RAOC Gazette - page 167
Image details
| Corps | RAOC |
|---|---|
| Material type | Journals |
| Book page | |
| Chapter head | |
| Chapter key | |
| Chapter number | |
| Full title | RAOC Gazette |
| Page number | |
| Publication date | 1981 |
| Real page | |
| Colour | No |
| Grey | No |
| Early date | 1981 |
| Late date | 1981 |
| Transcription |
; championship medals during 1978, 1979, 1980 and 1981 with the COD Teams, Seven members of the Team won at least one in- dividual trophy each when they competed in the RAOC In- dividual swimming championships which were held on the same day as the Team championships. In two of the Individual events we swept the board. We welcome this month Major D. R. Ells (for a short while before posting to USA), Staff Sergeant Miller, Corporals Balfour and Beard and Privates Dufneld, Lewis, Parker and Chudleigh. Our best wishes go to those who have left; Conductor Halton on discharge, Sergeant Mellitt, Corporals Home, Worthington and Hitchen, Lance Corporals Edwards and Oram, all on posting. Central Ordnance Depot Bicester HEADQUARTERS WITH the excitement of following Thunderer RAOC in the Observer Trans- Atlantic race and the success achieved by Major John Ross and Captain Carl Hoe, the weeks have passed very quickly. We also hosted the RAOC Officers' Club Garden Party at the Graven Hill Mess— another success thanks to the hard work of Major Malcolm Cossens. To cap it all 16 Battalion had their all ranks Bar-B-Q last night—hence the fuzziness of these notes and yes that was a resounding success too! The Commandante Brigadier Richard Cooke, has gone off to the USA to sail the first leg of the return of Thunderer RAOC. The day he arrived in the States the temperature was up in the nineties—with Colonel Harry Higgins taking over we can only suggest that was two of them in the hot seat. Congratulations to Major David Furness-Gibbon MBE on the award of the MBE and his selection for Lieutenant Colonel —the first celebration drinks went down well; he was slightly put out by the low number who attended his second celebration, it was when he mentioned it to me that I pointed out he forgot to invite us! Still on the MS side, we welcome Lieutenant Colonel Nichols as the Chief Planning Officer, Major Bryan Thompson (a transferee from the Queen's) as 2IC 2 Sub-Depot and Captain Peter Hamp as a WSO. Who was the Officer who, if you'll pardon the expression, nearly went full cycle and instead of being a member of a Board of Inquiry rode off the rails and now has to account for his bike. Get well soon Lieutenant John Alford. W/Corporal June Pickard has had a good month too! Successfully passed her Bl Supply Clerks course and has been promoted. Sadly we bade farewell to WOl Alan Wbitehxmse on his retirement but a happy welcome to WOl Pete Bath to Planning Branch. 16 Battalion BATTALION HEADQUARTERS. Our Documents Clerk W/Private Phyliss Hylton has become a part timer, taking part in netbali and athletics both in the UK and in Hong Kong. Our Courses Clerk Private Andy Warn am is away on his RPC2 Course, marching around the Battalion square and our ORS Staff Sergeant Denis Palmer has at last taken a well deserved leave, allowing the rest of Battalion staff to have a well deserved rest, but as all these people are going we welcome back our Battalion Discipline Clerk, W/Private Linda Monk, from her many travels, Wimbledon the last time around! After sitting around watching tennis for two weeks she's just raring to go away from Battalion again. Finally we offer our many congratulations to W/ Lance Corporal Chris Morrell on recent promotion and to W/Lance Corporal Angie Tuckett on passing her Bl Course. Well done girls! Congratulations go to Lance Corporals Martin Keep, Tam Queen and Bill Ronnie, whose wives all gave birth to first additions; all baby boys. Also to Sergeant Brian Unwin and wife, a son. The birth rate in 'A* Company seems to be I Q , creasing—more potential Angels'. Just one last point the Admin Officer said he didn't cheat on the ranges, those extra ten points were on the target, but no one else saw them. We hear that Ronnie Corbett is asking for hi* s glasses back ! ASP! l B' COMPANY. Ten members of the Company accompanied by seven girls from * D ' Company left the flat lands of Oxford for the fells and crags of the Lake District. Led by Captain Bill Tweddle they set off by train for a camp site near Ambleside on the edge of Lake Windermere. * After Lance Corporal Bill Brownbill and W/Private Jane Cabbie had prepared a hearty breakfast of compo sausages, beans and eggs, which became a regular feature of our day, W/Private Molly Duncan and Private Phil Baker made compo sandwiches and we set off for the Kirkstone Pass. On arrival the good humour disappeared as Sergeant Greg Gregory pointed out the small track which appeared to go straight up a craggy fell. How- ever, everyone gritted their teeth and set out for the summit, Lance Corporal Ron Frayne, the Company Clerk, set the standard by getting out his DMS boots highly bulled! There was very little talking on the way up, but once the summit was reached we walked the long easy route back to Ambleside. I would have liked to have recorded Private Molly Duncan's comments on the day's walk, but it took me a week to under- stand her Glaswegian accent! The rest of the day was spent swimming in Lake Windermere for those brave enough to go in. The only one who went in who wasn't brave was W/Lance Corporal Christina (Jackie) Smith. She was persuaded to do so by Lance Corporal Bill Brownbill and Private Jock Boehm, The casualties of the first day were Lance Corporal Ron Frayne and W/Private Trina Young who both suffered from blisters. Lance Corporal Ron Frayne refused to walk in bulled boots after that! Corporal Pete Ramsbottom and Private Garry Dor an spent the afternoon securing vital equipment when they each got a water pistol which were later used in successful section attacks against unsuspecting schoolboys! On day two, armed with our * corned d o g ' sandwiches, we set off to walk up Hellvellyn, one of the highest peaks in the area. Halfway up we found ourselves shrouded by low cloud and would have been in danger of getting lost but for the raucous laughter of Private Frammy Frampton. Although what she found to laugh at I can't imagine as we grunted our way up the steep slopes. Perhaps it was the little short legs of W/Private Sue Stewart who toiled away at the back. On reaching the summit the compo sandwiches were put to good use in feeding the sheep. We had to point out to W/Lance Corporal Christina Smith that whilst the sheep will take the bread from one's hand, they will not ' sit *! However, she was determined to try. Day three was a virtual rest day as we restricted ourselves to the more gentler slopes around Hawkshead and Ambleside, and were able to relax and enjoy the scenery. Day four found us in the Skelwith Bridge area where we were able to visit the Coniston Slate quarry and acquired a number of souvenirs, On the final day we set out to conquer the ' Old Man of Coniston/ It was a difficult climb but well worth the effort. The scenery from the top was breathtaking. Even W/Private Molly Duncan agreed and by now we could almost understand her. The week was a tremendous success rounded off with a very happy camp fire party on the final night. * Singing in the Rain' will never be the same. Come back Gene Kelly, all is forgiven. Meanwhile back at camp Second Lieutenant Andrew Farrow, CSM Alan Smith and Staff Sergeant Bolam managed to motivate the remainder of the Company into winning the Battalion Inter- Company swimming gala. Well done! the swimmers. Having lost the athletics, it was nice to return to our winning ways. We welcome Privates Connor and Perryman to the Com- pany and hope their stay with us is a happy one. Our wannest congratulations go to Corporal Steve Cook and Private Herbie Plant who have just got married to girls from * D ' Company WRAC. 'A' COMPANY. First of all congratulations to Sergeant (Bird- man) Geoff Cox who won the Hammer event at the Travers Clarke meeting, when asked how far he threw it, he replied *' Farther than the others." Our highlight of the month was Exercise Angels Patrol 1, it was enjoyed by all even our Admin Officer Captain (Sheik ' D ' COMPANY. It was early evening as we were entering Abdul Hurricane) HiUier, he tried to be alert all weekend, but un- Pwllheli station, at last we had reached our destination. As we fortunately his age showed and he flaked out, still beauty is walked past the gates two Army vehicles were in sight ready to only skin deep. take us to a small village seventeen miles away, called Aber- Congratulations goes to Lance Corporal Jerry Field who darron. During that drive there was an extensive view of the played his roll as section leader, he _ actually captured our countryside of North Wales. The camp site was in view, only a Officer Commanding who was, so he said, just a bystander, but short distance from the village itself, and behind the few shops as Jerry said, " Everyone is an enemy." — 138 I |
| Book number | R0250 |