RVC 66 Reunion 2019 held at the two Bridges Hotel, Dartmoor

The 2019 Reunion hosted by Dave and Betty Shingleton was held at the Two Bridges Hotel near Princetown in the beautiful Dartmoor National Park.

Guests

Dave & Betty Shingleton
John & Jane Butt
Jim & Di Read
Brian Cox & Barry
Peter & Judy Richards
Mike & Sandie Roper
Godfrey & Patricia Torr
Joan Lewis
Adrian Longstaffe
Gurth Scriven
Peter Howard
Jonathan & Maggie Stirling
Brian & Angie Mason
Izzy & Ian McLeod
Martin & Gay Jose
Reg & Biddy Balmer
Stuart & Vivienne Lake (Tuesday evening)

This year it was decided to hold the event a little later in the year over a midweek period with the Reunion dinner on Wednesday 2nd October followed by lunch chez the Shingletons on Thursday for those able to make it.

The change proved to be a popular move making both travel and hotel availablilty more manageable.

Most arrived on Tuesday and enjoyed an excellent dinner after catching up in the bar. We were treated to a beautiful sunny day on Wednesday and many of us took advantage of the fine weather to enjoy the well known and not too taxing walk (see pictures right) from Two Bridges over the moors to Wistman's Wood.

Wistmans Wood

Later a number of us visited Princetown and had a good pub lunch at the Prince of Wales. In the afternoon some called in to the Dartmoor Brewery to find gift packs of the famous Jail Ale and others visited Dartmoor Prison Museum to learn something of 'life inside'. Dartmoor opened in 1809 as a prison for French prisoners from the Napoleonic War. Later in 1813 Americans captured in the War of 1812 began arriving. Overcrowding became a serious problem and many died of disease. The wars finally ended and the remaining prisoners were repatriated, the last of them leaving in early 1816. The prison then closed until opening again as a penal establishment for criminals in 1850.

Jail Ale

In the evening we gathered in the bar for pre-dinner drinks as we temporarily struggled to identify two of our alumni not seen by some since our college days. Once we recognised Martin Jose and Brian Mason of course it became totally obvious! How good it was to be reaquainted and catch up again.

We enjoyed a really excellent dinner while remembering shared exeriences and new developments in our lives, not to mention how many pills we now need to take!

Overall an excellent get-together and our thanks to Dave and Betty for organising a memorable Reunion.

Izzy and Ian McLeod have offered to host RVC 66 Club Reunion 2020 and we look forward to another happy occasion in the Peak District.