Guestbook – Army Apprentices College and Beachley Old Boys Association

Guestbook

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2025 Reunion Bookings are available, see Reunion Booklet on BOBA/Membership.

It is advisable to arrange accommodation as soon as possible.

166 entries.

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

Geoff Winter from Shirebrook wrote on 11 December 2022 at 6:50 pm

Hi to all you BOBs out there, met up with Steve Oliver yesterday we were both 66c, not seen Ollie since we left Chepstow 53 years ago. We had a lovely. Lunch and talked about the good times we had, sadly we only had 3 hrs he had to catch a train back to Leeds, Ollie has lived in America for many years, he and his family are all good, cheers Geoff Winter.

RonWeeks from Ripon wrote on 26 October 2022 at 9:12 am

Alan Skidmores funeral is at 1400hrs, Monday 31st Oct at Ripon Cathedral.

Gary White from Coventry wrote on 14 October 2022 at 7:09 pm

I’m afraid I have some very sad news, Alan Skidmore who was CSM of C Company in the 70’s, and who retired as a Colonel, passed away in the early hours of this morning. Four of us from 73A and B went to see him earlier this year in Ripon where he lived and had a great evening with him, we had invited him to come to the reunion next year for our 50th anniversary year, he was honoured to be asked and was looking forward to it immensely. He was a great character and an absolute legend, and played a big part in shaping ours and many other lives, I hope we meet again in the Sapper Bar.
RIP

Reunion Organiser wrote on 9 September 2022 at 12:53 pm

Gentlemen,
I write to advise those attending the Annual BOBA Reunion on 16/17/18 of September that having taken advice the event will take place as arranged. There will be minor changes and deference will be paid to the loss of HM Queen Elizabeth 11 and everything “The Boss” meant to us all.
I trust that you will all understand this decision and look forward to getting together again after three years.

John Eveleigh from edinburgh wrote on 9 September 2022 at 11:20 am

What sad news." The Queen is dead " a simple statement that means so much. There must have been Millions who lived and died with the one Monarch on the throne. It made me realise I had lived in the Reign of 5 Monarchs.
George V, Edward the Eighth, George the sixth, Elizabeth the Second, and now Charles the third.
I served Queen Elizabeth for 48 years ,25 in the Army, and twenty-three in the Civil Service. I remember in the latter one, undertaking to serve the Queen and her Ministers.
I only saw her once, that was during her visit to Sunderland. My only other other connections being my Army Warrant, and a congratulations Card when my wife and I celebrated our Diamond Wedding.
Being about the same age I grew up with her, at least the images that we were given in the papers, and after the Duke of York became King there was constant mention of the two Princesses and the life they led. I served at one time with an ATS Unit and one of the Sergeants claimed to have Served with the then Princess Elizabeth during the War.

Despite this lack of contact I still have memories of a Queen I have always respected for her ability to act as a Queen but be able to communicate with her subjects in a friendly and understanding way.
She will be sadly missed
John Eveleigh 42A

Ron Weeks from Ripon wrote on 6 September 2022 at 9:51 am

They trained RE driver/signallers there so there's a good chance

Ron Weeks from Ripon wrote on 6 September 2022 at 8:50 am

Rob, the champ could have been with 62b at Junior Tradesmans Regt at Troon in Ayreshire. Just a thought.
Dunno why it's typing in red, but I can't seem to change it.
(Changed by webmaster)

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