Arborfield Old Boys' News

No more room at the Inn

2009-06-27T11:19:00.000+01:00

Keith sent me a message today to say the accomodation is now all taken for this year's reunion - so if you intend coming, but haven't yet booked - sorry but there are no beds left. Still come - but you'll have to find a local pub/hotel to rest your drunken head !!

Must be a record year - in 20 years of reunions I have never know this before - Fantastic!!

Arborfield Old Boys' Association

Official AOBA 2010 Calendar

2009-06-26T11:40:00.001+01:00

I thought I should keep everyone updated with progress on next year's official AOBA calendar.

For 2009 I produced a practice run, so to speak, using a number of the photographs loaned to us by the REME museum. This was fine from a copyright perspective as we did not offer it for sale. However, in an effort to promote our benevolence funds, once we start offering an item for sale the use of any material raises copyright issues.

As you may know we have had a number of these problems relating to the photos loaned to us by the REME museum and as such were reluctant to produce a calendar for sale until we could be sure we were within the law.

I am delighted to inform everyone that we have now sorted a number of great photos with clear copyright and these are being sent to me PDQ. So I will be organising the official AOBA 2010 calendar without further delay and keep you posted regarding availability and price.

Whilst on the subject I feel I should let everyone know that there is a spurious 2010 calendar doing the rounds purporting to be approved by the AOBA, using - I'm sad to say - photos obtained from the REME museum without clear copyright. It's important for every one to know this have not been sanctioned by either the AOBA or the REME Museum - and that there are legal issues yet to be resolved regarding it’s publication - so you are urged not to support it.

Arborfield Old Boys' Association

OVERSEAS MEMBERS SUBSCRIPTIONS

2009-06-17T09:40:00.000+01:00

Overseas Members can now pay their subs and reunion fees through the REME Association Shop (tel: 0044(0)1189763223 ).
They will require your Membership No, Credit Card details including the expiry date and the three digit security code on the back of the card.

Arborfield Old Boys' Association

A/T RSM B Hutchins

2009-05-30T11:44:00.002+01:00

Did you know the our chairman Brian Hutchins won THREE awards as A/T RSM? bit gready perhaps?

Have a look at his picture on the awards page - hasn't changed a bit!!

Arborfield Old Boys' Association

More Recruits!!

2009-05-30T10:57:00.003+01:00

Keith Evans has just sent an updated list of new members - looks like 1960 are taking over!! New Members List

Well done them - if you'd like to know about your year have a look at Find a Friend

Arborfield Old Boys' Association

Latest OBAN and reunion forms

2009-05-28T10:51:00.001+01:00

After hours of stuffing 815 OBANs in envelopes Keith Evans, his wife and a couple of their friends took them all down to the post office yesterday, franked and posted the lot. So your copy – together with the application for this year’s reunion is winging itself to you as you read this.

Our thanks go out to Keith for undertaking this task – above and beyond the call of duty you might say.

Do remember if you are not an ‘Active’ AOBA member you will not have been sent a copy, nor will you be able to come to the reunion. If you’ve let your membership lapse the only way to renew it is by using this form

Or if you haven’t joined then you’ll need this form

I’m looking forward to seeing everyone in July. My crossing is booked so I’ll see you all on the Friday. Hope you have some good ‘warmers in the bank’ before I get there!

Arborfield Old Boys' Association

More photos!

2009-05-05T11:10:00.001+01:00

Ted Stanford 60C has sent in a lot of great photos of his life in Arborfield.

have a look at them here:- Ted Stanford

Arborfield Old Boys' Association

New Members

2009-04-23T10:02:00.002+01:00

We've a new page on the site showing who's joined us in the last few months. We'll try to keep it updated from time to time, but why not visit the New Members page now!

Is your photo on the site?

2009-04-16T11:36:00.003+01:00

During the process of switching over to broadband I suffered a loss of all my mail inbox, so I need to ask everyone who sent me stuff recently to have a look on the site to see if it's there. If not please send it to me again.

I think I got everything uploaded before I switched - but you never know!

If yours didn't make it - I'm sorry - and if your intake was before mine - as a jeep I'll rush to the cookhouse and bring you back tea and toast. If you joined after me you're the jeep so no tea for you!!

David (Tich) Schofield 65A

Web Site updates

2009-04-16T11:26:00.003+01:00

Spent a bit of time tidying up the AOBA website now I've got broadband . Upload speeds are still slow - but at least I can let it run overnight without the fear of losing conection. Anyway I've brought 'Find a Friend' and 'Roll of Honour' to the front (where they should have been). Also you'll find a search tool and site map for easy of navigation which you can find at the 'Site Map' button or directly at

http://www.arborfieldoldboys.co.uk/sitemap.html"

There are two more sections under build at the moment and I'd welcome any information/photos you might have. The first is H/Q Company - or Junior Company if you're post 1960. Then I am still looking for stuff about 'Champion Company' There is a thread on this forum about it, but I'd still welcome more

1965 is now covered

2009-04-16T11:21:00.002+01:00

Great news - another year is being looked after.

If you joined Arborfield in 1965 then you need to look at their website at
Arborfield 1965

If you haven't found your year yet, have a look at 'Find a Friend'

60B reunion

2009-04-15T15:32:00.003+01:00

Hi Titch,
It's for April 2010,and although almost 50 Guys are aware of it ,every little helps.
We are holding it on Fri 23rd/Sat 24th April 2010 at :-WYCHWOOD PARK HOTEL
WESTON
Nr CREWE
CHESHIRE.
Anyone wishing to attend should contact me .
Hope everything's fine with you,we have just had 60b's first meet since Arborfield and it was a resounding success.
All the Best,
Terry.

photos from the 50/60s

2009-01-20T15:15:00.002Z

Bren Stacey of 59A has sent in some of his Arborfield photos - have a look at them here

More Photos!

2009-01-20T14:47:00.002Z

John Owen 64A has sent in some great photos of his time at Arborfield

have a look !

Find a Friend

2009-01-20T14:45:00.001Z

We've now got 1953 and 1959 covered - go to Find a Friend and have a look.

Life between the Years (1930 – 2000)

2009-01-11T16:39:00.003Z

Edwin ‘Eddie’ Broomfield, 45A, has written an excellent account of his life- published by Pen Press Publishers, Brighton, - ISBN of 978-1-906710-31-6.

The early chapters cover his childhood life in the Portsmouth area during the 1930s and then being a teenager in that area during WW2.

There is one full chapter on life as a Boy Soldier at Arborfield, after which Eddie goes on to cover his early service in REME en route to becoming an Artificer Gun, with details of his service life as such.

This is followed by his struggle to advance his career by qualifying as an Artificer Radar, and to prove his worth as such on being posted to the remote island of St Kilda.

Further chapters cover service life in Germany and Malaysia with an active service tour in the jungles of Borneo.

The later part of the book covers Eddie’s life as an officer in REME and a second career as a civil servant, involved in the procurement of Radar equipment.

The last chapter covers his life in semi-retirement, as an Apprentice Training consultant for the MoD.

The RRP of this book is £8-99, and can be purchased from the REME Museum Shop at the discount price of £8-00

Arborfield Old Boys' Association

AOBA 2009 Calendar

2009-01-04T11:51:00.002Z

The 2009 Calendar is now available - visit http://www.arborfieldoldboys.co.uk/calender2009.pdf

for your copy.

58ers GOLDEN JUBILEE, 50th ANNIVERSARY WEEKEND, July 25th - 27th 20

2008-12-20T15:45:00.002Z

The write -up of the 2008 reunion is on the site.
Please visit http://www.arborfieldoldboys.co.uk/2008reunion.html to read up on what you missed!

An Ex Apprentice All At Sea 1980 to 2008......

2008-12-20T15:17:00.002Z

A little bit of personal history.

Follow up to ‘It All Started In 1963’

Andy Knowles 64A

In 1979 at the age of thirty I decided to leave the Army. I had young children and decided it was time to attempt a settled life.................

to read Andy's story of life after the Army visit http://www.arborfieldoldboys.co.uk/knowles2.html

Arborfield Old Boys' Association

Dave Crowson 49B

2008-12-20T15:13:00.001Z

'Information received from Max Warwick & Pete' Henry (49ers).

Dave Crowson 49B is currently experiencing a worsening in health and is permanently on oxygen support and is unable to resort to a PC or telephone. He has recently been moved to a nursing home in Bristol, to near family. Max & Pete has suggested we might like to send Seasonal messages of support say by a card. It said that he has accepted the situation with typical uncomplaining ex.boy fortitude. There must be a number of former REME personnel who encountered him during Army service. He was trained as an armourer & reached ASM rank. It is understood he achieved the unique if not rare distinction of being appointed an RSM of a Welsh Regiment.

Max & Pete'intend to visit him in the near future'.

Address for mail: see the forum at http://aoba.editboard.com/

REME Past and Present

2008-11-19T11:08:00.001Z

REME Past and Present have moved!

You will now find their fantastic forum at http://remepastpresent.forumotion.co.uk/index.htm
Don't miss it!

Arborfield Old Boys Association

Morephotos - this time from the 70's!

2008-11-05T14:58:00.002Z

Vaughan Marks (74C) has sent in some great photos of his time at Arborfield and in the Army - have a look!

http://www.arborfieldoldboys.co.uk/vaughanmarks.html

Arborfield Old Boys Association

Find a Friend

2008-09-13T15:23:00.003+01:00

Two more years are represented in our 'Find a Friend' section

1962 and 1964

There are still many more years to sort out so, please think about being a co-ordinator for your year.

Find a Friend

Roll Of Honour

2008-09-12T17:04:00.002+01:00

In memory of those Arborfield Old Boys who've had their final 'Passing Out Parade'

http://www.arborfieldoldboys.co.uk/roleofhonour.html

2008 reunion photos

2008-08-20T15:36:00.004+01:00

Sorry for the delay, but with thanks to Dave Cosway 65C, Andy Knowle 64C and Max Warwick 49B, I've managed to upload over 150 photos of the 2008 reunion.

Looks like you had a great time - am I envious I missed it? I'll just say this - the wife has orders NEVER to be ill again!!

Visit 2008 reunion photos and have a look.