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RAOC Gazette - page 153

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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 We welcome Sergeant Batty our new Chief Clerk and
family on posting in from BAOR.
STORES SECTION
ATTACHED 150 TRANSPORT SQUADRON
WORKSHOP
W02 PAUL SOWERBY has departed for Headquarters BAOR
on promotion and in possession of a new car. He has been
replaced by W 2 Mick Rushbrook who returned to the UK
from BAOR only to ( be sent back on Exercise to Sennelager
after four days in Bulford.
Sergeant Eddie McConnell currently adding his skills to
the Royal Tournament is due to leave for Detmold, again on
promotion.
Corporal ' Geordie' Young our other ' man in uniform' is
now counting the days and converting Sterling to Guilders
prior to his departure to Headquarters AFCENT.
Sergeant Eddie McConnell recently obtained his HGV
Class 1 (working with Antars has its good points), Corporal
Young is now a Football Association Coach—BAOR selectors
please take note.
STORES SECTION
32 GUIDED WEAPONS REGIMENT
WORKSHOP
CORPORAL ANDY GEMMELL is representing the Regiment
in the Royal Artillery shoot after a four months sojourn in
America, down Kentucky way. Corporal Taff Lovejoy is in
Italy (Keep your heads down) with 74 Battery RA while we
are hosting a Company of Italian soldiers on an exchange
basis. Corporals Alan Hilminster and Ken Kelly have been
playing cricket for the Regiment and football for the Workshop
and are running neck and neck for the title ' sportsman of
the year.' Corporal Steve Sugden refuses to be outdone and
is prepared to hook sorry, land anything that will take his
bait. Both Corporals Sugden and Lovejoy successfully obtained
EPC passes in all subjects, while the boss man, SQMS Jim
Dyer has now successfully completed a Business Studies course
at Salisbury Technical College.
Congratulations to Maureen and Alan Hilminster on the
birth of their daughter, Michelle Therese, their first child
and although Alan is a wee bit sluggish some mornings he
fills in leave passes with the same alacrity!
Western District
WE have had a month of comings and
goings with Ord Branch. CRAOC, Lieu-
tenant Colonel Tony Beaumont, flew to
the Isle-of-Man for four days to visit 52
Company RAOC(V) who were on their
annua] camp at Jurby.
Our congratulations go to our Chief
Clerk Staff Sergeant Ken White. He is
now the proud father (yet again) of a
bouncing baby boy who arrived on the 7th July weighing al-
most nine pounds. Our congratulations go to his wife as well
firstly for actually having such a huge baby and secondly for
resuming her slimline shape so quickly.
The DOWO, WOl Bill Oliver, actually passed his driving
test much to th& amazement of all, especially his instructor, our
ROWO W02 George Pound. All the spare tranquillizers were
handed over to Mrs Vi Scott, our CA, who sat her promotion
board for CO earlier this month.
Sadly we must say farewell to Mrs Tilly Methven, our
Accommodation Services CO, who has just retired from the
Civil Service after forty years service which is quite remarkable
considering that she first joined as a ' Temporary' Clerk. Her
knowledge of the Headquarters goes right back to the time
she was a ' G ' clerk during the evacuation from Dunkirk and
she has given valuable and loyal service ever since. We shall
miss her greatly, especially for the unexpected gifts of cake or
chocolates and we wish her well in her retirement.
Finally we welcome Mr Harold Rowlands, who has taken
over in Accommodation Services from Mrs Methven, on his
transfer from Transport Branch.
SEND
IT
TO
THE
GAZETTE
A short article about events—places—people is always
interesting particularly when accompanied by a photo-
graph. Send it to THE GAZETTE.
North East District
CRAOC and his staff have been reason-
ably well behaved of late though mine
host at the ' Saddle,' the Corps social
haunt, is looking remarkably prosperous
these days no doubt due to our patronage.
Excuses for recent celebratory drinks have
included a couple of birthdays — one
CRAOC's and the other ROWO's W02
Dick Spiers.
Lieutenant Colonel Bill Cochrane
S02 (Retd) (Org and Admin) has been away for quite some time
having had a hip operation followed by sick leave. He has been
greatly missed and it is splendid news to hear that he will be
back in a matter of days. Our dashing—but heavy footed S02
Combat Supplies Major Derrick Eve is now running-in his
third engine. Is this a record for an ' S ' Registered Motorcar?
STORES PLATOON
16 AIR DEFENCE REGIMENT
WORKSHOP
THE Stores Platoon is now back in full swing with all our
heroes returned from a hard, but successful tour in Northern
Ireland. We are busy preparing for the exercise period, under
the watchful eye of Captain Mark Wise, when his attention is
not diverted to Regimental cricket.
On the sporting front we have been lending a hand to the
Regiment and Workshop, with cricketers Captain Wise, Corporal
Bob Lowe and not forgetting Sergeant Len Wrightson. On
the football scene we recently assisted the Workshop in the
REME Craftsmens Cup, with Staff Sergeant Dodd, Corporal
Turpin and Lance Corporal Swan playing in the final. Staff
Sergeant Mai Dodd led a team in the South Yorkshire march
ably supported by Corporal Dick Turpin and Lance Corporal
Jim Swan. Lance Corporal Tarn Goodall also in a sense took
part, although now suffering from blisters on his best feature,
caused perhaps by the fact that he was the team driver.
Finally congratulations go to Private Jim Stirling on pass-
ing his Staff Clerk's course.
6 Field Force
THE Company has had its last flurry of
intense activity before the summer break,
culminating in Exercise Night Tangle.
This exercise took place on local train-
ing areas and within the various tactical
phases, tested the Company's defences, NBC
drills and night moves. Location attacks and
en route ambushes by A Company 1 RRW
certainly kept the Company on its toes.
Post exercise cleaning work has finished and
the Company, its vehicles and equipment
is ready to tackle new tasks after the block leave.
Captain David Parrott who was attached to the Company
from Manchester University during this period proved to be a
valuable asset at CP tea time! It is hoped he enjoyed his at-
tachment. He found time to carry out an independent survey
of the Company's activities on the technical side resulting in
the production of a useful paper on the subject.
Three members of the Company are looking forward to
Exercise Flying Dragon which takes place during the block
leave period. This exercise will take place in Mid Wales and
the West Wales coast and should result in another three
qualified hang glider pilots. A total of twelve personnel are
attending the course and a comprehensive report will be
produced for next month's notes. There might even be a
photograph if we can improve Corporal Smarts grin.
The Commander 6 Field Force, Brigadier J. C. Reilly
DSO, visited the Company recently and presented Long Service
and Good Conduct Medals to the Administration Officer Lieu-
tenant Mike Watkins and WOIC Storeshed W 2 Des Chapman.
Both medals were suitably ' Christened' in a bucket of beer
in the Unit club.
Welcome to Sergeant Ross and Lance Corporal Mundy.
Congratulations to Corporal and Mrs Preston on the birth
of their son Gary, to Lance Corporal and Mrs Clarke on the
birth of their daughter Emma, to Sergeant Beard and Susan on
their recent marriage and to Corporal Lee and Lance Corporal
Moore on their ' Sub' ranks, Lance Corporal Hulme on
Local promotion and finally Private Finlay for taking first
place on his Supply Clerk course.
— 120 —
Book number R0404