in view of the occasion, but you will need to get your own. Please make the effort to do so.The lady's name is Lyn and her stall is called Pretty Things.

If any of you have spare bodies who could be available to give a hand in getting Keith's gun off the field at the end of the tribute, this would be much appreciated.

Popular Arnie

Arnie surround by Irish fan club at Oudenaarde

Arnie in all its beauty

Thanks to Tex we have this.

Wot a sorry lot!"

Hi All

Attached is a Hammond Warning Order.
Arnie has been invited and intends to be there.
It's a bit different but could be interesting.(Details below)
Hope some of you will join me. If you can, please let me know asap so I can
book you in.

Cheers Ian

12th, 13th & 14th September 2008 Scout Training Weekend
The School Field, Woodford Halse,
Nr Daventry, Northants. NN11 3RQ
Colonel Robert Hammond’s Regiment of Foote, in association with 1st Woodford Halse Scout Group are presenting on the 13th & 14th September 2008, a training weekend for 100 scouts drawn from diverse Daventry District scout groups, to help them achieve their Master at Arms and Heritage Badges.
To help the scouts achieve these badges, we are presenting, with others, a military camp based upon the formation of Colonel Robert Hammond’s Regiment for the New Model Armie of 1645. We will be accepting 10 companies of 10 scouts (1 will act as standard bearer with a block of 9 troops), and each of these groups will be named as per the original company list of Hammond’s Regiment.
The aim of the weekend is to meet the needs of the scouts to achieve their badges, through training with dummy musket, training pike and training sword. They will also be carrying out an archery competition throughout the weekend which is a compulsory part of the badge requirements - but this is being arranged and carried out by others. Our model for the weekend is the formation of a 17th Century Military Camp - the scouts will be camping in 20 traditional patrol tents in a military formation - Hammond’s will have a Colonel’s Tent and parade square, a Living History Camp, Exercise and Training Areas for Musket, Pike, Sword and Artillery.
The scouts will be marked on a point scoring basis for each of the activities in which they are involved, for their behaviour and their camp presentation. Their aim for the weekend is to be in the winning company - which will be presented with a special award. The members of Hammonds will be involved in the training of the Scouts in the martial aspects of the weekend, but we would also dearly love members with a wider experience to portray other aspects of 17th Century Life - whether that is an aspect of Living History - cooking, weaving etc.; or an activity like writing with quills, a musket ball making demonstration or striking coins. Please offer anything that you feel would be of interest to the scouts to make the whole event feel rounded and interesting to 11-14 year old boys and girls. We would also like to ‘Buddy’ up a member of the SK with each of the companies, to help them through the weekend.
We have a fabulous setting, a plastic campsite for those not camping in the Living History - a subsidised bar and a pig roast! The campsite will be open from 4pm on Friday 12th September to allow SK members to arrive and set up. There is an amount of setting up to be carried out, but we will have the assistance of the local Explorer Scouts who will also be responsible for Gate Guard and other jobs through the weekend.

New Member

Newest member of the PTA, due in Jan 2009.

Hi all PTA and Friends

We would like to thank everyone who sent Love
hugs and cards to us after the the death of Keith.
We appreciate all your loving kindness.

Love Christine, Brett, Jan.

Bishops Hull 28-29 June 2008

Locust with crew and friends attended Bishops Hull in Somerset
Weather was kind, mini muster was good fun.
Melchi ran in the Gun Captain's position and managed to get himself executed for breaking the parlay.

Would you trust this man with a cannon in europe?

Arnie out in Belgium July 2008

Arnie masquerading as one of Colonel Holcroft Bloods in Oudenaarde

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