RAOC Gazette - page 178
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 |
By excellent navigation and professional flying skill, using only a compass and stop watch, he let down over the ridge and located the exact position of the site in darkness and appall- ing flying conditions. As the Scout helicopter had no winch and it was impossible to land, Staff Sergeant Portlock had to return after passing medical advice to the ground. Using his own initiative he was eventually able to organise a winch aircraft of the Royal Brunei Malay Regi- ment. After refuelling his own Scout he guided the winch helicopter back to the site, and directed the rescue operation. With weather conditions remaining bad he guided the other helicopter to the hospital at Seria. LOSING TO GAIN TWO members of Headquarters Company CAD Kineton— namely W 2 Dick Adams and the postman, Lance Corporal Mike Ward, are valiantly slimming for charity—in aid of the Guide Dogs for the Blind appeal. Photo Chris Abrahams Lieutenant Colonel Stuart Rowsell with Sergeant Ivan Arathoon looking on presents a cheque for £ 1 2 to M r Leech, Headmaster of Bardwell School. under the prevailing weather conditions, was considered a success- ful turnout and the teams for the race were preparing for their later start. The rain stopped—the sun came out and the picture changed. DSCS had entered two teams, Thames Valley Police, Brasenose College Oxford, Iffley Road Strollers each entered a team plus fifteen or so individuals. The civilian teams consisted of young obviously very fit competitors and after the start by the Chairman of Cherwell Council they displayed their en- thusiasm for the race by sprinting away through the mud at a pace that surely couldn't be maintained for the twelve and a half mile distance—or could it. The checkpoints (local pubs) came and went—the walkers could be seen en route enjoying well earned refreshments while the rest were hard at it against the clock. A long rambling hill to climb at Beckley two miles to go. atop the rise to checkpoint six the Abingdon Arms, downhill to the finish. The individual winner completed the course in one hour twelve minutes—DSM had Lieutenant Colonel Rowsell in twenty first place, Captain Murphy twenty second, Corporal Guilfoyle twenty third and W02 Blinkhorn twenty fourth. A very credit- able performance and third place overall. If you enjoy running and are posted to Bicester start train- ing now—I understand that the local community are so delighted at the outcome of the day's activities that they intend to run the ' Challenge' as an annual event. Strange—we seem to have heard that word before. Photo Lance Corporal Bradley RPC Shedding a few pounds for charity. Our photograph of the ' weigh i n ' shows a pair of * way out' tummies being eyed rather disapprovingly by their OC, Major John Fox. It is the intention to publish a photograph at the end of the ' sponsored slim' when it is hoped that the difference will be noticeable. THE OTMOOR A R M Y TAKES S L O G OUT OF OLD FOLKS' GARDENING TEAMS of Army apprentices have been taking the slog out of gardening for some Fremington pensioners. They killed time between stints on an adventure week at Fremington Camp by doing digging for the old folk. About one hundred and twenty apprentices from the RAOC Apprentices College at Deepcut, armed themselves with spades, forks and wheelbarrows and took their labour to a number of homes, recommended by the local social services department. Squads of ten boys worked on each garden for spells of three or four hours. (From a Fremington local paper). CHALLENGE THE village of Horton-Cum-Studley sits on Otmoor, an area north east of Oxford which consists of moorland surrounded by seven towns. The village recently held a village-in-action day to raise funds for the maintenance of their playing fields and apart from the usual sideshows, roast pig, hot air balloon and the RAOC Apprentice College Corps of Drums they wished to hold an unusual event—Bicester was contacted, DSM took it over and the Otmoor Challenge was born. After one thousand and one problems, including publicity in the local papers, guest spots on the local radio chat show, police liaison and cohersing of landlords at the local hostelries to run checkpoints, the event was on—twelve and a half miles along roads and across country to be split into two sections. Section one was to be gentle and non competitive where parti- cipants could choose their own pace and Section two to be a team race: eight to run five to count. DSM military staff is small so those not assisting in the organisation were coerced into the team viz Lieutenant Colonel Rowsell, Captain Mike Murphy, W 2 Harry Blinkhorn, Sergeants Ivan Arathoon, Brian Wilkes, Corporal Colin Guilfoyle, Lance Corporal Jerry Field and Private Wally Walsworth. Sixty plus walkers turned up to commence the walk which, — DID Y O U GO TO WAR THE CAPE IN WORLD ROUND WAR 2 IF SO, you will recall the wonderful hospitality organised by the South African Women's Auxiliary Services when you went ashore in South Africa. If you would like your appreciation placed on permanent record in a ' Book of Thanks,' which is being compiled with the blessing of the Chief of Defence Staff and will be presented to SAWAS, please forward the following particulars to the Hon Editor, Captain E. A. S. Bailey RN (Retd), Inversanda, Ardgour,_ By Fort William: Name and initials, rank at the time, Unit and Division, name of troopship and year of visit. 1 |
| Book number | R0404 |