Saturday 16th July

A large gathering today, mainly due to the biennial PTS re-tests scheduled for midday, and the annual lineside BBQ set for the evening. Eddie, Martin W, Ian R, Keith H, Brian Hi and Brian Ha headed off on the line inspection to Alton, also carrying out a spanner check on every fishplate nut following a period of settling in after the fishplate oiling. Pete, John, Bill, Chris and Adrian C meanwhile headed to Alresford, also spanner checking the first section to Ropley. Corina carried out the point oiling at Ropley and Alresford to relieve the walkers of this task, with Neil performing the same operation at Alton. This left Keith B and Martin R to go shopping for the BBQ food etc., A flypast by the Red Arrows and Airbus A400M Atlas was seen at M&4M on their way to Farnborough airshow.

Following the return to base and joined by Ian J, 10 bodies were put through the PTS test and I'm pleased to say that all passed. In the afternoon, Eddie, Martin W, Ian R and Brian Ha travelled back down to Alton to complete the spanner checking task which had to be abandoned early in order to catch the train back to M&FM. John, Chris, Bill, Corina and Adrian went down to The Grosvenor hut, where they completed the laying of the concrete slab floor, laid slabs outside the door, and Corina cleaned down and re-painted the Grosvenor Lane bridge number and milepost 54 1/2 adjacent to the hut. Keith and Martin R transported the BBQ food and equipment down to Northside View hut and began preparations for the evening.

The BBQ was blessed with warm and generally sunny weather, and a good time was had by all, who especially enjoyed the expressions on the faces of the passengers of the passing RAT train upon seeing the hi-viz diners sitting around tables with white table cloths and candelabra, and Harry (Corina's son) posing as a waiter.