Reunion 2015

Background

Following a recce of the Britannia, North Stafford Hotel, on the 28th January we decide to go firm for that location for the reunion. The location, facilities and accommodation were ideal for our requirements and the costs negotiated within our anticipated budget. The staff were excellent and very accommodating.

Dates

Friday 6th March – Sunday 8th March 2015

Location

North Stafford Hotel, Stoke on Trent….. http://www.britanniahotels.com

General Information

The location is ideal with the mainline railway station directly opposite the hotel and within easy access from the M6 motorway (Junctions 15/16). The public bus stop is also near by, just five minutes into town.

The hotel has only 88 bedrooms so ideally suited for us. We have initially block booked 50 rooms which we can increase as necessary. Our aim would be to book all 88 rooms and have the hotel to ourselves. Booking as early as possible will help secure all the accommodation we require.

There is a cut off period of six weeks before the event, after that any rooms ‘not sold’ will be released to members of the general public (we don’t want that).

We will have exclusive uses of the Ballroom (for the Gala Dinner) and the Portmeirion and Churchill Rooms (with own private bar) for Friday and Sunday activities. There is also a large public bar (Clayhanger) for general use and the adjacent Winton Suite for our ‘Meet & Greet’.

There is a large ‘free to members’ car park to the rear of the hotel and there is free wifi in all public rooms.

There is an abundance of ‘things’ to see and do in the Stoke on Trent area –  the Gladstone Pottery Museum (5 minutes by car from the hotel) is one of the top attractions, you will need at least two/three hours to explore this fascinating attraction dedicated to Stoke on Trent’s industrial past. There are also many, many factory outlets to keep the ladies happy and the gents worried about their wallets!

If you want to keep your wallet safe and get a bit of fresh country air, the centre of the Peak District National Park is a short drive away (approx 30 minutes).

We have also gone firm for the Sunday Coach trip destination which will be to the National Memorial Arboretum (www.thenma.org.uk). We will be laying a wreath at the OTT Reunited memorial tree and plaque which is located in the RAMC Garden.

If we can obtain sponsorship, the coach trip will once again be free to the first 49 who request a seat.

Costs

Once again we have negotiated an excellent deal with the hotel. As we have negotiated a group price which is commercially sensitive, details of the 1, 2 and 3 night packages and the Gala dinner only price is shown on the Reunion Booking Form and will also be circulated via OTT Reunited group email updates.

For a copy of the Reunion Booking Form see below (Booking Arrangements) or contact Ken Hannah via a Forum private email or personal message or leave a message on the Forum General Discussion page.

If you are not registered as an OTT Reunited member please register on the website FORUM.

Reunion Organiser

Colin Fairlamb has kindly agreed to organise the 2015 reunion and Sarah Rees has kindly volunteered to run the Gala raffle.

A very big Thank You to Colin and Sarah for stepping up to the plate…..very much appreciated. Colin will still organise the Golf Match.

Booking Arrangements

All booking forms must be sent to the hotel ‘by post’ for the attention of Becky Green. The hotel ‘will not’ accept telephone bookings (for administrative reasons).

Colin will liaise with the hotel on a regular basis with regard the number of bookings received. The hotel ‘will not’ confirm bookings due to cost but we will include an attendance list on the Forum in due course which will be updated on a regular basis.

If you have any queries or concerns reference the reunion arrangements or your booking please contact Colin (Members List page 3) via a PM or personal email.

If for any reason you are unable to contact Colin then please contact Ken via a PM or private email.

The Booking Form is available on the OTT Reunited Forum (Just follow the hand top right of the page – you will need to register if you haven’t done so already)

Guest of Honour (GoH)

The guest of Honor for the 2015 Reunion is: Lt Col (R) Barrie Price

 

Charity Support

As in the past, monies raised at the reunion will be donated to a service or service affiliated charity.

The Nominated Charity is ‘Combat Stress’

Personal Guests

Personal Guests are once again more than welcome to attend. If you wish to bring a guest please include them on your booking form.

Spread the Word

Please circulate to your friends and colleagues who may be unaware of OTT Reunited in general and next year’s reunion in particular.

Thank You

Thanking you in anticipation of your support and we hope to see you next March if not before.

The next Pint & Pie Gig will be held at the same location 14th – 15th November 2014.

All further arrangements will be circulated via an OTT Reunited group email message, the website FORUM and the RAMC OTTs Facebook page.