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The
Meeting started at 1115 hrs with the Chairman
introducing the committee and platform guests
Martin Knof (Deputy Bürgermeister) and Arnulf
Baumann (Councillor).
The Chairman then read out the names on the roll
of honour and the President Major General Peter
Baldwin gave the dedication while standard
bearer Tom Neal lowered the memorial standard.
The Secretary Ernie Callaghan gave apologies for
those members who for various reasons were
unable to attend and then read out the minutes
of the 2006 AGM, the minute’s acception was
proposed by Mike Stubbings and seconded by
Dennis Weir then passed by the members.
Matters arising: No comments.
The Chairman then introduced our President.
Address by Major General Peter Baldwin:
Having been divested of his briefcase containing
most of his worldly goods (including his AGM
notes) by a bag snatcher on Brussels railway
station the previous day the Major General then
amused us with an Off- the- cuff version of his
intended speech which could not have been
bettered by the original. Some facts and figures
may have been missing but we were updated on the
services that the Royal Signals were providing
both at home and in Iraq, Afghanistan and other
fields of conflict.
The Chairman introduced ex Bürgermeister and
Königslutter town councillor Arnulf Baumann.
Address by Arnulf Baumann:
Arnulf welcomed us to Königslutter and spoke of
the special bond that existed between us and the
area and gave us his ideas on the proposed
memorial; he informed us that he had attended a
meeting (along with Chairman Jim Husband, John
Richardson and Deputy Bürgermeister Martin Knof)
with Herr Gunter Dittman, a tutor at the Stadt
School of masonry, the outcome was that the
masonry school would be interested in assisting
us by utilising its students in creating a
memorial to agreed specifications and that Herr
Dittman, who was present at the meeting, had
produced some sketches and models which he would
show us at the end of the meeting.
The Chairman Introduced Deputy Bürgermeister
Martin Knof.
Address by Martin Knof:
The Deputy explained that he was standing in for
the Bürgermeister Ottomar Lippelt, who at this
time was sunning himself on a Greek island, and
gave his apologies for not being able to attend.
Martin asked the floor to bear with him because
this was the first time that he had addressed an
English audience using prepared notes; he need
not have worried as his English was impeccable.
He went on to say that he was excited to be
involved with the Langeleben reunion association
and how important we at the camp were for the
region during our 41 years tenure and how the
continued association with the town was warmly
felt.
Martin then told us that our hopes of erecting a
memorial on the old Langeleben campsite was not
possible because the ownership of the land was
still in dispute, also the idea of having the
memorial in the Marktplatz in Königslutter could
not be realised because the plans for the
re-development of the Town centre were
finalised. He mentioned that it may be possible
to place a plaque inside the Rathaus (Town hall)
but then the memorial would be limited in
concept and seen by only a few people.
The town council had agreed that a site opposite
the Kinderheim (now an old people’s home) and
the Falkenheim (Youth Hostel) only three hundred
metres from the old Langeleben camp would have
their backing and would also be acceptable to
the Landkreis Helmstedt. This site is in a
lay-by that has access to walking paths in the
forest and is widely used, it is also close to
an area of a “natural cemetery” where family and
friends can legally scatter the ashes of their
loved ones. We may also have a chance later on
to move the memorial to an area on the old
campsite once the ownership dispute was settled.
Martin closed by wishing us a successful and
happy reunion and pledged the support of the
Bürgermeister and Town council in our
endeavours.
Treasurers Report:
Gerry Kane gave a breakdown of our finances
showing that we made a net loss of £135.29p over
the past year mainly because of the £267 cost of
purchasing the coffin drape for the association.
The drape was then shown to the assembly, being
held up by the Chairman and Secretary.
Our closing balance now being £2,194.22p is
still quite healthy but this includes approx.
£1000 held in the Phil Osborne repatriation
fund. The acceptance of the report proposed by
Paul Fildes and seconded by Dave Street was
passed by the members. Gerry then asked that
members who had not paid for the evening
function should pay him at the end of the
meeting.
Secretary’s Report:
Our Secretary began by welcoming the members and
thanking them for a great turnout, this reunion
being the best attended in Germany so far and
that 105 members and guests would be sitting
down to the evenings Dinner/Dance. He mentioned
the members that had travelled from afar, Jim
Hammond from Australia, Rod Goddard and his own
guest Peter Bednar from America and not
forgetting Robin Seaward from Prague and Bill
Hogg from Spain.
Membership remains steady, five new members
joined this year and we now have over 400
members. In reference to the proposed memorial
we had contacted Bürgermeister Ottomar Lippelt
here in Königslutter (correspondence was read
out) and today we must get some agreement on the
form of the memorial, the inscription and what
budget should be set, we have already agreed on
the site and as we only meet once a year we the
committee need guidance from you so as to make
decisions on your behalf to facilitate
completion. Member Pete Ellis told the floor
that his son Paul who is a stonemason of some
repute and is currently working on a long term
contract at Lincoln Cathedral has offered his
services on expenses only terms. Paul who’s late
Mother came from Königslutter could work either
from home or go to Germany and liaise with
Gunter Dittman at the school of masonry.
A lively discussion ensued with the conclusion
that the Secretary would send out a letter to
all members asking for ideas on the form and
wording of the memorial and for voluntary
contributions towards the cost so we hopefully
would be able to inaugurate the memorial on our
next visit to Königslutter in 2009.
The Secretary then reminded the members about
the brunch on Sunday morning and the Domfest
arrangements on Sunday afternoon and asking all
members to sign the attendance book at the end
of the meeting.
Election of Officers:
All the committee agreed to stand for the coming
year and as no members volunteered for election
the committee were unanimously re-elected.
Any other business:
Member Paul Croxson advised the floor that he
was looking to enhance the written history of
the Langeleben camp and was looking for members
to contact him with anecdotes and facts relating
to our interaction with the local people and our
recollections on life during our tenure.
2008 reunion:
It was agreed that we would try to book with
Burleigh Court Loughborough for 2008 but we
would endeavour to keep away from the weekend of
30th May so as not to clash with the H Troop
Dannenberg reunion.
The meeting closed at 1300 hrs.
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