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RAOC Gazette - page 69

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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 OMAGH DETACHMENT.
The Boss is gone, long live the
Boss with apologies to W. Shakespeare Esq. Sergeant Ben
Bienkowski has left us and Staff Sergeant Mick Swift has
shouldered the heavy mantle of responsibility in sleepy hollow.
Sleepy Hollow! (Pause for chuckle in the background), the new
No, 1 is convinced that someone around here doesn't like him
and that they have friends in the area further south.
Life carries on but why is it that as soon as something
really important is planned, a task appears. Top priority is
completion of the ' Food Preparation Area, T so much so that
the room was still deep in wood shavings and paint pots when
CATO arrived to introduce his successor to the team. I wonder
what was thought? Alot of this blame must be laid at the feet
of the RESA, Sergeant Collins who with hinderance of^ his
inept apprentices has enthusiastically carried on with this * self
help' improvement scheme. Credit must be given where it is
due this self help scheme would not have got off the ground
without the ' help self ' abilities of Corporal Jed ' Gearstick'
Stone whose next posting should be to the Procurement Executive.
Why is it Boss that all the materials for the shack renovation
scheme always arrive during the hours of darkness?
'Gearstick' has been playing around with his Eager Beaver
and has now got it in good working order which is more than
can be said for the ' Bleep * wagon that has been entrusted to
his care—two blown engines and two gearsticks are his tally
to date. Corporal Pete Williams another No, 2 who has packed
his bags has left a newly carpeted Transit bomb wagon to his
replacement Corporal ' N a p 1 Napolitano, who will be the first
No. 2 in 3 Section to complete a full tour with the new 7/B
Wheelbarrow.
Comment from one of the QDG escorts whilst on a task,
"Another milkchurn (Yawn), Boring! Can't we have a blast
incendiary/ 1
Army Scotland
DURING the month Major Donald Way
of the Accommodation Services Unit ran
a very successful Accommodation Stores
Accountant's Training Day. This was an
opportunity to air current problems and
give an indication of the way forward.
Our S 2 Combat Supplies, Major
McKinnon, has been busy sorting out
his supply situation bedevilled with In-
dustrial unrest in the victualling Depot at
Kirkliston and the Royal Naval Arma-
ments Depot at Crombie. However, this
was short lived and we- are now back to
normal. He has now gone off to the United States for a spot of
leave; following CRAOC Lieutenant Colonel Mike Connolly
who has been to Crete leaving your scribe in the chair.
We welcomed the Corps Recruiting team who have been
on a Kape tour and, despite being harassed by paint daubers,
appear to have had a successful visit.
South West District
SPRING really looks and feels as if it has
finally arrived. As we gaze out of our sun-
lit offices at Beacon Hill in all its glory,
Bui ford seems a super place to serve in. (For-
get its the sun's gone while I was writing.)
Major Jim MeLaehlan has finally retired.
CRAOC and the RAOC Ollicers in the Dis-
trict sent him off suitably armed with his
crystal decanter after a splendid lunch. It is
always sad to say " au revoir 1 ' but then time
marches on—it happens to all of us.
The GOC. Major General Sir John Aciand KCB CBE
presented our ROWO. WO2 Jim Sharrock with his Long Service
and Good Conduct Medal for fifteen years service. The S03
(Org/Admin) felt RAOC must do the thing in style so the
OC OSU Weyhill was 'commanded' to produce a small red
velvet cushion with gold braid piping to offer up the medal to
the GOC for presentation, to W 2 Sharrock. The ADC (Scots
Guards) raised an unenthusiastic eyebrow but the General (late
Scots Guards) thought it a splendid idea, so guess who won?
The only probiem with a cushion of such magnificence was
whether to hold it or kneel on it. But sanity prevailed and the
ADC remained vertical throughout the proceedings. Our photo-
graph shows W 2 and Mrs Sharrock with the GOC.
' T r a p for a Lonely Man, 1 the drama produced by our
Chief Clerk {W02 Jim Bond) and starring as the leading man,
our S03 (S Man) Captain Lawrence Wood, went off in the
Newcome Hall, RSA Larkhill with great success in early May.
The attendance on each of the three nights was at almost full
capacity and left us all guessing up to the very last moment * who
dunnit.* The play was entered for the Army Drama Festival
and we wait with bated breath for the result in July. No truth
in the rumour that Ordnance Branch are offering their services to
Aunty Beeb on Play for Today.
We welcome our new S02 (Accommodation Services) Major
Tony Phillips to fill the spot vacated by the late and sadly missed
Major Eric Spittal. Another new arrival as 2IC of the Supply
Depot Bulford is Lieutenant Barry Lear fresh on commission-
ing. We wish both officers a very happy tour in the District.
SATO
BENBECULA
A RECENT Part Two order brought questions to the office
when it stated that W02 Leadbeater's name was Brian. On
questioning him we found this to be true and in fact some
years ago someone called him Dennis and it stuck. We would
now like to put the record straight and. ask Corps Members to
take note.
SATO, Major Gordon, has had a busy time.
Hardly
moving from his office he has re-written standing orders for the
Hebridean Ornithology Club. Corporal Jimmy Cotterill has
been aiding the SATO by donating several species of fowl which
have attacked the end of his gun. Sergeant Bob Charlton and
Corporal Alex Travell have settled in well.
On the Social Scene the Range Sergeants Mess staged a
games night recently and was shocked by the SATO Depot
SNCO's. While everyone else wore collar and tie we entered
into the spirit of things by wearing tracksuits and bow ties.
With American football style scrummaging and misuse of tiddly-
wink counters the SATO Department's reputation was upheld.
With so much to do in the Hebrides the unit have entered
the world of hobbies with great enthusiasm. W 2 Brian
Leadbeater has got into flyfishing and hopes to catch some-
thing, anything, soon.
Sergeants Dick Partridge and Bob
Charlton are enjoying the benefits of home-brewing with
numerous sessions of wine and beer tasting and Corporal Jimmy
Cotterill has purchased a pregnant ferret for rabbitting (as though
he doesn't rabbit enough already). The Department is looking
forward to the resulting rabbit and trout bar-b-ques during trie
summer.
The COC congratulating W 2 J. Sharrock after he presented htm
with the Long Service and Cood Conduct Medal at South West
District.
SUPPLY DEPOT RAOC
THE period under review saw a high turnover in personnel.
A joint party was arranged in the Civilian Rest Room to say
good-bye to Major Jim McLachlan the Depot Officer and
Mr Paddy Brannock on their retirement and Private Dave
Needham on posting to the RM Commando Course. Another
departure was Corporal Fred Robbins to the Butchery Section
at the Employment Training Centre Blackdown and con-
gratulations on his promotion to Sergeant are also in order.
Sergeant Frank Batty our Chief Clerk is also to be congratulated
on attaining his EPC(A), particularly as he passed all subjects
at the one sitting,
New arrivals included Lieutenant Barry Lear from Col-
chester, Corporal Taff Humphreys and family from Hong
Kong and Lance Corporal Mac McCarthy from 3 Para at Tid-
worth, a potential transferee into the Corps. We extend a
warm welcome to all.
STORES PLATOON
10 FIELD
WORKSHOP
SINCE our last Report a lot has happened which 1 shall try
52
Book number R0250