ANNOUNCEMENTS
Association of Harrogate Apprentices
At the 2019 Annual General Meeting the fact that The Association would no longer have a Secretary after 2020 was discussed and debated.
I had intended to hand over to the Shadow Secretary after the 2019 AGM and fully transfer by January 2020, however the Shadow secretary stood down and there was no one willing to take on the role.
I have agreed to hold post for the time being but would be resigning at the next AGM.
During the AGM and after long discussion and debate, it was agreed by the members attending that the Association of Harrogate Apprentices should close at the next Reunion/AGM.
The 2020 Reunion/AGM would then be the FINAL Reunion of the Association of Harrogate Apprentices, being held in October 2020, a date to be confirmed.
It was also agreed that we would freeze the membership as of the AGM 2019. Members would be asked to register in the usual manner i.e. by completing and submitting the “Provisional Booking Form” that would be issued with the FINAL copy of the Journal.
We therefor ask current members to instruct your Bank/Building Society to cancel any Direct Debit or Standing Order that you have set up in relation to the Association.
One other item from the AGM was the dissolution of the Army Apprentices National Memorial Trust (AANMT).
All four Apprentice School/Colleges instrumental in forming the AANMT had been consulted and asked to agree to the dissolution of the Trust and the formation of an Associate body to replace it and thus uphold the Annual service for the Army Apprentices.
This new body to be called the “Army Apprentices National Association” and be open to All Army Apprentices.
The final formation and any constitution is currently being set up and I will endeavour to keep you posted.
The annual reunion weekend, Gala Dinner and Drumhead Service will take place on the weekend of Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd May 2020
All Ex-Apprentices are being asked to support. Please let Steve Joyce or Collin Weir know a.s.a.p. (As requested)
The Army Apprentices National Memorial Trust:
2020
Reunion of Apprentices
The Annual Reunion Weekend of the Army Apprentices National Memorial Trust will take place on Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd May 2020. All ex-apprentices are very welcome to attend all or part of this weekend which is being held at the National Memorial Arboretum, Alrewas, Staffordshire.
The weekend will start with the Annual General Meeting of the Army Apprentices National Memorial Trust which will be held in the Poppy Room at the National Memorial Arboretum at 13:00hrs on Saturday 2nd May. This will be followed in the evening by a Gala Dinner and after-dinner entertainment at the Hallmark Mickleover Court Hotel, Mickleover, Derby. This is a great opportunity to catch up with old friends and colleagues – and swap the inevitable war stories! The bar opens at 18:30hrs and dinner will be served at 19:30hrs..
The Annual Drumhead Memorial Service will be held at 12:00hrs on Sunday 3rd May at the Army Apprentices Memorial in the National Memorial Arboretum. The service will be led by Rev Gary Kelly (Carlisle 67C) and will include music provided by the Army Apprentices Pipe Band, who will also be playing at the REME memorial prior to the Drumhead Service. In addition to the Standards of the Old Boys Associations of all 4 Apprentice Colleges the Standards of other Associations may be on parade.
The Hallmark Mickleover Court Hotel is offering the same special rates for the weekend as last year, with a Double Room for £138 per night and a Single Room for £100 per night. These prices include bed, breakfast and the Gala Dinner/evening meal. For those not wishing to stay at the hotel the cost for the Gala Dinner alone is £28 per head. Bookings can be made direct with the hotel, quoting “Army Apprentices Reunion”, by telephone 01332 521234 or by e-mail at mickleover.sales@hallmarkhotels.co.uk, the hotel’s website is www.hallmarkhotels.co.uk
If you have any queries please contact either:
Colin Weir (Chepstow 55A) 01704 875653 or col.chep@btinternet.com
Steve Joyce (Carlisle 63B) 01634 252982 or steve.joyce332@gmail.com
LAST POST
2019/20
With sadness we report the passing of:
Tony Sowerby 49A
John Lankester 57A
John Davis 64C
Alan Eshlin 66A
David Johnson 57B
Cyril Courtenay 49A
Peter Wilson 59C
Bernie Randell 66B
David McKay 68A
Melvin Diggle 61C
Roger Everest 63C
A J (Tony) Harris 53A
P J (Paddy) Eastwood 54B
John Bickers PS
David (Dave) Roberts 64B
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LATEST NEWS
REUNIONS
Due to the impending closure of the AOHA the membership has been frozen (contact the Hon Secretary)
The 2020 Reunion and AGM
will be held on:
Dates to be confirmed
Buffet Supper and reunion
Church Service of Remembrance; AGM and Buffet Lunch.
Venue: The Army Foundation College, Uniacke Barracks.
(Details and timings will be issued on receipt of registration)
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.
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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.
At the Army Foundation College, Harrogate (AFC(H) they train the future soldiers from a wide variety of capbadges. 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.
Wikipedia – AFC
The Army Foundation College is located in Harrogate, North Yorkshire. It is the only British Army Phase 1 establishment that delivers junior entry basic training (males and females aged between 16–17). Given the age of the junior soldiers and the comparatively greater time they have at the College, there is a far wider focus than simply military training (such as education, leadership and initiative training, adventurous training and sport and skill)
The Royal Signals Apprentices School was established in Harrogate to provide of military and vocational training for the Royal Corps of Signals in 1947 and was renamed the Army Apprentices College in 1966.[2] It was still focused on signals training when it closed in 1998.[2] It reopened as the Army Foundation College to provide training for a broader range of combat arms and services in September 1998.[2] The Association of Harrogate Apprentices was reformed in 1999.[3] The Army Foundation College was rebuilt by Jarvis under a Private finance initiative contract between 2000 and 2002.[2]
There are two courses:[4]
- The Junior soldiers on the longer 42-week course marched off the square to the second phase of their training in the Infantry, Royal Artillery and Royal Armoured Corps.There are 2 different entry points and graduations per year – September and March entry points with August and February graduations respectively.
- Junior Soldiers on the shorter 22-week course designed for other cap badges will head for the longer more specialist phase of their training which could be anything from being a vehicle mechanic with the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers to becoming a communications systems operator with the Royal Signals.[5] There are 2 different entry points and graduations per year – September and March entry points with August and February graduation respectively.
AOHA
