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.

153 entries.

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

JOHN EVELEIGH from EDINBURGH wrote on 27 March 2023 at 5:55 pm

Sorry to have mislead you. My error was that the boy I knew was Dunn not Nunn. Good luck in your search
John Eveleigh 42 A A coy

Admin Reply by: Administrator

Thanks John, I always blame our age.

John Eveleigh from EDINBURGH wrote on 27 March 2023 at 3:35 pm

Dianne Evans
I may have known your father at Beachley. If it was him I remember him as not being a tall man and he had tight wavy hair. I am afraid I cannot remember anything else although my instant remembrance makes me think he was in the same room as me. Sorry i can,t help more.
John Eveleigh
42A A Company

Admin Reply by: Administrator

John was 42A while Preston was 43A A Company.

Diane Evans from Sheringham wrote on 26 March 2023 at 1:58 pm

I am trying to find any information about my dad, Preston Colin Nunn, always known as Preston. He was born 9th March 1928, and he passed away in 2013. He was at Chepstow in the 1940's but that is all I know. He became a Sergeant in the REME and we were stationed at Aldershot where I was born in 1951 and then posted to Warcop in Westmoreland at the camp there, from about 1954 to 1959/60.He was a very keen and good rifle and pistol shooter winning many trophies..Anything information at all would be very welcome please.Thank you for your help.

Stuart Beveridge 49B A Coy from Uedem, Niederrhein, Germany wrote on 10 March 2023 at 4:14 pm

Am just in touch via mail with some Beachley ex Boys and very sorry and sad to report here I have just been advised of the very sad news of the passing away surrounded by members of his loving family in Bury, Lancs on 9th March 2023 one day before his 89th Birthday of John Davey 49B A Coy and Royal Engineers by his nephew Alex Allen also from Bury.
John was luck enough to have served in such hot interesting places such as the Trucial Oman - now the exotic Dubai and Abu Dhabi and the United Arab Emirates - where he was an LAD Member of the Trucial Omen Scouts as well as in Hamelin, Germany. He was in this role also with his Trucial Oman Group on our Rembrance Day Parade in November on Whitehall in his Trucial Oman Scouts head grear and desert uniform.
He was a very active team member in his units, the RE Association and proved to be very useful when his unit and others were posed with difficult technical military problem.

geoff Winter from MANSFIELD wrote on 21 February 2023 at 2:53 pm

Gentlemen, it is with deep regret that I have to inform you of the passing of John Crosbie 66c A Company, I have received an e-mail from his wife today, john passed on the 4th of January and the funeral was yesterday,
so sad we were not able to be there for him, but she only found our details recently on his computer.

Richard Mullins from Southwold wrote on 3 February 2023 at 5:28 pm

It was a privilege to have been a member of The Beachley Harriers when George Crump was the Boss. We had many long Sunday training runs in and around the Wye Valley with a packed lunch and a flagon of cider at the half way check point. Happy memories of 1963-1966.

Bill Morrow from Wirral wrote on 1 February 2023 at 11:49 pm

Had the privilege to be taught by Derek Way; Russell Robins and George Crump

Andrew Park from Nottingham wrote on 19 January 2023 at 5:34 pm

Alan Park, teacher at Beachley from early 1960's to 1990's died on Jan 10 this year. He often talked of his time there, playing bridge with John Roderick and Russell Robbins at lunch. Derek Way, George Crump, Gerry McNamara and many others, If you see this and know of any other of Alans contempories please pass on the news.
many thanks

Bill Morrow 63A Draughtsman C & S from Wirral wrote on 19 December 2022 at 8:46 pm

Re the Austin Champ - I have in my archives 2 pics of a Champ taken in 1963 when we were at camp in the Brecon Beacons. One is me trying to look Warry but the other smaller one shows the Champ with trailer and Reg No 16 BE 34 has two badges below the headlamps but hard to see due to scale, d/s white stripe at top, colour below - n/s union jack on top with crown below. Contact for scan. Ron Weeks I'm still around.

Barrie spooner55B from Weymouth wrote on 15 December 2022 at 9:26 pm

Hi there fellow members,
Such wonderful stories in here; it makes me think I only served 5mins

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