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.

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)

Rob Bryant from Hellingly, East Sussex. wrote on 4 September 2022 at 2:39 pm

Hello All, I am in the process of buying an Austin Champ which served with Group 62b from 1954 up until 1966. I was told Ayrshire but I assume that should be Monmouthshire? Would anyone have any information about what insignia the Champ would have worn back in the day? I would like to restore the vehicle to how it would have been when it was last in service. Many thanks and best wishes, Rob.

Chris Ricketts wrote on 29 August 2022 at 10:05 pm

For your information the Agenda for the AGM 2022 is available via the link on the Home Page.

Alan Chatt from Washington wrote on 16 August 2022 at 4:59 pm

HI Derek, your request for information about Jimmy Green has unfortunately produced no results. I have checked our enlistment records and all our Greens are from 50B to 58B but not one is called Jimmy or James. Was this a nickname or does he have another name or names?

Ray Derrick REME 48B wrote on 16 August 2022 at 1:19 pm

Hi,
I am writing on behalf of Ray from the AOBA who is looking to find someone called Jimmy Green who would have likely been a Betchley Boy in an early fifties intake. I would appreciate if anyone who may know Jimmy could get in tocuh so that I can reunite these apprentices. Thanks in advance.
Geordie Wright-Rivers 07590848766

Steven Hart from Yeovil wrote on 11 August 2022 at 3:48 pm

Hello, I am trying to trace anyone from 64A "C "Company. Can't see any ref. to that intake anywhere.
We did form part of the Guard when the Severn Bridge was opened which I suppose is a "claim to Fame "
Looking forward to hearing from anyone

Steve

Martin A Gregor from Portishead North Somerset wrote on 2 August 2022 at 11:48 am

Hi Still wondering if any members of 72B C Company are attending this years Reunion. 2022 is our 50th Anniversary of Joining.

Martin Gregor from Bristol wrote on 20 July 2022 at 8:13 pm

Are any members of 72b C Company attending this year's reunion. It will be 50years since we joined up.

Dave Youdle (58A) from Gillingham, Kent wrote on 14 July 2022 at 4:04 am

Just popped in to see how the new site is working.Looks good from here!

Alan Chatt from Washington wrote on 14 June 2022 at 5:08 pm

We are pleased to announce that the Heritage Centre re-opened on the 1st of June.
Opening times are Wednesdays and Saturdays 11am until 3pm.

John Eveleigh from Ediinburgh wrote on 10 June 2022 at 2:39 pm

Why is it that improved systems are usually not as good as the old tried and proved system. For instance when we submitted and entry for the Guest book it was entered immediately and not three days later when the entries connection to the submission date is lost. Also my entries used to say John Eveleigh from Edinburgh but now I am John from Eveleigh
I expect it will improve Like I hope my Typing will.
John .Eveleigh 42A A Coy

Edwin John Bass from Cologne, Germany wrote on 8 June 2022 at 11:38 pm

Hi John E...
It's a wonder you didn't get shot down. Or obliteated somehow... Our friends the Americans were good at it and could appealingly apologise afterwards. Leslie Howard of "Gone With the Wind"film fame was listed as missing and some clever blokes had it that one of our bombers -- or Allied air force bombers -- returning with a few unused bombs decided to jettison over the Channel.
Seems a good idea when you are wearing a battle jacket to watch out above as well as your back.
If its true its an awful way to go ....
Cheers!
John-Boy.

JOHN from EVELEIGH wrote on 5 June 2022 at 5:10 pm

I served for 25 years and only saw Queen Elizabeth once and that was in Sunderland, when standing at the side of the road I watched her pass by in her car.
Travelling home from Egypt in a York Aircraft in 1953 we flew fairly low as these planes were not pressurised, but this allowed us to get a good look at the ground beneath us during the Flight. We flew across France and then the water and made a sharp turn to the right to head for England.
Some one ,can't remember if it was the Pilot or Steward, told us to look out at the surface of the sea as the Queen was reviewing the fleet.

True enough we flew over a huge formation of ships in position ready for the review. Later I found there were 170 or more ships in the Formation. It was a sight that not many people actually saw from the Air. So although I only saw the Queen once, I was able to tell people about this historical occasion.
The fact that we actually flew over this formation showed that Security was much less then than it is now.
John Eveleigh 42A A Coy

Edwin John Bass from Cologne, Germany wrote on 30 May 2022 at 11:07 pm

Glad to see you back sir. Keep wel!l

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