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Everyone gathers for a group photo More Photos The Society was pleased to welcome family members and friends of Dunedin's ship's company including a few brand new contacts. The weekend kicked off with an informal gathering of around thirty people at the nearby Fradley Arms. Furthest travelled was Rob Macaulay, who came from Australia especially for the event. Rob's father - Colour Sergeant Macaulay - was one of only three survivors, along with my father and Thomas Moore, on the first Carley raft to be found. Rob's father, who died thirty years ago, had said very little about his experiences, so Rob was thrilled to come across DunSoc last November. Rob was clearly delighted to among so many other Dunedin people having known so little for so long. For me, the presence of Rob and his sister Jan and brother Martin (who live in England) was a true highlight which will stay with me for a very long time. On Sunday morning, after opening presentations by Chris Broadway and me (click here for mine), the audience was treated to a Question & Answer session with the survivors, with Jim Davis giving us all a good laugh as usual with his tales of Dunedin mischief. The centre-piece of the day was the ceremony of remembrance at the Dunedin Memorial in the beautiful - and ever-maturing - grounds of the Arboretum. We are extremely grateful to David brown for presiding over a moving service and to Bas Bowyer for arranging it with his usual skill. I must, as ever thank Anne Randall for all her tremendous efforts to put on the whole show and to Chris Broadway for his customary enthusiasm and guidance. It was another wonderful HMS Dunedin Reunion. For photos of the day and the informal gathering the night before click here. Stuart Gill, July 2006 ________________________________________________________________________________ Invitation HMS DUNEDIN - SIXTY FIVE YEARS ON. Come and meet our survivors, veterans and many other members of the Dunedin Society at the next HMS Dunedin Reunion on Sunday 16th July 2006 at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire. Since we first gathered as a Society in Henley in April 2001, our numbers and our knowledge of HMS Dunedin and her ship's company have continued to grow. We have been privileged to know eight of the sixty seven men who survived the sinking of Dunedin in November 1941, four of whom are still with us and all of whom we expect to see at the Arboretum at the reunion. Please come and meet them and other veterans who served in Dunedin prior to her tragic fate. This year's reunion, sixty five years after the sinking, will be a major opportunity for all our new and existing members to meet and talk and to remember Dunedin and her men. Ours is a truly international Society and we are expecting members to come from as far away as Australia. The events will run from 11.00 am until 3.30 pm in the Arboretum conference room and will include presentations and a brief service of remembrance at the Dunedin memorial in the grounds of the Arboretum. Click here for details of the programme and the order of service. Lunch can be bought at the Arboretum restaurant or you can bring your own packed lunch. A map is attached, but details of the Arboretum, including directions, can be found at http://www.friendsofnma.org.uk/ or http://www.memorialtreesuk.org.uk/ It is important for us to have an idea of numbers, so please e-mail Chris Broadway at chris@ridgeend.charitydays.co.uk by mid-June at the latest to let us know whether you (and others in your family) will be attending. As usual, there is no charge for attending the reunion, but since the Dunedin Society is entirely dependent on the voluntary contributions of its members we would welcome any donation you felt able to give. Cheques should be made payable to "The Dunedin Society" and sent to Chris Broadway, at Ridge End, Stantaway Hill, Torquay, Devon, TQ1 4ER. Those of you who will be arriving the day before or who live nearby, would be welcome to join us on the Saturday evening (from around 7.30) for an entirely informal gathering at the Fradley Arms, two miles south of Alrewas, on the A38. The bar food is very good and it will be a chance for a drink and a natter before the main event on Sunday. It would be helpful to know numbers for this too, so please do let Chris know if you intend coming. Details, including directions, can be found at http://www.goodpubrestaurants.co.uk/show_restaurant.tpl?restaurant=93. If you will be looking for accommodation in the area, the telephone number of Lichfield Tourist Information Centre is 01543 412121 and its web site is http://www.visitlichfield.com I look forward to seeing you in July. In the meantime, this web site will have updates.
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