AANM Progress report

Arborfield Old Boys' Association

From Gordon Bonner 49B June 2010

The Army Apprentice National Memorial Project: Significant Progress.

In the eight months that has elapsed since the inaugural meeting of the Army Aprentice National Memorial Steering Commitee, progress has been such that the stonemason engaged to build the memorial on location at the National Memorial Arboretum, Alrewas, Staffordshire, was able to start work on the foundations two weeks ago.

In addition, fundraising has proved to be sucessessful in that50% of the target figure has been achived well ahead of the planned schedule for 2010.

During the coming winter months, the granite to be used in the building the memorial wil be cut and polished in preparation for the final phase of construction to commence in May 2011.

It is planned to comlete the memorial by late July/early August 2011. The 7th September 2011 is the date being considered for the dedication day ceremonial. Further information will be issued in due course when plans for the occassion have been finalised

Official 2011 AOBA Calendar

This year we've had printed 100 copies of the official 2011 AOBA calendar and it will be available for sale at our reunion. This has cost us £3.22 per copy and you can get your hands on a copy for £5.50. So the profit of £2.28 per calendar will go directly to the Army Apprentices Memorial Fund.

Those of us not able to make the reunion will be able to buy their copy from the REME Museum after the reunion for the same price, plus whatever the postage works out to be.

The downloaded 2010 AOBA calendar raised over £150.00 via donations to the Memorial Fund, so we look forward to beating this figure for 2011 - it would be really great if the initial print run of 100 was no where near enough and we had to print some more. So, your committee hopes everyone will support this initiative - swelling the funds for the Memorial.

Arborfield Old Boys' Association

Reunion Forms

Our stalwart worker Keith Evans is as I write this stuffing OBANs into envelopes to all active members of the AOBA. They will be off to the post office in the morning – so expect to receive yours any day now!

So if you’re planning on attending this year’s reunion GET YOUR FORMS back without delay – spaces as ever in short supply.

WELL DONE KEITH!

Arborfield Old Boys' Association