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RAOC Gazette - page 27

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Corps RAOC
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Full title RAOC Gazette
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Publication date 1981
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Early date 1981
Late date 1981
Transcription Welcome to Captain Stein, Sergeants Turner, Hale and
Pittaway, Lance Corporals Lowthian, Heffer, Pringle and Sansom.
Finally our best wishes for a speedy recovery must go to
Sergeant Barry Harding, our Supercook, who has just been
diagnosed a diabetic.
Training Centre
SCHOOL OF
ORDNANCE
WE were all saddened by the news of the
death of Brigadier Alan Fernyhough who
was such a distinguished past Com-
mandant of the School and who was still
very much a familiar figure through his
regular visits both to the School and the
Officers Mess.
We have welcomed the thirty second CFOOs course which
this time includes officers from Zimbabwe and Uganda as well
as many other Commonwealth and Allied Countries. Speaking
of courses, we welcome back Captain Mike Roycroft from his
three months sabbatical at JDSC and Captain Stuart Addy, who
it is rumoured may have passed his OOs course. Welcome back
too is a slimmer, fitter Mr Jack Worthington after two months
convalescence.
Major Joe Mollett, now a confident DIY exponent, leaves us
on retirement and we welcome Captain Tony Gallagher in his
place.
In the world of sport we are about to embark on soft ball
under the aegis of Major Ray Ansel, US Army, who has already
produced the mandatory funny bats. We are also indulging in
a new sport—how to back into the personal car spaces provided
under the new car parking scheme: Captain Ian Dexter and Mrs
Linda Mungavin are thinking of reverting to bicycles instead.
Finally, around the courtyard and thanks to Lance Corporal
Dave Wrigley, we have a quarter guard to spring in the shape
of tulips standing at proper intervals, smartly to attention and
in perfect dressing.
CENTRAL VOLUNTEER
HEADQUARTERS
OUR TA Officers held their annual dinner in Headquarters
RAOC Officers Mess recently. More than seventy officers at-
tended to say goodbye to Colonel Bill Kelly who was retiring
as Colonel RAOC TA, and to welcome his successor Colonel
Bill Walker The principal guest was the DGOS Major General
Brown, and it was gratifying to have with us a number of officers
from Independent Units.
The following night the TA WOs and SNCOs held a Regi-
mental Dinner at Deepcut when Colonel ICelly was dined out
and Colonel WalkeT dined in to the music of the bagpipes
played by the Pipe Major of the Scots Guards, I understand
that very few of the local populace got to sleep until late that
night! The principal guests were Colonel Gregan, Commander
CVHQ, Captain Clifford RAPC and WOl Penrose.
Arrivals: Lieutenant Colonel Tony Camfield as S 2 A Q ;
Major Alan Taylor as S02 Trg; Staff Sergeant Steve Clark as
PSI; Sergeant Stan Andrews to Records Branch and Lance
Corporal John Murphy to RQMS Department. We welcome
them to CVHQ and trust they will enjoy their stay here.
TRAINING
COMPANY
THE OC, Major Jim Keating, has been wandering around for
days, complaining of tennis elbow which he blames on either
hockey, shooting, cross country, running or from relaxing on
his settee at home. Although he receives plenty of sympathy, we
fail to see the connection with tennis. However, it is common
belief that the real cause is over celebrating his posting to Hong
Kong as CO,
We certainly appear to have more than our fair share of
gladiators with the likes of Sergeant Lonnen—Army Cross
Country, Sergeant Smith—Army Pistol, Sergeant Blunn—Round
the World Sailor, Corporal Nonnis—Army badminton, Corporal
Flanders — WRAC triathlon, Private Akinlami — Combined
Services and Scottish boxing representative. Corporals Barry,
Crawford, Daniels and Private Bolus—Corps rugby, Lance
Corporal Hawker—Corps football—not forgetting the Training
Centre representatives—Second Lieutenants Argyle, Bristow and
Whitaker—rugby, QMSI Spree—squash, Sergeants Franklin,
Hollows, Osborne—cross country and Corporals (Slim) Jennians
and Ross—hockey. Quite an array of talent, especially as we
have not included W 2 Evans and his shooting team. I wonder
when the work is being done—don't tell IE(A).
After the continual ear bashing we all receive from QMSI
Ron Spree, the Company now boasts a one hundred per cent
pass rate. Well done all. We also boast that ninety nine pot
cent of the Company subscribe to Corps funds, come along
George and Dodger, please make it one hundred per cent.
Corporal ' Windsor Davis' Egan has just returned from the
All Arms Drill and Skill-at-Arms courses to give Corporal Jock.
Thomas a helping hand. Although it's good to see him back,
Jock Thomas can be heard muttering, " Why, oh why did he
come back! His jokes are worse than Tony Blackburn's/'
Corporals Ford, Flanders and ' Flash ' Golding have been
away again engaging in adventurous training pursuits in the
West Country under the watchful eye of W02 Chapman (RLO).
Which poses the question. What is the attraction—Wedlock,
Flanders or Miss Miller?
We arc currently preparing for the forthcoming athletic and
swimming competitions, ably led by Second Lieutenants Ling
and Le Var (athletics) and Bristow (swimming). We hope to
repeat last seasons successes.
Preparations are also going
ahead for the next inter-pkitoon boxing competition to be held
in June under the direction of QMSI Spree.
We are about to embark on a new system for recruit in-
takes, effective from September, to be known as the Marshall
Plan. Two platoons will form (each of thirty six recruits) to-
gether once per month instead of one platoon forming up every
two weeks. No doubt our departing CO will be kept well in-
formed of the results of this change when tucked away in his
' s n u g ' at Bicester!
In honour of a visit from the WRAC Staff Band for a
recruit passing out parade, we are engaging the talent of
Corporal Judith Baker WRAC from the Orderly Room as
Medal Orderly, We only hope she remembers the occasion well
as regrettably Judith leaves us for civvy street in June. We all
wish her luck, her cheery personality will be much missed.
We say farewells to Staff Sergeant Fee and Sergeant
Lambert on promotion. Sergeants Scott, Mullen and Parker all
to BAOR. We also lost Lieutenant Brian Errington-Weddle to
the RCT at Minden and welcome in his place Lieutenant Nigel
Whittaker from his infantry attachment with the Fusiliers.
What confusion with two Whitakers. (One * t ' or two l tt's T )?
We also welcome Sergeant Wolfe (civvy street), Sergeant Grant
(RLO), and Corporals Daniels, Miller, Gibson and Wilde.
Finally, although last, certainly not least, all in Training
Company wish Lieutenant Colonel Mike and Mrs Marshall
every success at Bicester and hope they enjoy the change away
from Regimental life. Thank you both for your support to
Training Company during the past two years.
EMPLOYMENT
TRAINING
SCHOOL
TAILOR TRAINING
DEPT. Len Penrose continues to kick
the legs from under his boss Joe (JR) Wade, so that he can claim
substitution pay.
Two instructors for one student is the situation in the Tailor-
ing Branch when the I of E Team arrives and to add insult our
overworked instructors have to run an extra course.
This dept still can't persuade the Commandant to have his
trousers let out instead of using a safety pin.
SUPPLY SPECIALIST,
Congratulations to Sergeant Hamilton
our WRAC Instructor, who successfully accomplished a win in
the Army Ten Pin Bowling Doubles Match, with team mate
Corporal Renons WRAC of the Training Centre Guildford.
Congratulations also to all members of the branch who
successfully managed to finish the physical training seminar in the
torrential downpour.
PRINTING BRANCH.
Double congratulations are in order to
craftsman Dennis who has just completed a forty two week
printing course and has now been accepted into the RAOC in
the rank of substantive Lance Corporal to join the small but
illustrious band of overworked printers.
VEHICLE SPECIALIST WING. W02 McNaught who plays
rugby for the unit is proving that the Vehicle Specialist's skin is
not as thick as we would like people to think and he has stitches
to prove it. There is no truth in the rumour's that we have all
been made Honorary Members of the Welsh Guards after spray-
ing all their vehicles for PRE. All we are going to say is watch
out for their vehicles on the Queen's Birthday Parade and you
will see just some of our handy work. Sergeant Geoff Williams
has taken over the duties of Mess Silver Member and can be
heard talking about changing his Capri for a Rolls.
We welcome Sergeant Bob Law and say farewell to Sergeant
John Garrett who is on his way to Hong Kong.
SUPPLY SPECIALIST
BRANCH.
WOl Williams is con-
tinually to be found prowling the corridors in an attempt to
Book number R0250