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RAOC Gazette - page 28

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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 .••••/act the Admin Officer (who is equally continually taking
"••,-,^ive action) to ascertain why. when there are only thirty three
^ parking "spaces at the School he has been allocated number
APPRENTICES
COLLEGE
VI' COMPANY.
The Permanent Staff have noticed a few
changes. Sergeant Fred Keogh left for Antwerp to be replaced
by Sergeant Trev Watson from Headquarters Company. We
hope both enjoy their new environments. We then said good-
bye to Lance Corporal Stan Matthews who once more donned
his donkey suit and headed back to his regiment—the Blues
; r d Royals. We hear that he is thinking of transferring to the
r ,>rps and wish him all the best.
Then the Company took off en masse for Fremington in
ijevon for our Spring Camp. The weather was not all that we
hoped for—indeed it was terrible. A combination of Spring
tide and incessant rain caused the local authorities to ask us
to step in and help with flood relief. The river Taw burst its
banks in several places and many villages suffered badly. Our
photograph shows Arnhem Platoon sandbagging a flooded bridge
in the Barnstaple Area. Full credit is due to Alamein Platoon.
who were called out at some unearthly hour to assist and put in
;ome five hours solid effort. Their labours were gratefully
received by the local population—well done lads!
Despite the terrible weather, the training went on and a full
programme was enjoyed by all. At one time or another every-
one tried their hand at surf canoeing, orienteering, escape and
evasion, pony trekking, swimming, small bore shooting and the
assault course. A creditable performance was shown by all and
our congratulations go to Arakan Platoon on winning the inter
platoon competition.
Captain Richard Ecctes shot straight off from Fremington
to Aviemore to aid and abet the College Ski-ing Team in the
Junior Army Championship. Both 'A' and ' B * teams acquitted
'hemselves admirably and this photograph shows the teams with
Captain Eccles outside the Nethyb ridge h u t
When everyone finally got back to Deepcut, we found our-
selves out on the terrnly Assault March competition. After a four
mile march and once over the Blacfcdown assault course we
headed for the thirty metre range and came home quite tired
Once again, well done Arakan Platoon but this term's recruits—
Aden Platoon—show a lot of promise for next term.
Thirty six boys from Arnhem and Alamein Platoons left
the College in April after being inspected by Brigadier
Thornton, the Commander Training Centre. Before the parade,
he spectators were entertained by Aden Platoon carrying out
a dry section attack across the square. Everybody involved put
a lot of effort into the day and all who attended were suitably
impressed.
Our thanks go to Brigadier Thornton for passing the lads
fit for duty and presenting the following prizes: The Sergeants
Cup for the Best All Rounder—A/Sergeant Burns (Ardennes);
The Hayes Cup for External Leadership—A/Corporal Meek
(Aden); The Nockles Cup for Skill-at-Arms —- A/Corporal
Purcell (Arakan); The Toch H Cup for the Best Scholar—
A/Lance Corporal Russell (Ardennes).
Photo Captain Eccles.
W 2 J. Finch, CSM 'A' Company RAOC Apprentice College,
delivers the groceries during flood relief activities whilst on
Spring Camp near Barnstaple in Devon.
Photo Captain Eccles.
Arnhem Platoon of 'A 1 Company, RAOC Apprentices College
sandbagging in Devon during Flood Relief Operations.
When all was finished the boys went home on leave after a
very good term's work and the permanent staff headed for the
Sergeants Mess to recharge their batteries.
Oh! By the way, has anyone seen Sergeant Gatley recently,
If you find him please send him back—we haven't seen him since
mid-February!
Headquarters Scotland
AS reported elsewhere the Inspector *
RAOC, Colonel Rogers, completed his
visits to the Accommodation Services Unit
on the mainland and the Hebrides and at
the same time inspected the stores section
RAOC RA Range Hebrides.
Our golfers managed to retain ' T h e
[ssue' but only just, and the Regional
Depot Stirling team are out for revenge
on the next occasion.
Major Roynon-Jones headed off for a
week's ski-ing in Italy earlier in the month
and returned in one piece with the
regulation sun tan.
ACCOMMODATION
SERVICES UNIT SCOTLAND.
It is so
long since we appeared in print that we are almost ashamed to
show our faces, but as with all the Defence Studies and Re-
views in progress we may not much longer have a recognisable
face to show so we'd better get in now if we can.
In common with all other Accommodation Service Units in
the United Kingdom we have survived the massed attacks of the
Management Services Unit Accommodation Exchange Stores
Study Team and the Inspector of Establishments (Army) Staff
Inspection Team with heavy casualties and are standing by to
receive the next wave,
Manpower cuts being very much in the air, we have said
goodbye without replacement to three Accommodation Services
Accountants: Mr Andy Cunningham from Inverness (also late
of Benbecula and Craigiehall) retiring after sixteen years with
us following over thirty years of Army Service; closely followed
by Mr Charles Cassie (Inverness and Fort George) and Mr Pat
O'Halloran (Edinburgh) each of whom retired with broadly
similar amounts of service. We wish them and their families
every happiness and thank them for their long years of devoted
service.
We have also said goodbye to Major Paddy Wilson on post-
ing to Brunei as Garrison Adjutant and will sadly miss his un-
failing presence as the ' official welcomer' to the Stirling
Officers Mess. We welcome his successor Captain Peter Hawkins
and Mrs Pearl Hawkins and wish them an enjoyable tour.
We were pleased to welcome Colonel Rogers on his
Technical Inspection of the Unit (and delighted that Mrs
Rogers was able to accompany him). He expressed himself as
well satisfied but unable to offer any hope of an end to the
continuing saga of manpower cuts.
Book number R0250