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RAOC Gazette - page 53

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Full title RAOC Gazette
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Publication date 1981
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Early date 1981
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Transcription The Freedom awarded is also in recognition of the strong
links between the civilian staff of the Unit and the city or town
over a long period and the close associalion between the civilian
and military members of the Unit.
After the k Freedom of a City ' has been offered to a Unit,
it is accepted at a formal ceremony. This is usually a parade,
At the ceremony the municipality presents a document to the
Commanding Officer of the Unit which says that the Unit is
awarded this honour.
The honour of the ' Freedom of a City* entitles the Unit
to march through the city with fixed bayonets, colours and a
military band,
THE FREEDOM
OF
A CHAIR
SPANDAU
ON page 41 we record the Freedom of Spandau being received
by Ordnance Services Berlin. Spandau has a Jong and interesting
history.
In 1160 the Askanians fortified the island at the junction
of the Spree and Havel rivers, where the citadel now stands, to
protect the important crossing point on the trade route between
Brandenburg/ Magdeburg and Poland.
The settlement which
grew up around the fortifications acquired the name Spandau
and this was formalised with the granting of the city charter in
1232
CORINNE
PUPILS of St Peter's Primary School at Plymouth have been
raising money since January towards a special chair for a local
handicapped girl. Their efforts were rewarded when the chair
was finally handed over to twelve year old Corinne Thompson.
The children raised more than £175 towards the chair, which
has a tray and footrests. and will make life a lot easier for
Corinne and for her parents.
The childrens T efforts were supplemented by Corporal
Dennis Tiplady of the Corps who donated £211 which he raised
during a sponsored ninety mile run.
The Askanian fortification was developed into the form
seen today between 1560 and 1594 but the walls and moats laid
out around the city during the Thirty Years War, and the sub-
sequent restriction on building in the fields near the walls,
hampered the economic development of the city so that the
growth of Spandau was stunted for a long period. During the
eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, many state armament
factories and shot casting works were established within the
protected area of the citadel and barracks and military in-
stallations typified the Spandau scene.
In 1920 Spandau ceased to be an independent city and
became the eighth district of the then formed Greater Berlin and
a new phase in its development began which has lead through
the destruction of the second world war to the present day.
Today, Spandau is an industrial centre and housing develop-
ment area. It is one of the most appealing districts of Berlin with
the character of a ' garden city' since a far sighted development
plan, and the legacy of the years of building restrictions outside
the fortified city, has ensured that large areas have been retained
undisturbed for recreation.
A feature of the post-war history of Spandau has been the
close link between the British military units and the borough.
Ordnance Services, tracing an unbroken link with Spandau since
1945, is proud to be a part of this close German/British
association.
THE FREEDOM
FOR
Corporal Dennis Tiplady who raised over £200 on a super
marathon run talks to Corinne Thompson aged twelve as she
tries our her new special chair.
Corporal Tiplady, aged thirty, from Grove Hill, Middlesboro
joined the Army twelve years ago. At the moment he is
attached to the Logistic Regiment, 3 Commando Brigade Royal
Marines based in Plymouth.
FOR THE SECOND
TIME
LIEUTENANT COLONEL HOWARD MILLER retired from
the appointment of Corps Treasurer last month after a military
career which spanned forty three years starting way back in
1938 in the Territorial Army.
He transferred to RAOC during the Second World War, was
commissioned in 1943, becoming an IOO in the invasion
marshalling areas of the then Southern Command.
After service in Egypt and Europe he attended Manchester
University IM Course in 1952 and then served in UK ? Singa-
pore and Cyprus before retiring from the Corps in 1971.
After a short period with DOE he joined the Corps
Secretariat at Deepcut as a Retired Officer, serving under
several Corps Secretaries—Brigadier Burkin, Brigadier Parnaby,
Colonel Jones and finally Brigadier Dennison.
On his second retirement from RAOC we wish him every
happiness in the future and thank him for the excellent service
he has given the Corps over the years.
OF A CITY
THE honour of a * Freedom of a City T is awarded to a Unit
by a city or town as a gesture of friendship. It is a recognition
of the good relationship and close ties between the city or town
and the Unit.
38
Book number R0250