ARBORFIELD OLD
BOYS ASSOCIATION 48th REUNION.
ARBORFIELD -
Friday 29th July to Sunday 31st July 2011 inclusive.
‘The Last Hurrah’ The following report contributed by Trevor STUBBERFIELD (52A) Photographic
contributions as attributed. MW: Copyright ©
Max Warwick 49B. TS: Copyright
© Trevor Stubberfield 52A. |
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Free Sunday. |
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‘Free Sundays’ were the chance
to escape from Arborfield to spend a few hours with family and friends, away
from the rigours of Arborfield life. More
often than not many took a friend with
us who perhaps lived too far from home to visit in a day. This Sunday was the modern day
equivalent, time spent with old friends from the Arborfield days, but with
mixed feelings. On this occasion there
was a tinge of sadness with the realisation that this weekend would be the
last time that I would be able to visit the old camp. Strange really as during my three years
there I had always wanted to be somewhere else, spend more time outside the
camp than inside. Something I
accomplished quite successfully. This weekend marked the last
time we would be able to parade on ‘Our Square’ before it would be sold off
and buried under tons of concrete and bricks as houses were built. Some predicted 3500 in total, spread over
the garrison. The incomers will have
no knowledge or even interest in the history of the land on which their
abodes will be built. This is amply
demonstrated by the refusal of both Reading and Wokingham Borough councils to
contribute to the Army Apprentice National Memorial which will be dedicated
at the National Memorial Arboretum at Alrewas in Staffordshire in September
2011. Both towns benefitted greatly
from their association of 65 years with our school. Bands were made available for official
functions and parades along with local village fetes etc. not to mention the
hours and labour that the apprentices willingly gave to local projects to
help those less able than themselves.
Already it is as though we never existed. But we know different. We held our Reunion Weekend
with pride in the fact that we were Arborfield Boys. Some liked it, some loathed it, but we will
never forget our time there.
Friendships formed then are still valued here today. The memories we have can never be taken away
just by taking our home ground away from us.
We marched out of ‘Our Gates’, pipes playing and heads held high in a
show of defiance to those who would try to destroy us. Three cheers marked our ‘Last Hurrah’ and
never have they been heard louder. We carry on, but in a new venue
next year, as plans are formulated to continue the A.O.B.A. Reunions based on
Alrewas. New ground but with the same
spirit seen this year at Arborfield.
Our gates have been closed and locked for the last time and yet I have
a feeling that more than a few Old Boys will drop by for another look through
them before the finale. I might be one
of them, though this time wishing I was on the inside looking out. My excuse will be that I am back visiting
the very good friends who have taken my wife and I in and looked after us so
well during the Reunion Weekends since I first returned in 2002. Not just a change of venue but
a change at the top table as the A.O.B.A. Hon. Sec. Bill Cleasby 61C and
Asst. Sec. Keith Evans 45A stand down having given sterling service to our
association. They go with the thanks
of all of us for jobs well done. The
new Hon. Sec. is David Schofield 65A whose qualities were displayed when he
brought the A.O.B.A. web site back from the brink of disaster and leaves it
as a flagship web site for the association.
Alec Powell 64C steps up as our Asst. Hon. Sec. and Keith’s shoes are
going to take some filling, but Alec will have the backing of all of us. The web site will now go forward in the
capable hands of John Coles 66B. Last year the P.O.P. marked the
start of the 60s intakes and this year was a signal event in the history of
our association. The future is now
firmly in the hands of the Jeeps and the B.O.F.s will be keeping a watching
brief on them. Have no fear, they will
come up trumps and we are safe in their hands. |
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Perhaps, once again, the most appropriate music to
depart by is |
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And finally, on the Friday page, at the start of these
musings, I referred back to the 2004 A.O.B.A. Reunion which marked the
closure of our school. At that time I
penned some thoughts on what had brought me back to Arborfield, so many years
after leaving. Now our Arborfield
tenure is really at an end, those thoughts came to mind once again and they
seem a fitting end to this, our last Arborfield meeting. Alas, too many of the boys of 52A Room F6
who were remembered in 2004 have been recalled to HQ in the intervening years. Those thoughts can be read once more from
the link below which really is………. |
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Published:
1st September 2011 Latest
Update: 15th September 2011. _____________________________________________________________________________________ |
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