TeeCee's Arborfield Odes

The Army Apprentices School at Arborfield known affectionately as The Boys School was the last surviving of Army junior soldier trade-training establishments with a history stretching back some 65 years. Originally named The Army Technical School for Boys it was later renamed The Army Apprentices College and then Princess Marina College and later still reclassified as The Army Technical Foundation College and throughout its long history some 50000 Apprentices passed through its Portals as Soldier Tradesmen to become Vehicle Mechanics Radar Technicians Aircraft Technicians Instrument Technicians Fitters and Gun Fitters amongst others. Sadly in 2004 it was decided that Apprentice Training at Arborfield would cease completely and so it was that on the 12th August 2004 the last intake of Arborfield Army Apprentices passed out from the College to move into mans service. For those who started their Army careers as Army Apprentice Tradesmen at there they will be well aware that Arborfield has always held a special place in their hearts. So this collection of amusing and sometimes poignant verses reflects much of the life and attitudes of many who spent their formative years there and these memoirs deserves well earned place on any bookshelf. Although most of the odes and verses are directly related to years spent at Arborfield the book also includes some rhymes and stories of Tony Churchs life later in the Army and then in retirement.