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Association of Harrogate Apprentices

On behalf of the AANMT & AANA and following from the 2021 AGM, On behalf of the Army Apprentices National Memorial Trust & Army Apprentices Association, we have been asked to issue the following clarification statement: Please read:

ARMY APPRENTICES NATIONAL MEMORIAL TRUST

ARMY APPRENTICES NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

1: THE ARMY APPRENTICES NATIONAL MEMORIAL TRUST STILL EXISTS AND HAS FULFILLED ITS PURPOSE TO CREATE A MEMORIAL TO ALL ARMY APPRENTICES.

2: AT THE 2019 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING, HELD AT THE ARBORETUM, THE DECISION WAS MADE, BY THE MEMBERS PRESENT, TO RUN DOWN THE TRUST.

3: AT THE EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING HELD ON 22 FEB 2020 THE ARMY APPRENTICES NATIONAL ASSOCIATION WAS FORMED TO RUN IN PARALLEL WITH THE TRUST BECOMING HEIR AND SUCCESSOR, IN THE FULNESS OF TIME.

3: AT THE 2021 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING, HELD ON 4TH SEPTEMBER AT THE ARBORETUM, THE RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR THE NEWLY FORMED ARMY APPRENTICES NATIONAL ASSOCIATION WERE AGREED AND ACCEPTED BY THE MEMBERS PRESENT.

4: THE RULES HAVE BEEN EXTENDED TO INCLUDE ALL ARMY APPRENTICES, JUNIOR LEADERS AND JUNIOR SOLDIERS. THEY WILL BE AVAILABLE, ON REQUEST, FROM THE SECRETARY.

5: THE ARMY APPRENTICES NATIONAL ASSOCIATION IS NOT IN OPPOSITION TO

THE ARMY APPRENTICES NATIONAL MEMORIAL TRUST

POSTPONEMENT OF

2020 FINAL A.G.M, REUNION & CLOSURE of The Association.

Following the current Government Guidelines for contending with our LOCKDOWN due to Covid-19, we are still in unable to hold the Final Meeting and Reunion. As and when the situation becomes viable details of the event will be posted here.

Members eligible to attend will be informed by email or post

(Len Morland Hon.Sec.AOHA)

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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 2^nd and Sunday 3^rd 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

Annual Service of Remembrance & Dedication at the Army Apprentices National Memorial

LAST POST

2020-21

With sadness we report the passing of:

52B John Bruce Graham

60B Peter Shepherd

53B Paul(Spud)Taylor

51B William(Bill)Grierson

54B Robert(Lou)Lyddon

63C Victor(Vic)Burgess

PS Alan(Taff)Watts YoS

May their souls Rest in Peace

The Harrogate Apprentice | Last Post | AOHA Last Post

CONTACT DETAILS

Secretary:
Len Morland (65A)
secretary@aoha.org.uk

Treasurer:
John McKay (65c)
treasurer@aoha.org.uk

Editor:
Frank (Scouse) Page
editor@aoha.org.uk

Webmaster:
Steve Parkinson (79c)
webmaster1@aoha.org.uk

LATEST NEWS

Our latest news will be published on the facebook page as this offers real-time distribution of information. (Why try and invent something that already exists)

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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.

Membership

WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT.

Membership of the Association is open to ALL Ex Harrogate Apprentices and permanent staff, both military and civilian. A yearly subscription is paid to assist the running of the Association.

As agreed at the 2007 AGM yearly subs will be £8.00 as from 1st Jan 2009. £2 per member will be donated to the Army Benevolent Fund.

Membership Renewals: For those who do not pay by standing order, could you please make cheques payable to “Association of Harrogate Apprentices”

See Membership Page (Click here)

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Association of Harrogate Apprentices

POSTPONEMENT OF

2020 FINAL A.G.M, REUNION & CLOSURE of The Association.

Following the current Government Guidelines for contending with our LOCKDOWN due to Covid-19, we are still in unable to hold the Final Meeting and Reunion. As and when the situation becomes viable details of the event will be posted here.

Members eligible to attend will be informed by email or post

(Len Morland Hon.Sec.AOHA)

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Association of Harrogate Apprentices

LAST POST

2020-21

52B John Bruce Graham

60B Peter Shepherd

53B Paul(Spud)Taylor

51B William(Bill)Grierson

54B Robert(Lou)Lyddon

63C Victor(Vic)Burgess

PS Alan(Taff)Watts YoS

CONTACT DETAILS

LATEST NEWS

REUNIONS

REQUESTS

Wikipedia – AFC

AOHA

Membership

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