nat_mem_aas-04

The Army Apprentice National Memorial

located at

The National Memorial Arboretum, Alrewas, Staffordshire.

Dedication and Remembrance Service, 9th September 2012.

On the afternoon of Saturday 8th September 2012, ex-apprentices (accompanied by wives, partners and friends) from the four associations of Arborfield, Carlisle, Chepstow and Harrogate, gathered together at the Mickleover Menzies Hotel Nr Derby for a ladies dinner night to be followed by a service of Dedication and Remembrance at the Arboretum the next day.

To set the weekend in motion Mo Hope and Gordon Bonner conducted a dedication service choreography briefing, beginning at 1630 hours, to those taking an active part in service the next day. Present, were General Berragan, Johnny McGahan, Colin Weir, Ted Cooper, Tee Cee Church, Max Warwick, Reverend Gerry Kelly, Barry and Mary Hunter, and Malcolm Davidson, standard bearer for Hadrian Old Boys.

Next the Trustees laid out in the dining room, a series of documents and photographs, the highlight of which was an A2 size photograph( By Max Warwick) of the completed memorial, designed to give those attending dinner an insight into the activities conducted by Trustees over the last three years. The presentation was well received.

41 people sat down for dinner. Good food, good company, good wine and an excellent standard of service by the hotel staff gave rise to an enjoyable evening. In a short after dinner speech, Gordon Bonner expressed appreciation on behalf of the Trustees for the extraordinary generosity of Regimental Associations and ex-boys worldwide whose support enabled the Trustees to achieve the aim of the memorial project. He finished by making some personal observations suggesting a way ahead into the future for our associations.

(Copy attached)

Finally the evening was rounded off by a twenty minute hilarious monologue performed by Colin Weir.

Gordon Bonner 49B and Muriel.