Home - The Harrogate Apprentice

Association of Harrogate Apprentices

(AOHA)

The AOHA is open to those who undertook their training at the Army Apprentice School/College Harrogate and Members of the Permanent Staff

(Access to this website is restricted to AOHA Members Only)

Objectives of the Association

To encourage esprit de corps by providing a means of uniting all past members of the Army Apprentices School/College, Harrogate.
To maintain old friendships by means of reunions and online contact through our website.
To keep contact, through the medium of the Hon. Secretary, all subscribing members.
To maintain and further the dignity and good name of the Army Apprentices School/College, Harrogate and of those who passed through it.

We hope that our Association will continue to grow, and we look forward to welcoming new members.

For further information:

Contact the AOHA Secretary

(secretary@aoha.org.uk)

The Beginning

The Harrogate College was established in 1947 as “The Army Apprentices School” and in its early years trained Apprentices for the RA, RE and R Sigs. In 1961 training for the RA and RE was transferred elsewhere and since then the College trained apprentice tradesmen solely for telecommunications trades in the Royal Corps of Signals.

In 1966 its title was changed from “The Army Apprentice School” to “The Army Apprentice College” and the badge of the College was changed to that of the Royal Corps of Signals.

One of the College’s greatest honours came in 1956 when it was adopted by the Borough of Harrogate in recognition of the close ties, which still exist, between the people of Harrogate and the college. In 1972 the College was granted the Freedom of the Borough of Harrogate.

Initially the School was housed in wooden huts until new purpose built accommodation was opened in 1965.

This memorial stands just inside the entrance to the new Uniacke barracks, now housing the Army Foundation College Harrogate.

Present Day

At the Army Foundation College, Harrogate (AFC(H) they train the future soldiers from a wide variety of cap badges. For school leavers aged between 16 and 17 years and one month of age on joining, the AFC(H) offers a unique opportunity.

Through first class military training and vocational education, the AFC(H) help recruits gain the soldiering skills needed in the modern Army and to get a head start in a challenging and fulfilling career.