RAOC Gazette - page 136
Image details
| Corps | RAOC |
|---|---|
| Material type | Journals |
| Book page | |
| Chapter head | |
| Chapter key | |
| Chapter number | |
| Full title | RAOC Gazette |
| Page number | |
| Publication date | 1980 |
| Real page | |
| Colour | Yes |
| Grey | No |
| Early date | 1980 |
| Late date | 1980 |
| Transcription |
CENTRE OF ATTRACTION ONCE again the famous Sputnik of Materials Handling Trials Unit drew the crowds at the recent Aldershot Army Display. Over a period of four days the Sputnik ' took off' over seven hundred times carrying approximately seven thousand people. The ' Cage' although not so well known also drew large crowds and although not lifting off as often as the Sputnik, it lifted in excess of eight thousand passengers. The photograph shows members of MHTU and WRAC from COD Donnington who manned the exhibit throughout the show. Photo Corporal Sanders. In the crane: Corporal Dave Candy. Rear: Sergeant John Skerritt, Corporal Ray Walton, Staff Sergeant Colin Boyes, Sergeant Charlie Taunton, Corporal Colin Watson. Front: W/Private Bonzo Brown, W/Private Emma Storey, WOl Ken Dickson, W/Private Scotty Fair, W/Private Lee Du Tracy. M O T O R SPORT MASTERS OUR Viersen Motor Sport Stars Corporal Ken Black and his co-driver Sergeant Mike East took part in the Bigwood Rally 80 in Detmold—which started with thirty competitors and finished with twelve. This was the fifth round of the BAOR Championship which our Corps crew is currently leading, and for that reason were seeded No. 1. The previous four weeks rain had turned the route into a treacherous one hundred and eighty mile skating rink, which accounted for the high drop out of competitors. It was a nightmare all the way and even our crew were not entirely unscathed as at one point they slid off the track into a mud bank, but they managed to get underway again with only a loss of two minutes, and gained yet another valuable win putting them even further ahead in the Championship. The state of the game so far is five starts, four wins, one second place. for charity, raising money for the Stoke Mandeville Hospital, Buckinghamshire. They beat thirty other teams, many with film and television stars included. The final was against a team from the Bank of England, who competed in pin-striped trousers and bowler hats. Congratulations from Nurdlers everywhere. COMMEMORATIVE PHILATELIC COVER : EXERCISE CRUSADER —SPEARPOINT 80 TO commemorate Exercise Crusader—Spearpoint 80 a special philatelic cover is being produced. The design of the cover will show the 1 (BR) Corps Spearhead surrounded by the flags of the nations taking part. The special issue stamp commemora- ting Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother's eightieth birthday is to be used and the cancellation will be done using a date- stamp with the exercise name surrounding an infantry soldier. The price will be 75p. In addition, the Corps Commander will sign a limited number of covers priced at £5. The covers will be on sale in static and Exercise Crusader—Spearpoint Forces Post Offices throughout BAOR from 15th September 1980. Orders may be placed with: Philatelic Officer, 1 PC Regi- ment RE, BFPO 33. Cheques or Postal Orders should be made payable to Philatelic A / C 1 PC Regiment RE. Orders should be accompanied by a return addressed envelope, stamped with a 12p stamp, of not less than 230mm x 115mm dimensions. THE BIRTHDAY OF A ' G O N G ' THE Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, devised one and a half centuries ago to reward and encourage ' irreproachable' service with the colours, had its 150th anniversary recently. The medal was introduced on 30th July, 1830, by King William IV, shortly after his accession. Several Regiments had already been awarding private versions. The original stipulation was twenty one years unblemished Infantry service (twenty four years for Cavalry), and in the first year only one hundred and twelve were awarded. Today, the requirement has reduced to fifteen years, and about three thousand are awarded annually, with some further thirty Clasps for fifteen additional years. FOOTBALLING FAMILY A busy family is that of SQMS Ray Dewsnap. SQMS Dewsnap, as well as playing right back for the AFCENT Knights in the North Rhine League, is the secretary and a leading light of the International Youth Association Soccer Programme. His two daughters aged eleven and twelve both play in the league and his wife, Margaret, manages one of the teams. The star of the family is their nine year old son Wayne who plays soccer for the local Dutch side SV Limburgia. DOWN TO EARTH EXHIBITS THE best part of the Royal Tournament at Earls Court was the part they did not show on television. After all, it's not every day you can see a display of the actual rope the SAS used to slide down from the roof of the Iranian Embassy, alongside a pink Land Rover. Pink"} Yes, dull pink paint has been found to be the best all-purpose camouflage for a vehicle that might be flown at a moment's notice to any inhabited part of the world and be shot at for its pains. It is another SAS artefact, and naturally it is known as The Pink Panther. Both items are among scores of exhibits at the Royal Army Ordnance Corps stand at the Royal Tournament. Other treasures on show include a chunk of the captured bronze cannon from which Victoria Crosses are made. The RAOC has a check on the number issued and makes the observation that a VC was bestowed upon the United States unknown Warrior. But among all the lethal displays I particularly liked a com- munion set standing on a tiny harmonium, a field set for use on active service when the padre has to have something easily portable. It somehow seems more real than all that post- imperial horse-riding and hauling field guns over brick walls. From ' The Times.' NATIONAL NURDLERS A Deepcut-based team has won the world nurdling championship for Britain—in the face of some of the toughest nurdling com- petition ever known. At a special championship nurdle at Crateley, near Andover, they won the title to become world and national champions. Under Captain Terry Bunyard, the team from the Ap- prentices College proved their fitness over one of the toughest nurdle courses ever known. What is nurdling? " It is a farmyard sport enjoyed in the approved style of dress which involves carrying a weighted pole through a series of obstacles." The obstacles are assorted and messy, like the one involving each team in a race through two vats of goats milk, carrying their nurdles. With Captain Bunyard in the RAOC team were Captain Ted Walcroft and CSM Jim Finch. Dressed in Wellington boots, gas capes, helmets and with kilts, they raced around the course — 105 — |
| Book number | R0404 |