From Fri 5th to Mon 8th Sept 2025 the small village of Overstrand, in Norfolk, UK, enjoyed an influx of ex-EO staff. All of them intent on eating, drinking, bullshitting, drinking and eating at the beautiful, ex-railway station home of Bill & Jenny Wallace.
The weekend was hosted by Bill & Jenny, and arranged by Bill, Jenny, Sandy Thorburn Moring and Graeme Kidd. What could possibly go wrong?
Folks who were attending were sent the “Pre-Departure Info Booklet” which they will have read cover to cover, several times, and understood thoroughly. An EO Reunion is unlike any reunion they will have been on before and pre-warned is pre-warned, as they don’t say.
The sun was shining on a glorious Saturday where a motley gathering of 29 souls had descended on Overstrand in Norfolk, poor Bill and Jenny. 🙂
It has to be said that having 29 people in one place and meeting up with old friends and new stretching back 50 years, and the rest, has got to be almost unheard of outside EO. Plus the endless messages from distant friends sending greetings, brings it home what a unique bond we have and we should all be proud of that.
I missed out on the Friday night Hi-Jinks but gather it was a fun evening of EO banter as you would expect.
I pitched up Saturday morning just in time for breakfast, not the last by a long way. Mr Scudamore took that accolade after a proper EO journey. Having spotted a thorn in his tyre he proceeded to remove it, a most unlike Shion bad decision.
Get the tools out, change the wheel but the spare would not fit, wrong rim apparently but Mr Magyver himself also had his tubeless tyre repair kit and faster than you can say Peru and Incas he is back on the road again.
So Saturday was the day the second wave arrived, some embarking on a walking tour of historical Overstrand, apparently also the location of Churchills holiday cottage. While others sought out the pub, that was a surprise 🙂
The walkers joined us at the pub along with Eddie and Fred who rocked up in the Batmobile disguised as a hatchback and then we got a message from Station Command that our leader had arrived. (He won’t like that 🙂 .)
But seriously, Tony had landed so we sauntered back up to what was a stunning location, previously an old train station it has been transformed by Bill and Jenny into a lovely house. With lots of greenery out back and a sun soaked patio, or actually, platform. It was a great location. Thanks again Bill, Jenny, Sandy & Graeme for the location and 5 star organisation.
The sun was shining, drinks flowing along with a few, well loads actually of great stories, so many It would take me a month to write them down but luckily so many I can’t remember so I can listen to them all again at the next reunion where they will be even better. 🙂
Glasses were raised to absent friends and friends no longer with us, to Tony who without planning it has built a unique community, Bill and Jenny for hosting, Sandy and Graeme for organising and the rest of the rabble for showing up.
Sunday saw a leisurely breakfast, more sunshine and more stories and the steady departure of many but with plenty of time for fond farewells and one last cup of tea.
The dregs including myself held on until Monday. All in all a 4 day gathering, I’ll take the liberty of adding a thanks from everybody in Norfolk to Tony for being Tony and making the longest journey and for all the texts and messages from those not able to be there. Long may EO reunions continue.
(Words kindly provided by Adrian Mumby)
Attendees were:
Adrian Mumby
Bill McCann
Bill & Leslie-Ann Preston
Bill & Jenny Wallace
Chris Aindow
Eddie Edwards
Edward & Jane Hamilton
Fred Cherry
Geoff Spillett
Graeme Kidd
Graham Smith & Emma Page
James Hogg
Jennifer Lumsden-Gordon
Jez Grimshaw
Michael Donkin
Neal Inwood
Neil & Caroline Featherstone
Rene Mueller
Sandy Moring
Shion Scudamore
Tony Jones
Tony & Anne Sloyan
Vicky Hayward
Encounter Overland Archives (1968 - 2001) 