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RAOC Gazette - page 194

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Publication date 1977
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Transcription ARMY CATALOGUING
AUTHORITY
I HIS month's article has been submitted by the Equipment
:
:\bk Production Centre.
Mr Joe Heard, recently retired messenger, was recalled to the
K>ld for the presentation of the Imperial Service Medal by
Colonel Hanlon. The ladies six-a-side soccer team took part in
ihe MOD Recreation Association Competition: no prizes were
won but the team and their supporters enjoyed the coach trip
and day out, returning with the resolve to do better next year,
The organisation of a cake raffle, to raise funds for HM
The Queen's Silver Jubilee Fund, realised a profit of £21.00.
Our thanks to the contributors and organisers, particularly Mrs
Jane Loveridge who made the cake, and congratulations to Mrs
Mary Moreland of HQ ACA who held the winning ticket.
We have said farewell to EO Maurice Corkett on formal
retirement. His re-employment at HQ ACA keeps him in the
family.
Finally congratulations to Staff Sergeant Hunnisett on sub-
stantive promotion.
Training Centre
A SOCCER match where the goalkeeper deliberately threw
away a winning lead has had its sequel. The match was played
last Christmas for charity between members of the WRAC—
The Blackdown Bunnies, and wives of soldiers and civilians of
the Training Centre—The Deepcut Cuties. At one time it
looked as though the sponsored goal scoring was being cut
down, so full-back, WO I Pam Bartlett, took over in goal and
let the opposition through to score. The final outcome of this
hilarious match was a ten-all draw.
The sequel was that the organiser Sergeant Reg Smith the
Headquarters Chief Clerk and WO I Bartlett OIC Mechanical
Documentation Cell, were able to hand over a cheque for
£235 to the Church Hill House Hospital for Handicapped
Children at Bracknelk
Sergeant Smith presenting the cheque on behalf of the Com-
mander Training Centre to Mr Parkin Senior Nursing Officer.
Left to right: Sister W a r d , Mr Parkin, Lance Corporal Mansley,
Mrs Catfield, Mrs Fear, Sergeant Smith, W 1 Bartlett and Mrs
MacLeod.
To quote Mr William Parkin, the Hospital's Senior Nursing
Officer on receiving the cheque, "The National Health Service
gives us milk in our tea, but this adds a touch of 4 cream."
Also present to look round the hospital were Cuties' Mrs
Angela Fear, wife of an RAOC Warrant Officer and Mrs Isobel
MacLeod, wife of an RCT Lance CorporaL
Mrs Fear, who scored from the penalty spot, also hit the
target when she summed up her hospital visit: " It's wonderful
to see the dedicated work of the nurses." And the Cuties team
captain Mrs MacLeod added: " We never really thought of the
good it would do when we played the match, but it is great to
see the work it will be helping/'
Congratulations to WOl Cunningham on his promotion to
Conductor and to Sergeants Smith and Thomson on being
awarded the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal.
Postings out: W02 Poulson to BAOR on promotion and
Staff Sergeant Simmons to Preston on promotion.
Postings in: Sergeant A. Thomson.
SCHOOL OF
ORDNANCE
THOSE readers who have not had the pleasure and privilege
of studying at the School of Ordnance in recent weeks, will no
doubt be delighted to hear that we are still alive and well.
Our absence from print has been confined to THE GAZETTE!
Although routine departures and arrivals are noted in detail
elsewhere, particular mention must be made of three departures.
Major Keith Rattew CF. has returned to Canada; Keith and
Barbara contributed much to the School and to the Officers'
Mess, and we were sorry to see them go. Major Bill Tonkins,
who is retiring after almost thirty three years service in the
Corps, had his departure marked in the traditional way, by
the presentation of a cut-glass decanter from his School Mess
colleagues. We all wish him and his wife Betty a long and
happy retirement Corporal Jim Chalmer's hard work at the
school has been recognised by his promotion to Sergeant, and
a posting to the rural delights of Bui ford.
Unit strength has been increased with the arrivals of Julia
Claire and Simon Paul; congratulations to their parents Ted
and Bridget Fleming, and Nigel and Jane Lampard,
The annual June lunch took place on Sunday 12th June.
Regrettably the weather did not oblige: so it had to be
reorganised indoors, which was a pity, as most of the guests
are civilians, and were unable to enjoy the splendid setting of
the Mess.
Following hard on the J.une lunch, we had a July launch.
This took the shape of an evening cruise on the Thames and
was voted an extremely successful outing. It bids fair to be-
come another annual star in the School social constellation!
As well as the normal round of visits, we were able to take
the last long Ordnance Officers Course (87) to Plymouth, where
they enjoyed a well organised, and instructional visit to the
Commando Forces including ships of the RN and RFA.
TRAINING BATTALION AND DEPOT
SINCE the last notes from the Company life has been to say
the least a little hectic. Malta Platoon passed out, the salute
being taken by Lieutenant Colonel Bruce, Commanding Officer
of the Apprentices College. The Staff Band, under Captain
Tom Griffiths, provided the music and medals were presented
to Privates Manning, Twissel and Dalby.
The Company, in its entirety, then moved out on the long
journey to Barry Buddon Training Camp near Dundee. The
first evening was spent settling into our new surroundings but
this was to be the lull before the storm for the following day
our * holiday * started in earnest Mornings from 0730 were
occupied with normal basic training and afternoons until 1900,
were spent in various adventure training activities.
These
activities included canoeing under the guidance of Sergeant
'Chalky* White, abseiling with Corporal 'Legs' Dymond, who
deserves special mention for giving up part of his leave from
the Apprentices College to join us in Scotland. Sea-fishing off
Arbroath was sampled by the soldiers under the guidance of
QMSI Bill Ferguson.
The aquatic talents of the soldiers were further tested by
regular swimming in Dundee and Arbroath as well as off the
beach at the rear of the camp.
Formal education for the recruits was not neglected as
Major Colin Dutton, the SEO from Blackdown, was with us.
Transport was provided from the resources of 44 Squadron
RCT led by Corporal Bill Park and Lance Corporals Marley
and Maclean.
Whilst naming names, it would not be proper to omit
those who so ably kept us fed and watered for the time that
we were in Scotland* Corporal Toft and Privates Cork and
Edwards. The standard of food was quite excellent through-
out the whole period and contributed greatly to the overall
success of the camp,
We were fortunate to have with us, as Second-in-Comand
for the duration of the camp, Captain Joe Hastings who gave
us all the benefit of his local knowledge and became well
known for his unflapability—his guided tours of the more im-
portant local attractions certainly led to a good deal of trade
for the nearby baker's shop where Lieutenant Jon Campbell
could be found daily buying Bridies and Strawberry tarts.
Then back to Blackdown but the Company, like the Wind-
mill, never closes. The following week saw Anzio Platoon
passing out, the inspection was carried out by Lieutenant
Colonel Elliott, Commanding Officer of CAD Bramley. Medals
on this occasion were presented to Privates Kelly, Sindall, Bates
and Tambling.
We would like to congratulate Lance Corporal Andy
Green on winning the Inter-Services Junior Triple Jump earlier
49 —
Book number R0246