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RAOC Gazette - page 162

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Publication date 1978
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Transcription FOOD
SYMPOSIUM
1978
THE importance of the Corps' food responsibilities was
recognised by the holding of a Food Symposium at the Regional
Depot Hereford on 2nd and 3rd March 1978. In addition to
representatives from Headquarters UKLF, UK Districts, Head-
quarters Northern Ireland and Headquarters BAOR, guests
were also invited from the other two Services and NAAFI
The * home team' was DGOS, DDGOS and Ord 2.
The DGOS* in opening the Symposium, emphasised the im-
portance of an efficient food supply system. He pointed out
that the expression *' it comes up with the rations," whilst seem-
ing to indicate that the supply of food is a routine function offer-
ing no difficulties or challenge, belied the fact that the task of
filling the Serviceman's stomach is beset by all sorts of problems,
particularly under wartime conditions. DGOS went on to say
that the full spectrum of food supply is an essential element of
operational logistics and that this must not be overlooked.
Photo B, H, J. Hall.
Lance Corporal McMurdo and Mr Barlow, leader of the Dartmoor
Rescue Team, digging down to a buried van to ensure that no
one was inside.
come across her three tractors stuck in a snowdrift They told
her they had—literally.
On the way to another village a brand new car blocked
the road. The car couldn't move, and there wasn't really
enough room to get past on either side. So the Snowcat had to
climb up the side snow wall and drive past, hanging over the
gleaming car rather like a slow motion version of the wall of
death. As it inched past, the Volvo jerked and side-slipped.
Every time the driver opened up a safe gap, the Snowcat dipped
down again to within inches, as if trying to take a bite out of
the new car. After what seemed ages it was past and, at the
village, the crew was able to tell the car's anxious owner that it
was unmarked.
As the thaw set in, odd things started to appear from the
snowdrifts. The police mentioned that a car had been found
with a peculiar tracks running up the bonnet, over the roof
and down the boot. If they hadn't known better they might
have thought they were Snowcat tracks
Everywhere the crews were met with gratitude, kindness
and cups of tea. A final comment from Lance Corporal Mc-
Murdo. "Apart from the worry of never really knowing what you
were riding over this was the best Army Adventure Training
yet."
The Symposium consisted of a series of lectures covering
all aspects of food supply followed by discussion periods and
we were particularly indebted to our guest speakers Colonel Roy
Skelton, Chief Catering Adviser UKLF, Commander Mike
Pearey RN, Wing Commander Dudley Hammond RAF, Major
Don Grieve from DGST(N) and Mr Ken Redpath of NAAFI.
The lively discussions which followed indicated the strong en-
thusiasm of the audience and they were further embellished by
the participation of our senior gfuests Mr Peter Carter the
Deputy Director of Victualling, Group Captain Bob Lawrenson>
Director of Catering RAF and Colonel John Brown ' our man *
at DGST(N).
A high spot of the Symposium was an excellent buffet
supper held in the Regional Depot Officers Mess. The atmos-
phere at this function was occasionally reminiscent of a Battle
of Britain RAF crew room with comments and asides abound-
ing such as: " There I was, with fifteen thousand warranty
expired compo rations
," tl I had a shocking case of
damp crumb in the bakery
," " No matter what I do,
I just can't get my differentials right
," " Get the DMR,
RMR, HMR, RDR and CILOR right and everything else falls in
place
"
In his closing address, DGOS said that the Symposium had
been a great success and ended by thanking Major Peter Wilks
and the staff of the Regional Depot Hereford for the excellent
administrative arrangements made for the Symposium, Despite
a paucity of staff, the Regional Depot willingly undertook the
daunting task of co-ordinating the proceedings and all who
attended were most grateful for the warm reception received-slid
the air of happy co-operation abundant in all ranks and grades
of the Depot staff.
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Attending the 1978 RAOC Food Symposium.

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Photo Vivians Studio
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Hereford*
Book number R0246a