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RAOC Gazette - page 66

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Corps RAOC
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Publication date 1978
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Early date 1978
Late date 1978
Transcription to CS. All the Chief
Clerk could say on his return was that
l
the course was a real gas, man "! Never let it be said that
G Training lacks its romantics for recently Lance Corporal Bill
Laight announced his engagement to Lance Corporal Kathleen
Earlie, WRAC, who works in Pay Services. We otfer them both
warm congratulations and it must be said that so far as Lance
Corporal Earlte is concerned it's a case of " better Laight than
never" 1
We are shortly to say farewell to the junior member of
our family as Private Pete Lewis has received a posting order
for Headquarters 3 Infantry Brigade in Ulster. We wish him
all the best in his new unit and offer our thanks for his work
here on the Exercise Planning Staff. A warm welcome is also
extended to his relief, Private Brian Marsden and family, who
join us from Headquarters Northern Ireland. We hope they
have an enjoyable tour of duty in Bielefeld- No entry from
this Branch would be complete without a mention of our Staff
Assistant, WO I Frank Linnane. Some of the more active
readers will doubtless know Mr Linnane from the squash and
badminton courts. They will be delighted to hear that he is
still going strong, and is shortly to compete in the BAOR Squash
Championships, A u clear sign that he's taking this seriously
is that at a recent Sergeants to the Officers Mess" party he
was observed consuming nothing stronger than a stiff bitter
lemon, much to the Brigadier AQs approval!
A word of mention must be made of our lovely civilian
lady who is at present very ably taking the place of a Corporal
RAOC—M and RO please note! Mrs Kate Maclaren, wife of
Staff Sergeant Maclaren the MS ' king/ is doing a grand job
looking after all aspects of BATUS training, and we really are
extremely grateful to her for the way she is handling a very
difficult and hectic job. Finally, mention has to be made of our
resident sports star in the shape of Lance Corporal John
Lehmann. No words can possibly
describe this NCOs sport-
l
ing ability, and all we can say is: * How's the leg then John?"!
G Ops Staff have slackened their hectic work pace to join
in the seasons celebrations, though aspirins and Alka Saltzer
seem to be the drink most clamoured for within the variety
available! From Headquarters UKLF we welcome Corporal
Sharon Lucas and wish her a happy stay with us. Lance
Corporal Sue Groome, to whom we bid a fond farewell, has
chosen a career in marriage rather than one in the WRAC.
In GSD, the reign of super-bachelor Sergeant Alan Buck-
well has finally come to an end with his marriage this month
to Corporal Ellie Rowe WRAC. Congratulations to both.
GSD seem either to send staff on leave or courses. Corporal
Scouse Hayes has passed his Bl course, Private John Robertson
has been ground pounding and awarded his RFC 2 while Chief
Clerk W02 Ian Reid is on leave again, but many congratulations
on achieving Warrant Rank.
Meanwhile Corporal Paul Gardiner and W/Private Vanessa
Dike carry the workload.
ORDNANCE BRANCH
CRIMINAL act of the month goes to Staff Sergeant James
Gleeson, late of the Buffs, who, was caught on one knee and
red-handed, offering six home made buns to Major Stewart
Rowsell, with what dark purpose one can only surmise. Good
grief—slush buns! What is the Corps coming to? I was, later
that day, approached by one of the miscreants and offered a
cake, a large one I may add, not to report their diabolical
act. Such depravity! I am, at the moment, on my third slice,
whilst writing this article!
Our congratulations to Sergeant Graham (Orinoko)
Orszewski } who, in the Corps Badminton Championships, was
a semi-finalist in the singles event, and a finalist in the mens
doubles. We wonder what he did all day, down in those
cellars of Block 9, or the " Basement/' as it*s locally known.
We were Active Edged this month- Our Quartermasters
obviously think that tents lightweight are so named, due to the
heaviest parts being missing. Out of three taken, only sufficient
components to erect one were found; and this was no jest
when under winter conditions.
Major Brian Mills has at last returned from a months
course at the Depot. Man management, we were told. His
new marionette show will be opening shortly; and Corporal
Huge Ward is about to take his driving test. Huge has be-
come a favourite of the Padre. He drives by the Creed and
that means only two types of pedestrians, the quick and the
dead!
W02 Joe Fletcher—No. 1 arrows—can be seen walking tall
due to Everton's recent fortunate run. Joe is now looking forward
to a tight Christmas; and his trusty aide Sherpa Fisk is busy
working out a new high protein diet for next season's adventure
training.
Captain John Cottington, who broke a finger _ at cricket
in Berlin now has the aforementioned damaged digit almost
back to normal. We can tell this by the fact he's using less
handkerchiefs again.
Finally, we would like to wish all Branch members past
present, and unsuspectingly future, a successful 1978.
D.H.H.
1st Division
TO the tune of * Big Spender * no doubt,
Sergeant Dave Coombs won and spent
his Sergeants Mess Christmas Draw prize
of a voucher for DM 3000, within the
space of twenty four hours. Dave tells
us that he got his new slippers which
he needed after shopping for six hours!
Together with Sergeant Len Wrightson,
^pj*f£>" •^gcfcgES?
now that his beloved Newcastle are
r
-
^0™*^i!H J^^ *'
winning matches, we found that their
smiles lit up the office more than any
Christmas decoration.
(DOWO is still sifting through the
drum to see if his tickets were in there. " I always win a
prize!" he was muttering when last seen).
Lance Corporal Ian Grimes reckons his contract is termina-
ted having served three years with the Headquarters but didn't
need much persuasion to carry on working. The carrot of
promotion dangles before him!
Elsewhere in THE GAZETTE is an article on the disband-
ment of 7 Ordnance Field Park and the introduction of 1
Armoured Division Ordnance Company. The Ordnance Field
Park is dead, long live the Armoured Division Ordnance Com-
pany !!
11 ORDNANCE FIELD PARK
ARRANGEMENTS are well in hand for our move which is
planned for 1st March 1978. All ex-Scheuenites will be glad
to hear that, although we are departing from Ironside Barracks,
plans are being made to keep a military presence here.
*' Don't Cry for Us Sergeant Major" (to the tune of
Argentina) could be heard resounding throughout Scheuen as
CSM Halls was dined out of the Sergeants Mess- Now whether
he did or not is not quite clear, one thing was apparent how-
ever, he was obviously moved—physically, as he has been hob-
bling ever since. Furthermore the thought of a hobbling Halls
must have touched the hearts of RAOC, M and RO, as he has
been granted a two year recovery period as RSM in Donnington
—(didn't he do well).
The hobbling craze has become popular with both Private
Aitcheson and Private Smith moving about on crutches. We
hope they get well soon as the Mechanised Transport Officer is
rapidly running out of drivers. Apart from that he needs them
for the Interdepartmental Sports Competition. Whilst the foot-
ball is fast and furious the rugby seems to attract the most
vocal supporters, Private Chegwidden seemed to be the noisiest
both on and off the field, that is until he swallowed the ball
during a drawn match against Park Headquarters.
Corporal Kirk was persuaded to play the part of Santa
Claus to some fifty seven Mentally Handicapped German
children at his local Gastatte on Saint Nicholas Day—we have
now managed to persuade him to shave his beard off.
Congratulations to Privates Bird and Gwyther on passing
HGV 2 and Privates Sadler and Stone, HGV 3. Also many
congratulations to Corporal Cusack and his wife on the birth
of their twin sons (didn't they do well).
We welcome back Corporal Irvine from Fire Fighting and
other duties in Swansea and welcome Second Lieutenant Lloyd
and Corporal Henry and say farewell to Sergeant Yates and
Lance Corporal Szkoda.
A
STORES PLATOON 7 ARMOURED WORKSHOP
AT 0910 hrs on Tuesday the 13th of December Private Roily
Kay put to stock Z90 1430 99 105 9945 Spacer quantity two.
Gave the location A3/50/B2 quantity one and B12/50/B2
quantity one to Mr Dave Shaw. This marked the end of the
reorganisation which started with MT1 5330 99 943 0660 Ring
quantity one, at 1015 hrs on the 12th October, We remember
the times so very well,
So with the technical side finished we started rehearsals for
the Amalgamation Parade, and on a very cold December day,
7 and 11 Workshops amalgamated to form 7 Armoured Work-
shop. The Stores Section's new title is Stores Platoon.
Congratulations this month go to Sergeant Ray Carse on
his promotion,
We say farewell to Private Chippy Wood who leaves us
for Civvy Street and Private Scouse O'Mara to 4 Division Ord-
nance Company.
292 —
Book number R0246a