Ed COOPER’s Photo Album

A.A.S. Arborfield Intake 52A

Ed Cooper 52A receiving the Best Progress In Education prize for 2 Division. “This was a joint award with John French 52A. For this achievement we were selected to attend the Coronation in London and we watched the parade from outside Buckingham Palace, standing on the Victoria Monument, looking down The Mall. The presentation was at the Passing Out Parade of Intake 50A in February 1953 and was made by the Inspecting Officer, Lieut. General Sir Ernest Down, KBE, CB, General Officer Commanding in Chief, Southern Command. Also in the picture is the Camp Commandant Colonel F.A.H. Magee, East Surrey Regt. along with the Chief Instructor, Lieut. Colonel H.R.P. Ralphs, O.B.E. B.Sc. A.M.I.Mech E, REME. I also received the Best Progress In Educational Subjects for the following 3 Division term.”

“The first photo shows me ready to return to Arborfield from my home in Chesterfield in 1952. The second photo is another recently discovered snap of me, Bob Condon and his uncle the ex-RSM KRRC who was known to Sgt Silver (see p215 'The Arborfield Apprentice').  We had somehow been given a '48'.  It may have been a Bank Holiday and it was the only one I ever applied for.  Bob's uncle fed and watered us for the weekend and took us to the Festival of Britain funfair at Battersea.  This picture was taken on the way to the South Bank possibly by a street photographer.”

“The first photo shows Dave Johnson, myself and Bob Condon all 52A in B Company. The second photo is of Bob Condon with his sister at his Passing Out Parade in July 1955.”

First Published: 1st February 2008

Latest Update: 1st October 2008

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