FORTY YEARS ON ….by Les Dungey
Lionel (Ted) Boswell and I were at Fontainebleau together, that is to say we lived in the R.A.F. Sergeants Mess (Gibson Block) at Camp Guynemer, and our paths criss-crossed as we went about our daily duties -Ted to his pen-pushing, and me to keeping the communications electrons flowing in the right direction. On many evenings we could be found together in one or other of the local hostelries drowning our imagined sorrows, or putting the World to rights over 'un demis' (or two) of 'Biere pression'.
To some ribald banter we were both favoured by the Gibson Moggy , who produced a litter of kittens on Ted's bed, and on another occasion in the bottom drawer of a chest in my room. Somewhat audaciously we planned a week’s leave in Nice, then the 'in' place on the Riviera. Setting off one morning on my Lambretta scooter we got as far as Lyon before the rear axle predictably gave in to the overweight, and buses became our mode of transport for the rest of our holiday.
Post Fontainebleau we had no further contact until this year when, thanks partly to David Rogerson and the AAFCE Newsletter, we made contact. Combining a trip to London from his home near York, Ted came further south to spend a couple of days with me in Kent. Despite the outward ravages that forty years can inflict on all of us, he is still the same Ted Boswelll remembered from so long ago. The reminiscing began when I met him off his train, and continued unabated until he disappeared through the railway station portals two days later .
Although it can sometimes let him down on dates and names, Ted has a prodigious memory and I found that his detailed accounts of events served to unlock doors in my own mind that I had thought were closed and gone forever. We burnt a lot of midnight oil and thoroughly enjoyed wallowing in nostalgia, aided and abetted by a noggin or two.
Forty years ago Ted had and still has that characteristic that is so essential to all who spend the better part of their working life in serving the Crown -a good sense of humour. We are looking forward to another session of 'Do you remember when. ... ?”
FONTAINEBLEAU 2003
28 rooms are reserved for our party at the IBIS, Fontainebleau 12 – 17 September 2003.
Our tour operators Palmers have quoted a price in the region of £250-£275 per person sharing a twin room. Travel Insurance £17 per capita. Pick-up points will be Waterloo, Sevenoaks and Dover. Free secure car parking is available at Palmers compound and there is a Travel Inn close by.
Before I start negotiating it will be useful to have a good indication of numbers of those keen to join the trip.
It has been announced that the French Government have decided to keep their military Sports Training facilities at Camp Guynemer and not as previously thought relocate them to Brest. It is likely that we shall be able to organise a conducted tour of the Camp, Quartier Chataux and other haunts of our youth.
The Parade at the Arc de Triomphe to rekindle the Flame on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier will be on 15 September and arrangements can be made for those who wish to join the Parade. Further details of the itinerary will be circulated when the trip is firmed up.
A deposit of about £30 per person will be required on 1 April. Please indicate on the list attached if you wish to come along.