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To mark Remembrance Day and honour Arborfield Green’s heritage as an army garrison, Crest Nicholson has donated £1,000 to the Arborfield Old Boys Association (AOBA). The 413-acre Arborfield Green development was once a Horse Remount depot and infirmary, as well as home to the Army Technical School, which housed and trained up to 1,000 apprentices at a time.

 

The Boys’ School, as the technical school is often referred to, was the last surviving Army Junior Soldier trade-training establishment, and the AOBA represents all the young men and women who passed through the gates of the Arborfield Army Apprenticeship establishment during the years 1939 to 2004.

 

As part of an ongoing partnership between the developer and the AOBA, the donation will be used to support the charity’s work to maintain connections between its 800 members worldwide, through regular issues of its Old Boys Association Newsletter, (the “OBAN”), as well as social gatherings and annual reunions. In addition, Crest Nicholson has laid wreaths at the development, as a reminder of the site’s military history and to commemorate the members of the armed forces who have served and died in duty.   

 

David Hnyda , Sales and Marketing Director at Crest Nicholson Chiltern, comments: “Many army apprentices trained on what is now our Arborfield Green development, so it feels fitting to honour their outstanding contribution to the community on Remembrance Day. At Crest Nicholson, working alongside partners like AOBA is part of our commitment to create high-quality, thriving homes and developments that are enjoyable for both residents and the wider community. As a site with so much military history and background, it is important that this heritage is preserved for generations to come.”

 

Mike Tizard, Chairman of Old Boys Association says: “The Arborfield Old Boys Association was initially established in 1939 with the aims of maintaining contact between former apprentices and fostering esprit de corps and comradeship through social gatherings. Over 55,000 boys passed through the gates of the Apprentice College between 1938 and 2004, and while many things have changed, our aims continue to this day. Today, we are a registered charity with over 800 members, we have a pipes and drums band, hold an annual reunion, have a place at the annual remembrance parade at the London Cenotaph and produce a quarterly magazine so we can keep in touch; we even have girls! It would be fair to say we are a thriving association and while the Covid pandemic has prevented us from gathering in person, it has not dampened our spirits, and we all keep in touch. Above all, we remain proud to be called ‘Arborfield Old Boys’.

 

“We are absolutely delighted to be associated with Crest Nicholson Chiltern in what can only be described as a world class development of the new Arborfield Green site. While we only have a small part to play, we look back on our heritage with pride, and take heart that the site is being developed in a sympathetic way, maintaining many of the green spaces which we can recognise and associate with. We look forward to long lasting and rewarding relationship with Crest Nicholson Chiltern now and for many years in the future”.

 

Once complete, Arborfield Green will provide 2,000 new homes and create an entirely new ‘garden village’ community. Set within acres of woodland with a number of lakes, play parks and scenic walks on site, Arborfield Green is perfect for those that love to be surrounded by nature. The development blends the convenience of the city with a village lifestyle, with access to plenty of local shops.

 

Waterman’s Reach, offers the latest collection of homes at Arborfield Green, with two bedroom apartments available from £295,000 and two to four bedroom houses from £397,500. Please call 01184 024768 or check out our other new homes in Arborfield.

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