Arborfield Old Boys Association

AOBA

Arborfield Life

The weather was fine for the Saturday morning and enabled the normal parade and drumhead service to be held. The playing of the 'Last Post' and 'Reveille' must have brought a lump to many a throat during the service. The words of the Collect were read out by Padre Steven Thatcher, and are well worth repeating here:

"O God our Father, we pray for all who served their country, remembering especially the families of the Arborfield Old Boys' Association. Rekindle our courage to face the future as we did in our youth. Strengthen our will to seize the moment as we did in the past. Enliven our minds to the needs of others, as loyalty and discipline taught us. Amen."

The reviewing officer was Col Nigel Moore, ex-CO of what had been 'the College' between 1996 and 1998. He told the assembled old boys how delighted he was to be invited back for the reunion, but admitted to being nervous when measuring his mere twenty-six years of service against the combined 3,000 years of those standing so proudly before him! He complimented the old boys on their commitment to the Association and keeping alive an important part of all their lives.

Col Nigel paid a special welcome to all those ex-boys who had begun their service in 1955, now attending their 50th Anniversary Reunion. He reported a soft spot for that particular year, as it had also been the year of his birth! He then wished the assembly a splendid day and Reunion dinner later that evening. He hoped that old friendships would be renewed, new friends made, and that everyone would come back the following year in even greater numbers.

The afternoon was hot and humid, with many ex-boys gratefully accepting the chance to sit outdoors, and managing to dodge the few spots of rain that sprinkled down here and there. Colin Drasutis of 55B hasn't been enjoying the best of health the past few months, but made the special effort to attend this auspicious event of his 50th anniversary. Unfortunately, the heat and occasion must have caught up with him and it ended up with the local paramedics from Bracknell being called in. We are glad to report that Colin recovered and was able to drive himself back home a couple of hours later. Our thanks go out to those two paramedics who attended to Colin so professionally.

The evening meal was excellent, well fortified by the usual supply of both red and white wines! David Naylor of 55A made the now regular speech on behalf of his year's two intakes - and we're sure that this will be fully reported on elsewhere in the OBAN.

A big thank you to all those old boys who made it so special by their attendance.

This was the first time that 'the reunion' had to be held outside the confines of the original old school. The buildings are still intact, but now awaiting new tenants, and there must have been a few worries that perhaps things 'wouldn't be quite the same' this year. However, we were in the hands of some experts! Bill Cleasby, with great assistance from Keith Evans and a 'committee' from the Garrison, must have worked their socks off to make everything go so smoothly and live up to anything we'd enjoyed in the past.

Congratulations and thank you gentlemen, you did us proud.

2005 reunion

Copyright: Unless specifically stated Intellectual property rights and web design Arborfield Old Boys Association 1999 - 2008