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RAOC Gazette - page 21

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Corps RAOC
Material type Journals
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Full title RAOC Gazette
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Publication date 1980
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Colour Yes
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Early date 1980
Late date 1980
Transcription The Mobile Display Team
THE month saw the usual hectic activity of the team, in-
creased by the loss of Lance Corporal Pete Drabble and Private
Bob Lawley, who were on a basic rock climbing course, in
preparation for the summer tour, both of whom returned in-
tact, on successful completion of the course.
W02 Treveil had his first taste of Mobile Displaying for
real, at the Bournemouth Army Day, and it really was a
christening, as the rain fell in torrents, which is of course usual
for Army Displays, Coronations and the like.
Private Jock Somerville had yet another good seasons
ski-ing, at Aviemore, and was fortunate enough to be selected
for the Headquarters team, which brought back the trophy.
Well done!
The incremental staff have arrived and were immediately
immersed in the ways of the Training Centre by going on a run
on their very first morning in station. The remainder of the
month was taken up in strenuous training under the watchful
instruction of Lance Corporal Johnathan Heffernan, our longest
serving team member.
Major David Elliott, and Captain Paul Simpson spent a
busy week lecturing to schools in the Midlands, towards the
end of the month. The team eventually got ' on the road'
with the Blackheath Fayre, and from there to the Burslem
Festival near Stoke-on-Trent.
We welcome the new team, comprising Sergeant McDonald
WRAC, Corporal Johnson WRAC, Corporal Britt, Lance
Corporals Abbott and MacGregor, Privates Hassall, Jones and
Janes, who replaced Private Lawley, on his posting to Bicester.
former, the most hirsute member of Brigade, a ribbon to plait
himself with and to the latter a bible to keep his end up with
the SCA's biblical quotations.
G Branch have developed a unique method of keeping
visitors to a minimum. A combination of Corporal Bill Laight's
overpowering pipe and Lance Corporal Ian Cramp, quietly
decomposing as a result of his sojourn in Belize, has produced an
atmosphere more akin to a ripe farmyard! AQ Branch who are
of course used to leading the field in most organised events
have again produced a champion. Corporal Dave Wood amazed
himself and everyone else by winning the Individual Award
for the Best Driver in the Squadron Safe and Skilled Driving
Competition.
He may have lost a few friends in the MT
Troop!
Missing from AQ Branch this month is Sergeant Paul
Gardiner who, in spite of dock strikes, cancelled sailings and
snow blizzards, succeeded in escaping the Province to make his
way to AFCENT. We will miss his daily rendition of Tulips
from Amsterdam.
Sergeant Bert Dovcll discovered the disadvantages of play-
ing squash after liquid refreshment when BOO grabbed the
opportunity to register his victory over him. Cunning these
officers! Sergeant Pete Grills has been in a quandary as to
whether he should go in for Travers Clarke or the Olympics
but Records solved the problem by posting him to Canada in
June. Also in luck with his postings is Sergeant Mick Daly
who leaves shortly for Hong Kong.
We welcome Corporal Bill Cole from AFCENT who takes
over as A Clerk and looks forward to renewing his acquain-
tance with such military pastimes as BFT and APWT.
Northern Ireland
STORES SECTION
NORTHERN IRELAND ROULEMENT
WORKSHOP
IT has now fallen to 15 Field Workshop Stores Platoon to man
the Northern Ireland Roulement Workshop Stores Section,
not forgetting of course those lucky men who are attached to us
from 5 Field Force Ordnance Company and Corps Troops
Workshop Stores Platoon.
We have now been here for a month and after some initial
turmoil, particularly in PC and A where the desks were re-
arranged daily by Lance Corporal ' Bizz' Leslie, we have settled
into the job of supplying the bits that keep the pigs on the
move. Two of our merry men have benefited from the tour
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HEADQUARTERS
RAOC
STAFF
SERGEANT HARRY HIBBET
w ns a
'
" t n e t v e s o ' e s this month for passing
ms
driving '- Having primed himself
w,,n a c
°up'e of hundred volumes, sat up
a
n
" 'Sht reading the highway code, and
donning his special ' they drive them-
selves' driving shoes he still managed to
arrive at the ' Start Line' in a state of
nervous apprehension (whatever that may
mean).
Whilst all this had been going on a terrorist organisation
was planning to remove one of the adjacent hotels from the
landscape! All that was necessary was the usual twist of fate
and the two projects were on a collision course. Shortly after
the detonation occurred (which incidentally woke up our
GAZETTE Press desk with a jerk) our worthy ' Ibbey' as he is
fondly referred to, extracted himself from the dustbin in which
he had taken quick cover, and reported to his examiner who
we would guess was himself by now in possession of a bit of a
nervous twitch. There was of course a build up of traffic in
Lisburn. The test commenced " Turn right" said the examiner—
well we could go on like this all day—the fact is they not only
got stuck in the traffic but the examiner got lost! (People make
thousands of pounds telling stories like this on television). You
can, of course, guess what happened. Staff did a couple of three
point turns, a loop the loop, and was back at the beginning,
and that was it—Pass friends all's well. Which all goes to show
that there is something in the proverbial ill wind.
To continue the proverbial vein ' The sun shines on the
righteous ' true or not true! It certainly shone on the day of
the Northern Ireland Rugby Sevens, which was a successful
and enjoyable day for our local followers of the sport. The
branch was well represented in the form of two Green Referee's
jerseys, and we congratulate CRAOC, Lieutenant Colonel David
Bramble, on being asked to referee the final (another weeks
leave fixed).
HEADQUARTERS
8 INFANTRY
BRIGADE
AFTER being publicly pilloried by Ordnance Branch Head-
quarters Northern Ireland in last month's GAZETTE, the BOO,
Captain Ron Medley, has been stirring up journalistic fervour
amongst the clerks in an attempt to produce a masterpiece
which may even be submitted in time for publication in the
next issue. Many suggestions were put forward, the following
of which were printable!
There was no comment from the Superintendent Clerk,
W02 Pete Murray, as he is again in the USA, taking lessons
from JR! Our two Chief Clerks, Staff Sergeant Fred Sloan and
Sergeant Mick O'Hare, received very apt gifts from the Officer
Commanding Squadron on his departure this month—for the
RAOC Assurance
Association
18 Chequers Square, Uxbridge, Middlesex
Tel. (STD 0895) 53444
2 f° Discount — special scheme
Motor Insurance. Available to all
Corps members.
Life Assurance — protection for
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H o u s e Purchase — buying now or
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Book number R0404