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RAOC Gazette - page 116

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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 Directorate of Land Service Ammunition
news that Pam Callaghan (ADP) and John Kneller (LSA
roof), two "of our civilian clerks, had been seen walking
v :her along the Ridgeway one recent Sunday set Didcot
»ht. This was no over forties canoodling, but a gallant effort
wet and windy weather to raise money for the Royal Com-
nweafih Society for the Blind. A magnificent £150.60 resulted
m civilian and military sponsors in Vauxhall Barracks. Our
inks go to the heroic pair now demuddied and back to
rmaJ. They in turn are very grateful to all their sponsors
J financial advisers.
We congratulate WO I G. A. Smith of 1st Division on the
ird of an MBE in the recent birthday honours list.
The annual cocktail party was held and in spite of the
arable weather, was a great success- The rain stopped long
ough for the Staff Band to Beat the Retreat on the lawn. The
rdens were looking excellent and formed an impressive back-
ound for the party to which a number of Didcot residents
,d been invited.
Forthcoming events to look forward to are the Annual
;te. Officers Mess tennis matches and the cricket organised
r Lieutenant Colonel B. E. Lane. There is all this, and the
MciaJ opening of the Didcot Civic Centre by the RAOC Staff
md.
We say farewell to Major Geoff Thomas and family on their
ay to sunny Aidershot and shortly afterwards Major Mike
avison on his way to the UMIST Course at Manchester. We
so say farewell to Captain Mike Wharmby and family on
osting to Germany.
Now that the Small Bore shooting season is at an end we
ave managed to count up the successes of our Rifle Club.
achievements are;—UKLF Inter Unit Com-
L mong their
etition, fifth; UK Army Match 113, eighth; South East District
iter Unit Knockout, winners; RAOC Home Cup, winners;
:AOC Baker Cup, runners-up; RAOC Association Cup,
dinners.
Congratulations are in order to Lieutenant Colonel Smith,
rtajor Thomas, WOl Taylor, Staff Sergeants Wrotchford, Clark
,nd Proctor.
Directorate of Supply Management
VEHICLE DIVISION
>UR man with UKLF Fleet Manager, WOl Wilkinson, (worth
en pressed men, well almost) was sent kicking and protesting
o a Middle Management Development Course at Deepcut. To
>arody the Iron Duke, " I don't know what effect it will have
>n Mr Wilkinson, but by God it is good for resettlement."
Last month I noted the retirement of Mr Ron Jones from
VIT Spares Provision after service in Chilwell since 1946. His
biographical notes have since appeared. It is of special interest
hat Mr Jones enlisted in RASC just after the outbreak of war.
tie served on the Continent and was evacuated from Dunkirk.
rhence to the Middle East, where he was captured by the Afrika
[Corps in 1942. He eventually came to rest in a camp in
Savaria. His fortunes changed and he was released by the
\mericans in April 1945 and by the RASC in early 1946, He
lext came to rest in a camp in ChilwelL Ron has been con-
nected with the Garrison Church throughout his career here.
He will maintain that interest as he continues as part-time
organist.
In spite of good intentions, I am constrained to mention
the Division's runners/walkers. Five of the Military Cell of MT
Stores Provision Branch entered the Otmoor Seven Towns Run
and Walk organised by our former Divisional Colonel now in
Bicester. They assert that they all returned most creditable
times.
And so loyal readers (may the sun shine on both of you)
as promised, more and other dynamic sportsnews. Mr Arthur
Boot (of Management Services and Winemaking fame, not in
that order) lurks with quiet confidence near the head of the
Garrison Squash League. Major Lawton and Mr Keith Clinton
occupy the centre ground in Division 3 whilst Lieutenant Colonel
Davies hovers Leicester City-like in the space between Divisions
III and IV. The Garrison tennis team looks remarkably like a
Vehicle Division benefit. In a recent Eastern District Cup
match, the Garrison Commander led five from DSM to victory.
He was sufficiently moved to comment upon this remarkable
state of affairs. Major D, N. Williams captains this team with
never-failing vigour and good humour. It has not won much,
but one meets such a nice class of people at tennis matches.
We in DSM are likewise represented at golf. Our golfers,
Major Lawton, Captain Airdrie and Staff Sergeant Chapman
A consignment 1 or* new first aiders for Vehicle Division.
have played for the Garrison on a number of occasions. One
game was at the new Water Sports Complex near Telford, also
known as Wrekin Golf Course. We are told that the pro shop
has a nice line in spiked flippers. Heard on that course: " It's
a funny game golf " ; "Aye, but it's na meant to be."
We say farewell this month to Major John Schreuder who
leaves the mysteries and vagaries of 'A' Vehicle Spares Provision
for the better life in Headquarters Scotland, One of the many
advantages of the move is the solution of his (and our) com-
munication problem. In his stead, we welcome Major Ken
Mortimer from Headquarters Wales, These outlandish locations
make Chilwell feel less of an outstation.
We congratulate (left to right in photograph) Mrs June
DunniclifL Mrs Jean Pooley, Miss Carol Berridge, Mr Moir
Rawson and Mr Keith Cook who have been awarded St John's
Ambulance First Aid Certificates. Colonel David Porter appeared
in Direct Support at the award ceremony.
There was a marked sense of humour failure at a recent
piece in London Day by Day in the Daily Telegraph. It was with
profound shock that we realised Vehicle Division had been
confused with the Depot. Further, there was an unattributed
assertion that the Census Group had declared a visitor's Army
vehicle to be non-existent since it appeared to have no related
records. All of this went hard against the grain. The Depot
staff was highly amused. We in Vehicle Branch were not. We
have now advised Peterborough!
Directorate of Supply Computer Services
PREVIOUS habitues of Div 2 may be interested to read that
Colonel Bob Herdman's ' Farewell * reorganisation reconstituted
Teams 211 and 216 with only modest borrowings against Div 3's
establishment and so we welcome aboard James Lawrence-Archer
and Jan Sawicki, Colonel Herdman has left DSCS for S Man 1
having served here, man and boy (Col and Lt Col) for five
years. We wish him well at Andover and welcome as new
* Head of Division,' Colonel David Man, late of SHAPE and
no doubt intending to knock us into same. We await his * In-
augural ' reorganisation with bated breath!
The highlight of the Sergeants Mess social scene was the
attendance at a Ladies Dinner Night of Major General and Mrs
Brown. It was the first time that they had attended a Ladies
Night in a Sergeants Mess, and, to her delight, Mrs Brown was
asked to sign the Visitors Book (another first). Other guests
were Brigadier and Mrs Lawrence and Captain and Mrs Bennett,
RPC.
On the sporting front our representatives have been busy:
Captain Carl Hoe is now in Newport Rhode Island at the
end of the Transatlantic Race; he is seventh in his class in
overall fifty third position (provisional).
W02 Dave Kuester, now minus his right knee cap as a
result of a traffic accident (see February's GAZETTE) has made
a most laudable comeback to athletics, representing COD
Bicester in the javelin at Travers Clarke (he came second) and
gaining selection for two Army Meetings to date. No more
excuses for avoiding BFT!
Captain Roger Atkey and Mr Peter Hart (Helms) ably
supported by Lieutenant Colonels Louis John and Owen Brady
Book number R0250