Then followed the Sermon and The Rev Godfrey Hilliard RN injected much humor into his prepared address. The hymn, "Dear Lord and Father of mankind" then followed after which came The Citation read by the Principal Director of Music Royal Marines. The Dedication Fanfare eloquently performed by the Fanfare Team of the Portsmouth band followed by The Turning of the Pages of the Book of Remembrance read by the Corps Drum Major. The hymn, "Eternal Father, strong to save" was then sung with great heart followed by The National Anthem. Following The Blessing came John Ireland's "Epic March" played by the orchestra as the congregation made their way out of the cathedral. This was another opportunity to meet up with old friends who could not make the previous evenings events but for all that, a great treat to meet them again. It was interesting to be able to scan through the many faces opposite during the service and try to put a name to a face and recall just how many years it must have been since we had last met. I recall meeting John Tucker, Ray Woodfield, Dave Hough, John Masters and many more.

Dickie Valentine, Lynn Lewry, John Wright, Len Lewry, Alan Ham and Dave Seed

After fond farewells, many of us repaired to the RMA in Southsea and being one who has not seen that area of Eastney for many years, I found it nostalgic at times when I recognized one certain building and confusing at other times when something didn't quite fit into my recollection of my old days in Eastney. It was interesting to see the now converted (no biblical pun intended) barracks church on our entry to the RMA access road.

During the weekend there had been many surprises and even more were to come. During the course of the afternoon more old faces showed up. Some of those faces were definitely old but I have to say that I am astounded by the youthful appearance of Jeremy Tugwood whom I last met probably sometime in the early to mid-70's! Jeremy, better known as "Jem" looks much the same as he was 30 years ago. Of course the list again is long when it comes to attendees but nice surprises were Alan Ham, Bill Callow, Len Lewry, Jack Arberry, Taff Ruffle, John Pring and more. John Pring and Bill Callow took several of the photographs displayed on this page and included is a rather tatty but lovingly preserved programme of a certain football team from 1965. There came the time when we decided to either move along, or that the premises were to close so we got a taxi and found ourselves at "Wetherspoons" in the center of Portsmouth. Surely by now we were all walking around stunned………..but I can still recollect the vast area that was the biggest public bar I perhaps have ever seen.

Now things are becoming very vague and all I can say that probably well after midnight we left there to return to our little house by the dockyard. Those who can better recollect my final activities of the late evening will do me a favour and put me right if I lastly suggest that we walked around the corner from the dockyard entrance to find a late night/early morning cafeteria whereupon we purchased take-away food. The days of shore-leave off my ship in Devonport, imbibing ample quantities of beer and on returning my stopping at the fish and chip shop just outside the dockyard gate came flooding back.

I have no idea what time we arrived back at our digs but I do recall that because Jamie had sent Bev off home to Gloucester with the family, he needed a place to sleep so we made up a threesome and he slept on the floor of our compact yet bijou room. Knowing full well that I had a flight to catch about mid-morning the following day, I awoke early and went to breakfast alone leaving the others slumbering. Already pre-packed I slid quietly out of the room and eventually found myself driving via the M3 towards London's Heathrow. I had a taste of what it's like to drive on a major highway in England on a Monday morning. SLOW! At times I think it would have been quicker to cycle there. I checked in, got my flight ok and eventually arrived back at my home base later that night with just the 40-minute drive to my home.

There are very few times in ones life that one is so fulfilled with such great combination of good times, great music and great friends. This for me was truly one of them and rates high on the short list. In closing I wish to pay tribute to many. Number one, to Barry Radford and Bob Cummins for organizing a truly great event. No real order of the remainder but surely great credit must go to the Principal Director of Music and all the participating musicians of the orchestra and the fanfare team. The cathedral choir was exemplary! Not forgetting the excellent small group who played at the reunion evening but I was so busy meeting old friends and talking a great deal that I missed most of the music and including the cutting of the wedding cake. What? Did I attend a wedding too?

See you next year.

If you don't go you won't know!

Richard (Dickie) Valentine.