RAOC Gazette - page 192
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 |
ADVANCED CLERKS. Having just returned from block leave the Advance Clerk's branch are dusting off the cobwebs from both their brain boxes and combat kit. WOl Wally Upton, W02 Ron McCafferey and Sergeant Chris Robins are on Crusader leaving WOl Glen Davies and W02 Bob Hagen to hold the fort. Bob has just returned to the fold of Advanced Clerical Instructor after a relaxed six months holiday in the Chief Clerk's office of the School. We say farewell to Ron McCafferey; who is posted to the Work Study Group at Thatcham on return from Crusader. Northern Ireland HEADQUARTERS RAOC OUR hopes of becoming the putting league champions were dashed to the ground when Movements, our neighbours along the corridor hammered us into the ground, our Manager player ' H ' (for Staff Sergeant Hibbert) will be looking for a new club next year, we sacked him half way through the game. As it happened he had put drinks at stake on the match so it cost him plenty. With the end of the putting league came the end of the Summer that never was, and everyone went off to the RAOC Bar-B-Q on the beach in overcoats and ' wellies.' We have had a change of face or to be correct a change of faces as the results of the AG9 two yearly lucky dip posting orders settled in the dust. The usual little branch farewell party was arranged to say farewell to Captain John Withers, and Fire Officers Colin Edgar and Sid Orrey. Our ' new boys ' Captain Ted Lloyd Jukes and Captain Alex Sturdy assumed the mantles of hosts and gave us a most enjoyable evening. The Withers, having exchanged their web feet for those things that look like tennis bats, flew off to Canada (bet their arms were tired when they got there) and our Fire ' bobbies ' took off to Germany and Scotland respectively. Our best wishes go with all. Our congratulations on promotion and welcome to Fire Officer Peter Thomas, he had a ' long ' move from the Ordnance Depot Kinnegar! and 'pleased to see y o u ' to Fire Officer John Docherty who has taken over the Londonderry ' Patch,' and now we can all settle down again. TAILPIECE. Behind the sombre pictures of Northern Ireland there are many acts of kindness which can easily be overlooked. We noticed on the Depot Orders of our Ordnance Depot a modest announcement that a sum of £1,455.35 had been raised by the Depot for the Cancer Scanner Appeal for a Belfast Hospital. May we say " Well done ODK." 321 EOD Unit HEADQUARTERS SECTION. The highlight of this month's activities was the departure of CATO, Lieutenant Colonel Peter Forshaw. This was celebrated in great style in many locations across the Province, cul- minating in a magnificent feat of port drinking through a half inch diameter straw. Congratulations on promotion to the red hat brigade from us all after the last hectic twelve months: you have earned a rest at the DLSA Spa. Our new CATO is Lieutenant Colonel Chris Hendy who has just arrived from DLSA. A close second place for interest went to Captain Smellie's successful neutralisation of an IED at last—he is no longer a virgin! The other EOD operators in Headquarters are not over- joyed at this, Captain Smellie may not be so keen to stand in for them now that he has scored. Our squash team have retained the ' Busted G u t ' trophy by soundly thrashing CRAOCs team six nil. Our sporting activity is on the increase, both badminton and volleyball teams are practising hard for the new season and BFT training is underway. Lance Corporal Tony Hutton gained a credit- able fourth in the recent Lisbum Superstars competition and earned £77.36 for charity with his efforts. NO. 1, SECTION. Things are very quiet, apart from the odd bang now and again courtesy of the ' Kremlin.' Staff Sergeant Nobby Clark has taken over from Staff Sergeant Roy Whitford as Tigercat No. 1 and can now find his way around Belfast during daylight without any problems (night time, well that is another story). Sergeant Bob Blakely has been giving the ' Bleeps' ex- perience in the art of interior decoration, whilst the ' Bleeps ' in return have found out the meaning of ' poetic justice.' WOl Alec Marshall has grooved his way into the disco scene, but statements like " never again" tend to indicate a short stay there. Lofty Pattinson laden with gifts has left us after six weeks. taking with him (gasps of relief) the mighty (but temperamental) Marauder. His parting words, " I shall return," fell on deaf ears in the cases of Private ' Cuddles' Walker and Lance Corporal ' Luckybag expert' Adams, who will be both long gone before then. The only person sorry to see the Marauder go was Corporal ' Mr Magoo' Fordyce, but a brand new 7A has helped to console him through his withdrawal period. Lance Corporal Steve Arnold, during a break in his squash training has managed to arrange a tour of the Unit by some very attractive nurses, beginning and ending in the Felix Club, with the time between being spent there also. The last, but not least of the RAOC personnel is of course the ATO, Captain Alan Singer, who firmly believes in his ability to win the Section squash competition (and the prize money) but as he is the only one to think,that, we shall dwell no further on the subject. NO. 2 SECTION—OR " NEWS FROM THE SNOOZE." As you can gather Londonderry remains as a sleepy hollow with little incident of note to allow us to feather our caps as EOD teams. However, all is not lost and the section still receives its accolades for its efforts to ' Be prepared.' With the level of activity at an all-time-low the OC and SAT have got their heads together to ensure that our morale remains at its current high level. Their panacea has included a parade (yet another parade) to celebrate Her Majesty The Queen Mother's birthday. Involved were elements from all Units serving in Fort George: 29 Field Squadron RS, 1 Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, ourselves (including Royal Signals and RPC), the Northern Ireland Roulement Workshop and 54 Squadron RCT with Captain Trevor White and WOl Dave Greenaway officiating as Garrison Commander and Garrison Sergeant Major respectively. Judging by the smiles on their faces at least two people thought that it was good for morale. We have also competed in the Fort George Safe and Skilled competition to try to improve the standard of the driving and this was organised by the resident RCT detach- ment. Although we did not win either the individual or team trophy a good day was had by all and our standard of driving has improved. With pressure from Headquarters 321 to ensure that our lads are kept busy and happy, (as if our lads aren't already), the number of Physical Training periods has gone up from three to five per week. The Boss has set up a daily target and we have now joined the ' over-eighties' club at sit-ups. Heaven knows what will happen when Corporal Ian Power, a new Bleep, arrives. Rumour has it that he is a Physical Training Instructor. To close, a quotable quip extracted from the walls of a camp convenience, "The Squadron Commander needs a 7.62-mm sleeping pill." We think that all may not be rosy with the Royal Engineers. NO. 3 SECTION. Not much news, not much work but quite a changeover in personnel: From Bessbrook we say goodbye to W02 Malcolm Boscott, Corporal Mick Kettle and Lance Corpora] Mark Snelson. Welcome to W02 Stephen Wilkes, Corporal Larry Bott and Private Derek Morris. Corporal Bob Trude leaves Omagh and Corporal Rupert Besley, Portadown, they are replaced by Corporals Dave Wildmore and Macdonald. United Kingdom Land Forces HEADQUARTERS SINCE we last featured in these pages we have said our sad farewells to Brigadier Charles Smith. He may be out of sight but from the plethora of missives received from DILSA he is certainly not out of mind. We welcome our new COO, Brigadier Keith Berresford who has also spent a lot of time out of sight (again never out of mind). In his case however it has been a hectic pro- gramme of visits to the many Units for which he is responsible. It was significant however how his return to his Headquarters was always marked by a further tennis fixture in the C-in-Cs Cup. As a branch we came second in our league and (naturally) won the tennis. Another sterling performer, if that's the word, was Lieutenant Colonel Mike Watts who was only ' out' on the cricket because he fell back exhausted across his stumps after so many boundaries. — 151 — |
| Book number | R0404 |