scroll down for updates following 2024 AGM
Welcome to our new website - which opened to BFES members from August 2021. We would appreciate your reaction and any contributions to content. We have to thank Malcolm Brooke (member) and Martin Gautier (web designer) for their great work in getting us this far.
The launch of the new Facebook page (hot link on top right of blue bar above) provides a social space for members and prospective members. Photographs uploaded to the Facebook site may be added later (by your webmasters) to the school and location archives on this site.
Suggestions and feedback are welcome - you can contact the webmasters via the 'Contacts' button under 'More'.
Our monthly bulletin, which include news items and information about forthcoming events, is compiled by our joint membership secretaries, Christine and Hugh Ritchie. The latest issue is November 2024. These are sent / emailed to BFES/SCE Association Members around the middle of each month. If you are a member and experience problems receiving or opening the Bulletin, please contact the membership secretaries. However, it might be worth checking your email JUNK/SPAM folder first, to see if your server has filed it there; if you click "not junk" then it should divert to your inbox.
The Association's Journal (aka Newsletter) has developed, under Tom Nielsen-Marsh's editorship into an thrice yearly fascinating read and worthy historical document in its own right. All except the latest edition can be found under 'More/Newsletters'. The latest edition is reserved under the 'Members Only' tab.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Mike Chislett (Chair) writes:
The association's 2024 Winchester Curry Lunch took place in Peninsular Barracks' Ghurka Museum in April. The occasion was much enjoyed by all fortunate enough to be able to attend. I'd like to thank Jane Tull and her colleague committee members for organising the event, welcoming guests and ensuring that everything came together for a memorable occasion. The committee had previously agreed that this would be the last in the series (due to rising costs and a wish to adjust the geography of events) and 2024 finished our Winchester curry lunches in style ... for the time being!
For our 2024 Association AGM on Friday 20th September, we travelled to the National Memorial Arboretum (NMA) in Staffordshire. Over 60 members attended, enjoying presentations on NMA, future events and MoD Schools' history. After an excellent hot-buffet, members were able to explore the extensive site. Despite a brief rain-storm, some even found Ark School's 2013 installation 'Posted!', created and donated by the school and the JHQ Community in the year of JHQ's closure.
Liaison and event planning were handled expertly by Bill and Janet Bowen. The event set a very high bar for future AGMs, combining a great meeting space, high quality host support for the AGM and its catering and an unrivalled collection of service memorials and connections.
The AGM itself seemed to be enjoyed by everyone present & the committee were unanimously re-elected. Our newest member, Lesley Fleming, stood in for Lynn Marshall to take the minutes. Despite my encouragements, there were no new nominations for chair, so I agreed to contune at least until November's committee meeting.
Future events explored at the AGM include a visit to Shrivenham's Defence Academy (May 2025) and a Cold-War themed escorted tour in Berlin (September 2025). We thank Ken Jones for the research and development of both of these - details will apear in 'events' on this website as they become available.
2025's AGM will continue our northward progress and cross the country to Lincolnshire. We have booked (thank you, Philip and Barbara Arrandale) The Petwood Hotel at Woodhall Spa, for Friday 19th September. Once again, see 'events' for more information nearer the time.