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RAOC Gazette - page 193

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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 DCOS sharing a joke with Conductor
Wilkinson and Frodsham and W 2 Bawden
UKLF.
Tuck, Sergeants
at Headquarters
Congratulations to Colonel Don O'Hare on his promotion
and we all wish him well in his new appointment in DGST(N).
Those who follow the fortunes of our civilian staff will note with
misty eye the departure of ' Liz' Pritty. Jim Berlie has also left
but he is only across the road and still plays hockey and cricket
for us.
We welcome Private Karen Topley WRAC on temporary
duty with us and Viv Tre-Vett who again has added charm as
well as strength to the branch tennis team. John Hawkins has
bought himself a glider, W02 Geoff Clemovv won a motor
car, the COO, Eric Tandy (the SFSO), Major Bob Price and
Major Derek Skinner all managed to get trips to Belize and the
DGOS visited us. These were recent events of importance
though we hasten to add, not necessarily in that order.
Headquarters Scotland
THE Director General of Ordnance
Services, Major General Brown, spent a
week with us in Scotland recently. He
visited all our Units including 51 Com-
pany RAOC TA in Glasgow.
Major Ian McKinnon missed the
excitement of the General's visit by attend-
ing the residential part of his Open
University course at the University of
Warwick. On the other hand Major Roger
Bicknell missed the ' Glorious Twelfth '
yet again.
Staff Sergeant Day, our Chief Clerk,
had his spell of leave in the south and during this period took
part in the RMP Chichester annual forty kilometre March on
the South Downs, no doubt fortified by his regular runs between
Edinburgh and Dalgety Bay in Fife.
We welcome Major Leslie Brown as the new DAQMG
Q Ops/E Man in the Headquarters where we hope he will look
after our interest in the business sphere.
RA RANGE
HEBRIDES
THE RA Range was host to Major General Brown DGOS
accompanied by Lieutenant Colonel Connolly CRAOC Scot-
land, Major Bicknell, WOl Kenyon and W 2 Marchant.
On arrival the DGOS was met by the Range Commandant
Brigadier Ryan and SATO Major Gordon (who as the senior
RAOC representative on the Range accompanied the DGOS
throughout the visit). The party set off on a whirlwind tour
of the islands and all the RAOC elements contained therein.
The morning venues consisted of the Photographic Section led by
Sergeant Dixon and featuring Corporal Gallagah and Lance
Corporal MacDonald.
On to the BIA and exchange store where Mr George De
Buse, fisherman extra-ordinaire, and Mr Joe Hutcheon our
Hebridean Pied Piper explained and discussed the problems
associated with such an isolated Unit.
Next the Army Fire Service where only moments before our
Chief Fire Adviser Mr Bob Bethell had been persuaded to
cancel the practical demonstration of his Sections' skills.
The DGOS was then escorted to a Married Soldiers Quarter
where the first signs of our secret weapon was revealed; The
wives. Only two were present for the initial sortie, Mrs Robson
and Mrs Ray who discussed the problems of trying to live normal
lives in the Hebrides.
At the RAOC families lunch the DGOS had the pleasure
of meeting all our wives. Everybody enjoyed an excellent buffet
and Ihe occasion was marred only by the time encroaching on
the strict programme.
Down to Rangehead some fourteen miles from the ad-
ministrative and quartering area to meet the Stores Section. The
Officer Commanding Captain Slade, W02 Robson, Staff Sergeant
Hamilton, Sergeant Coom, Staff Sergeant Lead, Lance Corporal
Jarman and Private Stewart having got things spic and span in
preparation.
The SAT W02 Moor then met the DGOS as he entered the
ammunition compound and introduced the remaining AT's; ace
driver Sergeant Hawkins, darts champion Sergeant Pullen (who
incidentally stops at nothing to win, including the illegal use'of
Super-glue and who is shortly to be posted to the School of
Ammunition) and Corporals Partridge and Stewart.
After viewing a Lance missile on test the DGOS was
taken to a launch area. Releasing the SNCOs to rush the
fourteen miles to the Sergeants Mess in order to charge their
glasses before the presentation of the Long Service and Good
Conduct Medal to Staff Sergeant Ray. This was a proud moment
for us all having our DGOS presenting this award to an RAOC
SNCO in a predominantly RA/REME environment.
Eventually the magic words of ' Drinks on m e ' were
heard and the assembled company suitably celebrated the climax
of a very successful day.
Prior to his departure the DGOS delivered an inspiring few
words and departed into the swirling Hebridean mist.
The DCOS meets the wives.
Eastern District
FROM the sodden wastes of East Anglia
we again bring you news of doings, both
momentous and otherwise, not the least of
which was the sudden departure of Major
Alastair Wallace to Bicester on promotion
to Lieutenant Colonel. Those whose duty
it is to make these decisions came apparently
to the conclusion that he and he alone was
the man for whom 16 Battalion was reach-
/
=
\
ing out, and off he went. For the past three
years he has been a stalwart of Eastern
District, first in 7 Field Force and then in this Headquarters and
he will not be an easy man to follow. He was despatched in
traditional style from the steps of the ' Maypole' by his col-
leagues and we wish him well in the seats of the mighty (or COD
Bicester, whichever you prefer). He has been succeeded as S02
S Man by Major Larry Hollingworth on return from civilian life,
who has taken over not only the job but the house with its
magnificent Wallace-created garden.
Other recent arrivals are W02 Thompson and Staff Sergeant
Chapman both from Northern Ireland and who are spending
their last six months of service with ASU Eastern District. We
seem to be developing a thriving business as a ' last six months
of service' station as we expect WOl Fred Woolhouse (no
— 152 —
Book number R0404