RAOC Gazette - page 13
Image details
| Corps | RAOC |
|---|---|
| Material type | Journals |
| Book page | |
| Chapter head | |
| Chapter key | |
| Chapter number | |
| Full title | RAOC Gazette |
| Page number | |
| Publication date | 1978 |
| Real page | |
| Colour | No |
| Grey | No |
| Early date | 1978 |
| Late date | 1978 |
| Transcription |
tEIje at tattott J5etos; ome The Directorate of Supply Management' HEADQUARTERS S MAN 1. By the time you sit comfortably reading these notes, a cup of coffee on your desk and the worries of the day for a moment temporarily out of mind, we shall be well settled in at And over. After many delays, Headquarters DSM(A) is finally to be evicted from First Avenue House on 6th December. Many of the Civilian Staff who have served Head- quarters DSM(A) and its predecessors so well will not accom- pany the move to Andover, preferring to retire or transfer to other departments rather than face the green fields of Hampshire. One notable retirement is that of Mr Ken Addy, lately HEO in charge of S Man lb(3)—Supply Finance to the un- initiated- During a farewell lunch given by the branch and at- tended by Brigadier Biggs, Director of Supply Management (Army), his long and distinguished career working with the Corps was recounted. At the end of the meal a small presenta- tion was made and we all wish him the best of fortune for the future. Another well known personality, but in this case with E Man connections, who will also be leaving, is Miss Eleanor Smith—the acknowledged world expert on Depot Mechanical Handling Equipment. Unfortunately she does not feel that her last eighteen months service can be spent in Hampshire- She will shortly be leaving us for, what is at yet, an unknown job. Her good humour and encyclopaedic knowledge will be much missed by S Man la. Major Collings' (DAQMG S Man la{2)), attempts to get her to enter ' Mastermind *—specialist subject DM HE—have so far proved unsuccessful! Recently married is Mr Ercan Hussein, who also works in S Man la(2) and Judith, whom he met while working in the now defunct E Man Id, Yet again, definite proof, if any is needed, that the Ministry of Defence is not solely directed to the movement of files, but that time does exist for romance to blossom. We all wish them both the best of happiness. What other news? W02 R. J. McKee, our Chief Clerk, keeps himself fit by commuting from Andover and playing squash regularly. In passing, we will no longer be hearing horrific tales of commuting from Andover—2,000 passengers in two carriages and the heating on full blast—point failure at Surbiton, etc, etc. Next month we will bring you the world exclusive report of our move which we face with the trepidation that Beatrix Potter's Pigling Bland must have felt when he was strictly enjoined by his mother ' not to cross the county boundry.' S MAN 2—Episode 7. An end and a beginning. It's on—yes, really! at last! What do you mean, what's on? The move to Andover—you know, that move that was due to take place last July, August, September, October, November, it's now going to take place. This move will no doubt be the same as any other move and there are sure to be many anecdotes for the next edition of THE GAZETTE, although there will not be as many as there should as most of our hierarchy will be at the Corps Study Period. On a more serious note, those of us who are moving to Andover would like to thank those who prefer London and will not be joining us, for their hard work during the Depart- ment's short time in First Avenue House and we wish them well for the future in their new jobs. TECHNICAL EQUIPMENTS DIVISION IN spite of howling gales that have loosened roofing panels atop of Building Fl» the prospect of snow decorating the top of the Wrekin, our local mountain, and the swimming pool being closed for the winter, water sports still play a part in the life of both military and civilian members of Technical Equipments Division. Major Graham Browning has obviously taken to heart the Commandant's unrepeatable remarks about his team only managing fifth in the Corps Swimming Championships. Every Monday evening he can be seen sneaking oft; to Madeley where rumour has it that he is being taught how to teach people to swim properly so that he can use skill as well as brute force and ignorance in coaching next year's team. The other water sport concerns the mysterious arrival on Engineer Equipments Branch of a portable aquarium occupied by a colourful assort- ment of tropical fish. We are not sure whether their arrival was occasioned by the desire to practice angling during lunch break or whether it was considered that the tropical heat of Building Fl was more conducive to the fishs' well being than the cooler climate of someone's living room. Much to Sergeant Steve Swales' disappointment the DSM Hockey team failed to win the Garrison six-a-side hockey tournament. Excuses for this failure to come up to form are rife but with the umpire and co-organiser coming from DSM itself the only reasons that are standing up to scrutiny are the~ lack of moral support from the touchline and Captain Peter Veal's traitorous defection to the winning team. He told us that he was on course and could not play. Private John Babbage is already working on plans to improve on our placing of second out of fifteen starters and hopes to recruit more rugby players after Corporal Willie Baxter's fine showing. If there are any past members of DSM or Provision Branch who read these notes they will know that the four hundred or so occupants, or should I say workers, of Building Fi have for many years been pressing for a purpose built office block to replace the eighty two thousand square feet of this converted storeshed that makes a poor pretence at being another First Avenue House. We thought that our opportunity had at last, come with the advent of Fair Value and the subsequent reorganisation of COD Donnington. Our pulses quickened as we listened attentively to the long overdue presentation on Fair Value. The adrenalin started to flow as we heard about the need for extra storage space and only politeness prevented us from desert- ing the Chief Planning Officer's Presentation to rush out and tear down the bricked up doorways to allow the yellow monsters in the W17 range from Bl to move to new pastures. Alas, it was not to be and once more we have been told to be patient It was with bowed heads and cowed spirits that we trapsed back through the rain to our provision desks scattered about this fine old storeshed. Some of us were beginning to get a bit worried about Lieutenant Colonel Tony Camfield's sex life: did he or didn't he and if so with whom! These ungentlemanly thoughts were thrust upon us by his most indiscreet behaviour in procuring, from a pretty young clerk, a seductive summer dress—and if this was not enough he followed it up with a bright red baby doll nightie. DSM may rest easy however for these activities 1 will not make 'The Sun, even if they did make a spread in the * Telford Journal.* The feminine articles were none other than props for the DGADOS production of * Move over Mrs MarkhanV a bedroom farce that delighted the hundreds who saw it; Lieutenant Colonel Camfield was the Stage Manager. Whilst the Captains of Engineers and Weapons are play- ing musical chairs, with Captains John Staples and Mike Nixon swapping jobs and Captain Roy Curtis squatting at Branston playing with Green Goddesses, Major Mike Roberts and Cap- tain Peter Veal of Communications Branch are being educated at Blackdown. Captain Brian Nimick is at long last sitting his promotion exam and Mrs Ruby Howard has gone for a month to Oman to get a sun tan: who said we need Officers anyway! Lance Corporal Dick Parkinson is on a six month tour in Northern Ireland, and we wish him well. Training Centre HEADQUARTERS IN the October issue we gave you a run down of the military staff of Headquarters, now here is our civilian support. PLO is Brigadier T. Haddon (Retd), SC *A' Lieutenant Colonel C N. J. Wells (Retd), SC ' Q ' Major E. S. Etherton (Retd), S03 (Syllabus Review) Major L. R t Fleck (Retd) and ARLO Colonel R. G. H, Allen (Retd). The civilian clerks are PA, Mrs Joan Gatfield, * G * Mrs Jenny Vousden, *AQ' Mrs Betty Wood- worth, Registry Mrs Jean Hoskins and Comcen Mrs Angie — 242 |
| Book number | R0246a |