Arborfield Old Boys Association
AOBA
Arborfield Life
Our reunions
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Reunions - To go or not to go.
It could have been yesterday, years fell away,
He was older, his hair now was thinning
and grey.
Spectacles masked the fresh features recalled,
The figure more rounded
than in days of old.
Lines of experience where none had been,
Etched deeply around
the eyes, once young and keen,
Yet the stance, still erect, proclaimed to the crowd,
Here stood an old soldier, distinguished and proud.
The years had not dimmed his
mind, quick now, as then,
That broad, ready smile reappearing again
As when in his
youth, alert, full of life,
The wit and the humour, as sharp as a knife.
But close
your eyes. Listen. Abandon the years,
You're back in the barrack room, and it appears
That you've slipped back to when you were one happy band,
Sharing a bond only few
understand.
The banter, the chat, cherished memories reviewed,
Recalled escapades,
old time friendships renewed,
The camaraderie felt when back with old friends,
For
the moment you're all seventeen once again.
These are the feelings you get if you
go
To the Old Boys Reunions and encounter those
You had pondered upon since you all
flew the nest,
Those unanswered questions, at last laid to rest.
So pause and reflect
when you come to decide,
Did the memory of time spent there fill you with pride?
Now, as you're approaching the autumnal years,
Do you recollect times more happy
than these?
If you don't, take the plunge, for there'll be no regret
Of ignored opportunities,
later to fret
About what might have been if only you'd gone
To that missed Arborfield
Old Boys Reunion!
© TeeCee
Reunion 2012
As you will know at the 2011 AGM we voted to move the 2012 Reunion to the Midlands over the weekend of 1/3rd June, staying in the Barcelo Hinckley Island 4 star Hotel, Hinckley, Leicestershire with a visit to the National Memorial Arboretum on the Saturday morning for our Parade/Drum Head Service.
It is with the greatest pleasure I can confirm all arrangements are in place for us to participate in a most enjoyable weekend. It is hoped the event will follow a similar pattern to previous years with the full weekend outline looking like this;
Meet up at the Hotel Friday afternoon with our partners and enjoy an informal evening catching up with old friends whilst enjoying a Curry Supper and a few beers;
After a hearty breakfast on Saturday enjoy a short coach trip from the hotel to the NMA,
where we will hold our Parade followed by our Drum Head Service then,
Private Lunch with a cash bar in the grounds of the NMA with time to visit some of the other memorials;
Return to the Hotel for our AGM followed by,
a Ladies Night Formal Dinner – new to us and a chance for our ladies to dress up!!
After a good nights sleep enjoy another hearty Sunday breakfast before dispersing for another year.
You can see from this short outline we are trying to keep the weekend as close to the status quo – with the two major exceptions of not being in Arborfield and including our partners in the whole weekend’s entertainment.
Booking forms are now well on their way to you, and I hope you will find them self -explanatory.
Please remember to return them with your payment by the 23rd February, to:
Arborfield Old Boys’ Association, Hon Secretary’s Office,
7, St Marks House, St Marks Avenue, SALISBURY, SP1 3DL
Here is a link to the application form, just in case yours gets mislaid: 2012 Reunion Application
This year, for the first time, We offer you the facility to pay by PAYPAL, debit or credit card.
Please use this link to do so: PAYPAL /CREDIT CARD PAYMENTS and follow all instructions.
Dates for the Reunion 2012 are the 1st, 2nd and 3rd of June.
New! Pay by PAYPAL or credit/debit card! See here!
