In Speaker's House

ARMED FORCES REUNION AT PARLIAMENT - 24 April 2007

This year’s Armed Forces Reunion (open to OCs who have served as regulars or national servicemen) was very special.  On 24 April twenty-four of us met at the Sovereign’s Entrance to the Houses of Parliament and followed the normal tour of Lords and Commons before the memorable bonus of a visit to Speaker’s House.  Adam Holloway (Loveday, 1983 and MP for Gravesham) set up the first for us, and Bill Beaumont the second.  Bill was Speaker’s Secretary to George Thomas for two years and Bernard Wetherill for three. After that treat we had a fine lunch in the Astor Suite overlooking the Parliament buildings.  Adam addressed us before and after the meal, and then – appropriately – left for a meeting of the Defence Committee.

Unfortunately it was not possible for the other Old Cranleighan MP, Paul Goodman (1&4 South, 1977 and MP for Wycombe), to join us.  But both Adam and Paul have kindly agreed that I should ‘interview’ them and write a major article in the next ‘The Old Cranleighan’ about being an MP in 2007.