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RAOC Gazette - page 133

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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 Whittington also competed in the eight hundred metres and al-
though placed third he was the first RAOC runnner home. A
special mention of the ' old man of the team * WO I Les Cheetham
who took third place along with Sergeant Dave E.e Page. Lance
Corporals Mark Potter and Garry Bain in the four by two
hundred metres. WOl Cheetham also went on to win the
old soldiers race. Good efforts were also made in the field
events by Corporal Dave Coole in the high jump, coming fifth
after a two hour battle; Corporal ' K i l l e r ' Kilpalrick with the
discus and shot; Sergeant Sam McKendrick throwing the hammer
and javelin; Private Basil Compton also throwing the hammer;
Lance Corporal Mark Potter in the long jump; Sergeant Dave
Le Page throwing the javelin; and Corporal Reg Black with the
discus. Almost forgot the four by one hundred metres which
was ably run by Private Chalky Ali, Corporals Dave Coole,
Joe Meetcham and Kilpatrick who did well lo make the finals.
The team's efforts did not go unnoticed and in fact warranted
a personal letter from the Director Ordnance Services, Brigadier
Whaltey, commending them on their excellent showing.
' Well dones + are also due to Major Roger Attrill who won
the Plate Competition in the RAOC BAOR Tennis Champion-
ships, and also to Mrs Sheila Attril on winning the ladies
singles and partnered in the ladies doubles winners.
Last month we congratulated WOl Ian Birchall on his
appointment to Conductor and this month we take pleasure in
congratulating him again, this time for the award of the MBE.
They say things come in threes Ian so perhaps September will
be a good month for you too. Congratulations also to Sergeant
Sam McKendrick of G4 Real Estates who was presented with
the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal by Major General
Stanyer, Representative Colonel Commandant at the Sergeants
Mess Viersen. We had hoped to have a photograph of the
event but then that is a bit of a story,
We have said farewell to Staff Sergeant Nick Nicholson
and welcome in his place Staff Sergeant Ken White who is
looking slightly less bemused as time passes. Staff Sergeant
Dave Birch has now settled in to the trials and tribulations of life
in G3 (Staff Duties) and has even been seen to smile now and
then! Corporal Jim Hawkins of G3 Headquarters Coord is off
to Belize for six months, armed with camera. Also departed is
WOl Tommy Atkins from G3 Public Information who has gone
to Northern Ireland and in his place we welcome WOl Gordon
Bennett. Due in any day now, and destined to become the
new scribe for Headquarters BAOR GAZETTE notes—although
he doesn't know it yet—is WOl Les Jones who takes up the
covetous appointment of Staff Assistant Supply Secretariat!
Management Services Unit- BAOR
ONCE again it is time for your correspondent to pen another
epistle, this time as an outcast in Berlin. There has been one
change, SQMS Julian Thompson has returned to Viersen and
SSM Jimmy McLarty has arrived to look at FRIS Customer
Data, and following a fall and a subsequent fracture in his
foot he is becoming quite proficient on his crutches.
SSM Dave Down has also returned from his walkabout
in the foothills of the Swiss Alps, he looks fit and sunburnt,
as well he ought. He swears it was Exercise Alpine ' Back-
stop/ but really a holiday by another name!
From the rumour that reaches this area, it would appear
that Major David Rowley and staff back at base are practising
for a free-fall parachute course in the guise of the ARU in
early July. Having heard so much about it we will try and
get there—only kidding sir—will be back! The Chief Clerk (Mrs
Thelma Leeder) has the best idea and has resigned with effect
the day before the ARU takes place—but then she's a civilian.
SSM Bill Cooke and SQMS Cornfield are still yard-
sticking it down in Antwerp, SQMS John Last when not in
Spain is pursuing SALOME accompanied by SQMS Pete Years-
ley, and it would appear that the remainder of the unit are "keep-
ing a low but working profile,
Headquarters British Forces Antwerp
JAMES AND FRANK are two quite common names, placed
with Nelson and Sambrook the situation only alters slightly,
however add the ranks of Corporal and Lance Corporal,
throw in an RAOC cap badge, a location and hey presto
what comes out of the beret: —Corporal James Nelson and
Lance Corporal Frank Sambrook.
What do they do, (other than complain about no mention
in their well read GAZETTE) both being Staff Clerks, they al-
ways work hard. Headquarters BFA is a small but very
active headquarters, the work is interesting, seldom dull, if you
want a change and not a rest, this is the place for you,
f
Time however, is made for some out of trade activities,
buying a new car being one (good luck with the Spitfire Frank}[
who said ' matchbox , had stopped production.
Our chief
clerk, W02 D. Scott RA was asking what happened to the
rubber band supply! Then there was the birth of Corporal
Nelson's son Terry, well dene Jim and Louise,
When the word gets out life will become difficult; how
do you convince people that with most weekends off and a
game of bowling every three weeks, one must still put in the
hours working.
For the record Producer Nelson will direct
the production of the next pantomime here at British Forces
Antwerp. With the panto last year, a play last month (June)
and past production experience in Belize to his name, it gets
harder to convince him- he's with the RAOC and not the
BBC!
Ordnance Depot Antwerp
THE ARU went off without a hitch, the Belgian weather behaved
itself impeccably, the sun shone, the birds sang, the officers
perspired, the soldiers sweated, the Brigadier inspected, the result
was that we seemed to have everything buttoned up,
Summer Camp will be remembered by all who attended,
the camp was intended to do those things which one does not
normally do, and my goodness that's exactly what happened,
they marched, they ran, they canoed, they abseiled, they did
assault courses and then they did it all again. Chris Keelor
is a man who does everything naturally and he returned to
nature in a big way; those who have seen the photographs will
agree. Our sympathy goes to Edensor who met a rock which
broke him up and Mick Lloyd who found the assault course
very disarming. A word about " v Killer * McShane " would
certainly go amiss here. The Adjutant is in to penalty points
take thirty. The RSM got his hedgehog badge.
We* had a visit by OIC Records who explained the various
promotion structures, * Oh Well' I always thought being a Field
Marshal would be boring,
Congratulations to Staff Sergeant Buzby Rolfe on pro-
motion to W 2 and Sergeant Taylor to Staff Sergeant, and to-
Staff Sergeant Bob Hood and Private Max Hodder on the
award of their Long Service and Good Conduct Medals.
Farewell and bon voyage to the following: WOl Brian
Maynard. W 2 Alfie Hinds, Corporals Brommie Sandland and
John Nevatte, Lance Corporal Dave Pearson—all of them to
UK.
Hello and welcome to WOl John Kearney. WOZ Stuart
Laverton, Corporal Taff Williams and Lance Corporal Tony
Day,
Next month we hope to give details of the Summer Ball,
and photographs of the Summer Camp, Staff Sergeant Gay Rash
is off on holiday to the USA, so far in the eight months he
has been with us he has been in attendance for three of them!
Wanted One female Volkswagen to mate with Lance
Corporal Pow's Love Bug.
3 Base Ammunition Depot
OUR last month in Bracht has been marred by the tragic death
of W 2 Michael O'Neill whilst on active duty in Northern
Ireland, The whole unit was completely shattered at the news.
We send our deepest sympathy to his wife Hilda, and his two
children Christian and Caroline.
Under a cloud our Freedom Celebrations went off success-
fully. The itinerary got under way when the Burgermeister
accompanied by the Commandant Colonel Peter Dodworth in-
spected a quarterguard commanded by Sergeant Budgie Edwards,
In the evening the Beating of Retreat took place in front of
a crowd of several thousands, with superb drills and music being
provided by 1 DERR.
A little light relief was provided by Corpora] Jimmy
Morris during the flag lowering ceremony. He was engulfed
by eighteen foot of Union Jack whilst trying to lower the
flag in time with the Corps and Stadt banners. This caused
much amusement, amongst The predominantly German crowds
who could barely see his hands and wrists underneath all that
cloth.
Our sportsmen still carry on in their winning ways. Our
athletics team, formed after our Inter Departmental Athletics
Meeting have taken the limelight by winning the Rhine Area
Minor Unit Athletics Competition. They followed this by
winning the Team Challenge Cup and the Team Track Cup at
the RAOC (BAOR) Travers Clarke Meeting at Padcrbom.
Special mention should be made to SI Malcolm Shaw APTC
for his tremendous performance in winning in the eight hundred
metres and secondly together with W 2 Pete Knoll organising
— 106 —
Book number R0250