Author: Rachel Semlyen
Saturday 19th September 2020
Unfortunately, due to the coronavirus epidemic, we have had to cancel this event. Stay well everyone.
We know members enjoy getting together for comradeship and commemoration of the squadron. However, the last few years have been difficult for many people to travel and for our small committee to organise. At the meeting at Elvington after last year’s reunion, it was suggested that we have a simpler, less tiring—and less expensive—event all on one day. The President, Bill Ballantyne, and committee have therefore decided to book a special “77 Day” at the Yorkshire Air Museum & Allied Air Forces Memorial museum at Elvington on Saturday 19th September for a ceremony and short service followed by a buffet lunch.
Tours of the iconic and unique Halifax are again offered to members at the special price of £20 per person, (free for veterans) either in the morning or the afternoon. Please note that this is an amazing, though limited and physically demanding experience (over 16s only).
Programme:
10.00 Pre-booked Halifax tours at £20 per person / free time to explore the museum.
11.00 Ceremony at the Memorial followed by a service in the Chapel.
12.00 Buffet lunch and get together at £14.00 per person
2.00 -2.45 The Association’s annual general meeting
3.00 Remaining Halifax tours / free time until museum closing time.
We look forward to meeting as many of you as possible. Do remember to book your accommodation early as York is usually very busy. If you need any help with this, let us know. And do keep in touch!
If you are interested in taking part in the September 19th event, please contact Rachel Semlyen as soon as possible by email or telephone so that we can make plans. We need the names of people planning to come and if you wish to book a Halifax tour. Payment can be via the website (77squadron.org.uk) on the Membership and Donations page, or by sending a cheque made out to 77 Squadron Association and posted to the Treasurer with the names of those participating.
Email: info@77squadron.org.uk for the attention of Rachel.
The weekend of 14th and 15th September saw our 30th Annual Reunion at Elvington. It was lovely weather and around fifty guests came to remember their fathers, grandfathers, friends and uncles who took part in the most dangerous missions of WW2, flying in their hundreds from all along the east side of England mostly at night to Germany, many never to return. Some were lost at sea, others buried in known or unknown graves in the Netherlands, Belgium and Denmark. Some survived a crash but died in captivity or whilst evading or escaping.
An Act of Remembrance was conducted at the memorial (completed 30 years ago by the Association on September 16th 1989), by the Revd Geoffrey Garside, whose father-in-law was Ralph Tailford who served as a flight engineer with 77. Keith Baker (son of veteran Ron Baker), movingly delivered the Exhortation: “They grow not old as we that are left grow old. Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, we will remember them.”
We are so pleased that our President, veteran pilot, 96-year-old Bill Ballantyne, was able to be with us again. Bill flew 22 missions from Full Sutton and later became an eminent Arabic lawyer and professor. He came with his partner, Caroline, his son, Brian, and daughter, Binty, who had never seen a Halifax up close before. Together with nine other guests, they enjoyed the privilege of a tour to the interior organised by the museum’s guides. (more…)
2018 Reunion dinner
77 Squadron Association’s Reunion 2019 takes place the weekend of 14th and 15th September at the Yorkshire Air Museum and Allied Air Forces Memorial at Elvington, near York.
We are expecting that our President, Professor and former pilot, Bill Ballantyne, will be with us again. On Saturday we will as usual have a short wreath-laying ceremony at our memorial followed by a reception and dinner. The after-dinner speaker this year is Dr John Wright, honorary archivist at the Yorkshire Air Museum and he will be telling us the stories of “Some Unsung Heroes of 77”. On Sunday we are pleased that museum chaplain, the Revd Taff Morgan (a former RAF Tornado and Vulcan navigator), will be leading a service for us in the chapel at 10.30. Taff is always a delight and speaks with relevance and insights into the experience of aircrew. (more…)
info@77squadron.org.uk
