The reunion got underway with a Meet and Greet in the bar of the Officers’ Mess on the Friday evening. A welcome innovation this year was the provision of light snacks during the evening. The evening was its usual convivial self, attended by 38 members who clearly enjoyed each other’s company and the familiar surroundings of what used to be the Vulcan’s Forge.

On Saturday 11th May members assembled in the Officers’ Mess car park to be taken by bus onto the station. On reaching our destination, Operations HQ, we witnessed a flypast by a Spitfire of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, before entering the building. In the Nettleton Room the Station Commander delivered his brief on the role of his station, after which the Association conducted its General Meeting. After the General Meeting we returned to the buses to be ferried across the airfield to where the famous Black Buck Vulcan XM607 is parked. Many years exposed to the elements have led, inevitably, to deterioration but it was good to see that under the present leadership at Waddington efforts have been made to preserve the aircraft’s exterior. XM607 provided a fitting backdrop for a group photograph. The afternoon’s programme finished with a visit to the RAF Waddington Heritage Centre, a fascinating collection of exhibits covering most of the station’s remarkable history. The day was rounded off by the Annual Dinner, held in the Officers’ Mess.

Sunday dawned bright and clear and a Service of Remembrance was conducted at Dunholme Lodge Farm, led by Reverend Adam Watson. This was Adam’s first appearance before the Association and we are very grateful to him for conducting such an appropriate and moving service in the familiar surroundings of Dunholme Lodge. Once again, we are indebted to the Wykes family for welcoming us so warmly at their farm, providing not only the marquee for the congregation as usual but they went yet another mile this time by providing tea and coffee after the service. The concluding lunch was provided by the Carpenters Arms at Fiskerton, preceded by a spirited display - er sorry, a series of flypasts - by the BBMF’s Dakota. The arrival at the village pub of so many men all wearing the same tie gave Fiskerton residents a heads-up that something special is about to happen and they seem to really appreciate their annual free ‘air display’ on the second Sunday of May.