ARBORFIELD - Friday 24th to Sunday 26th July 2009 inclusive.

The following report contributed by Trevor STUBBERFIELD (52A)

Photographs are by the contributor, unless otherwise attributed.

Saturday. The Drumhead Service, Historic Building, Barbeque and REME Museum visit.

The order of service is one that has been used at the reunion for a number of years. The balance is just right for the occasion with some emphasis on the Remembrance section, after all it is the main reason we troop back to Arborfield year after year.

The service is fittingly conducted by Arborfield Old Boy, the Reverend Canon John Bev (66A)

Photo contributed by Max Warwick 49B

Music by the Stephen Nye Quintet

The trumpeter sounded THE LAST POST

The lone piper played the lament FLOWERS OF THE FOREST

The two minutes silence is a moment in which to remember old friends and there would be no shame in the tear being brushed from the corner of many an eye. The names of those Old Boys who have been recalled to HQ in the past year are read during the service. For me it was a sad moment when the name of Andrew Danny Yule 52A was read out. We started together in Room F6 of HQ Company and the loss of an old friend is keenly felt. Danny was a piper in the school band and so the Flowers Of The Forest would seem a very touching tribute to him amongst all those we had lost.

Photo contributed by Max Warwick 49B

We were brought back to today by the sounding of REVEILLE.

The Garden of Remembrance stands on the site of the old Guard Room with a commemorative plaque on the brickwork.

This year Poppy Crosses marked the loss of 17 Old Boys during the past twelve months.

Standing by the Garden of Remembrance the gates are now looking rather neglected and in need of some maintenance to prevent further deterioration. They would be a matter for discussion at the AGM.

I made my way back to Bailleul and the BBQ lunch via another historic building which is giving cause for concern, the indoor shooting range and in particular the wall of bricks which tell a lot of the history of that area.

The writing is on the wall….

In idle moments, whilst waiting your turn on the range, what better way to mark ones passage through Arborfield. Carved at the time without a thought that these bricks would become the subject of intense discussion over many years. There are now increasing signs of rapid deterioration and again they would be a subject raised at the AGM.

The BBQ and time to relax with friends. Keith Tilley, Alan Algy Morton, George Fleck, Fred Mills, Graham Goodwin all of 51B with Terry Reddin 52A. Would that be the Hon Sec trying to hide behind a pint glass in the background?

Photo contributed by Alan Morton 51B

The opportunity was taken to visit the REME Museum before plans to relocate it come to fruition. A veritable treasure trove of items connected to the Corps, but also containing a large collection of Apprentice based material. Two books caught the eye. These are comprehensive photographic records of the 2007 and 2008 AOBA Reunions lodged with the museum by Max Warwick (49B). The 2007 edition also contains some contemporary black and white photos of life as it was for members of the 1957 intakes. Should members of the 57 and 58 intakes visit the museum it would be well worth spending a few moments looking through them. They are certainly produced to a high quality. There are prospects of an edition being produced for the 2009 Reunion.

Photo contributed by Max Warwick 49B

The R.E.M.E. Museum Gate Guard is a Phoenix Unmanned Air Vehicle.

Photo contributed by Max Warwick 49B

In February 1955 my intake (52A) passed out and for the first time a number of us were sent directly to units in BAOR, rather than UK units, to spend our first twelve months service post Arborfield. I was posted to 1(BR) Corps Troops Workshop, REME in Kunsebek, just outside Bielefeld. Walking into the museum I was surprised to see the boards recording the OCs of the unit. As others followed us perhaps they will be able to

remember the OC during their time spent there. I must admit I didn’t, more a sign of current memory lapses, but at least I know now..

By chance I was able to solve the identity of a mystery EME badge, a photo of which had been recently lodged on the web site. The answer lies HERE.

First Published: 15th August 2009

Latest Update: 1st November 2009

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Saturday continued