FAAA 15th Anniversary Dinner
Aldbourne, 17th October 2009
As our season came to an end the group planned to undertake one more major muster, this time we were to come together to celebrate 15 years of the First Allied Airborne Association.
At first we were to have this very special occasion at Spanhoe lodge way over on Northamptonshire. However it soon became apparent that the numbers attending were going to be far too many to hold the dinner at this venue and we rapidly needed to look for another location that had some history. It must have been fate! After looking around for somewhere suitable Aldbourne came to mind, it was central for a number of the group, although some members did travel quite some distance to attend, but this was always going to be the case where ever we held it, but such was, and is, the commitment of our members.
Of the two locations in the beautiful village of Aldbourne, we chose the Crown as this could cater for the numbers. We knew of course its historical significance in regards to WWII and of course the 101st Airborne and the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, well who doesn't!
I personally have been to Aldbourne on many occasions, for events or just to research, but never been in the Crown, like many I have been drawn to the main village green and the other well known watering hole used by the American fighting men of the 5'0' Sink.
Without doubt we made the right choice of venue, the staff where outstandingly helpful in assisting us to achieve our aims and throughout the set up phase and the dinner itself all connected to the Pub and restaurant could not have been more friendly and helpful and it was this that went a long way in ensuring all our members had a fantastic evening.
The theme of the night just had to be the 101st Airborne and the 437th Troops Carrier Group, 9th USAAF. This of course fitted in with the area and it was very appt as this was the group's initial impression when we started out 15 years ago, a while before the television film made our 101st Airborne impression so popular with others. This was not a re-enactment, but an evening of socialising, bringing the group together, new guys and not so new.
29 current serving members of the First Triple A attended, even the newest members had made a terrific effort to get their kit squared away and in such a short time since some had enlisted. Unfortunately however the longest serving member of the group and the one that helped me steer the group in the direction we are now, Neil Galloway, could not make it due to family commitments and the distance required to travel in the short time he had available to him over this weekend. We raised a glass to absent friends and he was not forgotten by the group members who had rewarded his Stirling work with the presentation of a fine FAAA engraved tankard.
It was very pleasing to myself that we were celebrating this Anniversary at a time when the group had never been better, we have a large cadre of experienced reenactors with many new members having joined us this last year and with a few still in the pipeline. It should be noted that in very recent years we have established the Army Nurses section of the group and this have seen the unit involved in new challenges. The women and of course men of Army Nurses were very well represented at the dinner .
This year has also been without doubt the best we have had. Everybody felt that the group was on a high and all were determined that that's the way it would stay, the group as a whole are very sociable and regardless of Anniversary or not, times like these should be, and are, cherished by us.
While coming together for a Living History weekend and spending the Saturday evening together in the beer tent or around the camp fire has its place for us, to meet up and share an evening of good food and fine wine is very special and so yes this will be if the members so wish an annual event.
