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RAOC Gazette - page 131

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Full title RAOC Gazette
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Publication date 1977
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Early date 1977
Late date 1977
Transcription Our congratulations to Staff Sergeants Tom Griffiths and
|: M < McCowan on their selection for promotion to W 2 and
'.', • rgeant Jim Massey on his selection to Staff Sergeant. In
;1 ... ihey are not mentioned elsewhere we also extend con-
-Vpuilalions to Sergeant Hillier (HQ LFC) and Sergeant Hogg
f\iQ BFC) for their selection for promotion to Staff Sergeant
During the past few months we have said farewell to
Major Allen Rodgers and Helga and W02 Dave AllporL
We welcome to Headquarters RAOC Episkopi Cyprus
Major Neil MacCormick and his wife Jean, and Staff Sergeant
Ken Storey,
RAOC
AKROTIRI
SITUATED deep in the heart of what was once the RAF's
largest base in the world, we have inherited some excellent
accommodation which has been supplemented by purpose built
buildings to complete our requirements. In overall charge of
RAOC Akrotiri is Major Ken Cooper whose primary duty is
SATO. The various OICs are Captain John Edwards Stores
Depot, Captain Brian Smith Inventory Control, WOl Jim
Harper Ammunition Depot and WOl Jim Wilson Vehicles
Depot.
Akrotiri is the arrival and departure point for most
prominent visitors to British Forces Cyprus and therefore we
are frequently included for a visit when they tour Units, The
most noteabte amongst those who have recently been to see
us was the Parliamentary Under Secretary for Defence (Army)
Mr R. C Brown MP. The heavens opened as he arrived but
we managed to adjust our programme so that he was able to
pass from one storage location to the next between showers,
without a drop of rain falling upon him. His subsequent letter
of appreciation made reference to this fact,
The major achievements of our sportsmen have already
been reported earlier in the Cyprus notes. Other Unit sporting
events which are no less important include:
Football. We were part of a combined team made up from
43 Command Workshop and 58 Squadron RCT. Our final
placing in the league was fifth and our regular players were
Staff Sergeant Dave London, Sergeants Ian Beedham and Ken
Allen, Corporals Don Pearson and Fuffer Brown and Private
John Reegan.
Hockey.
The combined 48 Command Workshop/RAOC
Akrotiri Hockey team had a very good season finishing second
in the Cup and League. Our players were Captain John Edwards,
WOl Jim Harper, Sergeant Ken Allen, Corporal Don Pearson,
Lance Corporal Bob Freeman and Private John Reegan.
Volleyball.
The Akrotiri based RAOC Volleyball team
lest its first league match 5-0 but under the guidance of Sergeant
Aian Gager and Corporal Wally Williamson they are bound
to hold their own in future and may even show an improve-
ment!
Athletics. Corporals Ron Pearson and Dennis Head took
part in the recent RAF Akrotiri athletics competition along
with Coroporal Tony O'Connor, new arrival Corporal Trevor
Edge and Captain Lawrence Wood prior to his move to
Episkopi,
Heartiest congratulations are extended to Sergeant Pony
Moore on his marriage to Miss Jane Snelson at St Paul's
Church Akrotiri, and Sergeant Norman Doody on his marriage
to Miss Jacqueline Franklin in UK.
We are very pleased to record that the following Akrotiri
based RAOC personnel have been selected for promotion during
1977/78, W 2 Pat Mackey to WOl, Staff Sergeant Bill Heap
to W02, A/Staff Sergeant Taffy Davies and Sergeant Webb to
Staff Sergeant.
WOi Terry Tavener, W 2 Alan Cole, Corporals Jim
Brown, Pete Ferguson and Private Mitch Mitchell have now
left Ui and WOl Ray Preston, W 2 Pat Mackey, Sergeant John
Spencer, Corporals Trevor Edge and Geordie McGuire have
arrived.
RAOC
DHEKELIA
SITUATED
at the other end of the island in what are now
4
reduced circumstances' we are none the less a very happy
and cohesive group. We comprise the Supply Depot which is
the responsibility of Major Ray Vincent with Bakery, Butchery
and Cold Stores and Dry Goods sections under Staff Sergeant
Hddie Head, WOs2 Alec White and Joseph Hawthorne respec-
tively, The Assistant Barrack Officer, Captain Don Young and
his staff are clos^ by with WOl John O'Connor looking after
the element of the Stores Depot detached from Akrotiri.
Our sporting achievements cannot match RAOC Akrotiri
for variety but what we lose in quantity is made up for in
unrivalled quality. To prove this our Volleyball team won its
match in the League, Captain Don Young continues to dominate
the courts at tennis and Staff Sergeant Ken Norgate competed
in the Waterloo eight mile road race and came fourth out of a
field of ninety. A truly superb performance.
WOl Harry Blackburn is to be congratulated on his recent
appointment to Conductor, as are those who have been selected
for promotion in 1977/78 namely Staff Sergeants Eddie Head
and Ken Norgate to W 2 and Sergeant Vincent to Staff
Sergeant
An occasion which deserves special mention is the marriage
of W 2 Alec White our Master Butcher, to local girl Miss
Xenoulla Louca. His wedding day, with between seven hundred
and one thousand guests (nobody could keep count), made it a
truly memorable event. We wish them every happiness for
the future.
FSO III Sid Orrey and Sergeant Tommy McGurk have
departed and FSO III Peter Cress well and Sergeant Andrew
Bryden have arrived.
British Forces Hong Kong
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1 LIGHT INFANTRY were
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about how many captures
they made and how much vital information they gained but
they were certainly worn out when they returned!
The Sergeants Mess team which reached the semi-finals of
the Rothmans six-a-side competition included a strong RAOC
contingent, i.e, Messrs Ford, Garrod, Edwards and Burnett
(averages height—six foot, average disposition—mean). A team
from 2/2 Gurkhas (average height—five foot, average dis-
position—cheerful) however, cut them down to size, beat them
three to two, broke W 2 Edwards arm and sent WOl Garrod
to hospital with a suspected fracture.
Our congratulations go to David, son of WOl Ford, who
has achieved the Amateur Swimming Association Gold Award
no mean feat for an eight year old
Our congratulations also go to the BFHQ RAOC recipients
RAOC Assurance
Association
18 Chequers Square, Uxbridge, Middlesex
Tel. (STD 0895) 53444
2 $ Discount — special scheme
Motor Insurance. Available to all
Corps members.
Life Assurance — protection for
your family or saving for the future.
House Purchase — buying now or
in the future. Which Building Society
to choose and how much to save.
Preferential Interest rates available
to regular savers,
Book number R0246