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.

Colin Huckle 61C group from Kings Lynn Norfolk wrote on 6 September 2021 at 12:32 am

Like the new web-site. I would be interested to know if Bill Nichol at the Heritage Centre is the the same man whom I spent most of August 1963 sailing around the Baltic Sea on Avalanche. If it is, then it would be good to catch up on good times.
Kind regards CT Huckle

Ian Watkins wrote on 29 August 2021 at 9:32 am

Standard Studio, in Bedale, North Yorkshire, specialises in creating bespoke wall art, plaques, and figures for your home, garden or workplace. Constructed using a range of materials such as reconstituted stone, plaster, wood, resin etc, some can be painted, or simply left to weather naturally.

We have obtained a Licence from the Ministry of Defence to reproduce and sell approved military badges. All our badges and insignia have been designated 'Official Licensed Product'. Each plaque is a maximum of 12 inches in height with varying widths for different badges.

Our ever-growing portfolio covers the following badges and insignia:
Royal Engineers
Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
and many, many more. Image in miscellaneous photo section

We offer a buy in store or courier delivery - visit our website and FaceBook page for details.

www.standardstudio.co.uk
@standardstudio1

Frank Johnstone (60B C Coy Survey) from Hallow, Worcester wrote on 18 August 2021 at 6:41 pm

Had my first visit to the Heritage Centre today and what a warm welcome Marilyn and I received from the staff. A great thanks to Chris, Les, Gethin, Geoff and Bill for making the visit so interesting and giving us so much information. Highly recommended for any ex boy to pay a visit to the Centre. My application to join BOBA will be in the post tomorrow. Many. many thanks to you all again.
REgards
Frank

John Hurst from Dorking wrote on 18 August 2021 at 9:38 am

I also wanted to ask , do you know where the records for Beachey Camp are held , any help from your members would be great , thank you , John.

John Hurst from Dorking wrote on 16 August 2021 at 4:30 pm

Hello , I write to you seeking help , My late Father Joined the army aged 15 on the first of January 1925 . I can find no records of his early service , i have been to Kew and they were unable to help. My Father was discharged in 1946 with the rank of Major . He would never talk of his service but I am sure you will understand I am very proud of his service , His name was Kenneth William Hurst ,I have a very sketchy account of his service sent to me in 1989 ans it states boys technical school as a company sgt major , date and regiment unknown but he was comissione int the royal engineers in1942 , any information would help even if i am ruling out another dead end , thank you for your time and I wish you well , John Hurst.

John Eveleigh from Edinbirgh wrote on 28 July 2021 at 12:08 pm

42 A and proud of it. JB are you in retirement? the lack of entries by you makes you "Conspicuous by your absence" it also leaves me with little to reply to. I remember the computer problems you had at one time ,and I have just had my share, but had better action than you seemed to get. Lost all broadband and phone. My son texted BT and within one day I had a lady on my mobile giving me a date for repair in 4 days time. I explained that I wore a Pendant and therefore was now out of contact in an emergency ,she said leave it to me and the next day an engineer appeared and solved problem, Well done BT!
I am in touch with another 42A boy in Australia so have been exchanging reminiscences with him.
Hope you are keeping away from the dreaded Lurgy.
John

Administrator wrote on 20 July 2021 at 8:16 am

Webmaster here – I need your help with unidentified photographs. In the ‘Groups’ section there are about sixty images I cannot identify or allocate to a year group. In the ‘Miscellaneous’ section there are, likewise images I cannot identify. These images have a title or a number. If you can identify an image and can provide information about it please contact me via images@beackley.org and I will move it to its true home.

Bill Nichol from Chepstow wrote on 19 July 2021 at 10:07 am

New this year - a BOBA Calendar - visit the centre or online shop to get one

MICHAEL McCRAN from LINCOLN wrote on 10 July 2021 at 4:29 pm

Thank you for the invite to the Beachley Boys Chepstow FB Group.
I am a former member of the RAMC, joining as a boy soldier in September 1963 at Crookham and passing out in December 1965 to Royal Herbert Hospital Woolwich. My eldest lad Andy joined the JLR REs at Dover in December 1985. He is now serving with The German/Nederland's NATO HQ in Munster as a Lt Col.
The reason that I have requested to join your Group is that I am currently doing a project on the RAMC Boy Soldiers. AAS School Chepstow in 1951 started to accept RAMC boy soldiers, who received 18 months educational training prior to being posted to the RAMC Depot to commence their trade training. After 4 years of trial, the few RAMC apprentices ceased to come to Beachley for 18 months of general education. In such a short spell, they were not getting the full benefit from boys' training, and so, the RAMC decided to open its own Army Apprentice School at the Depot & Training Establishment at Queen Elizabeth Barracks, Crookham. A total of 66 RAMC apprentices passed through the AAS Chepstow Gates between 1951 and 1955.
RAMC boy soldiers were in the following Intakes; 51A, 51B, 52A, 52B, 53A, 53B, 54A, 54B and 55B and they are listed below:
INTAKE 51A: - Roger Charles DANIELS, Robert Edward HARVEY, Alastair William THOMSON, Albert Frederick WOODWARD. (4)
INTAKE 51B: - Frank Edward Alfred DAVIS, Colin DEAN, Grenvilla Arthur LIVESLEY, Ian Martin OUTRAM, Brian Charles RIDDLESTONE, David Machennan WHITFIELD. (6)
INTAKE 52A: - Raymond John CARTER, Michael Ferguson DUNWOODIE, Daniel Michael HALL. (3)
INTAKE 52B: - Colin Phillip BISWELL, Stewart George CAMPBELL, Alan Beckham COOK, Trevor Reginald COOPER-TYDEMAN, Peter Lyle Keith DARROCH, Richard Charles EVEREST, Ross Munroe FORSYTH, Roger WILCOX. (😎
INTAKE 53A: - Davis Bertram ANDERSON, David John BARNARD, Alan David BOOTH, Michael George KING, Ronald Gilbert KNIGHT, Edward Patrick STOKES. (6)
INTAKE 53B: - Reginald Lewis BAVERSTOCK, David John BENCH, George Frederick BLANNIN, Kenneth BOWDEN, Peter DARRINGTON, Robert Montgomery DAVIS, Norman GRIFFITHS, Anthony David HALE, Lawrence Charles KAINES, Christopher Robin OLSEN, Terrence George REILLY, John Bryan WILKINSON. (12)
INTAKE 54A: - Geoffrey George BOOME, Carl Lionel BURGESS, Duncan Sinclair DONACHIE, Roy FOREMAN, Clifford FOWLER, Alexander GRAY, Roland HUMPHREYS, Roy MALCOLM, Graham Frank MUGGRIDGE, Terrence Stuart REYNOLDS, Stanley RYCROFT, Anthony William SPARGO, Donald Gerald TAYLOR. (13)
INTAKE 54B: - Gordon BRAY, Sidney John CARTER, Keith COLLINS, Grant Clive DAVIES, Victor Edward DUFFIELD, Anthony Graham FOWLER, Anthony Philip GIBBON, Roger Anthony GILMOUR, Peter John McGILL, Francis Peter McLEOD, Brian Michael PHILBEAM, Brian Gerald ROBARDS, Barry Walton WOODCOCK. (13)
INTAKE 55B: - Gareth WILLIAMS (1)
On 2 June 2021 I visited the Heritage Centre at Beachley in order to gain information for my project. I noticed that there was a lack of Intake group photos for Intakes 51A to 55B. If there are any members of these groups who would happen to have any photos covering these intakes, I would be grateful if you could send me an image of any photos with names displayed. My email address is: mccran.historyramcboysoldiers@gmail.com or forward a copy to: Michael McCran, 132 Nightingale Crescent, Lincoln LN6 0JZ.
I look forward in anticipation of hearing from any members.
Kind regards
Mick

John Phillips from Woking wrote on 22 June 2021 at 1:00 pm

58B C Coy. Looking forward to 2022 BOBA Reunion when our group will be 80 or there abouts!

geoff Winter from MANSFIELD wrote on 18 June 2021 at 3:09 pm

Hello to all you blokes out there, hope all are well, still hoping to visit the Heritage centre on Wednesday 7 th July, it always gives me a thrill when I get down to Beachley, it gave me so much, and have so many good memories, all the best Geoff Winter 66c "A"Coy.

John Eveleigh from Edinburgh wrote on 24 May 2021 at 5:13 pm

Hello Peter Gatford and Paul Woodford
I corresponded with both of you recently when Paul and I talked about our Group 42A and Peter and I talked about Guildford and the Huts at Beachley. Quite a long time ago I wrote a book for my children about my life at Beachley and it has lain in my study ever since. On reading about our Museum I sent a copy to Chris Rickets for keeping in the museum if he thought it worth while. However he considered it might be a suitable book to sell in the shop and went ahead and arranged for it to be printed. This has now been done and it is on sale via Chris. I may be biased but to me it has been presented in a very attractive layout. It is in an easy readable print, 154 pages, and is divided into 20 Chapters. The Title is " TO BE A SOLDIER BOY"
it might be of interest to both of you.
Wishing you both well
John

Alan Chatt 59A Heritage Member from Washington wrote on 18 May 2021 at 9:48 pm

Good evening everyone. I have just received some memorabilia from Tom Dooley (Malcolm) from 51B. Our thanks to him for his contribution. If any of you have any memorabilia hanging around and would like to donate it to the Heritage Centre we would be very grateful for your contribution. MY email is attached and home address is in the Beachley Echoes. Stay Safe everyone.

Edwin John from Cologne, Germany wrote on 17 May 2021 at 7:05 pm

Hi All1
Glad to see John Everleigh is still posting.
Here in Germany there is none of the annoying handshaking and kissing in public seems less also.
Keep well,
Cheers!
John.

Edwin John from Cologne, Germany wrote on 17 May 2021 at 7:00 pm

Why is this in red?

Anthony Waite from Wellington wrote on 9 May 2021 at 8:36 pm

Cenotaph Parade 2021, I am currently preparing a list of attendees for the BOBA Contingent at the Cenotaph Parade in Whitehall Sunday 14th November 2021
If you wish to attend, please email me before 31st May 2021 as I have to register everybody by 10th June 2021

Chris Ricketts wrote on 8 May 2021 at 8:18 pm

John Eveleigh, could you contact me please.

Alan Chatt 59A Corp of Drums A Coy from Washington wrote on 8 April 2021 at 8:08 pm

Congratulations to all the guys who worked on getting this new site up and running. Also a big well done to Ray Armstrong for the new edition of the Beachley Echoes.

John Eveleigh from Edinburgh wrote on 8 April 2021 at 10:54 am

This new site is for me rather difficult in some ways. The first is trying to find the Guest book. Three red bars mean nothing to me and it was after clicking all the headings with no result ,that I clicked all over the page ,by chance hitting the three red bars. Now I am not completely Computer illiterate but this was something I had not seen before. The second item is a repeat of my previous point and that is the boxes provided to allow entries to be made .For instance the box I am typing in is invisible others I can very faintly see but only when I chance to look in their direction , In most other forms I have always found similar boxes to these, either immediately to the right of the box heading, or immediately below it. These are no where near so it is a case of clicking about until you suddenly see the cursor.
John

You have made more entries than anyone else John - so you are managing very well - its just a question of getting used to a new system. As indicated before we will look at box visibility in due course - webmaster.

John Eveleigh from Edinburgh wrote on 8 April 2021 at 10:08 am

Another year, 59 th anniversary today of my entry to the School. I don't know why I celebrate them as it means I'm getting older.
Getting ready for bed last night reminded me of a song we once sang, to the tune of,"After the ball was over "After the ball was over, Maggie took out her glass eye, Put her false teeth in water, Corked up her bottle of dye, Put her false leg in the corner ,Hung up her wig on the wall, And all that as left went to bye byes ,After the ball.
I'm not quite like that. John

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