MORE than 100 Royal Navy veterans took a trip down memory lane on Sunday as a reunion took place at a former communications school near East Meon.

Memories were shared over a buffet and beer during the HMS Mercury Rising event in The Sustainability Centre with the fun taking place in the base’s old ‘sick bay’.

Dr Jill Edmunds gave a talk about the archaeology of the site and Leydene House before the Navy took over while centre manager Christine Seaward spoke about their plans to transform the block into a new learning centre.

Volunteers were also on hand to record some of the stories and anecdotes from people who served or trained at Mercury during its 52-year tenure as a memory book is planned. Anyone who would like to share a memory or story about life at Leydene should e-mail: [email protected]