OMVA -Aquino Weekend

[Robin Craig]

I am sorry to say I didnt get a chance to come over and visit you all.

The Museum are open and receptive to improvements, with time and patience it will improve

Great to see a few of you who made it to the sand box side of the venue

[servicepub (RIP)]

I was there but never got out of the vendors' barn (part of the AMPS model show). Sorry I missed connecting with all of you.
Clive

[Terry Witiuk]

Thanks to everyone who came out to say Hello. It was great to meet and put faces to names that I see here on MLU. We had a great number of visitors come through our area to have a look at all the vehicles. On Saturday, we had 13 vehicles on display. Good turnout of visitors on Sunday as well. Have made a bunch of new friends and very much look forward to meeting up again. I am sorting through pictures and will post some of them shortly.
Cheers, Terry.

[Terry Witiuk]

A few pics. Top picture shows framed print being presented to the Ontario Regiment Museum RCAC from the OMVA in recognition of Aquino 2016 and the support of our association. Pictured left to right; Frank Von Rosenstiel (Ontario Regiment RCAC Museum), Jeremy Neal Blowers (Executive Director RCAC Ontario Regiment RCACMuseum) and Les Fisher (OMVA President). Last picture shows Barry Churcher (OMVA Executive, Membership), Les Fisher (OMVA Executive, President) and Cam Wooley (CP24 TV Personality and Aquino Show Commentator).

[Robin Craig]

Picture number three is missing a few names, the tall distinguished gent is Sandy Marshall, I think next to him is Calvin Bird from the UK and next to him is Chad who is related to Sandy. Sandy and Chad brought the motorbike.

Also, for those seeking true accuracy, Frank Von R was temporarily renamed Frank Von Ponsonby-Smyth as he had the pleasure of driving the SAS replica Land Rover, he didn't want pictures to be taken but I am sure there is one somewhere.

[Robin Craig]

A couple of pictures from the other side of the event.

The Land Rover 90, owned by Al Duffy, who owns all the other Operation Granby vehicles has been converted into a very close replica of a little known SAS vehicle. While the SAS Land Rover 110 desert patrol vehicles built by Glover Webb and powered by a V8 are well know few know about the Dinkies.

There was a need for extra vehicles and the Regiment had some 2.5na Diesel 90s fitted out themselves in theatre, exactly how many were built is open for debate but none exist or have appeared thus far.

We felt that when a photo was to be taken of the vehicle and crew and hangers on that we should pay homage to the usual identity preservation seen in SAS pictures.

We opted for the low tech approach and used cardboard and black gaffer tape.

The image is used courtesy of Andrew Jones with permission.

[Robin Craig]

I was very privileged to be aired up with Rob Melvin who is driving in this picture.

25 years ago Rob was the REME corporal who commanded the real vehicle of which this is a replica. Aland Duffy had flown him and the other British veterans out for the event.

Rob was wonderful to chat with and talked about what it was like and the not so nice stuff as well.

It was an absolute pleasure to be his vehicle commander and be chauffeured by him.

My thanks go to Alan Duffy for inviting me to be part of his crew for the event