The end of the beginning - the 2000 Reunion
We now move on exactly 60 years to Sunday August 13th, 2000
Driving eastwards along the B1108 road to the eastern outskirts of the town of Watton at about 11.30 hours the dismal site of the dilapidated entrance to the Royal Air Force station Watton slips past on my right. In 1940 this entrance was smarter and proud. Then the "Flying Fish" pub comes into view. This pub built about the same time as the aerodrome looks clean, smart and attractive. Just beyond the "Flying Fish" a narrow road through unkempt vegetation leads onto the concrete area in front of the four large RAF hangars. Behind these hangars can be seen the derelict accommodation blocks and other buildings of the 1940 RAF camp.
The Watch office, once the centre of much activity, now the office of the Airfield Warden, looks small and insignificant: overshadowed by self-set trees and the remains of the American control tower. It was near this RAF watch office that Air Commodore Robb would park his Me 108 when he came on visits from Brampton Grange. 2 group Headquarters in 1940.
Going onto the taxi track south of Hangar 4, it was here that visitors were parking their cars, I did likewise. The weather was hot and humid, mostly over cast, with periods of occasional bright sunshine. As soon as I started walking along the taxi track in the direction of the glider hangar I began to meet friends from other days. There was much hand-shaking and bonhomie. Absent friends from other days and other squadrons were enquired after and called to mind.
On the black surfaced, narrow, taxi track leading from the main concrete taxi track to the glider hangar a band was giving a performance of counter marching. The drum major was a young lady. The band comprised about 20 musicians, eight of whom being young ladies the remainder being young men.
The glider hangar doors facing west were wide open giving a clear gap of about 60 ft. Over 300 chairs had been arranged in rows across the hangar, the first row being approximately 20 ft inside the hangar and facing the wide open doors at the western end. This was where the service was to be held, contrasting with the air of dereliction of the old RAF camp, the glider hanger seemed to me to exude an atmosphere of clinical cleanliness and efficiency.
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