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RAOC Gazette - page 156

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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 The SATO's trophy cabinet is filling out quite nicely with
the addition of the Inter-Company Swimming Cup with the
hope of the Inter-Company Hockey Trophy ('A' Company is
second at present).
Hang Gliding is to take its first few tentative leaps into
the air with three ATs, Corporals Fish, Nicol and Corr joining
'•th Field Force for a week down at Crickhowell Hang-Gliding
ttentre under the supervision of Lieutenant Watkins (Ex Kine-
ibn). Damage reports next month!
Congratulations to the APA Stores (there is life in the
'itores) in particular Lance Corporal Paddy Whitley who won,
{gainst strong opposition, the Newbold Common Golf Club
Ipring Cup. He.assures us there is such a place? !
Welcome to Corporals Brian Wiggell, Eric Gibson, Gavin
Dunill and Graham Chubb and welcome back to Corporal
lean O'Brien from Detachment.
In B Company the Training Wing under the direction of
Jecond Lieutenant Simon Wilson are very busy getting Unit
'ersonnel through the outstanding APWT and NBC tests before
de end of the current training year. Sergeant Paddy O'Byrne his
ible assistant has just returned from a First Aid Course and
;an be seen bandaging everything in sight. Not to mention
practising his resuscitating techniques!
The new Adjutant—Captain Phil Martel is now ensconced
and can be seen in the Headquarters Building looking suitably
bemused—welcome to him and his wife Kim.
By the same token we say farewell to his predecessor—
Captain—now Major—Adrian Stone and family—including dogs
—who are now in Andover.
two years. Not a bad record when you consider that last year
alone they covered over one thousand miles a day for every
day of the year.
We say farewell to. Captain Richard Noutch and family
on posting to Catterick and welcome Lieutenant Stephen Emerson
and family and wish them a very pleasant stay.
Central Vehicle Depot Ashchurch
HEADQUARTERS
ONE of the anomalies produced by undermanning is the fact that
we are now able to say farewell to people without being able
to welcome their successors. Quite clearly a situation which can
go on for only so long before it self-destructs. Indeed the
thought prompts an elegant and original explanation of the
mystery of the Marie Celeste—the vanishing Vehicle Depot
does not, I fear, have quite the same cache.
This month we say farewell to JR (the bad guy) and JC
(the good guy) (his alter-ego of course). JR achieved the dis-
tinction of becoming a cliche in his own life-time while JC's
movements were so rapid and frequent that he was said not
even to cast a shadow. However, despite their pecadilloes both
were deeply loved by all those who recognised greatness, a fact
frequently alluded to by the Commandant during an emotion
packed valedictory address in the Riverside Hotel. (There was
scarcely a dry eye in the room). JR leaves us to command
Vehicle Depot Ludgershall, a move of historic importance which
has been likened by some (with a share of the abstruce) to the
coronation of Charlemagne. JC leaves us for the Antipodes, a
move, in his view of no less historic importance, whether the
Antipodeans view it in this light remains to be seen.
We wish them both well and pray earnestly that reinforce-
ments will eventually arrive.
Central Ammunition Depot Longtown
THE theme this month is awards. - Pride of place goes to Mr
Albert 'Abbey' Forsyth on the award of the Imperial Service
Medal. Abbey joined the Depot in 1946 after completing six
5'ears Army Service from 1939/45. He was engaged as a
Labourer and then worked for a time as an OPIE, but for many
years now has been employed as a Driver in the Mechanised
Transport Section where he is respected by Supervisors and
Drivers alike for his pleasant, quiet personality and willingness
to please. Abbey, a bachelor, is keen on sport, especially
football and in particular green bowls for which he has represen-
ted Cumbria. Thank you Abbey for many years of loyal
service.
Lieutenant Stephen Emerson our OIC Accounts and Traffic
was presented with his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal
by the Commandant Colonel Bill Musson and last but by no
means least was the presentation of ROSPA National Safe Driving
Awards to no less than seventeen members of the Mechanised
Transport Section. It is worth recording here that the Mechanised
Transport Section has been completely accident free for the last
VEHICLE DEPOT
ASHCHURCH
ONCE again we must congratulate the Unit shooting team on
their fine achievements, so far this year. They took away six
trophies at the Corps Shoot including the coveted Pussan Trophy
for the second time and numerous individual medals! They also
qualified in the South West District shoot, to enter the Army
Competition at Bisley and at this moment are still battling on.
Well done!
WOl Ron Ball and his team have once again done a fine
job with the Unit display. Putting Ashchurch and the Corps
well and truly on the map, with all their visits to shows, fetes
and schools etc.
Congratulations to Private and Mrs Coyle on the birth of
their daughter Lisa and also to Corporal and Mrs Peterson on the
birth of their son Michael Andrew.
New arrivals are Staff Sergeant Abrams, Sergeant Cradleton,
Corporals Harrison, Brammer and Hodgkinson, Lance Corporal
Marshal and Private Watkins.
VEHICLE DEPOT
LUDGERSHALL
OUR CQMS, Staff Sergeant Mike McCarthy, decided to do a bit
of Adventure Training in the Brecon Hills of Wales and volun-
teering to go with him were Corporals Vic Peters and Allan
Nugent; Lance Corporal Jimmy Littlejohn, Privates Tony Devlin
and Andy Thompson. They were last seen hanging out the tents
to dry and Private Thompson wasn't seen at work in the Orderly
Room for three days having caught a Welsh bug.
In the June edition of THE GAZETTE, we said Corporal Bob
Freeman had gone off to Canada, we apologise to you Bob
and hope you are enjoying your tour in Ordnance Depot
Antwerp!
A six-a-side Inter Depot Soccer Match against the ' cream
of the civvy's' was hard fought with the military team, consisting
of Captain Mike Hartley, Staff Sergeants Keith Wick and Jim
McNee, Corporals Fred (Zip) Nolan (three goals), Corporal Brian
Smith and Lance Corporal Tony Scarrott (one goal) winning
four goals to three. Substitute was Private Mark Rennie.
We welcome to Ludgershall Staff Sergeant Burt and Corporal
Woodruff from Cyprus, Staff Sergeant McNee from 1 (BR) Corps
Staff Sergeant Keelor from Recklinghausen, Corporal Smith,
Lance Corporal Bennett and Private Mumford from Antwerp,
Lance Corporal Lewandowski from Woolwich Hospital, Lance
Corporal Carter from Willich and also Privates Carrasco, Vickers,
Gargate and Nuttall.
VEHICLE DEPOT HILTON
WE don't know if the OC, Mr Wally Clay, had difficulty in
finding his motor car in its disruptive pattern finish but, for
whatever reason, that same vehicle is now painted a bright
yellow and is so conspicuous that it will probably be used to
work the heli-pad.
The Commandant C A D Longtown, Colonel Musson, presenting
the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal to Lieutenant Stephen
Emerson.

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Book number R0404