RAOC Gazette - page 196
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 |
ORDNANCE DEPOT HIGHLIGHTING this month's news, of course, is the visit to Northern Ireland by Her Majesty The Queen. Captain and Mrs Jim Bolt and WOl and Mrs John Over on the military side, and Miss Mabel McCaw and Mrs Ivy Gibson, of the civilian staff, attended a Garden Party in the grounds of Hills- borough Castle. Another highlight has been our Comcen's attainment of a Gold Star Award and this at a first attempt The football team is training hard for the forthcoming season under the critical eye of Staff Sergeant Trevor (Coach) Griffiths. He is insistent that only service commitments prevented him accepting the appointment recently accepted by Mr Ron Greenwood. Meanwhile, up on the rugby pitch, Corporal ' Red' Han- cock can be found putting his enthusiastic warriors through their paces. We hope all this activity brings success in the coming season. Our new games room and multi-gym are now in full use, although even with these extra facilities the Hilton Club is still the main attraction on a Wednesday and Saturday evening. The Depot ' over forty * Club joined up with other similarly elderly members of the Corps at Lis burn early one Saturday morning in July in order to * lift the gauntlet' thrown down by the DGOS. Led by the CRAOC; timed by fresh-faced RAOC Captains; encouraged by APTC staff and jeered at by children from the MSQs they set off hot-foot in pursuit of the coveted certificate. The results were as staggering as the com- petitors. A 62.5% qualified under the timings laid down, and the majority of the remainder were beaten not by the dis- tance but by the clock. Captain Jim Bolt from the VSD came in first, having assiduously trained on a diet of Guinness and NSM cigarettes and was additionally rewarded by the presenta- tion of an RAOC Northern Ireland tie in Oakley House Officers Mess. A team consisting of Staff Sergeant Bob Watson, Sergeant Ian Laing, Corporals Ron Ellis, Mick Diskin, Taff Thomas and Lance Corporal Geordie Horsman went to Chichester to take part in a twenty five mile' march to mark the centenary of the Royal Military Police. All returned sporting medals and sore feet despite the valiant efforts of their medic, Corporal Rick Martin. Congratulations are due to Captain Stan Matthews and his wife on the birth of their son and also to Staff Sergeant Bob Watson on promotion to that rank. We have said farewell to Mr Mac Blair, our civilian chief clerk, who has retired after eleven years in the job. Best wishes go to him and our other departees, Captain Matthews, Staff Sergeant Atkin and Lance Corporals Balfour and Hague. , We welcome Captain Pettier and Captain Jenkins, Sergeants Griffiths and Williams, Lance Corporals Kennedy and Chambers and Privates Fazakerly, Holland, Beattie and Fallan. ^ FDS SINCE we last reported we have moved from the comforts of the Aew storehouse into our own shed—Romney 8. To compensate for the shivering anticipated in winter, we should be able to eliminate the amount of stores which get temporarily lost—though we hasten to add this is NOT due to the fact we are next door to the Stores Sub Depot stock. Our postings-in include Corporal Alf Scott, Privates Ralph Wedlock, Norman Fazakerly and Dutch Holland. Our new clerk, Lance Corporal Terry Carlin, has made himself at home by making a .' Boob of the Week' shield. We hope he isn't going to be the first one to earn it. Private Geordie Hammond continues to get the 'Friday afternoon Flu.' It's funny how the thought of Regimental Training seems to upset his system. United Kingdom Land Forces ORDNANCE BRANCH THE event of the month has to be Major Bill Ford's selection for promotion to Lieu- tenant Colonel in 1978- We congratulate Bill and No. 2 Selection Board on both having done a good job. Congratulations, too, to Major Brian Allen who has at last joined those of us who display a paranoid interest in the mortgage interest rate and travel claims. Brigadier Smith has been visiting the South East of his parish this month. By the time these notes are printed he will, in common with Major Allen and Major Ford, have seen 10 Ordnance Support Battalion in the field in Zealand on Exercise Arrow Express. Then on to Kenya: it's tough at the top! Our new Chief Clerk, W02 Alan Braithwaite, has just volunteered himself as the Corps ski-ing representative, a development we view with suspicion. Someone has to stay be- hind and mind the Branch. Major John Evans is still flushed from his success in the recent Association of Linguists Examinations, which he passed with distinction. This month he visits Paris and the French Army Staff College for the Higher Logistics Course. Doubt- less he will again be flushed with success but will he pass with distinction? We say farewell to COO's Personal Assistant, Private Mo Thompson, and wish her well in her new post in MOD. We welcome her successor Private Mairead Cassidy on her first posting in WRAC. We also say farewell to Mr Trevor Symes who moves to Survey and promotion and welcome Mr Bill Offer in his place. HEADQUARTERS DESPITE the usual extreme reluctance by those concerned to part with anything that might be construed as 'classified' in- formation, and with the added difficulty that, even if such information is unclassified, it is not always printable, only a few meagre jottings have been gleaned. Most of the happenings this month are concerned with sundry comings and goings, as we are in the midst of the leave season and most people are taking full advantage of this. How- ever, W02 George Dey still found time, in between periods of leave, to attend the RMP Centenary March in Chichester, and Lance Corporal Keith Mills has at last managed to pass his RFC. G Intelligence has undergone a transformation upon the arrival of Staff Sergeant Roy Sumner from G Operations; he has recently taken over the hammock vacated by Staff Sergeant Derek Shipley. Despite being on leave at the time these notes are written, there is no doubt that when he returns Conductor Iain Leggatt will be once more resuming his 5,000 metre bashes around the Wilton sports field. One can only hope that this is not a portent of things to come as it is a sight witnessed with a certain amount of trepidation by the more senior Staff Clerks amongst us! W02 Pete Morris has not only had his relief nominated but has also received his posting order which will send him on promotion at the end of November to the RAOC School to take up the appointment, it is believed, of WO IC Clerical Training; his arrival is no doubt being anticipated with dire foreboding by those for whom he will assume responsibility! His sidekick Corporal Steve Evans has also had his relief nominated but is being kept guessing at the moment as to his ultimate destination, Arrivals: WOl O'Shaughnessy, Sergeant Phil Cross and Sergeant Walsh. Departures: Sergeant Terry Houghton to MOD, and Lance Corporal Val Mahoney WRAC to civilian life and marriage. Our best wishes go with them both, South East District VOLLEYBALL has become very popular in the Headquarters. RAOC stalwarts in- clude SSM Ted Pluck—the Superinten- ding Clerk and Staff Sergeant Kevin Hudson of GSD, who is the captain of the General's team—no less. Staff Hudson used to be famous for cricket too but my recent interview only elicited a ' no com- ment.* Perhaps that One match they played was not worthy of Comment, any- way Staff can easily foist future cricket problems onto Private Richard Walker his new assistant. Private Walker replaces Private Keith Douglas who is now at Headquarters Northern Ireland. Farewells go to WOl John Couperthwaite who is now en- joying civil service life at Bamsley. He had his retirement interview with CRAOC on the twenty second anniversary of his enlistment at Ramillies Barracks, Aldershot which indicates some careful planning. We welcome WOl John Chesnaye his replacement, We also say farewell to WOl Pete Neale who is leaving 43 Command Workshop Stores Detachment at Hilsea for BAOR. Conductor John Glazier takes over and we welcome him to the fold. I5l — |
| Book number | R0246 |