So to the season finale and the East Yorks stormed Pickering
Castle! (Not much to storm nowadays!) No A64 closures so traffic was normal for
this weekend. Members arrived Friday afternoon and evening and bunks were set
up in the Education Room then set off into an unseasonably mild but blustery
night to sample a few beers. Lights out was around 12.30am and the heating and
extra blankets weren’t needed. What a contrast to Friday night at Rufford!
Saturday morning saw more arrivals and the camp was set up in
the castle grounds. Weather was still mild but the wind became stronger and was
to cause problematic for the tent later in the day.
The training scenario was a section attack on a German
bunker with pyros and plenty of blank-firing weapons with Pte Heaton giving his
much detailed talk about the battalion, uniform, kit and weapons afterwards.
The windproof smocks came in useful to portray late 1944 infantry. There were
around thirty viewers and most obviously knew what was happening turning up
minutes before the start.
Lunch came in the form of a delicious stew made with
anything that needed using up! As we were lining up after the 2.30pm scenario
the tent finally gave way to the wind so all hands were needed to erect it
again.
Saturday night was Col. Sgt. Hebden’s East Yorks stag night
so members dressed in best BD’s and civilians with the Heatons attired as
gangsters. Well, they are from Castleford! Didn’t turn out to be much of a stag
night as we were all back at the billet by 11.00pm with rolls of unused cling
film! Lightweights!
Sunday turned out to be a miserable wet day with relentless
rain. The scenarios were altered so no pyros or Bren team, and the talks were
done in the Chapel. Visitors still turned up so the show must go on! Thanks to
those who did brave the walk up to the Castle to see us.
Again the same faces turned up as they have in previous
years and the 9 year old had brought his mate this year.
Because of the weather the English Heritage guys in the hut
said we might as well pack up early so most were on their way home by 4.30pm,
just as the clouds were breaking! Can’t really grumble as we have been very
fortunate with the weather for quite a few years at Pickering.
Still a great weekend though to chat and chuckle with
friends.
PTE G Cooper
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