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RAOC Gazette - page 169

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Publication date 1981
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Early date 1981
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Transcription 1 Ammunition Inspection and Disposal Unit
WOl Maurice Cuthbert recently received yet another hat of
office, that of village postmaster, when he purchased the vil] air i
shop plus post office at Cargo.
*
Captain Steve Emerson and his family have recently returned
from their two weeks holiday in Spain, and despite the coM
wet weather we are experiencing, insists that shirt sleeve order
is the correct form of dress. A decision which has nothing what-
ever to do with the splendid suntan he is sporting.
We welcome WOl Keven Callaghan and family who have
joined us from ATO Liverpool for their remaining days of
service life, and wish them a pleasant stay.
SINCE our last entry most of SATO East's time has been
taken up with Royal commitments.
The Queen's Birthday
Parade followed by the preparations for the Royal Wedding
has left liltle time for other pleasures, the exception being ATO
Hounslow, For reasons unknown to many, ATO Hounslow has
issued a warning order to his detachment that his name should
not be connected with ' stray coca cola grenades.'
Captain
Boyd, we respect your wishes.
Congratulations to Lance Corporal Bas Ennelfs GOCs Com-
mendation and Staff Sergeant Nick Nicholson's Mentioned in
Despatches.
SATO West can breath easier now that his staff have had
their third traffic accident. SATO West's car was attacked by
another car. The other driver when asked why he had not
stopped commented " my foot slipped off the brake.'*
W02 Boscott obeyed the law and stopped at the red lights
only to be shunted from behind for his troubles. Finally in this
group of three, a certain Sergeant now knows he cannot cut
corners into the garage without damaging Ford Transits.
During the interim periods SATO West has been preparing
for Exercise Cider Nightmare, the Royal show at Stoneleigh and
providing cover for visits from various members of the Royal
family. It was during one of these periods, no doubt practising
for things to come, that Lance Corporal Meadows hurt his
back whilst working 1 We wish him a speedy recovery.
The opening of the Humber bridge has been the high spot of
the month for SATO North followed very closely by WOl Dave
Greenaway's leave. He always complains that he doesn't have
time for any.
ATO Liverpool is packing his bags for an exercise in
Australia and SQMS Kevin Callaghan is packing his bags to
move in the opposite direction, but only as far as CAD
Longtown.
Congratulations are in order for Mick Newsome on his
promotion to Sergeant and to Corporal and Mrs Islam on the
birth of their baby daughter (Mouriem).
The cricket team were eventualy defeated in the DGOS Cup
semi-final by 10 Ordnance Support Battalion. We had defeated
6 Field Force Company and COD Bicester in the preceeding
rounds but fell to the eventual winners.
Stop Press. Congratulations to the following: Staff Sergeant
M, Nicholson, the Queen's Commendation for Brave Conduct
and Corporal Bon sail's GOCs Commendation for Brave Con-
duct; these awards are in recognition for work carried out at
Hook in January when dealing with a large quantity of danger-
ous self igniting phosphorus grenades.
Finally, Mr Arthur Watts of SATO East has just been
awarded the Imperial Service Medal.
Central Ammunition Depot
Petroleum Centre
THE Petroleum Centre was visited by the
QMG, General Sir Richard Worsley, H e
was given a tour of the Depot, training in-
stallations and Petroleum Laboratory. Hi s
tour included a demonstration of fire
fighting by our resident Army Fire
Brigade. The QMG was pleased to present
the Long Service and Good Conduct
Medal to Staff Sergeant Mick Smelt one
of our instructors in the School of
Petroleum.
The QM, Major Sid Pincher had a trip to BAOR recently
to shoot for UKLF. He also shot for the Army ' B ' Team. He
didn't bring back any prizes but came back smiling, so he
obviously enjoyed himself. The CQMS Staff Sergeant Paddy
Harkin, due to leave the service soon, is brushing up his Arabic
as he hopes to get a job there. The CSM says that Paddy
should remember some from when he served with Lawrence 1 Is
he really that old?
Major Ron Medley our Depot OC assisted by Sergeant
Dave Mould have constructed a hideous device of torture on
the sports field. They call it a Trimm Dich It looks like some-
thing between an Assault course and circuit training. The CSM
keeps threatening to try it, he's looked at it twice but keeps
shaking his head. We hope to have it in commission for a Super-
stars competition at our gala day in the near future,
We had an unusual visit last week from two Botanists.
They came to inspect the flora of the Depot. We will have to
stop pulling weeds in case they are protected species!
We welcome to the unit Corporal Patterson and Privates
Farley, Harrow, Brown and Wilson. We say farewell to Privates
White, Sandling, Fensome. Bayliss, Kennedy, Tomlinson and
Wilson.
Longtown
YOUR correspondent tenders his apologies for the lack of
newsletters in last months GAZETTE, This was due to circum-
stances beyond his control, in that he was rudely awakened,
removed from behind his desk, and thrust into an exercise location
with other members of 421 EOD Company from both Long-
town and Kineton.
Talk about roughing it! Leaving Longtown drenched in rain,
and arriving in Cyprus for two and a half weeks at the begin-
ning of their hot season is something no other man should be
made to suffer (so I'll go again next year!). Rest assured that
it wasn't all sunbathing and swimming, there was an intense
period of exercise to ensure the EOD teams had plenty of
opportunity to practice their skills.
Captain Dick Gill (ATO) also had time away from his desk
on exercise with 48 Company at far away exotic Swynnerton! In
between reminiscing with Captain Fred Moughton (CAD Kine-
ton) of their days together as Corporals, time was found to fit in
the exercise tasks.
Corporals Kevin Cronin and Bob Gannon also found time
to fit an exercise into their already very full diaries during the
month. They acted as No. 2's on the Saton 6 licensing exercise
held at RAF Burtonwood for a week. Reports from SATO
North were full of praise for their efforts, so the SAT has
awarded them minus one week's extras! (Provided the bill of
£21 for fuel obtained from a motorway service area is satis-
factorily cleared up).
Corporal Bob Gannon is also to be congratulated on his
award of the McArthur Cup, given annually to the best student
to pass through the Army School of Ammunition. To receive it
he had to interrupt his driving course at Leconsfield, but we are
pleased to say this did not impair his ability to return to the
Unit with the modem equivalent of a * Pink Slip/
Photo G. K.
Gillberry.
General Sir Richard Worsley the Quarter-Master-General poses
with the Smelt family in the Petroleum Centre Sergeants Mess
following the presentation of the Long Service and Good Conduct
Medal to Staff Sergeant Smelt.
Central Vehicle Depot
HEADQUARTERS
THE activities of the last month are very well covered by
various depot articles so the only function that remains, worthy
of a special mention is the Officers Mess Cocktail Party.
140
Book number R0250