RAOC Gazette - page 135
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 |
larger abode with Headquarters SOWDIST in Bulford Camp. We all hope the Unit will settle down well, and be as happy and successful at Bulford in 1978 as it was last year in Tidworth. Arrivals: Corporal Monger, Privates Ash ton and Home- wood. Departures: WOsl Ian Leggett and Geoff Marshall, Staff Sergeant Neil Drysdale, Sergeant Paddy Brymer, Corporals John Hodgekiss and Rod Daddow, Lance Corporal Robinson, Privates Lopworth, Pays and ' Tich' Spittle, The line-up for Exercise Franklin 3. Back, Corporal Bowden. Front, Private Homewood, Corporal Morgan, Sergeant Grace* Private Spittle and Private Cooksey. RAOC Didcot HQ DGOS (ORD 3 AND 4) UNHAPPILY our last contribution to a combined Didcot newsletter was for a period much concerned with the im- pending move and departure of staff; the main social event for the latter being a very large luncheon party at a local hostelry. At this we also said goodbye to Mr Roy Ravens croft now, on promotion to Principal, a man at the Ministry and occupying an office in the Strand. The officers final celebration is to be a Regimental Dinner at which the Director General of Ordnance Services will be principal guest, Amongst others leaving was Mr Frank Brind the Camp Chief Clerk, for a long time dogged by ill health, who decided to call it a day and at a brief ceremony in the Headquarters was presented by his colleagues with a handsome watch. Another departure, after a comparatively short tour, was Major Mike Ewens to the joint Services NBC College at Winterbourne Gunner. Also the Station Staff Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Larry Dowdall (Retd), is soon to retire after more than twelve years at Didcot both as a serving and retired officer. Over the last three and a half years 1 have mentioned several changes in the local scenery and not to be outdone in the final letter report that the recent felling of many huge elms has given the Camp Commandant, Major Tim Proffitt, an unrivalled view of the Sewage farm and the newly commissioned rail .served Great London Authority rubbish tip. Several changes in date of our move to Andover have of course been greeted with relief by those still based here but it now seems definite that we will have gone by the end of March. This leaves the Directorate of Land Service Ammunition the sole occupant of this extremely pleasant garrison with its more than sixty years occupation by RAOC. The concluding line is simply therefore—farewell from Didcot. DIRECTORATE OF LAND SERVICE AMMUNITION EARLY in January, one of the month's pleasant tasks was the presentation by the Director. Brigadier Denzil Cowdry, of the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal to WOl Steve Cox who joined Proof Branch in August from the Royal School of Artillery. A small celebration party was held—behind closed doors in Proof Branch—rumours abound as to what and how they do it! Mr Peter Hutcheson, one of Proof Branch's technical boffins, has just learned of the award made by the Army Department Technical Awards Committee of £750 for his suggestion to amend the design of a piece of equipment for use on Missile Proof Assessment. Had the suggestion not been made the apparatus required is available commercially at a cost in excess of £70,000. Some saving! Four members of the DLSA Veterans (Keep-Fitters over forty) broke the DGOS Challenge for fitness by covering the stipulated three miles in well under the times allowed for their respective ages! They did it, however, in combat kit and boots and over a far-from-flat Didcot mile circuit! Perhaps their enthusiasm stems from the hope of transfer to the new Ladies Keep Fit Class! On 14th January, the first baby of the new year, within the Directorate, was born to Captain Fred McMurray and Lyn— with the healthy arrival of a daughter—Nina Lynn. We offer them our heartiest congratulations. DIRECTORATE OF SUPPLY COMPUTER SERVICES THE halls of power are deserted. Doors open onto empty offices. As one might guess our move to Bicester has gained momentum. Boxes and cartons overflowing with files dis- appeared into lorries and • later reappeared at Graven Hill, Bicester, where DSCS have moved into Block Eight. All but a die-hard rear-party remains at Didcot, but in April we shall be moving into Block Six, Graven Hill together with the remainder of DSCS still hiding in various enclaves around the Bicester complex. Just to add to the problem of moving, we will also be having an Inspector of Establishments In- spection in April; but more about that at a later date. As this is our last contribution to the Didcot Station News- letter, thanks go to the Headquarters Base Organisation (now Ord 3) representative for not editing our entries too much and reminding us when our next was due. Central Ordnance Depot Chilwell THE recent snows and icy roads have brought their usual spate of problems and accidents. Notwithstanding this, life goes on as we dig deeper into the problems of * Fair Value/ The Red 'Flu bug is taking its toll and the car parks are beginning to look as though it is a Sunday. Even i\ « w MI your correspondent is not immune as he ^\ ^^ff If writes these notes armed with a pen, a ^^A^sX^A^ tissue and red-rimmed eyes. ^^w^^^ We have been visited this month by ^•"""^ the Director Base Depots, Brigadier Dalton, who toured the Depot and took lunch with the officers. He was closely followed by the Mayor of Derby who, in turn, was shown round the Depot where he met several employees from the Derby area. The Officers and Sergeants Messes have been locked in battle on the occasion of a Games Night. Up to the Boat Race honours were even, but then the Sergeants took tradi- tionally unfair advantage by using a team of stalwarts with hollow legs. The wooden spoon now hangs once again in its accustomed place in the Officers Mess. Seems a pity to move it after all this time—it just leaves a nasty mark on the wall. The Officers Mess held a St Valentine's Party to which reluctant husbands were dragged by wives grimly determined to exact their due?—particularly those whom the postman passed by. Thanks to Squadron Leader Chris Cockshott and others involved we all had a good time. Our soccer players deserve well-earned praise for getting through to the semi-finals of the Yorks and Lanes Cup/EDIST Minor Units Cup competition. They achieved this by in- flicting a decisive defeat on 224 Signal Squadron. We won six to two, our scorers were Hill two, Marshall three and Clark one. We play Depot Queens Division from Bassing- bourne in the semi-final. The ' Dog and Stick' walkers have recommenced their activities after the Christmas lay-off. They walked (or swam) a route along the River Trent to the east of Nottingham. Non-swimmers are not encouraged to attend! Perhaps they should be renamed 'Dog and Thin Ice Walks/ reminiscent of freezing BAOR exercises at the start of every exercise season. The only difference is that we don't get hard-lying money. 349 — |
| Book number | R0246a |