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** Charlton Life Trip to Normandy June 2022 **

13

Comments

  • Buglehorn
    Buglehorn Posts: 1,004
    Big thanks to everyone involved in organising and to those who went on the trip who all made it so enjoyable. Hope to make the next one where ever that may be.
  • Curb_It
    Curb_It Posts: 21,231
    edited June 2022
    Who had to be helped home... was @oohaahmortimer on the trip?  
  • DaveMehmet
    DaveMehmet Posts: 21,605
    edited June 2022
    Curb_It said:
    Who had to be helped home... was OohAhh on the trip?  
    It was me B. Surprisingly, I wasn't pissed (had only had 3 or 4) but I had a hypoglycemic (diabetic) attack on the walk home to the hotel. Haven't had one for years but typically would have to happen while I'm away. Thankfully I was with @ValleyAnt and @Buglehorn who very kindly got me back to my room so I could sort myself out.
  • Curb_It
    Curb_It Posts: 21,231
    Oh Sorry, Russ, I wouldn't have taken the piss had I known!  It just so sounded like OohAhh.  Glad you got sorted quickly. 

    Well done to Neal and Clive.  Sounds like a great trip. 
  • 1905
    1905 Posts: 2,752
    Curb_It said:
    Who had to be helped home... was OohAhh on the trip?  
    It was me B. Surprisingly, I wasn't pissed (had only had 3 or 4) but I had a hypoglycemic (diabetic) attack on the walk home to the hotel. Haven't had one for years but typically would have to happen while I'm away. Thankfully I was with @ValleyAnt and @Buglehorn who very kindly got me back to my room so I could sort myself out.
    So a quick recovery and then back to your hobby :-)

  • DaveMehmet
    DaveMehmet Posts: 21,605
    Curb_It said:
    Oh Sorry, Russ, I wouldn't have taken the piss had I known!  It just so sounded like OohAhh.  Glad you got sorted quickly. 

    Well done to Neal and Clive.  Sounds like a great trip. 
    No worries B
  • MadGerman
    MadGerman Posts: 164
    We were back in Münster at about 22:00. It was a fantastic trip with a lot of information around the action from June to August 1944. There was also time for good talks. Stephan and Roland were really impressed of atmosphere in the group. Both promised to come over to the Valley in the coming season. Thanks to @SE7toSG3 and @LargeAddick for organising and guiding.
  • LargeAddick
    LargeAddick Posts: 32,593
    Glad to hear you got home safely Matthias. It was good to see you again, and your new friends. Pleased to hear you enjoyed the trip and as usual it was a pleasure to have you join us. All the best.
  • cherryorchard
    cherryorchard Posts: 1,722
    Another great trip. Many thanks to Neal for organising and to Clive for his great ability to both inform and entertain.  Looking forward to another outing.  Don't hesitate to join us. 

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  • charltonnick
    charltonnick Posts: 3,063
    SE7toSG3 said:
    Cheers all, it was a total pleasure.

    To be fair, Neal does all the work before we leave, I just get to bang on about history. 

    This one felt quite special though, the combination of stunning Bayeux, the story of the Normandy Campaign with its highs and lows, personal connections through family and football club, and for me having Georgie on the trip just before he starts his mock A Levels just topped it all off. 

    Lots of historical highlights, but the social ones were also important, the hours in Le Conqueror Bar discussing previous away days, the impromptu chat swapping war stories in the shuttle carriage on the way home to blighty and a bizarre discussion with @charltonnick trying to differentiate Brotherhood of Man's 'Angelo' and 'Figaro' over our morning Coissants.

    Great to see @MadGerman and his merry men, it just wouldn't be the same without them and we are so lucky to have them among our ranks. 

    I am sure there will be another trip in the future if the appetite is there, but for now to everyone who came along, thankyou, it's one that will live long in the memory. 
    A great trip , cheers Clive and Neal. I'm looking forward to the next trip. If you ever fancy going on one of Clive's battlefield tours , here is a link -
    https://www.battle-honours.co.uk/guided-battlefield-walking-tours-to-europe-and-beyond
     Just to clarify the discussion regards Brotherhood of Man , was Clive saying that he liked them even more than Abba. He's not just a soul boy.
  • Davo55
    Davo55 Posts: 7,838
    SE7toSG3 said:
    Cheers all, it was a total pleasure.

    To be fair, Neal does all the work before we leave, I just get to bang on about history. 

    This one felt quite special though, the combination of stunning Bayeux, the story of the Normandy Campaign with its highs and lows, personal connections through family and football club, and for me having Georgie on the trip just before he starts his mock A Levels just topped it all off. 

    Lots of historical highlights, but the social ones were also important, the hours in Le Conqueror Bar discussing previous away days, the impromptu chat swapping war stories in the shuttle carriage on the way home to blighty and a bizarre discussion with @charltonnick trying to differentiate Brotherhood of Man's 'Angelo' and 'Figaro' over our morning Coissants.

    Great to see @MadGerman and his merry men, it just wouldn't be the same without them and we are so lucky to have them among our ranks. 

    I am sure there will be another trip in the future if the appetite is there, but for now to everyone who came along, thankyou, it's one that will live long in the memory. 
    A great trip , cheers Clive and Neal. I'm looking forward to the next trip. If you ever fancy going on one of Clive's battlefield tours , here is a link -
    https://www.battle-honours.co.uk/guided-battlefield-walking-tours-to-europe-and-beyond
     Just to clarify the discussion regards Brotherhood of Man , was Clive saying that he liked them even more than Abba. He's not just a soul boy.
    Just to second this; I've been on one of Clive's tours and it was (and he was) simply brilliant. Don't wait for a Charlton Life "special". The past couple of years have been particularly difficult for small travel companies so they all need our support to keep going and re-growing.
  • N01R4M
    N01R4M Posts: 2,577
    Thank you all for the photos.

    I had been booked on the trip, but when it was postponed to this year, it clashed with a wedding celebration in Gloucester, which took priority.  So I was another of those who had to back out.

    Having been on both the Ypres & Somme weekends, I'm sure you all had a wonderful time.
  • BartramBlitz
    BartramBlitz Posts: 675
    Thanks to Clive and Neale for a wonderful trip. A real pleasure to be a part of it   How about D Day Dodgers next?  Italian campaign: Anzio, Salerno, Monte Cassino Would be fascinating and lovely places to visit.
  • Thought this might be of interest to those likely to read this thread.

    From 1 April 2023 it will be free to apply for a military service record from the MOD. You’ll need to pay the £30 fee if you submit an application before 1 April.

    https://www.gov.uk/get-copy-military-service-records/apply-for-someone-elses-records
  • R0TW
    R0TW Posts: 1,679

  • Nug
    Nug Posts: 4,623
    I’m thinking of making a trip in a couple of weeks time with my son. Will only be for a few days and will drive myself. Any suggestions on the best way to see things. Is doing an organised tour the best bet or driving myself? Also any tips on hotels etc. Bayeux? Thanks in advance.
  • LargeAddick
    LargeAddick Posts: 32,593
    Nug said:
    I’m thinking of making a trip in a couple of weeks time with my son. Will only be for a few days and will drive myself. Any suggestions on the best way to see things. Is doing an organised tour the best bet or driving myself? Also any tips on hotels etc. Bayeux? Thanks in advance.
    A fair few of us stayed in the Campanile Bayeux. Was more than adequate and just a ten minute stroll into the town centre. We are lucky to have Clive as our expert guide and it wouldn’t be the same without the knowledge he imparts. Depending on how much info you want to soak up would I assume depend if you needed a guided tour or not. If you are happy to visit beaches and memorials and pick up information there then that may suffice. I’d imagine you’d see more doing it on your own. Hope you have a great trip.
  • When’s the next CL trip ? Anything on the horizon @LargeAddick
  • Nug
    Nug Posts: 4,623
    Nug said:
    I’m thinking of making a trip in a couple of weeks time with my son. Will only be for a few days and will drive myself. Any suggestions on the best way to see things. Is doing an organised tour the best bet or driving myself? Also any tips on hotels etc. Bayeux? Thanks in advance.
    A fair few of us stayed in the Campanile Bayeux. Was more than adequate and just a ten minute stroll into the town centre. We are lucky to have Clive as our expert guide and it wouldn’t be the same without the knowledge he imparts. Depending on how much info you want to soak up would I assume depend if you needed a guided tour or not. If you are happy to visit beaches and memorials and pick up information there then that may suffice. I’d imagine you’d see more doing it on your own. Hope you have a great trip.
    Thanks, I've been able to get an air bnb in Bayeux and we're going to stop in Le Havre on the Saturday night on our way down and watch Racing 92 v Toulon rugby match. Will probably do a day mini bus tour for the American cemetary and Omaha beach and then a day on our own, will do some research but would obviously like to see the British Normandy Memorial. So one day on a tour the next on our own.

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  • LargeAddick
    LargeAddick Posts: 32,593
    Nug said:
    Nug said:
    I’m thinking of making a trip in a couple of weeks time with my son. Will only be for a few days and will drive myself. Any suggestions on the best way to see things. Is doing an organised tour the best bet or driving myself? Also any tips on hotels etc. Bayeux? Thanks in advance.
    A fair few of us stayed in the Campanile Bayeux. Was more than adequate and just a ten minute stroll into the town centre. We are lucky to have Clive as our expert guide and it wouldn’t be the same without the knowledge he imparts. Depending on how much info you want to soak up would I assume depend if you needed a guided tour or not. If you are happy to visit beaches and memorials and pick up information there then that may suffice. I’d imagine you’d see more doing it on your own. Hope you have a great trip.
    Thanks, I've been able to get an air bnb in Bayeux and we're going to stop in Le Havre on the Saturday night on our way down and watch Racing 92 v Toulon rugby match. Will probably do a day mini bus tour for the American cemetary and Omaha beach and then a day on our own, will do some research but would obviously like to see the British Normandy Memorial. So one day on a tour the next on our own.
    The British Normandy Memorial is definately a must see in my opinion as is the American Cemetery. Have a great trip.
  • LargeAddick
    LargeAddick Posts: 32,593
    When’s the next CL trip ? Anything on the horizon @LargeAddick
    I am hoping to speak to Clive next week about one next year so watch this space. Monte Cassino or Gallipoli are possibilities.
  • cherryorchard
    cherryorchard Posts: 1,722
    Rest in Peace Bob - you deserve it!

  • LargeAddick
    LargeAddick Posts: 32,593
    Thanks for posting @cherryorchard, RIP Bob.
  • Chippycafc
    Chippycafc Posts: 14,154
    When’s the next CL trip ? Anything on the horizon @LargeAddick
    Falklands hopefully shoots
  • tangoflash
    tangoflash Posts: 10,785
    When’s the next CL trip ? Anything on the horizon @LargeAddick
    Falklands hopefully shoots
    I ticked that one off my list in 92  :)
  • PrincessFiona
    PrincessFiona Posts: 5,464
    When’s the next CL trip ? Anything on the horizon @LargeAddick
    I am hoping to speak to Clive next week about one next year so watch this space. Monte Cassino or Gallipoli are possibilities.
    Keep us posted. We were so disappointed we couldn't make the last one, so hope to be able to make the next one.

    The weather looked better last year than the previous trip! 
  • Chippycafc
    Chippycafc Posts: 14,154
    When’s the next CL trip ? Anything on the horizon @LargeAddick
    I am hoping to speak to Clive next week about one next year so watch this space. Monte Cassino or Gallipoli are possibilities.
    Keep us posted. We were so disappointed we couldn't make the last one, so hope to be able to make the next one.

    The weather looked better last year than the previous trip! 
    Weather was wonderful, think it was about 33 on the friday.
  • Nug
    Nug Posts: 4,623
    Driving over on Saturday and staying in Le Havre then to Bayeux on Sunday. This is the plan I've come up with. If anyone has any thoughts or I'm missing something that I should be seeing please let me know.

    Sunday (self drive)
    British Normandy Memorial
    D-Day museum Arromanches-Les_Bains
    American Cemetery to include the 5pm TAPS

    Monday (bus tour)
    All day guided tour of US sites and beaches
    includes (Omaha Beach, Pointe du Hoc, American Cemetery, Musee du Debarquement Utah Beach, Sainte Mere Eglise)

    Tuesday (self drive)
    British Cemetery
    Museum of Normandy
  • LargeAddick
    LargeAddick Posts: 32,593
    @Nug, looks great, hope you have a good trip. If in Bayeux try and see the tapestry if you can.