FORMER war comrades from Otley will enjoy their 53rd annual reunion next week, saddened by the fact that it will be their last.

Members of the 279 (Otley and District) Squadron Old Comrades' Association will meet for the last time at Otley Golf Club next Monday, ending a tradition started in 1948. The association has decided to call it a day because of dwindling numbers.

But for secretary Geoff Storr, the final reunion will be a particularly sad

occasion - he has attended almost every event since it started and in recent years has been a leading light in organising the reunions.

"It's really very sad," said secretary Geoff Storr, "But every year there are fewer and fewer of us and at next week's meeting I will have to read three death notices, which illustrates the problem.

"We decided that we would keep going until the millennium but that it wouldn't be practical after that. We didn't want to get to a situation where we just faded away and at least by going out on Monday, we will do so with between 30 to 40 people there.

"If we kept it going, there would soon be nobody left, because it is the same faces who attend every year. It will be an emotional night and a lot of the members will be very very saddened. People have built up a lot of friendships over the years and this is the end of an era."

The air training corps squadron was formed in 1941 by Otley Rotary Club with the aim of attracting youngsters to the RAF. It closed in 1947 and the first reunion was held a year later. "It was supposed to be a one-off event," said Mr Storr. "But it proved so popular we continued it, with 60 people attending every year. It will be missed, there's no doubt about that."

The special guest of honour at the meeting is Group Captain Cross, chief of staff at headquarters air cadets, who

is currently at the RAF College at Cranwell. (9-36-AH)

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