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.

Edwin John Bass from Cologne, Germany wrote on 13 February 2022 at 7:28 pm

Hi Ray,
Thank you. No, dont bother sending anything. I have a file on it all somewhere among my heap of paperwork that I shall get to sorting -- one of these days.. It was that when I was in Africa 9 or ten times I kept meeting Brits and Europeans that spoke of places just down the road that were often in other countries.... Compared with Britain it is a continent, of course.
Stay cool and Cheers!
John

Martin Gregor from Bristol wrote on 13 February 2022 at 4:55 pm

Hi
Just wondering are there any Old Boys from 72B C Company planning on going to the Reunion this year as its our 50th Anniversary of joining.

Ray Hackworth from River Club Johannesburg South Africa wrote on 13 February 2022 at 9:29 am

Hi JB.. Choma in Zambia is not just round the corner from me. It is some 1505 kms away, a 18/20 hour drive,plus 2 or 3 border posts depending on the way you go. I am not sure if he is still at his crocodile farm in Choma or in Livingstone. I have obtained some information on him, which mentions he is a ex boy soldier; and that he arrived in Northern Rhodesia (Zambia) in 1954 and was a garage mechanic in Lusaka. I can send this information to you about him if you let me know where I can send it to.He has had two books written about him, one by Elizabeth Balneaves Elephant Valley,and his own book Siawinda which was published in 2009 by Safari Press in the USA.

Edwin John Bass from Cologne, Germany wrote on 12 February 2022 at 8:19 pm

Sorry Ray. Many apologies Wrong Ray I guess.
Joe Brooks (44a A Coy) had a large property -- probably three farms in all -- at Choma, Zambia and lots of fishing rigs on the lake nearby. Big Game Hunter and all that sort of thing.... He treated me well during theee weekends he had me there I was working for GTZ (German government organisation)
. At Beachley after every leave Joe had cigarrettes to sell: Woodbines and Players mostly tuppence-halpenny for 5 Woodbines I remember. Quite a business man in his Chep days....

Ray Hackworth from River Club Johannesburg South Africa wrote on 12 February 2022 at 2:47 pm

Hi JB, sorry never heard of him. On my various travels i have meet very few Beachley Old boys. we seem to have moved in different circles.
I, or should I say we, my 2nd wife, (my first wife died of emphysema in 2006 after a long battle being unable to breath due to smoking) go walking with a group called Run walk for life;. which is run by our Medical Aid Group. We met twice a week (Tuesday and Thursday evenings) and walk from 1700 hrs for an hour or so. I walk up to 5 km per session. My wife and the others do above this. I am the only male in a group of 15 . Must have some pleasures in life?????
Because of the long hours we work (up to 60 plus per week), We try and take long weekends in the Bush or up in the mountains. Covid put paid to this but we are hoping to get back to this as restrictions are lifted. Had a good trip to Southern Mozambique (Ponte De Oro)a couple of years ago to attend Julies sons wedding.
He is a plastic surgeon with his Practice in Durban. These days it is dangerous to go there due to the war in the north of the country..
We might even get back to riding horses amongst the game in the various wild life parks we go to. Why dont you try it?

Edwin John Bass from Cologne, Germany wrote on 11 February 2022 at 8:00 pm

Hi Ray!
Good to see you seem still sprightly. I;ve lost touch with everyone and wonder if you know if Joe Brooks of my goup 44a A Coy at his farm just up the road from you is still alive. He was was nearly a year older than me and was really fit . I am sure he would still want to kill me as he had threatened ....
Cheers! JB....

Ray Hackworth from River Club Johannesburg South Africa wrote on 10 February 2022 at 9:04 am

I have kept tabs on the news of Beachley for a number of years. I was in 55b (C company) and initially trained as an Engine Fitter IC&P before going to Cove. (9th Training Regt RE) Was selected for NCO training, ( 3 regular NCOs cadre) and had a bad accident on Dartmoor (February 1959) when the TCV we were in left the road and plunged down the embankment. This cost me some 8 months in hospital (Plymouth Naval hospital and Aldershot) with head injuries. Back at Cove they said I was unfit and retrained me as a Clerk.When I was fit again i went to the RSME for trade upgrading, then deployed to Germany 44 Field Park at Paderborn. Then Christmas Island (running the main camp Power Station). Then deployed to the 17 Port Regt in the UK. I did not want to be re badged when 17 Post was moved out of RE control. Was then re-deployed to the Joint Services Bomb disposal unit, initially at Horsham and then Chattenden. By this time I was married and my wife did not want me to continue in the military, so her brother suggested I get a Job in Zambia (He was a Chartered Accountant there). . I did and was offered a position on the Copperbelt as an Overseas Service Engineer. When I got to Zambia they wanted me to work on the Management accounting side. By this time I had 5 O and 5 A levels (mainly from London University) and studying for the LLB Degree. However they wanted me to qualify as a Company Secretary which I did. I left Zambia (localisation) and moved to SA where I was an investment manager for a listed engineering group. Then to Botswana as a Company Secretary for De Beers Mining. Then to Papua New Guinea as a manager in a international shipping company. Then back to South Africa and joined Deloitte and Touche (the international accountants). I then took the plunge and formed my own Accounting Tax and consulting firm, I still run this today and have over 200 clients. (Local and International)
I put my success down to the excellent training I received at Chepstow and in the Royal Engineers. I do not think that I would have become a Chartered Company Secretary and a qualified management Accountant without this training.
I am still in touch with two others from these days, namely Jim Windsor and Barry Spooner in the UK. I was also in touch with John Ingram (we met up in Zambia) and stayed with him in Australia. Unfortunately John died a number of years ago from what appeared to to radiation problems he contacted whilst at Malaringa during the nuclear tests with the Royal Engineers.I am still in contact with his wife Genny.

john eveleigh from Edinburgh wrote on 9 February 2022 at 2:44 pm

Further to my last entry ,I would point out that my book is available for purchase. Chris Rickets is dealing with any requests for purchasing, and it is called To be a Soldier Boy;
I would emphasise that t I get nothing when a book is sold, my intention being that it might produce a little revenue for BOBA.
The book describes the life of a boy in as much detail as possible
during the Second World War. So if interested contact Chris and he will send details for purchase,
John Eveleigh 42A A Coy

Edwin John Bass from Cologne, Germany wrote on 7 February 2022 at 8:46 pm

Hi John E...
Yes! Getting published seems mysr´´ifying when see what does get into too many books.
I reckon you should press on. Ive had people here showing instant disbelief like one stiff German saying, Boy soldiers -- copying Adolph? Nein, never!
Had several technicl articles published whilst still performing as an engineer. I got fed up with the IMecheE in London when they changed their logo from a horse standing on the world to juszt the initials in what looked to be a drunken rectangilar Box (rhombus). That is a good example of what I mean with publishers.
My first two novels were reviewed by two women the like of which I made inro a story for my famila to have a laugh. I only met one of them: Wrinkled Mrs Kennedy wearing a miniskirt, with her hair looking as if she had had an enormous elecric shock, shooting vertically upward to wht could well hav ebeen a birdnest! I hate to tell how much I paid. i realised later how much had been severely DONE. Both MSs still unpublished -- I just cant be bothered -- but the family loved them. And my C-in-c I read to her evey day and she reckons I am a brilliant author but that is because I do the cooking...... ever day....
Cheers!
John-Boy -- Oh Lonely me of 44a A Coy.....

john eveleigh from Edinburgh wrote on 7 February 2022 at 1:04 pm

Hello JB
Nice to see your eloquence on these pages once again.
I was never an Author, that is until Chris Rickets saw a Manuscript I had written ,originally for my Family. I offered it to him in response to his request for Artefacts for the Museum.
After reading it he persuaded me to let BOBA have it printed in book form so that any one looking at the list of available books could if they wished ,purchase it. I accepted this and we agreed I would get one free copy.
He had it printed with a good layout and a very good front piece.
As the idea of having it in book form was to give old boys a chance to purchase, I expected to see it appearing in the list of available shop goods . However that has never happened and I have never been told why. I even wrote to the President but he was obviously to busy to reply.
The Imperial War Museum has shown interest in these writings especially when they can associate it with the Author. As I am a World War Two Veteran this helps as well.
Good luck with your writing .
John 42A A Coy

Edwin John Bass from Cologne, Germany wrote on 4 February 2022 at 10:35 pm

Excuse me asking Ivan -- or should I say Lord Ivan -- is that your title or a christian name? Actually I am living in Bergisch Gladach. which is about 16km from Cologne. The carnival is about due but with the virus getting stronger we will be missing it this year. Pity we didnt get together during your time here I could really spin a yarn about my time in Chepstow .... Cheers!

Ivan Lord Edwards of Ludbrooke. from TORQUAY wrote on 16 January 2022 at 9:39 pm

Sgt Edwards (Muskie) 70 A/B B Coy. 1970-1974
Back in UK after 20 years in Germany (Rhein Valley)
Still in contact with a few

Edwin John Bass from Cologne, Germany wrote on 13 January 2022 at 9:17 pm

Thank you Mr Admininstratot, . now I feel a big bit of a Creep. Sorry! if you felt it too.
My NEW computer has been back to the sellers several times and at the moment does not work the E-Mail bit at all. I am using it as a word-processor until I finish my masterpice (I hope it will be -- As John Eveleigh will probably say, "We all have a book inside us... Good Look John E..... ).... Humble apologies for being a bit Bolshy.
Chheers ! John-Boy 44a ACoy ....(Oh lonely me...)

Admin Reply by: Administrator

I dont think you were bolshy - good luck with your book.

Edwin John Bass from Cologne, Germany wrote on 12 January 2022 at 9:10 pm

Why in red? I feel as if evil. I was hoping for a reason but nobody seems to care.

Well there it is.
A Happy New Year to you all. If this gets accepted i'll pay my subs but last time i tried to send a message on here it was rejected.
Cheers!

Admin Reply by: Administrator

The red letering is built into the website structure and cannot be altered - we have tried. Please try sending your message again - webmaster

RE DONALDSON from enniskillen BT945GQ. wrote on 6 January 2022 at 9:23 am

Catching up not since April 21 have i visited this site great to see HC PROGRESSING from strength to strength

SIR TERRY JOHN DENTON from HAZEL GROVE wrote on 2 January 2022 at 6:04 pm

Still living after all these years (88).Residence as detailed but also in Melbourne Australia. Cape Town South Africa Brighton Marina England and Lilla Korno Sweden.
Chairman of 3 Iternational companies but possible standing down to retire next year.
Intake 50A Left Beachley with no rank but good ideas to take into civilian. life in 1960.

David Black from Surfers Paradise Australia wrote on 16 December 2021 at 6:30 am

Hi everybody out there. Are there anyone from 62C B Company.

geoff Winter from MANSFIELD wrote on 21 November 2021 at 2:46 pm

Hello to all you blokes out there, Found out recently that our old troop Sgt Ian Donald was buried in Rippon Cemetry, sadly Sgt Donald was killed in Ireland in 1973 aged 35 years. Sgt Donald was just the most fantastic bloke, he made a lifelong impression on myself and most of our Group 66c, last of the 3 years.
Many thanks to Mal Forder, picked Mal up from his house and he took me to the cemetry we met another bloke who was out there with Sgt Donald, he was very helpful and told me everything that happened that day, think he was in the party that recovered Ian,s body.
The date my visit was the 11th November at 11am, mals mate Ian had the last post on the phone, so paid our respects, quite moving. all the best boys

Richard Mullins from Reydon Suffolk wrote on 16 November 2021 at 12:38 pm

It was nice to see the Apprentice Memorial featured in Country File on Sunday when they visited the National Memorial Arboritum at Airewas. Did anyone else see it?

john Eveleigh 42 A Group from Edinburgh wrote on 19 October 2021 at 11:33 am

Sitting idly at my computer it occurred to me that I might find mention of my old Group 42A if I looked at random at the information was available.
The result surprised me, we had;
MOS 42A Human resources British Army
Boys PG in 42A Chandigarh
A basic guide for to Bras for men
42A Human Resources US Army
42A Boys Boys Swimming results
Butcher Boy Meat Grinder
This is probably the tip of the iceberg.
It just made me realise that those of us who considered 42A as something special, now realise it was just a mundane number. Perhaps the Army should have taken out a Copyright.?
John Eveleigh

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