RAOC Gazette - page 94
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 |
Eastern District IT has been a month of comings and goings; if not quite 'the hunter home from the hill/ then certainly a good assortment of officers and warrant officers back after eight weeks fire fighting duties at the end of the emergency. • Ordnance Branch said goodbye to WOI 'Alfie' Barlow, our popular Chief Clerk/pillar of the establishment, at sundry lunch-time get-togethers (mostly sanctioned by CRAOC). Mr Barlow is on his way to 17 P and M Workshop at Marchwood. His relief is W02 Alan Dick, who joins us after two and a half years in Malta, together with wife Wendy and son. WOl Eric Cottrill left AIDU (East) on posting to Houns- low; his replacement, WOl Chris Newman, arrives from BAOR in February. Captain Trevor Wilson, our ATO, isn't exactly leaving but will be away for some months, first on exercise in Kenya then on his OO's course. Lucky for some! Yet another departure is Sergeant Phil Gadsen who has at last prised his way out of the Headquarters Classified Registry and is off to brown his body in the Cyprus sunshine. A pity this, because it's common knowledge his heart was set on Northern Ireland. Congratulations on promotion, anyway. In his place*, after five months of civilian endeavour, a re- initiation at Blackdown, and several weeks on a Green Goddess, Sergeant Pat Pierce is welcomed. It is with regret that we record the death of Mr Frank Sparrow, a Senior Storeman in the Supply Depot at Col- chester, where he had worked for over ten years. He will be greatly missed by all his colleagues. 19 Airportable Ordnance Field Park VISITS have played a big part in our programme this month. The COO, Brigadier Smith, came to see us. Our new_ Brigade Commander, Brigadier Davies, popped in to introduce himself to everyone. However, our most important visitor was the Com- mander in Chief, General Sir Edwin Bramall, who came to see us on 17th January. Our sporting activities have suffered once again due to personnel being away, but there are two sportsmen deserving a mention. Sergeant Graham Stanton went to Blackdown for the Corps Cross Country Championships and came away with first in the veteran class and second overall, a very good effort Private Paul Cheshire also made the headlines when he turned out for the Army Junior Rugby Side, unfortunately they were beaten, but nevertheless he informs me he had a good game. We say farewell to Lance Corporals John Ryan and Jeff Short, Privates Jack Geeves and ' Smudge' Smith, who have all departed to their new units. In their place we welcome, Lance Corporal Phil Walls, Privates Steve Ward, Colin Back, Ray Whopples and Brian Balch, who with the exception of Lance Corporal Walls have all just finished at the Apprentice College. Tug Wilson apart from playing rugby for the Corps has been selected for the Army and swears he is going to hang up his boots at the end of this season. Obviously another Taff Edwards! Congratulations on promotion to Staff Sergeant Hughes, Lance Corporals Reeby and Tiplady, also additional congratula- tions to Lance Corporal Reeby on his marriage. Farewell to Lance Corporal Sylvester, Privates Collins and Jones all on postings to BAOR. Welcome to Captain South- worth, Second Lieutenant Simmonds, Privates Rorke and Laight, and to Lance Corporal Dawkins on his return from detach- ment in Belize. To those that have left in the past year NOTHING has changed. Sometime, somewhere, someone will build us some new accommodation (at least, they keep promising to). STORES TROOP WORKSHOP SQUADRON AFTER some time in the wilderness we have decided in our resolution for 1978 that W shall send in our contributions to the Corps GAZETTE regularly. To old Plymouth hands the Stores Section has been renamed Stores Troop. 27 Command Workshop at Coypool closed down in August and the Work- shop and Stores Troop have moved in to occupy the civilian workshop building, The Firemen's strike affected us in common with other UK Units. Corporals Lindsay and Kielman were with Com- mando Logistic Regiment at Sutton Coldrleld while Lance Corporal Taylor was detached t o 4 Commando at Strathclyde. We have no doubt that they all gained valuable experience during the past nine weeks. The Unit is again involved on exercises in Norway this year. Corporal Olejnik is detached to 45 Commando Group on Exercise Clockwork South where he is trying out his skis. In southern Norway, Lance Corporal Taylor and Private Wilkin- son are using their snow-shoes with 42 Commando Group on Exercise Mainspring. We welcome our new OC Captain Neill from Exeter University and bid farewell to Captain Coleman who has left us for DCS Bicester on promotion. We wish him and his family every success in the future. Arrivals: Captain J. R. Neill, Sergeant Cole, Corporal Lindsay and Private Turner, Departures: Captain L Coleman, Sergeants Ledwidge and Hughes, Corporal Lovell and Private Payne. 1 Ammunition Inspection and Disposal Unit HEADQUARTERS AND ATO OLD SARUM ALAS our acquisition of a SAT for the Headquarters has been short lived! Conductor Barwell's roving eye has indeed alighted upon pastures new, and soon we shall no longer hear the vibrant strains of 'Puccini' as we drink our cups of tea! However, we nevertheless should like to wish him and his family the very best in his future life and hope that he will keep in touch as he intends to remain a * Moonraker.* At the close of the year we held our annual regimental ladies night at the Old Sarum Officers Mess which turned out to be a great success. The band of 1 Royal Anglian were in attendance and after dinner we danced to cassette recordings. Nothing to do with tht band though, they had to push off on fire fighting duties! We have also started holding regular SAT and SATO conferences quarterly in different unit locations which not only gives us an enjoyable pub lunch but also enables unit members to visit other SATO locations and get a different view point! Commando Logistic Regiment ORDNANCE SQUADRON LIKE everyone else we have done our share of nrefighting, but somehow Private Jones managed to be different; whilst the majority went to Birmingham he went to Strathclyde ending up with a posting to Germany! The Norway Deployment is with us again and 3 AOD and the LRT have departed to spend three months in Norway in support of 45 Commando. 42 Commando are going to Norway for the first time and 2 AOD left on 24th January. The total strength of the Unit left behind is thirteen (are we the lucky ones?). The Corps Cross Country was run on a very bleak day. Well done Dulmen, they really were superb I (need we say more), Following Octobers thirty mile march we have now in- stituted a series of morning fifteen milers, ending in Prince- town at the Plume of Feathers. Note: it has the longest delivery lines, from the barrel to the taps, in UK and it is all under- ground. The beer is always cold. Guest stars included Cap- tain Kitwood (of the broken toe), who was heard to say " that the best part is the end." ATO OLD SARUM THE normal tranquil peace of Old Sarum has been shattered by the impending movement of Captain Pearson, Staff Sergeant Barry Allen, Corporal Taff Smith, Lance Corporals Bob Graham and * H * Stenner to Northern Ireland. Indeed, it has been suggested in low places that we move the Detachment Office from Old Sarum to Northern Ireland. Congratulations to Staff Sergeant and Mrs Geoff Brennen on the birth of Kerry-Anne their daughter, perhaps the sleepless nights are the reason for his sudden interest in Ski-ing Courses. We look forward to greeting our new ATO Captain Hani on and bets are being laid whether he too, wears green weltigogs (sorry! Wellington Boots), SATO NORTH THE outstanding event of the month is the impending retire- ment of WOl Mac McKernan* who rounded off thirty years dis- tinguished service in a suitable fashion by receiving his Queen's 317 |
| Book number | R0246a |