This extract from the foreword from the programme, by Lieutenant Colonel Ian Hutchison, OBE, Royal Engineers, Officer Commanding, explains the background to the open day:

"It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to Rock Barracks, the home of 23 Engineer Regiment (Air Assault). Today is the culmination of a terrific week for my Regiment which has included a Regimental Boxing Competition, the Regiment's formal acceptance of the Freedom of the Town of Woodbridge - a great honour, and a beating Retreat ceremony yesterday.

Over the past year the Regiment has been ... split between Operations in Afghanistan and Iraq and ... stood by to assist with evacuation from the Lebanon. The Regiment will be preparing for its third trip to Afghanistan next year, with the majority of the Regiment deploying in the Spring of 2008.

The purpose of today is for my Regiment to repay some of the hospitality and welcome we have received since our arrival last July, whilst generating support for four very worthy charities. A significant effort has gone into creating this opportunity for us to say thank you with today's show piece; I hope you have a thoroughly enjoyable day."

The British Army (MOD) Rock Barracks held it's open day from 11:30 until 17:00 hours on Saturday 30 June 2007. There were over 100 displays, demonstrations, stalls, commercial displays, club displays, activities, local radio, competitions, games, and events throughout the day.

Despite the sometimes appalling weather the event was well supported, with several thousands of visitors, whose entrance fees went to the four charities:

• Army Benevolent Fund (40%)
• Sandlings Primary School (10%)
• St Elizabeth Hospice (40%)
• Sutton Heath Child Care centre (10%)

I was there in the afternoon and although people were streaming away, still more were streaming in and there still good crowds and plenty of interest being shown in the displays. Below are some 25 photographs I took during my wander around. Even this number of photos does not do justice to the huge variety of interests that were catered for...

 

1. All the fun of the fair. It's only a light drizzle.

 

2. It's still fun, flying through the air.

 

3. It's one big slide for mankind, if you're only three.

 

4. Painted ladies

 

5. Oh, what big eyes you've got!

 

6. Onto the serious stuff - mine warfare.

 

7. "I think this one will do it..."

 

8. That is a heavy machine-gun.

 

9. Ladies can do reversing. Just watch.

 

10. Lifting an ATV.

 

11. A metalwork workshop in a container.

 

12. "Look, he's waving at me" - diving demonstration.

 

13. High speed low fly-past by a Lynx helicopter.

 

14. Taz. A very handsome and talented German Shepherd Dog.

 

15. BBC Radio Suffolk was in attendance.

 

16. Local home-made produce.

 

17. Her Majesty's Coastguard.

 

18. Woodbridge Town Centre Management Group (WTCMG) provided masses of leaflets, pamphlets and business cards, promoting businesses, attractions, and services available in and around Woodbridge.

 

19. June Fooks, who runs Adams Apple ladies' clothes shop in Thoroughfare, filling carrier bags with complete sets of all the literature available on the WTCMG stall.

 

20. Introducing the Bawdsey Radar Group who manage the increasingly popular but still widely unknown attraction that tells the story of the origins of Radar, just a few miles away at Bawdsey Manor.

 

21. A right pair of clowns.

 

22. 1971 Mk I and 1979 Mk II Ford Escorts, and a Triumph 2000.

 

23. An Austin. Sorry, don't know the year or model. 10? 12?

 

24. A beautifully chunky Morris. Again, I don't know the year or model but the family similarity with the Morris Minor is obvious.

 

25. What a bright note to end on! My Jellymould Ford Popular (or is it an Anglia?) was never this jolly.