The Suffolk Regiment “Old
Boys” Christmas Reunion
By Margaret Sheard….
I have written quite a lot about some of the Suffolk Regiment lads 
who spent most of their national service days in Cyprus in 1958/59 and over the last 2 years I have had the pleasure of meeting and spending time with a few of them when they have come to Cyprus to attend the Remembrance service in Kyrenia.
I keep in regular contact with Derek Chilvers, who is the subject of a very long article about his army memories in Cyprus which can be seen by clicking here and he keeps me up to date with news of the growing group of lads who have made contact with each other over the years and get together for the annual Minden Day event in Bury St Edmunds in the UK and other social reunions.
This year a Christmas “Old Boys” 
Reunion was arranged on 7th December and this was held at The Rushbrooke Arms in the village of Sicklesmere, which is near Bury St Edmunds and around 14 of the lads attended, some with their wives, to enjoy a nice meal from a choice of a full roast dinner, steak and chips and fish and chips plus more from the varied menu, and a chance to talk over old times as well as how they are all coping with present day life. One lady, who had seen a local newspaper article about the event, arrived with her son to represent her husband who had sadly passed on and she was thrilled to be a part of the reunion.
As a result of the newspaper advert, Derek had the task of phoning people who responded and so the numbers of the Suffolk Regiment “old boys” are growing.
I have recently been successful in bringing two of the lads together after a gap of 55 years, Chris Veness and Russell Hamlet, they both played guitar in the small band formed by Chris at Kykko Camp but unfortunately after their national service was over they lost touch. It was very satisfying to be successful in bring them together again and Chris hoped that Russell would be able to join the others at their Christmas Reunion but unfortunately Russell was unable to attend this time. To see the Friends Reunited article click here.
Chris has sent me some pictures of the event and I am pleased to be able to show them here. It seems they all thoroughly enjoyed getting together again for a Christmas reunion and are looking forward to many more.
