On December 2nd, 1943, Ernest Bevin, the wartime Minister of Labour and National Service, announced to the House of Commons that men aged between 18 and 25 would be selected by ballot and conscripted into coalmining as a compulsory alternative to the Armed Forces.

The ballots lasted until April 1945 and a total of 21,800 Bevin Boys were recruited by this method.

The first reunion of the 60th anniversary year, organised by vice-president of the Bevin Boys' Association, Warwick Taylor, was held at the 16th-century Falcon Hotel, Stratford-upon-Avon, while the main event took place at the National Memorial Arboretum, Alrewas, in Staffordshire, which occupies 150 acres alongside the River Tame.

Opened four years ago, it is the nation's tribute to the people of the 20th century and a gift in their memory for present and future generations to reflect upon and enjoy. Plots are dedicated to the Armed Forces and Merchant services, the police and many other groups.

On April 27th, it was the Bevin Boys' turn to unveil a plaque adjacent to the three trees planted on their plot - an oak for England, a mountain ash for Wales and a Scots pine, representing the three coalmining areas where many Bevin Boys worked.

A garden seat was also dedicated to them.

Preceding the ceremony, a service of remembrance took place in Britain's only Millennium Chapel, situated within the grounds. It was conducted by the Revd Philip Pearson, a retired Methodist minister and former Bevin Boy, from Stoke-on-Trent.

The weekend coincided with Shakespeare's birthday celebrations which, by tradition, includes a procession of representatives from schools, theatre, literature and academia along with many ambassadors and High Commissioners from various countries walking through the streets to unfurl their respective flags and banners before proceeding to lay floral tributes on the Bard's grave in the Chancel of Holy Trinity Church.

The delegates from Luxembourg and the University of London were unable to be present and so four Bevin Boys stood in for them.

Warwick Taylor and chairman, John Burgess, represented Luxembourg while Phil Yates and Stan Tate, from Ponteland, stood in for the university,.

In welcoming members of the association at the gala dinner, John Burgess, a Wintonian by birth, very cleverly included the titles of most of Shakespeare's plays in his speech, concluding by introducing the vice-president as "The Merchant of Venice".

Two Bevin Boys attending the reunion met for the first time in 56 years. Albert Baker, from Romford, and Godfrey "Bill" Birtles, from Buxton, worked at Easington Colliery County Durham and lodged at the same hostel. They last saw one another in 1947 on their release from coalmining service and kept in touch for a few years but then lost contact until Albert finally tracked Bill down once again.

The Bevin Boys from Hampshire who attended the reunion were Maurice Pearce, from Tadley, Dave Moody, from Southampton and Alan Carr, Les Wilcock and Phil Yates, all from Winchester.

After a successful first regional reunion last year for Bevin Boys from the Southern Counties, the area representatives, Warwick Taylor and Phil Yates, are organising another reunion on September 10th at Hinton Firs Hotel, Bournemouth. Any Bevin Boy who did not attend last year and would like to go in the 60th anniversary year, may contact Warwick on 01308/861488 or Phil on 01962/854472 for more information. The spring reunion of 2004 - April 16-19th - will be at the same hotel.