RAOC Gazette - page 154
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 |
Central Ordnance Depot- Bicester THE tempo of Depot activity continues unabated. Modernisation of our old stores buildings, coupled with the massive internal movement of stores and stores arriving from Chilwell, is all proceeding to schedule and this we were pleasantly able to show to Brigadier Crawley, who made his first visit to Bicester as Director Base Depots this month. His visit followed quickly on the heels of what must have been our largest collection of visitors at any one time—Cadets from Welbeck College. Some seventy five visited Bicester over a period of five days. The visit went well and the PMC of the Officers Mess proved it is quite possible to put a gallon into a pint pot by housing the Cadets twenty five at a time at the Graven Hill Mess. One item of more local interest is the recent demise of the Commandant's Austin 1800 staff car—the last dedicated 1800 in service at Bicester. Despite all efforts of Depot Trans- port Unit and the washes of the Brigadier, it has had to go and be replaced by a very new and shiny Cortina. Our Aldershot Show Team, headed by WOl Scott and assisted by W 2 Vincent, had a good response ' on the day.' Our congratulations to all concerned who had put such a lot of effort into creating the display. Our local railway enthusiast. Lieutenant Colonel Malcolm Stone (Retd) is busily planning the removal of an old Hull and Barnsley railway wagon, used on the Bicester Military Railway for many years, to Yorkshire, where it will be preserved by the North Yorkshire Moors Railway. Congratulations to Private Avis Thorpe WRAC who won the WRAC one hundred metres hurdles at the recent South East District Athletics Meeting and farewell to Staff Sergeant Les Turner who has left Technical Training Wing and the Army to set up his shoe repair business in Bicester Town— we wish him every success in this new enterprise. Central Ordnance Depot Donnington AT the risk of boring our wide readership with the sporting exploits of our Donnington gladiators—it is with pride and pleasure that we are able to report our latest swimming success. The RAOC Swimming Championships were again held at the RMA Sandhurst baths and the COD were defending their title and challenging for a Corps Record to make it three-in-a- row. The masterminds of the team, Manager and OIC Robin Sider and Coach Gordon Lumsden (now Officials Secretary of the Army Swimming Union) had done their homework well and produced a team which ' swam out of their skins.' In doing so they beat the times of Major Units (3 Para and the RGJ) in three events, and thus qualified for the Army Cham- pionship finals at Catterick. The Thespians scored a resounding local success with their outdoor presentation of Vivat! Vivat Regina! Robert Bolt's play, produced by Brigadier Ray Thornton, was held in Telford Centre open-air theatre; Colonel David Holdsworth's stunningly simple but effective set seeming to transport the audience between the Royal Courts of Queen Elizabeth I and Mary Queen of Scots by rotating panels on otherwise static scenery. The cast list was a re-write of Donnington Who's Who. Only the weather dampened things on what was an enthralling and enjoyable evening. Her Majesty The Queen has most graciously invited Major Bill Roberts to her Garden Party—he likes to think that the day would not be the same without him and, in a manner of speaking, that could well be true. Bill says that he is represent- ing Donnington and, to prove it, he has begged and borrowed items of kit from just about everyone he knows. Our most fervent hope is that he doesn't seize the opportunity to tell any of his appalling jokes! (We are not amused ) Central Ordnance Depot Chilwell THE Depot was pleased to welcome Dr Richard Ottaway to talk at the recent study day about ' change.' Those attending were given a stimulating and interesting insight into this subject and it was easy to under- stand the affect he has on RAOC officers attending the University of Manchester In- .. *, p^ I, stitute of Science and Technology. The \\ v. >y // Chief Administration Officer presented him w m a Vv^r^^^/y ' P ' a c m e a f ter the study period and ^^v^^^^^ the Commandant presented him with a ^ ^ ^ ^ Union Jack after the Regimental Dinner Night. Those popular visitors, the RAOC Staff Band also visited the Depot and gave a number of performances which were thoroughly appreciated by both military and civilian members. Our cricketers met up with a temporary set-back when they were knocked out of the semi-final of the DGOS Cup by the Training Centre. Undeterred they carry on, winning a few and losing a few. The hockey team is still with us! WOsl Burton and Moncaster have progressed to the semi-final of the Travers-Clarke Inter Unit Golf Trophy and we wish them good luck at High Post in September. We say farewell to WOI Scorer, Lance Corporal Hood and Privates Goral and Beard who leave us for civvy street, Lance Corporals Kelso and Walsh off to the ' delights' of Northern Ireland, Corporals Burton and McGonagle and Lance Corporal Grayson off to BAOR, Lance Corporal Williamson who joins UNFICYP in Cyprus and last but not least, Staff Sergeant Andrews who goes to Colchester Garrison. Welcome to Privates Bird, Gabriel and Puckrin, welcome back to Corporal McDonough who rejoins Army Cataloguing Agency and congratulations to Staff Sergeant Keppie on sub- stantive promotion to that rank. (The newsletter was written before the death of Brigadier R. W. Bromham, Commandant COD Chilwell, see page 110.) 45 Commando Group mm*"*- ^ Donnington—Team Champions 1980. Private Onnie Onufryk is the other swimmer to warrant a mention with two victories in the individual and team back- stroke, and a scorching first leg of the medley relay. Following this success the Team went to Bulford to swim in the South West Area/Group 3 qualifying stages of the Army Minor Units Championship and won five of the six events. 3 ASSAULT ORDNANCE DETACHMENT LIFE with 3 Assault Ordnance Detach- ment operating with 45 Commando Group has been busy over the past six months. The first three months of this year found us deployed in Northern Norway where the Group carries out its usual period of Arctic Warfare Training and NATO Exercises. Three ranks of the detachment underwent the rapid initiation to Norway via the Mountain and Arctic Warfare Cadre where they completed their Arctic Training with other support elements of the Group. After Norway we returned to our stately home at Condor Base beside the sea at Arbroath. Then it was straight down to work preparing for the Groups deployment to the Medi- terranean for Exercise Dawn Patrol. While they were gone we took a breather and had our leave. On return we were caught up with the usual post exercise stock take, loading — 121 — |
| Book number | R0404 |