Association news and notices.

04/03/2010 - Peter Lunson

My name is Alan Cook, I am an ex apprentice from Arborfield 60B. I would like to inform you of the passing of my brother in law,Peter Lunson. His intake would have been around 59C at Harrogate. This is a belated piece of information as I have only just found your web site. Peter died after suffering a brain haemorrhage in 1998,he was 54 years old. I inform you of this as I know that we products of the Army Apprentice Schools system have many memories of those young men that we started our adult life with. Please share this sad information with others on your website. Alan Cook Sorrento, BC. Canada

04/03/2010 - Robert Henderson 53B

I am trying to locate Robert (Bob) Henderson 53B, a very good friend. Bob married Avril and went on to have 4 sons. Unfortunately we lost contact when Bob was on his C of W (Construction) Course at Chatham in 1967. I was just finishing my C of W (Electrical) course. I would appreciate any information that any members of the AOHA might have to help me locate an old friend. Jim(Joe) Talbot 22967589 53B

04/03/2010 - Royal Signals Memorial DVD

A DVD showing 22 of the Corps related memorials at the National Memorial Arboretum is now available. The DVD also includes shots of the Armed Forces Memorial, the dedication of the Corps Memorial in May 2008 and a map of the site. Cost is £5.00 plus 50p each for p&p. Cheques payable to "PF & M Soward" to:- Pat Soward, "Shipton", The Hollow, Child Okeford, Blandford Forum, Dorset DT11 8EX. All profits to be shared between the Air Formation Signals Assn and the Royal Signals Benevolent Fund.

25/01/2010 - Bill Pratt - Draughtsman 49b - A Coy

Sad to report that Bill Pratt died on Thursday 21 Jan in the Medway Hospital. This comes as a great shock to all who knew him and saw him at the reunion last October. More news as I get it.

Allen Buckeridge 49b.

22/01/2010 - Bernie Meehan 1968/69

This is a shot in the dark. Bernie Meehan joined the Corps as an apprentice at Harrogate around 68/69 and graduated as a RTg in 72. His first posting was to Delta Troop, 22 Sigs. He went on to serve in a variety of postings, which included a total of 10 years with 14 Sigs (EW) before going on the Long Service List as a SQMS with a Sqn in Manchester. He is currently due to be medially discharged around April. He lives in St Helens with Wendy and family.

Last year Bernie suffered a severe stroke that almost cost his life, but he pulled through, but is almost blind. Bernie has had few interests in life, as the Army was/is his life. They have just registered with St Dunstan's and is having meetings with them shortly. Hopefully they will be able to suggest ways to assist him getting some sort of quality of life, however, in the meanwhile, Bernie is in a dark place. Wendy his wife tells me 'Bernie is so uplifted when he hears from someone in the Corp he has known over the years and it makes such a difference to his day'.

If you knew/met Bernie during your career, would you consider taking the time out to give him a call, send him an email or contact him via facebook or even better, pop in and see him? He has had very few people contact him, particularly when you consider how long he has been in the Army. I have spoken to him at length and I can assure you that a telephone call to him will not be a cringer, he does not feel sorry for himself, nor does he focus on poor health. Contact details are Tel: 01744 733132 (suggest you phone for address and arrange time if you wish to visit him) or email to wendym_6@hotmail.com

Perhaps you don't know or have never met Bernie. Can I ask that you pass this request on to anyone who may have served with him. Any contact will make his day and it is little to ask when you consider his current circumstances.

Maurice

17/12/2009 -Fred Minay 53A

Sadly news has reached us that Fred Minay 53A has been taken ill, further details can be obtained from the Honorable Secretary. maurice@snook60.freeserve.co.uk

25/11/2009 - Email scams

Some scam emails (always after your money) now mention a connection to the RSA (or other service assn) and may have your name on them. DO NOT reply to these (even to tell them to "xxxxxx off"), as once the sender has confirmation of your Email address, you may be targetted with even more junk mail. Any email from the RSA will always ends with 'mod.uk'. See http://whatconsumer.co.uk/brainwashed-powerless/ for more information.

If you receive an e-mail that contains something that is either outrageous (i.e. Starbucks refusing to send coffee to US Marines in Iraq) or too good to be true (i.e. Samsung giving away free laptops) check out http://www.hoax-slayer.com/. If it is on the list of hoaxes, send the hoax slayer link to the senders so that they can be educated not to forward such e-mails. This also applies to Emails that state something like- "do not open any Email from so and so(name), as he is a hacker". Instead of merely passing it on as instructed, check with hoax slayer.

25/11/2009 - AGM group photos

We have 88 faces and 80 names, for the 2007 photo and we have 85 faces and 76 names for the 2009 photo. If members would like to order either or both of these photo's, with or without the names, please contact the hon.secretary by email maurice@snook60.freeserve.co.uk

28/10/2009 - Looking for Mervyn Abbott

My name is Chris Yates, I am a Beachley Old Boy 64C trying to contact an old school friend of mine who went to Harrogate. His name is Mervyn Abbott and I am quite sure that he was 64B. We attended the Colonel Frank Seely Sec. Modern at Galverton in Nottingham, we were also in the Army Cadets (Notts ACF - Southwell) together. The last I heard of Mervyn was that he was living in the Andover area, I do not know what his trade was but I do remember it was Royal Signals. If Mervyn Abbott reads this or any one knows of his whereabouts please email any details to the Hon Sec at maurice@snook60.freeserve.co.uk

15/10/2009 - Closure of BFPO's in BAOR

It is reported that it is the MoD’s intention to close the BFPO service in BAOR in Sep 2010. There is a petition to the PM at:- http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/SaveBFPO/ calling for the closure to be cancelled. This petition was supported by the recent meeting of the RSA Central Committee. The Chairman RSA felt that the MoD’s plan was rather premature, as numerous service families in BAOR are still dependant upon their BFPO. It is asked that, if your members feel inclined, they support the petition. Yours, Peter

Note from 'Steve' Stephenson - 49B

My request for an Army Apprentices School shoulder title in the July 2009 Journal was instantly successful. The donor was Chris Garratt of one of the 1958 intakes. Chris very generously gave me his "spare" and as he didn't request payment I have made a donation to AOHA funds. I am concerned that some of my old pals from 49B might still be tottering about in their attics, and rummaging through their old kit bags looking for them; so I would be grateful if you will let any of the IT literate who are capable of 'tuning-in' to the AOHA website, know that the search is off. Crystal sets and semaphore flags were still in use for contact with the outside world during our time at "Penny Pot Lane" and (other than the B Company boys) there may not be too many of my vintage logging on. I am still some way behind modern methods of comms; but, with a little local assistance, I managed to access the AOHA website a couple of days ago. It brought back many happy memories and it was great to see 'Tara' and the old 'spider' accommodation. Happy days! Many thanks for your help. 'Steve' Stephenson

01/06/2009 - Request for Information

Sgt. Frederick Backley Band Leader 1st Batt. Royal Ins. Fusiliers

I enclose a request for service details form duly completed regarding my Uncle Frederick who died in 1959. I require this information for my family history research. I do know that my uncle was to play at the Royal Tournament in 1959, but unfortunately died a couple of weeks beforehand, in fact, I think he was going to play a piece of music he composed himself. We have never heard this piece of music, so I would be grateful if you could let me know who I could contact to get a copy of it. The only details I have are that he was in the Army Apprentices School, Harrogate, Yorkshire and died on 15th May, 1959 at Medical Reception Hildebrand Barrack, Killinghall, Harrogate.

Doreen Jones (Mrs) Nee Backley

Anyone able to assist please contact the Honorary Treasure john.jones49@btinternet.com or myself webmaster@theharrogateapprentice.co.uk

 

16/05/2009 - Request for information

I wonder if you,or someone in the Association would know if records exist of track & field athletics meetings held at Penny Pot Lane. I am researching my athletics career and trying to document all the competitions i took part in.

As a member of a Leeds City Athletic Club team,i remember coming over a few times and competing against the Army Apprentices. The club took part in this this annual event for a number of years,certainly throughout the seventies and into the early eighties. There are a couple of dates i have from old athletic club fixture lists which are 12/07/76 & 11/07/77

Any results archive or such like would be of great interest to me and probably the athletic club too.

Thanks Steve Linsell (Leeds City A C) Jumperman@talktalk.net

24/01/2009

Just for the record, and to up-date previous messages re 54B, thanks to this site I have re-established contact with Pete Gray, who now lives in Scotland. However, still not found any trace of Dixon. Incidentally, seeing various photos on this site, I am prompted to wonder whether Mick Gowlett, another former colleague in HQ, is still in touch with old Harrogate colleagues. Mick was very pally with a lad called Arnold (surname), who subsequently went to the RASC with the clerks. I might also mention that a few years ago I did try to locate our old HQ boy sgt George Ient, who later returned to B Co. I did find an address in Eastbourne, but my letters went unanswered --maybe it was the wrong address.

Best wishes for 2009 to everyone! Keith Farnsworth

18/12/2008

Re "Some lads of B co 54B just before pass off 1957" in the photos section.

Just to add to the picture collection, here is a photo I have just rediscovered. I took it when I went back to Harrogate in 1957 for the 54B passing out parade. I was very early getting there, and the lads in B Co are pictured having abit of light fun before the job of getting ready for the big parade. I think Corbett is the lad on the ground, and of the others I recognise Derbyshire, Bartlett and my old pal Dixon.
If any of these lads recognise themselves and want me to send them a copy of the picture, they have only to get in touch.
Best wishes.
Keith Farnsworth 54B

17/10/2008

Meassage from Keith Farnsworth 54B ---"I was at the AAS at Harrogate only for a short time in 1954-5, before moving with the clerks to Blackdown, I would love to get a message on some message board in the hope of finding two old pals from 54B --Peter Gray (he came from Kent), and "Weasel" Dixon (he was from Doncaster). In the case of "Weasel" Dixon, it is all so long ago that I have forgotten his Christian name, but he was a tall slim lad. I have a pix of group of lads who were with me in HQ. Lads like Arnold, Christmas, Foskett, etc. George Ient was our boy sgt.
I have tried many times over the years to find Gray and especially Dixon. but without success." ***If you have any information please contact the Honorary Secretary***