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RAOC Gazette - page 179

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Publication date 1981
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Transcription were privileged to parade before Major General Stanyer, the
Representative Colonel Commandant. Afterwards, ail the officers
of RAOC 1st Armoured Division lunched with Major General
Stanyer in the Officers Mess.
" v What, no sport?" I hear you say. Not much—we did hold
a unit athletics compelition which was won by the MT Section.
We also hosted a cricket team from Sweden who must have been
pretty poor because we beat them! Pride of place however, goes
to the unit athletics and swimming teams who, within four days,
walked away with both Divisional Minor Units Championships
with many of the soldiers turning in personal best performances
on the day.
We have been sad to say goodbye t o m a n y members of the
unit, happy to welcome others and delighted to congratulate
many on promotion, marriage or birth of children.
All in all, it has been a pretty average month. Next month
is going to be busier. We are going to relocate all grounded
stock on top of Mount Everest and then drive the stores vehicles
from Chile to Alaska whilst training our unit team for the next
Olympics!
STORES SECTION 21 ENGINEER
REGIMENT
THE section is commanded by W 2 (SQMS) Fred Davies of
aquatic fame, who was recently awarded his BAOR colours for
Water Polo. He also refereed the BAOR Championship final and
inter service matches. He has also just enjoyed a very full
season as a boxing judge. Officiating at three hundred and fifty
bouts this season including the Divisional Inter unit final and
BAOR semi final.
The section 2IC, Sergeant Mick Carter, displays his prowess
as an AKA1 with the workshop and trains the RHQ/Workshop
boxing team. He has also been a prominent member of the
Regimental badminton team.
Corporal Mick Naylor who joined us from Hohne is now
going back to the garrison area on promotion to Sergeant; con-
gratulations Mick. He has established himself in the Division
as a rugby referee and is well sought after.
Corporal Geordie Martin has been flying the section flag on
an OP Banner tour with 7 Field Squadron. His expertise in the
office was certainly missed so welcome back Geordie, and con-
gratulations on a good job done.
Lance Corporal Paul Rigby who joined us from 2 ADOC
has now settled into the chair vacated by Lance Corporal
Higgins who left us for the sunny climes of Belize. He has
become a prominent member of the Regimental basketball
team. This may well be short lived though as the last time out he
managed to break his ankle. Will the boss succeed in converting
him to aquatics?
Gods gift to the fairer sex alias Private Ged Usher who is
now the longest serving member of the section r has now been
rewarded with a years extension. Congratulations go to him on
passing his German colloquial exam. He was actually seen
buying cigarettes out of his award.
Private Andy Soloman has joined us from 1 ADOC and has
added colour and flair to the section. Congratulations go to him
on passing his HGV2.
Private Paul Jackson has recently joined us from 1 ADOC
to run the MT side of things. Congratulations go to him on
passing his HGV2 driver B2 and his marriage to Monica who
we now welcome to the fold.
Our team is finally made up of our latest arrival Private
Francis Bamford a re-enlistment from the King's Regiment to
whom we extend a hearty welcome.
STORES PLATOON 7 ARMOURED
WORKSHOP
WE are now being visited by the first of our gallant 'Chipmunks'
on R and R from Northern Ireland. They all complain of long
hours and pressure of work, but all show a noticeable increase
in weight. Congratulations to Mrs Jeanette Caddick (of the
PC and A) on passing her driving test. And they say * keep
death off the roads'! Corporal Dirk Wilson has successfully
completed his Unit Expedition Leaders Course prior to his im-
minent departure to 15 Cadet Training Team, our loss is their
gain.
For this months competition—* Name the Athlete * who,
after spending a Saturday night in the Sergeants Mess, found the
high jump bar a bit too high at 1.45 metres.
And now over to the hot line for a few words from our
Branch in Northern Ireland.
The ' Chipmunks " arrived in the land of the Green Pastures,
which has snow and rain in May. From their base camp in the
Hamlet of Sydenham they sent forth Scouts into the wild out-
back, locations of Fort George, Moscow, Armagh and Long
Kesh« Here in Sydenham they made haste in causing both
t

entertainment and confusion in both the Stores Section and thV
infamous den of inquity called ' La Club Spanner/
We have left Private Saunders in Fallinyboslel to uphold
the 'honour* and 'good* name of the 'Chipmunks' on the
sports field. Whilst here in Northern Ireland the lads Fight
through the work with zest and vigour. Trying hard to savt
their *5p* pieces up so we can phone W02 Collins, who needs
to be talked to occasionally.
Sergeants Dave Green and Mick Sorrenson have given up
the 'weed, 1 the one that costs 93p a packet! the latter finding
it very difficult. However, the big boss W02 Collins has just
slopped buying them, not smoking them, much to the dis-
approval of Privates John Tanner, Jed Gosney and Steve Agassi
Moving to the serious side of things, the workload, We
are all working hard trying to keep up with the mechanics o Q
the shop floor who seem to be asking for spares quicker than wo
can gel them. Meanwhile down at Armagh, Lance Corporal
Andy McGaughey thinks he is in a civilian job and at Fort
George we have the unmistakable figure of Lance Corporal Mark
Elkington who is trying to keep himself as busy as the rest of
us. Out at Moscow Camp, Lance Corporal John Mooney has
been burning the midnight oil finding the necessary spares to
revive the ailing Pigs. Private Jacko Jackson has reached the
dizzy height of Lance Corporal but is still known as Jacko.
As a finale to this little note we have great pleasure in
announcing that Lance Corporal Gerry Madine is going to be
a Daddy, our congratulations to his wife Wendy,
Private Bill Painter explains (-he finer points of the Martial Arti
to his class.
STORES SECTION 45 FIELD REGIMENT
WORKSHOP
GREETINGS once again from the fearless fortyfifth deep in
the nether regions of Hohne Ranges.
This month has seen a very successful Regimental Open..
Day at which our stall (Balloons/Darts) extracted well over
£100 from the local populace. This was due mainly to the
sterling efforts of Privates Dick Pugh and Colin Mark—there is
no truth in the rumour that the helium for the balloons was
a special offer from the welding shop. Prior to the Open
Day our resident grizzly bear, Private Bill Painter, once again
triumphed at the Army Judo Championships to become the
Army Champion in the Middleweight Class, Bill also teaches
adults and children in Hohne Garrison ably assisted by an-
other resident expert Lance Corporal Jimmy Cuxeton. The
classes are well attended with some twenty adults and over sixty
children so be very careful who you annoy if your ever
Hohne way. We are all swotting up on Technical Manuals at
the moment in readiness for the Regiments new guns which are
due to arrive soon, the sign writers are busy preparing y Running
In please pass' signs and the Workshops are putting the
recovery vehicles into mothballs.
One for the record, in a
recent BFT test four out of the first seven from the Workshops
were RAOC.
Sadly we lose three stalwarts this month, Corporals Tommy
Laverick and Steve Jessamine are Osnabruck bound. We have
also said farewell to Private Brook Wimbury who has left the
Army to return to South Africa where he rejoins the Durban
Light Infantry to complete conscripted service (a sort of
extended safari holiday). Other postings are in the air but
Sergeant Barry Moore continues to search incoming official mail
in vain, rumour has it he has been taken on account in the Stores
Section, perhaps more news will be forthcoming next month . . . ?
148

Book number R0250