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RAOC Gazette - page 27

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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 is used by our Kit Store for wrapping certain parts of a Chief-
tain tank before export, so despite their rather inbuilt menacing
appearance tanks are quite delicate. ' The mind boggles. 1
We welcome new arrivals Staff Sergeant Sandy Copland
from the stresses and strains of Ordnance Depot Antwerp who
now has his feet firmly under the table in our Technical Train-
ing Wing. We also welcome Private Thompson from Depot
to the relief of our Chief Clerk,—thankfully wc will no longer
hear the cry " 1 can't take any more." Welcome also to Lance
Corporal Mason from Ordnance Depot Antwerp.
As always we must say farewell, in particular to Sergeant
John McMullen on a short tour of the Carribcan hot spot
Belize. We wish Lance Corporals Cowcll, Carey, Sword and
Adams all the best on detachment in Northern Ireland. We
also wish Corporal Bob Freeman all the best in Sufficld and
express appreciation for all the effort he has put in to im-
prove the Unit club.
Congratulations to Sergeant Williamson on acting promotion
during his detachment to Sufficld and to Lance Corporal Bill
Fagan and his wife on the birth of Michael Geoffrey.
has returned to the fold, albeit for a short stay, prior to his
posting to Berlin. He says it is necessary for him to ' eliminate
the bad habits' picked up by SSMs Dick Checsman and Eddie
Bullock during his absence. SQMS Jim Hargatc is busily at-
tending resettlement and medical panels before his release into
the outside world in 1981.
Last but not least wc welcome SSM Matt Hudson on
posting from Ord 4d. Matt has returned to the scenes of his
former glory being a founder member of the Unit. He joins at
a very busy period of re-organisation in UKLF, so doubtless the
big black Mercedes will be seen all over UK.
Vehicle Depot Hilton
THE already depleted DMA's office staff is yet further depleted
by the move of Rick Rcnshaw to Security. Rick's philosophical
outlook on life as a DMA clerk has changed to one of intense
ferocity as he guards the Depot.
Visiting Work Study teams have included Mr Bob Sims,
Conductor Gordon Webster, SSMs Steve Dodds and Rick Cook
and Staff Sergeant Jim Bond. Team members have been accom-
modated in the ' Hilton Hilton,' the management of which have
requested that Mr Webster's messing arrangements be by con-
tract in future following the financial predicament experienced by
that establishment following his last visit. Rick Cook is, of
course, well known in the area and the Brewery Section of the
Stock Market remains very healthy whenever he is in the
vicinity.
Nice to see Captain Colin Fuller on a visit from Andover
last week. True to form, he gave some helpful advice to the
Work Study Department but left them wondering what else he
had got up his sleeve.
Welcome back to Mrs Joyce Nichol after a long lay-off
through sickness.
Central Vehicle Depot Ashchurch
WE welcome Major and Mrs Trevor Seabrook who join us
from Cyprus. Clearly Trevor finds it hard to break old habits
and still insists on going for an early morning swim.
We say a tearless farewell to the Inspectorate of Estab-
lishments, which leaves us in moderately rude health. In the
aftermath it is interesting to speculate as to whether the Com-
mandant, now on his bricks and mortar course, was hedging his
bets when he first applied for it.
Meanwhile, back in Work Study, WOl Ron Ball continues
to recruit likely young men into the Army when he is not re-
building the Sergeants Mess. WOl Ron Foster devotes himself
to Unit ski-ing and cycling and W02 Pete Yearsley is organising
a modern pentathlon. Staff Sergeant James Bond, obviously
despairing of learning anything about work study from these
eclectic colleagues, has departed to Shrivenham.
Management Services Unit
THAT intrepid motor cycle fanatic Captain Ken Lawton, has
been seen limping around of late. We are sad to report that
the Second-in-Command came off second best when he was
attacked by an articulated truck whilst travelling to Devizes.
The medics say no bones were broken, just a case of very
severe bruising. The same cannot be said of that beautiful
lOOOcc BMW. The, irony of the situation is that Ken was
literally cruising along at fifty miles per hour rather than the
sixty to seventy one normally associates with him. Who says
speed is the cause of accidents!
We welcome to the Unit Keith Amos direct from the
font of knowledge at Shrivenham. Keith's arrival coincided
with the announcement of a mammoth pay rise for young EOs,
so we await to see his arrival in a new car. Whilst talking of
our civilian colleagues mention must be made of our man in
the north, Bob Borchard. In addition to his work study duties
Bob is assistant project officer to Major Dai Phipps at Hessay.
Not a bad number that, an OC and an assistant in a depot
without stores or people!
After his holidays at Feltham and Wilton SSM Jack Redfern
— 20
THE RAOC Ski season started off well this year with the
Permanent Staff of the Ski Hut assembling at the Ncthy Bridge
Hotel early in January. It is true to say that with blizzards
raging in the Highlands ihe assembly stage was an adventurous
training exercise in itself.
Under the capable control of Captain Wyborn and the
Administration NCO, Staff Sergeant Dinsdale, the staff quickly
sorted themselves and the accommodation out and were ready
for the arrival of Ihe first students on a two week course of
Exercise Knees Bend.
This was the fourth year in which wc had organised Alpine
Ski instruction and we were prepared for the most challenging
weather that the Cairngorms could provide. We had even
purchased our own Portable Ski Tow in case the weather
prevented ski instruction on the main slopes.
The snow conditions in January were first class and with
approximately thirty students on each successive course, all
looked set for a good season.
February weather however proved more like Bavaria and in
consequence the snow gradually dwindled until in early March
it was either very icy or difficult to find. With the start of
Exercise Snow Plough in March, Unit teams assembled and
with them snow showers brought ideal conditions once again
for the skiers.
Second Lieutenant- Victoria Hammick WRAC receiving one of her
trophies in the Osprey Room, Aviemore Centre.
(Continued on page 30)
Book number R0404