RAOC Gazette - page 170
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 |
The function was preceeded by Beating Retreat performed : n Ashchurch Station -by the Corps Band. The weather was i and the. very high standard of playing and marching by .] Corps musicians was greatly appreciated by the many local vple who watched the performance. The laudatory com- x uniis overheard during this ceremony and the Freedom Parade arlicr in the day made one very proud to be a member of the "orps. We then adjourned to the Mess on a very high note which i/as maintained until, for some of us> the early hours. The evening was an excellent way of meeting, in an in- tirmal atmosphere, local dignitaries such as the Mayor of (>vkesbury Town and Borough, Cheltenham and Evesham and ; .ourse the many local people with which the unit maintains ,„ on throughout the year. VEHICLE DEPOT ASHCHURCH ILNE is traditionally the month when the Freedom of the borough of Tewkesbury is exercised. The venue for the in- ipeetion this year was changed to the Borough Offices and the nspection was carried out by Major Jack Denley. The Mayor ,vas accompanied by the Commandant Colonel Tony Sharpe, he Parade Commander Major Robin Watts and two Stickmen i 'dly provided by the RAOC Apprentices College, The music t - the occasion was provided by the Staff Band. The standard ii' turnout of the soldiers on parade was exceptionally high and he Mayor was most impressed at the work that had been put in to achieve it It was a sad occasion for CSM Tex Roberts as it was his last Freedom Parade at Ashchurch. He made the point this ^ear of changing before attending the festivities in the Cannon Z\ ub. The previous year various parts of his uniform had dis- ippearecl. Many thanks indeed Tex for all the hard work that you put in. This years Summer Camp was held at Penally in Pembroke- shire. Training was started with swimming tests, first aid and map reading. The map reading skills were put to the test on Lhe local training area where teams of four navigated through thorns and herds of cows in an orienteering competition. Major Watts and Major Brown combined their assets and ended up providing many laughs as they were seen chasing each other around a copse looking for a missing check point. Theirs was the booby prize. Fitness Training took place over a nine mile stretch of :*ie Pembrokeshire coastal path. The extremely steep gradients ere compensated for by the beautiful scenery and a dip in Manorbier Bay at the end. Range Work was conducted at Penally with all members of the unit classifying with the SMG. Things went extremely smoothly with the only interruptions being from pleasure boats sailing into the danger area. The challenge pursuits included sailing, canoeing, water- ski-ing and pony trekking. The canoeing took place in the Moat of Pembroke Castle, but after reports of strange things floating ; n the water it was transferred to Tenby Harbour. Corporal Chris 7olman found it extremely difficult to sail when his rubber •:ame off and was treated to a change of scenery further down the coast. WOl Webster discovered something very important, the depth of water is deceptive. He stepped out of a dinghy in Saundersfoot Harbour and could not find the bottom. The result was a very wet Conductor. Water Ski-ing was a new experience for many, but under the direction of the Commandant and Major Mike Pether a number managed to get up. Usually they did not stay up for long, but there was always the next time. Pony trekking was a "irm favourite with the old hands fixing the new arrivals. Slaff verge ant Tom Martin and Sergeant Charlie Ballinger were both Fixed to ride the most stubborn horse and were constantly extrica- ted from hedges and trees. The weeks activities were finished by the running of the [ V S Golden Mile' which is to be run every year. The winner in the first week was Lance Corporal Keith Jones and the second week Private George Paddock. Many thanks to our two hard working cooks Corporal Cyril Bunt and Private Tony Morrow and for the excellent food they provided. Thanks also to the Instructors and Permanent Staff for making the two weeks a iccess. Back at home there has been a baby boom so congratulations to Lance Corporal and Mrs ' Ginge * Hob son, Lance Corporal und Mrs Barry Manning, Private and Mrs John Wragg and Private and Mrs * Larry' Lamb. Newly marrieds Private English, who nearly baffled the Orderly Room and poor Mrs Kath Blease. The Mayor inspects the parade. VEHICLE DEPOT LVDGERSHALL THE Depot embarked on Annual Summer Camp, held this year at Penally Training Camp, Pembrokeshire. The camp certainly had a military emphasis, with exercises taking place most evenings at the ' Night Owl* and Caravan No. 175. Such activities were however interrupted by the daytime activities on Templeton training area. To add a competitive element to the camp the unit operated an inter-section competition. Sections were assessed on their performance throughout the weeks activities, which were many and varied—NBC Drills, first aid and fieldcraft were all practised during the week as well as such intellectual pursuits as discussion on the Geneva Convention and Military law. The OC and Captain Miller were in intensive training all week for the Colgate PGA Championships! The training culminated in an overnight exercise during which the Redland Army of Ludgershall provided enemy for the Sheffield University OTC (thirty per cent female under- graduates!). On the exercise soldiers were instructed in the art of using a tea urn in a tactical situation, Staff Sergeant Bob Burt seemed to be the expert. The OTC were a little dismayed to discover that vehicle specialists never say die and continue to fight even when over- run. Sergeant Vic Peters started his own brand of guerilla tactics and Private Tim Harris made a name for himself by joining the OTCs ranks. Many soldiers have never been the same since being assaulted by a platoon of distinctiy feminine soldiers. Since we shared the camp with Vehicle Depot Ashchurch there were two inter-unit competitions, orienteering and cross- country. Ludgershall swept the board in the first weeks com- petitions and Corporal Ockwells team won the orienteering in the second week, thus proving that tortoise's can beat hares when it counts. Corporal Neville Softiey's section must be congratulated on their success in the inter-section competition, and for the sports- manlike way in which they distributed their crate of beer through- out the unit. In spite of Sergeant Peters efforts to bore everyone to death with what must rate as the worst training film ever, and in spite of the OC's efforts to confuse everybody on the early morn- ing run we returned to sunny Ludgershall in high spirits. REMEMBER THE DEADLINE FOR COPY —28th OF EACH MONTH — WITH THE EDITOR AT DEEPCUT t |
| Book number | R0250 |