RAOC Gazette - page 96
Image details
| Corps | RAOC |
|---|---|
| Material type | Journals |
| Book page | |
| Chapter head | |
| Chapter key | |
| Chapter number | |
| Full title | RAOC Gazette |
| Page number | |
| Publication date | 1977 |
| Real page | |
| Colour | No |
| Grey | No |
| Early date | 1977 |
| Late date | 1977 |
| Transcription |
tKjje premutation of Ciutt honours! up tl)e Colon of Butter to Central #rimance Bepot ON Wednesday 15th June 1977, at 6 pm the Representative Colonel Commandant, Major General A. R< Cornock, CB, OBE, received the Civic Honours Scroll recognising the close association between the Town of Bicester and the Central Ord- nance Depot. The presentation of the Scroll was made by the Town Mayor of Bicester, Councillor John HoUis, TD, in the presence of the Lord Lieutenant for the County of Oxford- shire, Colonel Sir John Thomson, KBE, TD. The ceremony look, place on the Manorsfield Road Car Park, recently laid down near to the Market Square behind Sheep Street and splendidly transformed for this important and historic occasion. The evening was cold, heavy overcast cloud enveloped the whole of the area, yet the scene was sparkling, brightened to heart warming proportions by the en- thusiasm of the vast crowd of spectators and the splendid and colourful uniforms and decorations of the military. Four guards and the scroll party under the command of Lieutenant Colonel R. B. Bowden with the Corps Staff Band under the direction of Captain T. Griffiths, formed up in Chapel Street and marched to the parade area to take up their position facing the Queen's Rostrum, first used when the Queen visited the Central Ordnance Depot in 1965. A few moments before 6 pm the Representative Colonel Commandant accompanied by Major General J. T. Stanyer, CBE, Major General M. Callan, Major General P. J, O'B. Minogue and Brigadier J. S. G. Roycroft arrived and mounted the rostrum to await the arrival of the civic dignitaries. The crowd stilled as the second convoy arrived which included the Mayor accompanied by the Town Clerk, Mr Raymond Bain- ton. Finally, the Lord Lieutenant for the County, Colonel Sir John Thomson mounted the rostrum to be received with a General Salute as the clock in the old tower of St Edburg's Church, visible behind the backdrop of heavily foliaged trees, chimed the appointed hour, The Lord Lieutenant accompanied by the Town Mayor then inspected the parade. The troops all from 16 Battalion, were outstanding in every respect; their precision and turn- out made this a marvellous—and long to be remembered, occasion. Inspection completed, the Scroll Party advanced to the rostrum from where the Town Mayor, making his presentation speech, recalled the history of Central Ordnance Depot Bicester and assured the officers and soldiers on parade that their high standards of training, discipline and individual sense of responsibility had not gone unnoticed in the town, Accepting the Scroll the Representative Colonel Com- mandant said he was conscious of the very great honour con- Mtz&u Second Lieutenant M. R. Maginess holds the Scroll as it is trooped . . . . . ferred on the Central Ordnance Depot. He drew pleasing at- tention to the many former Commandants including Major General Sir John Hildreth, Major General Young and Brigadier Hancock as well as many former Senior Stores Officers who had travelled from all over the UK to be present and went on to say that the ceremony has truly cemented the bonds of friendship between the Town of Bicester and the Corps. Finally, he handed over the Scroll to Brigadier J. S. G, Roycroft, the present Commandant of the Depot, to ensure that it be given a place of honour. The parade marches past after the presentation Second Lieutenant M. R. Maginess then mounted the rostrum to receive the beautiful Scroll in its handsome gold case. Returning smartly to his escort they moved to the flank of the parade and trooped the scroll along the length of the parade, drawn up in advance order. This was a most moving moment for all present. The Scroll party returned to its original position between number two and three guards and the parade marched past in column. The Representative Colonel Commandant, having received the Scroll from the Mayor, hands it to the Commandant (Continued on page 100) |
| Book number | R0246 |