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The Regular Commissions Board

As a serving member of the Royal Navy, I have an interest in all things military. Westbury is firmly on the military map because it's the home the Regular Commissions Board (RCB), based at Leighton House. Much of what follows is crown copyright and has been taken from the RCB website by kind permission. In true military fashion, the text is full of Three Letter Acronyms (TLA's) - so do your best! If you get confused, I have included a full list of TLA's here at the bottom of the page:

The Regular Commissions Board (RCB) is an assessment board designed to find out whether a career as an Army Officer's role is right for you. Every officer applicant must pass the RCB before proceeding to officer training at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS). The RCB conduct assessments for a broad range of officer candidates in two stages:

1. A two day Briefing process, designed to assess the candidates suitability to proceed to the Main Board.

2. The Main Board, lasting four days. Thist helps the RCB select from the field of officer candidates, to find those with the potential qualities of character, ability and leadership to command a sub-unit (platoon or troop) in the performance of common military tasks in peace and war.

Leighton House

Leighton House was built by one Thomas Henry Phipps, on land originally owned by the Thynnes in about 1800. In 1888 it was purchased by W.H. Laverton, then Managing Director of the Laverton Mill in Westbury. He enlarged the house and built the stable block (Board Office), road bridge and large private theatre.

At the end of the 19th Century, Leighton Park had become one of the showplaces of Wiltshire. The 'Test Matches' between Mr Laverton's XI and the Australians drew crowds from far and wide, if only to see the great W.G. Grace in action. The most famous stage stars of the day; Melba, Caruso, Dan Leno, etc used to entertain the house parties, and the cricket teams in the Theatre.

By 1921 Leighton Park had, almost inevitably, become a school - the Victoria College - and it is still referred to locally as The College, or Victoria House. When the school was forced to close down in 1936, the estate lay derelict for two years. Destined to become a Roman Catholic training college, it was instead requisitioned and later bought freehold by the War Department.

During the Second World War, Leighton Park housed part of the Royal Victoria Hospital from Netley, Southampton, together with No. 111 Convalescent Depot. By 1945 the military population had risen to over 1,000 and the old Theatre; demolished in 1964, did sterling service both as an ENSA Concert Hall and as a Cinema.

When the war ended, Victoria House became one of the several War Office Selection Boards (WOSB) for National Service Officers, and in 1949 it was chosen as the permanent home of the Regular Commissions Board, formerly at Knepp Castle, Horsham. The present candidates' living quarters were then built along the drive and in 1951, the main building, now the Officers' Mess, reverted to its old name - Leighton House. The Candidates' Mess was rebuilt in 1997 and was taken into use on 16 February 1998.

TLA's Explained

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