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RAOC Gazette - page 215

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Publication date 1977
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Transcription Commander British Forces Cyprus, Air Vice Marshal Austin-
Smith* presenting the Long Service and Goad Conduct Medal to
Sergeant Sid Barker RAOC.
Sergeant Sid Barker, our photographer in MPIO, was
recently married to Miss Margaret McCombe in Lurgan Northern
Ireland. The Commander British Forces Cyprus, Air Vice
Marshal Austin-Smith presented him with the Long Service and
Good Conduct Medal on his return to Cyprus, However, we are
assured this has nothing to do with his previous long period of
bachelorhood.
The social scene is quite hectic with invitations to fare-
well and welcoming parties in the various contingents. There
are also, of course, medal parades—an occasion peculiar to
UNFTCYP at which those soldiers of all Contingents who have
served with UNFTCYP for ninety days, receive their UN
Medal from the Force Commander. One can end up rather
legless after the subsequent celebrations. Major Roger Thomas,
the Force Ordnance Officer, finds there are not enough days in
the week in which to fit his many social activities.
British Forces Hong Kong
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However we can offer
hope of a bumper article next
month, for despite our repeated assurances, most branches have
drawn the obvious inference from SQMS Malcolm Edwards
non-contribution to THE GAZETTE and his recent posting to
Headquarters Northern Ireland.
G Branch clerks, an ebullient and over-confident group of
young and some not so young men, wish the world to know
that driven by Corporal Mick Langston, Messrs Tocb, Hartley,
Nimmo et al achieved second place in the Headquarters British
Forces Basketball League, Emboldened by this success they
had not only the temerity to challenge the officers of the Staff
but the imprudence to beat them. *' Fools rush in
"
We say goodbye to W02 Brian Davis of JSPRS posted to
Depot and Training Battalion, Sergeant Cedric D'Souza to
Dulmen, Sergeant Steve Humphry to Headquarters DGOS and to
their families. We wish them well at their new postings. Welcome
to Sergeant Dick Snell and Steve Morgans and their families, we
hope that they have enjoyable tours,
COMPOSITE ORDNANCE DEPOT
" THE moving finger writes and having writ, moves on." It is
unlikely that Sergeant Mick Cheshire and Ohmar Khyam have
a great deal in common, but Sergeant Cheshire's loquacious
moving finger has moved on, and up, to ICP, leaving the task
of completing the Corps GAZI-TTK Notes to (he encumbent.
Not being a Ten Pin Bowling enthusiast I find the notes he
left me rather bewildering!
In this bounteous land, in the midst of plenty, there seems
to be relatively little happening (that anyone will admit to!).
The mid-summer malaise is upon us and the COD lies basking
like some prostrate
giant turtle under the copper sun. Like
fc
Tennyson's Lotus Eaters' wc sit on a euphoric concrete
island, totally unaffected by the sea of hustle and bustle which
surrounds us. Only mad dogs and those trying to live up to
the DGOS' challenge to the over forties are seen to venture
forth,
The placid calm is broken only by the distant and muted
sounds of phrenetic activity from the Ammunition Sub Depot—
activity which may have some small connection with the visit
of Brigadier J. H. Lawrence-Archer, Director of Land Service
Ammunition, but who can tell?
The sporting event of the season, involving the Gladitorial
elite of the colony, resulted in a win for the COD, It was of
course, that noblest of indoor sports, darts. To be specific,
the Combined Service Darts League Doubles. Sweeping all
before them with a keen eye and steady hand, Staff Sergeant
* Manny * Avellano and Sergeant Roger Blackwood came
through victorious. To make the rout complete it was an all
COD final with Staff Sergeant Pete Waugh and Sergeant Ray
Pembroke taking the laurels for runners-up.
With temperatures at 33° Celcius, the Unit Swimming Gala
provided a source of blessed reliefs for those enthusiastic and
those just plain hot.
The highlight of the afternoon's entertainment was the
Novelty Race, with the contestants bedecked in the gossamer
night attire of wives and girl friends. The obstacles would have
done justice to a combat-patrol, but with the aid of a surrep-
titiously concealed pin (where we wonder?) Captain Ken Collins
managed to burst his balloons in record time. After numerous
' infringements' the teams were faced with a ' one man play-off'
the event eventually being won by the ADPI—SPSD team.
Further events were won as follows; —
Individual Events: Individual Freestyle, Lance Corporal
Spencer, REME and VSD; Individual Breastroke, W02 Chandler,
HQ and ICP; Individual Backstroke, Private Chen, REME and
VSD.
Team Events: Freestyle Relay, REME and VSD; Medley
Relay, SPSD and ADPI; Chain of Command, SPSD and ADPI;
Water Polo, REME and VSD.
The overall winners of the swimming gala were the com-
bined REME and VSD team with ADPI and SPSD a very
close second.
We offer congratulations to Conductor Paul Chisholm on
the presentation of his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal
by the DDOS, Colonel Styles and to W02 Paul Sowerby on
the award of his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal by
Brigadier Lawrence-Archer during his visit.
We bid farewell to Captain Owen of Barrack Services, W02
Dudley, Sergeant Hooton RAPC, and Corporals Stone and
Stewart.
Welcome to W02 Sumner, Staff Sergeant Stead,
Corporals McKirdy and Fleck.
Captain
— 166 —
Lee makes a farewell presentation to Captain
Owen who has handed over to Captain Kirk*
Peter
Book number R0246