Guestbook – Army Apprentices College and Beachley Old Boys Association

Guestbook

2024 Reunion Bookings are available, see Reunion Booklet on BOBA/Membership.

It is advisable to arrange accommodation as soon as possible.

163 entries.

John Eveleigh from Edinburgh wrote on 21 June 2024 at 2:57 pm

I recently had been having problems with my Television and despite the addition of an amplifier for £100 it still remained imperfect. A friend put me on to a help line called "Restore TV". They sent an engineer who spent an hour and a half finding the interference source and providing a more powerful Amplifier and a Filter. Result perfect TV.. There was no charge for this service. I am placing this on the guest book in case there may be some one else who needs assistance. The internet gives all contact info if you are interested.
John Eveleigh 42A
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JOHN EVELEIGH from EDINBURGH wrote on 20 May 2024 at 2:43 pm

I recently made contact with John Bass of 44 group. It is quite some time since the days when he and I corresponded regularly in the guest book. I hope that he will be making further entries in the future when he overcomes problems with his computer.
John 42 A

JOHN EVELEIGH from EDINBURGH wrote on 19 May 2024 at 3:23 pm

Hello out there. It is a long time since I made an entry in the Book but just to let you know I have just made contact with john Bass of 44 Group. He doesn't sound any different from the last time we spoke and still has computer trouble, but hopes to get it fixed so that we can once again bore people with entries in the guest book.
Keep the flag flying
John Eveleigh

Andy Douglas from ASHFORD KENT wrote on 17 May 2024 at 11:54 am

I was in group 65C as an IC&P Fitter. I served 25 years in the corps
and left in 1990

Geoff Winter from Mansfield Notts wrote on 7 May 2024 at 10:07 pm

Hello to all you blokes out there, Tomorrow I sadly will be attending the funeral of Colin Bridgeman 66c A Coy, Colin had not been well for a couple of years, another old boy gone, go well my friends.

Derek Fox (Membership Secretary) from Pentney Norfolk. wrote on 13 April 2024 at 3:03 pm

I have been trying in the last few months to contact personnel from the 74 Groups, we only have 12 registered as members. I have only managed to make contact with three by phone ( I do not have email details for any ) If any 74 Group members or wannabe members read this, perhaps they would contact me, time is getting short. Memsecboba.

BOBA Committee wrote on 25 March 2024 at 9:27 am

Hello to all BOBA Members and ex-Beachley Boys,
As you may be aware this year is the 100th year of the first Apprentices coming to Beachley to continue and complete their journeys into the Regular Army.
Accordingly, your committee is holding a very special event alongside our Annual Reunion on 13/14/15th of September to celebrate our beginning. All the details and application forms are available on this website and we would like to share the event with as many of our friends and colleagues as possible, so please try to join us to celebrate our achievement of reaching this great milestone.
If you have any difficulties with booking please do not hesitate to contact any one of the Committee, their contact details are listed in this years Beachley Echoes, which is now available on this website as well.
Regards,
Your Committee

Admin Reply by: Administrator

Hi Chris,
Nice touch for the Guestbook.

RE DONALDSON from enniskillen BT945GQ. wrote on 22 March 2024 at 1:12 pm

I received the latest Beachley Echoes 2024 .AN EXCELLENT PUBLICATION .Many many thanks to ALL who make it so.70 A/B.

robert donaldson from enniskillen BT945GQ. wrote on 18 January 2024 at 11:02 am

Group 70A/B I attended the BOBA REUNION IN 2OO9 and marched with the BOBA Contingent at the London Remembrance Parade 2018,.Two milestones for me, Considering 2024 REUNION.I look forward to the annual Beachley Echoes. Regards to All.

Chairman wrote on 10 January 2024 at 3:52 pm

I am pleased to advise you that the 2024 Reunion Booklet is now available on this site. Visit BOBA then BOBA Membership and you can then read it, download it or simply download the Reunion 2024 Application Form and follow the instructions to apply for your tickets to the 2024 Centenary Celebrations and Annual Reunion over the weekend of 13/14/15th September 2024.

Chairman wrote on 22 December 2023 at 3:21 pm

Gentlemen,
On behalf of the members of your Committee I wish each and everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year wherever you are in the world.

BOBA CHAIRMAN from Chepstow wrote on 25 October 2023 at 9:13 am

We all know 2024 will be the centenary of Army Apprentices coming to Beachley and in order to celebrate this milestone the Annual BOBA Reunion will take place over the weekend of 13/14/15th of September 2024. We are pleased to advise you that at present rooms are available at The Two Rivers. It is anticipated that they will be reserved quickly so if you wish to stay there you should book rooms ASAP directly with the Hotel.

Dave Dedman from Brixham wrote on 6 September 2023 at 4:43 pm

Mainly for Bill Nichol and Colin Huckle - First time on the site for many years after looking at my photos of the '63 and '64 Baltic cruises - you are both in photos that I have if you ever need them.
Nice to see you'r both still around.

Regards. DD

Robin Dewar from Mt Evelyn Victoria Australia 3796 wrote on 5 September 2023 at 2:58 am

Sadly Just to inform the group that my Brother WO1 William Andrew Weir Dewar Retired member of REME. Passed on the 31/8/23 in the company of his family at Pitlochry, Scotland . I believe he was an apprentice about 1950s military No.22309165.
Sadly missed
Robin Dewar
ex R Signals

Chris Ricketts, (BOBA Chairman) from Chepstow wrote on 3 September 2023 at 12:54 pm

For your information;
The Annual General Meeting of the Association will take place at 13.00hrs on Saturday 16th September at The Beaufort Hotel, Chepstow & NOT as previously stated at 17.00hrs at The Beaufort Hotel, Chepstow

Alan Chatt 59A REME from Washington wrote on 28 August 2023 at 2:05 pm

It is my sad duty to inform you of the passing of Dicky Dowes 65C. Dicky was a great character and spent his last years as a Chelsea Pensioner RIP

Robert Kerr from Edinburgh wrote on 17 July 2023 at 9:40 am

Looking for Douglas Muir, Thornlibank and Matt Anderson, Cumnock, from 74C/75A

Geoff Jones from Cockermouth wrote on 28 June 2023 at 10:30 am

Calling all 74B ex apprentices the big 50 is coming next year I have spoken to a few lads that I'm still in touch with regarding a reunion please e mail me if your interested JONES.g69@sky.com

Julie Woodhams from Farnborough wrote on 25 June 2023 at 10:51 am

Sad to say that my dad, David Bowers, died in 21st June 2023. Dad was at the college around 1946 (I've found his Old Boys Live Membership card dated 19th August 1948). He died peacefully in his sleep after suffering a stroke a week previously, but sadly preceded by needing full-time care for dementia over the last 7 years.
He and my mum, Mary, were close friends with Frank & Daphne Pickering and I have strong childhood memories of visiting them every autumn when they all went to the reunion. I travel over the bridge a few times a year to visit the Chepstow area for dog shows, and always get emotional looking down at the college. I believe mum and Daphne grew up in Sedbury.
I've lost touch with Daphne over the time dad's been ill and don't know if she's still with us. Would be good to hear from any of the Pickering boys.

JOHN EVELEIGH from edinburgh wrote on 24 April 2023 at 9:34 am

On Remembrance Sunday 2022 I attended the local Remembrance Parade, A thing I had done before, but on this occasion instead of planting a Cross I intended to lay a wreath. I turned up on my Mobility Scooter and approached the organiser who asked me who I was representing. I had seen the rapid drop in World War two Veterans ,so said that was who I would be acting for. This was something I had never done before as I had never considered my self as a WW2 Veteran due to not having seen any Action during the War. The organiser appointed me with an Escort to assist me if necessary, as I hoped to walk the short distance from my Scooter to the Memorial. I was placed in front of all the other Wreath Bearers and then given the honour of laying the first Wreath. Followed by the other 30 or so Wreath Bearers
I have never experienced this form of honour before other than getting my Rooty Gong (LSGC).
My Escort told me that I should not be ashamed to call myself a WW2 Vet, as there were many others who had service like me and were considered as WW2 Vets. I am sending this as an Old Boy ,as it this might vaguely lead back to the School where I spent my first three years of WW Service before my 6 months Man service in the War Years.
John Eveleigh 42A ACoy

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