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RAOC Gazette - page 149

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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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Early date 1980
Late date 1980
Transcription so well organised nor instrumented "—have you ever seen an
SAT and PT02 trying to blush modestly? Our forthright
Artificer Tels, Staff Sergeant Keith Jennings-Frisby, of course,
accepted the Americans' word for it without question.
The unusual sight of a civil servant trying on combat kit
and taking advice on Paludrine tablets and cholera jabs from
old ' East of Suez hands ' prior to a trip to Belize for a proof
firing is probably as good an indication as any of the temporary
staff shortages we are suffering. Another is the return from a
Chieftain tank proof in Germany of our Australian exchange
officer, Major Tony Molloy, who is usually employed as our
grenade proof expert.
Vauxhall Barracks Rifle Club ended the season with a
flourish at the RAOC Small Bore Championships. Staff Sergeant
Keith Proctor won the Individual Class C Competition and the
team of Staff Sergeants Proctor, Alan Wrotchford, Paul Feather-
stone and Tony Clark came away with the Home Cup, beating
CAD Kineton in the final by fifty four points. Our con-
gratulations on a fine achievement.
Welcome to Captain Tony Taylor and Captain Ken Lawton
who have taken up appointments in Issues and GM Branch
respectively.
Directorate of Supply Computer Services
THIS month has seen the arrival of Second Lieutenant Alan
Brown from Sandhurst, W02 Mike Eden from Hong Kong
and W02 Barry Tosdevine from 4 RTR on probation pending
transfer—to these a hearty welcome. We bid farewell to W02
John Collison who has had the great misfortune to be posted
to Naples!
Congratulations to Keith Whitaker on his promotion to
acting Captain (a reward for his prowess with the magic eight-
iron), to Bob Harrison on promotion to acting WOl (for his
unerring ability to arrange golf matches for rainy days) and to
our ' Super Chunk,' WOl Mike Wilson, on his selection for a
commission in the Royal Pioneer Corps.
On the sporting side, Captain Warwick Stanton success-
fully defended his Corps handicap singles title at the RAOC
tennis championships at Aldershot, whilst Major Richard Shore
continues to represent the Combined Services and the Army at
cricket. Another Army Sportsman is W02 Dave Kuester who
has represented the Army Athletics team in the javelin event.
Directorate of Supply Management
S MAN 1. "All work and no play makes Jack a dull b o y " so
the maxim goes. In an effort to inject a little variety into the
busy but run-of-the-mill office routine of S Man 1, a series of
visits took place recently.
The first was to the Infantry Firepower Demonstration
at Warminster where our la(3) civilians saw and heard their
equipments being put through their paces. A very interesting,
if somewhat noisy, day was enjoyed by all those who attended.
Our second sortie was to BAEE 80 where separate visits
were made to the RAC Mobility Display, RAC Firepower
Display and BAEE at the Rushmore Arena Aldershot. Despite
heavy rain at times the Mobility and Firepower Displays were
enjoyed immensely. Fortunately, the weather declined to go
for a hat-trick and the BAEE exhibition was well worth
visiting.
The third and final visit was to the Royal Artillery Open
Day at Larkhill, another very enjoyable afternoon.
We say farewell to Major Clifford Coote on posting to the
Army Apprentices College, Deepcut. We wish him good luck in
his new job which we are sure he will enjoy. In Major Coote's
place we welcome Major Adrian Stone, who joins us from
Kineton.
We also welcome Captain David Longley who joins us
on commissioning. Captain Longley takes over the awesome
task of SC Coord/la(4).
CONTROL DIVISION
PRIDE of place this month goes to Mrs Marjorie Ralph, from
the Typing Pool and WOl Keith Harvey from Planning Branch
for their winning efforts in the DSM(A) Horticultural Societies
Summer Show. The trophies, for the highest number of points
scored, were presented by Colonel Ted Shephard.
Sergeants Dave Gartside, Bob Taylor and Corporal Jock
Brown have just returned from a very wet exercise on Salis-
bury Plain. The unfortunate chaps didn't even have tents to
sleep in and had to make do with ponchos. This seems very
surprising since Corporal Brown is responsible for issuing tents
to Units world wide.
From Provision Branch Captain Mike Murphy has been
back with us for three weeks and is due to leave us again
on yet another course. Also W02 Geoff Malthouse has recently
had a successful eye operation.
Posted, to Belize is Sergeant Dai Green and from one
exotic clime to another Staff Sergeant Mick Mayes returns
from Kenya via a posting to Aldershot.
Training Centre
AS expected, WOl Claydon, our Superintending Clerk, returned
from the South of France with an all-over tan, but Major
Stocks, the Staff Captain 'A,' did not experience such good
French weather. Swimming training has been the main pre-
occupation in the sporting scene and the Training Centre team
had the experience of the South East District relays and twelve
days later the main British championships. 2 Sapper Regiment
was too strong for the rest, and as expected dominated the
meetings. The Corps championship, however, was closer and
until the penultimate race the Training Centre and Donnington
were level. It was only a relay disqualification that prevented
the Training Centre from winning. However, W02 Bonta of
Training Company, the team captain, did sterling work in and
out of the pool, and set a good example to those half his age.
WOl Claydon displayed his tan in his back-stroke races. The
only consolation was a win in the Chain of Command relay
when Private Shaw of Training Company, the fastest swimmer
at the meeting, led the field, with Lance Corporal John of the
Gymnasium holding on to allow W02 Bonta show what forty
one year old Sergeant Majors can do before handing over to
the GS02 of the Headquarters, Major Brightman, who just
touched ahead.
Lieutenant Colonel Camfield and Major Elliott have been
preoccupied with the Aldershot Army Display which was a
great success. We say farewell to Major Smith RAEC, who
goes to his Mecca at Beaconsfield, he has been our mentor
as Training Development Adviser for nearly two years and
our thanks go to him for all his good work. His replacement,
Major Lewis, is no stranger to Deepcut as he spent time at the
Apprentices College. Training Systems Advisory Branch have
another new face in Major Olliffe for a few months.
SCHOOL OF ORDNANCE
THEY say that success breeds success and this month has
really produced a bumper harvest of attainments. The Com-
mandant, Colonel Bryan Hopkinson, received a Mention in
Despatches for his recent service as CRAOC in Northern
Ireland; Lieutenant Colonel David Porter has been selected for
the appointment of Colonel Vehicle Division DSM(A), in
October this year; Major David Davies, Major Frank Warren
and Major John Woodliffe appeared on this year's ' Pink List'
for promotion to Lieutenant Colonel; Captain Dudley Ells,
Captain Brian Mobley (already returned from AG9 as a Guest
Lecturer) and Captain Roger Wyborn (a student in the Food
Technology Course) were selected for promotion to Major and
SQMS Wes Braithwaite to WOl. Sincere congratulations to
them all.
The now traditional Boat Trip took place on one of the
drier and warmer ' summer' evenings in June. Chilled cham-
pagne on the aft deck of a Thames steamer with Windsor Castle
as the backdrop followed by a cold buffet supper in the saloon
and disco dancing provided a most memorable evening.
After seventeen years at the School, Mrs Mary Murray left
on retirement. She served no fewer than eight Commandant's
and, at a farewell party attended by many of her colleagues
and friends, she was presented with a green house heater by
the Commandant in recognition of her valuable service.
We welcome Major Bob Atkins to the Logistic Wing from
DGOS Section and Sergeant Dave Cerqua, our Orderly Room
Sergeant, on transfer to the Corps from the Royal Anglian
Regiment.
At a Regimental Dinner Night we welcomed the Represen-
S MAN 2. Last month saw the departure of Captain Mike
Noblett who returns to his old hunting grounds in Rheindahlen,
although this time to S Man. We hope his trip to Wroughton
proved successful and will allow him to take full advantage of
his LOA. We wish Mike and Brenda well.
Mike has been replaced by Captain Chris Storey who
joins us from a three year course at Manchester University.
We hope Industrial Psychology and Management Sciences
generally have fitted him for the intricacies of the Car Utility
fleet. We welcome Chris and Sally to Andover and trust they
will enjoy their stay here.
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Book number R0404