St Omer Bks (The Present)

[rockymodo]

Hi Everybody,
Is St Omer Bks still the School of Army Catering?  Is the tower block still there?  I know that the Corps has been amalgamated into the Logistics Corps but are the same number of cooks going through training as before or is a lot of the catering now done by civvy contractors?  Are there still any Apprentices at St Omer? Is group Catering still in exsistence?  Also, what has happened to the old RCT barracks (Buller Bks) is driver training still carried out there? I'd love to know who and what is still at Aldershot as the last time I was there was in the early 80's on a day visit. Also, what has happened to all of the awards etc that used to line the walls of the two concourses and all of the corps cups, medals, Freedom of the City scroll, Corps Colours, silverware and such like?
Chris.

[Ian E Scott]

Chris, I have just spent the weekend at the ACC All Ranks Reunion Weekend on Hayling Island and can give you this "Hot Off The Press" update:

St Omer is currently The Defence Food Services School (DFSS) although the barracks must be vacated by January 2009 to make way for the re-generation of the area.  There is no Apprentice College at St Omer, military training is carried out at Arborfield and tech at St Omer.

The old Secretariat and Headquarters Building has already succumbed to the demolition teams.

I have no info on Group, but it should have been demolished the week after the crap it produced was released on the un-suspecting Units in South East District! 

Buller was re-built a few years ago, and is now in the hands of the RLC.  See link for what is now in Aldershot:

http://www.army.mod.uk/aldershot/garrison_units.htm

The memorabilia has been archived and is awaiting decisions on where to house it.  Some of the historic written works may be housed at the Oxford Brookes University Library along with their historic Catering works.  You can be assured that nothing has been forgotten.

What of the future?  2009 will be a defining year...Catering training will no longer be carried out at Aldershot.  What are the options?  There were three, Arborfield, St Athan (Wales) and Worthy Down!

The first has already been ruled out, out of the remaining two the DFSS would prefer the latter, not in Aldershot, but still in Hampshire...watch this space! 

[rockymodo]

Thanks for that Ian, When you say 'Regeneration of the area' are you talking in terms of a new barracks being built on the site of the old one, and is the tower going to be demolished?  What a great opportunity that would be for a mass reunion. I remember that our corps used to wipe the floor with the opposition at hotelympia and other competitions, we also had some great sportsmen as well.  Is the army stadium still there?  I recall that we spent weeks getting the place ready for the Aldershot Army Show in 72 or 73. 

[Ian E Scott]

Chris,

I'm not quite sure what is being built, but was led to believe it is a major project and that St Omer (MOD) will be subject to financial penalties if not vacated by January 2009.

Can't say about the stadium, are you talking about the Queens Avenue?
 
The Tower will be demolished in 2009/10 once the re-location is complete.   Don't all start queing to blow it up...they think it may contain asbestos.  Then it will have to be dismantled like the Lego it is!
 
There will be a farewell to St Omer organised, but by who is not yet quite clear. 

Make sure you're registered with the Association to get your copy of Information Link!

[rockymodo]

I answered my own question about the Army Stadium.. I saw an advert for the Aldershot Army Show, so the old stadium must still be in use.  Its not on Queens ave, I seem to recall that it was much further over than that.  Where there many bods at the all ranks reunion?  I'd love to go if they organise another.

[Ian E Scott]

120+ including wives. 

2008 Reunion Warners Lakeside Hayling Island 16 - 19 May 

[Quill]

I was there last week.  Only the tower block is left standing and some new buildings are already up.  The main gate is opposite Clayton Barracks.  It was as if we were never there.

[rockymodo]

Any idea what St Omer is going to be?  Is it still MOD? Or the future site of yet another Curry's distribution centre....

[pitbull10]

Any idea what St Omer is going to be?  Is it still MOD? Or the future site of yet another Curry's distribution centre....

Is it not to be a Gurkha barracks?

Rob