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The 53rd. Anniversary Reunion Weekend.
Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st. April 2002.

The 53rd. Anniversary weekend this year was held in Portsmouth. The reunion was well attended with shipmates travelling from various 'ports' in the UK as well as from Canada and Australia. On Saturday evening the reunion dinner was held in the Warrant Officers, Senior Rates and Sergeants Mess, HMS Nelson. Honoured guests for the occasion were WO1 Andy Bridges Senior Drum Major RM, WO2 Tommy Lawton Senior Bugle Major RM, Lt. Colonel David Storrie RM Retd. and CPO (SCC) David Cooper (Officer-in-Charge), Training Ship London, Dulwich Sea Cadets and his wife Wendy.

Left to right
CPO David Cooper and his wife Wendy, WO2 Tommy Lawton Senior Bugle Major RM, Chairman John and Mrs. Florrie Parker,
WO1 Andy Bridges Senior Drum Major RM and Lt. Colonel David Storrie RM.

Following a most enjoyable meal prepared and served by the Mess, Chairman John Parker made his opening address. This of course was followed by the now 'infamous' Taffy Williams ditty bag presentation. Starting on the Monday following each reunion Taffy starts acquiring items for the following year. His wife Eileen says "whenever I open a cupboard I find another item that Malcolm has acquired"! That said Taffy's ditty bags are one of the highlights of the evening.

WO2 Tommy Lawton accepts a blueprint of HMS Nelson
on behalf of the Mess.

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