Originally Posted by dkh51250

Fewer than twenty people have served at Catterick looking at this. I don't believe that for a minute, I have seen queues in Tesco with more people than have posted on this thread.

Any Old & Bold ex scaleys on here would have spent some time at Catterick surely? That must be more than 20, 30 or 40 at the very least...lol

It was also a large training camp for the Armoured Corps too wasn't it?

Originally Posted by Chodmeister

It was also a large training camp for the Armoured Corps too wasn't it?

RACTR looked after AAC basic training in the 70s and 80s, although there are few of my generation who raised the course average IQ who post regularly here.

Originally Posted by exbleep

Watney's Red Barrel cos at least you could get what we thought was a "decent" pint compared with the watery rubbish from the local brewery.

Aah Watney's Red Barrel. To quote iirc Jasper Carrot, drink 14 pints of Red Barrel and get absolutely plastic.

When I told RMP where they could stick their truncheons, took discharge as a statutory right and signed back up in 1975 with the condition that this time I didn't want to be dissuaded from joining the RAC, I did Basic for the second time at Cambrai Bks. Then Armd Recce trade training, then off to join the regiment ... in Omagh as a section rifleman.

TBH my opinion of Catterick was neither particularly good or bad. What most amused me was that AD Saturday I could jump on the train to Sunderland and watch the Lads play, then go home and see me mum Saturday night (first half of Basic I wasn't supposed to stay out Saturday night but having done it once and no nasty chappie in the Guard Room shouted at me and jailed me on my return, I just carried on) returning Sunday evening in time to prepare me kit for FP Monday.

Alternate weekends, when they were playing away, I didn't bother, but on Sunday afternoon, once I'd realised ITV in Catterick was Tyne-Tees, not Yorkshire, I could sit in the NAAFI TV room and watch a north-east team on Shoot (Tyne-Tees equivalent of The Big Match) and listen to the weak-kneed, namby-pamby, shandy-drinking southern boys whinging about the choice of football match on the telly.

I thought Catterick was OK. Loved the Holly Hill Inn. Good beer in there. Didn't think too badly of the Colburn Lodge, not so keen on Scorpions but inevitably ended up in there on occaision.

Originally Posted by StickyEnd

I thought Catterick was OK. Loved the Holly Hill Inn. Good beer in there. Didn't think too badly of the Colburn Lodge, not so keen on Scorpions but inevitably ended up in there on occaision.

Ah the Colburn Lodge, I was ejected and banned from that establishment, whilst on my BRUIN Auto course, for eating a floral table decoration one Saturday night. Happy days...lol

My father joined the RAC in Catterick in 1949 before moving out to the Queen's Bays in Fallingbostel. I served in Bourlon Bks in the late 80s as 24 Brigade converted from Saxon (lots of driving on ex) to Airmobile (some flying and lots of walking).

A great area for cross country training, though the athletics track was still black cinder in those days and very exposed to the wind.

77 I think when the DJ at the Walkerville got conned into playing sheepshagger when it was full of Blackwatch... Best display of furniture recycling I've ever seen.

I served in Catterick, 87-90. Best thing was weekend and a hour to Leeds. Our Camp was empty. Great times in scabs, and Richmond was a half decent night out.

Does anyone recall, or indeed use, the British Legion Club, before it became Louis Bar?