REME Association: Arborfield & District Branch

Arborfield and District Branch

Scribe: John Worrall Secretary

Our last article was published in the magazine in April earlier this year. Since then, the Branch has once again started to come alive; not until September though. During the restrictions posed by lockdown, members have been kept informed of the news from RHQ and contact was maintained with those who have been ‘under the weather’.

Our membership is aging I’m afraid, but we have recently recruited some new ‘younger’ members: Major (Retd) John Alp and Janet, former WO2 Tony Raee and Sue and Julie Fairclough and they have come back for more.

Our first meet-up since March 2020 took the form of an afternoon ‘high’ tea in September at the Community Centre in Arborfield Green and it was a great success with over 40 members attending. Fortunately, the weather was very kind and

Sandra and Derek Slocombe with Brian Sweatman at the ‘Tea’ Party

The three horse sculptures

we were able to sit outside enjoying the warmth of the sun and have a good old natter.

We have decided that our meetings would take place in the afternoon starting at 1400hrs, coming out during the cold winter months after dark is not a good prospect and our first official meeting took place on Tuesday 9 October with a very good attendance. The meeting on 9 November was our last this year and Members entered into the festive spirit.

Bren Stacey, our Social Secretary for many years, who with his late wife Margaret raised many thousands of pounds for the Branch through their many activities, has decided to stand down and his position on the Committee will be filled by Eileen Craig. Eileen worked in Hazebrouck Barracks for many years and with her husband former WO1 (ASM) John Craig are now regular attendees at the meetings and fully embraced ‘Association life’.

The Committee is keen to get our lady members more involved in the running of the Branch. Now that RHQ have issued directives regarding the status of Spouses and relatives of former members of the Corps, we are hoping that in future more will wish to join the Committee.

St Eligius Church, which was taken over by the Diocese of Oxford is now getting back to normal and a Remembrance Service was held on 14 November, with our members in attendance. Our President John Edwards and Myles Taylor, our Chairman. laid wreathes on behalf of the REME Association and the Arborfield Branch. In addition, David Keymer laid a wreath in memory of our late friend and member, Cyril Luger on behalf of his Widow, Margaret. The Church Warden at St Eligius Church is Major (Retd) Paul Marsden and I know Paul is keen to maintain the relationship with the Corps and the Church.

We were very sorry to hear that Hayley Bodman, the Association Secretary in RHQ is moving up North. Hayley has been our contact in RHQ for eight years and many will remember her when attending the Reunions. We wish her the very best and we will hope to meet up at the Reunions in the future, when she can sit back and relax.

Readers will remember that the Bramshill Hunt was demolished and I can now report that a new local Co-op has opened on the site. Arborfield Green, the new building project on the site of the old Garrison is still taking shape and most of the old military buildings have disappeared. If you are ever down this way it is well worth a visit to see the changes that have been made, although bring a ‘hankie’ because I can guarantee a tear will fall if you have happy memories of Arborfield Garrison. I am sure the same can be said of Bordon Garrison, which is now a new ‘town’. Regarding the Garrison, earlier in the year three Horse sculptures, located close by the entrance to the old Hazebrock Guardroom, were unveiled by the Mayor of Wokingham, local artist Amy Goodman and Lt Col Mike Tizard, the (former) Corps Secretary in a ceremony broadcast on BBC and ITV local news channels. Also, in attendance were former Directors of the Museum, Lt Col Larry Le Var and his wife Rita and Lt Col Bill Cleasby MBE. (Bill, Larry and Mike were all Arborfield

Horse still running. Bren with shovel and Groom, Dave Haswell holding the reins

Old Boys), I was there representing the REME Association. The sculptures pay homage to the horses that served in WWI and were cared for at the Army Remount Centre which was located in Arborfield from 1906 until 1937, as well as recognising the horses of today and the future.

Unfortunately, there does not appear to be any major recognition of the fact that it was the home of our Corps before closing on the move to Lyneham in 2016. In 1978, REME were awarded the status of Honorary Townspeople and the Freedom of entry to the Town of Wokingham under arms and in full ceremonial. Thereby often giving the right specifically to parade through the town ‘with drums beating and flags flying’. REME paraded through Wokingham on numerous occasions the most recent being in 2015 before the move to Lyneham.

Four members of the Branch; Bren Stacey, Danny McIvor, Dave Haswell and myself, armed with camera, with the permission of the Developers, gathered at the site and took some pictures of the fine sculptures, to remind everyone that there is still a REME presence in the area.

For more information regarding your local REME Association Branch, visit remeconnect.org

Some members of the Arborfield and District Branch Danny McIvor, John Worrall, Bren Stacey and Dave Haswell

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

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