Guestbook – Army Apprentices College and Beachley Old Boys Association

Guestbook

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165 entries.

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

Barry Platt, 54A D Coy. from Penkridge, Stafford, wrote on 1 October 2021 at 8:55 pm

Hi, because of health problems, not been on site, but would like to hear from any old pals that are still around, Barry Platt,(. Platski.)

Brian Simm from Cambridge wrote on 30 September 2021 at 12:39 pm

Is Wayne Smith 72b out there.Give us a call.

Brian Simm from Cambridge wrote on 30 September 2021 at 12:38 pm

Is any from 72b A Coy going to be at Cenotaph this year. I will be marching swith 50 Squadron. Maybe next year sign up with BOBA.

john eveleigh 42A Group from Edinburgh wrote on 27 September 2021 at 1:56 pm

Hello JB
Nice to see you are back in circulation all though not very happy with things as they now exist.
I miss the old Guest book where you could look back over many many years of entries by ex boys which in themselves formed a History.
I also have all my entries come up in red, I don't know why, but it looks pretty. The heritage team decided to publish in book form,, a manuscript of mine which I had originally offered to the museum .You might find it reminding you of some of the things we experienced during our stay there. It is in the shop but has not been added to the items listed for the shop.
I remember the good old days when we never wore masks. it must have been much easier for the Police then.
John

Pete Coe wrote on 22 September 2021 at 12:33 pm

I am looking to have a group reunion rugby shirt made in the not too distant future and am considering various designs. Does any one have a good quality, high definition photo of the Beachley Gate in all its glory that I could make use of please. If in RAW that would be good as the LHG is a wizz on Lightroom and Photoshop

Edwin John Bass from Cologne wrote on 21 September 2021 at 8:27 pm

Forget it. Too much bother -- I give up .
sincerely
John Bass.

Edwin John Bass from Cologne wrote on 21 September 2021 at 8:25 pm

Hi John Everleigh!
Still alive but unable to kick since PC giving enormous bothers and nibody tells my wha I am writing in red on this site since I gót Guest Book back.
Oh for the GOD -- the good old days.
Hmmm I am not sure about that commrent but I do remember when we didn't have shop wearing a mask.
Cheers JE and all BOBs still at it ....
Cheers!
John Bass.

Pete Coe wrote on 17 September 2021 at 3:47 pm

Those of us from the 70s remember well the Beachley Bomber, which for many of us was the transport of choice from Chepstow Station to Beachley on the day we arrived. Just been through the photos on this wonderful website and can not find any of the Bomber. Does anyone have a photo they could upload?

Colin Huckle 61C group from Kings Lynn Norfolk wrote on 7 September 2021 at 10:57 am

Hi Bill,
Good to here from you, nice to know there is someone who remembers me. There seems to be a lack of interest from 61c group members, I've only found one other namely Les Johnson who I believe was living in Sedbury but this was some 10 years or so ago.
Are you in contact with any of the other crew members from the 1963 cruise?? I was led to understand that someone from the crew had died, in a boating accident not long after we returned but I'm not sure if that is true.
I have enjoyed watching the video of the gate arch being re-installed. It looks very imppressive. It is surprising how much damage salty air can cause over a number of years. Is the Heritage Centre close to the gate? The whole area looks totally different to what I remember of it.
I hope you are keeping well as I am, just the normal thing when you're the wrong side of 70.
Will talk again soon.
Kind regards to you and to the staff at the Heritage Centre
Colin

Administrator wrote on 6 September 2021 at 9:38 am

Hi Colin - yes its me. I am also the website webmaster. I spent several tours at Kiel and was staff skipper of Avalanche in 1967. I ended my service at Kiel. The photo Stan took of us in the cockpit features in the Heritage Centre. I hope you are well and maybe see you in the Heritage Centre some time.

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

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