RAOC Gazette - page 84
Image details
| Corps | RAOC |
|---|---|
| Material type | Journals |
| Book page | |
| Chapter head | |
| Chapter key | |
| Chapter number | |
| Full title | RAOC Gazette |
| Page number | |
| Publication date | 1978 |
| Real page | |
| Colour | No |
| Grey | No |
| Early date | 1978 |
| Late date | 1978 |
| Transcription |
l-'urewell to Sergeant Ken and Elly Thompson on retiring .,, ci-.-il life. Corporal Brian and Chris Hull and family also to "; v i; ;;fe. Sergeant Derek Marley our Pay Sergeant on posting T i^rlohn, Staff Sergeant Bob and Sheila Monday and family \ Kmeton and WOl Dusty Stone to 321 EOD NI (PE will never b e the same again). We welcome Sergeant Dave and Shirley Groves, Staff Sergeant Bill and Carol Robinson, WOl Mick and Helen Wright, Sergeant Geordie and Johanna Fielding, Private Smiler and Lynn Evans, Corporal Phil and Marilyn Salter, Corporal Frank Grech RAPC, and Susan and Sergeant Dave Scrivens and family. RAOC in Cyprus « ->*w Bj ^t IT has been an interesting two months since 1 our last contribution to THE GAZETTE. We i ^-z f had no suspicion when the Israeli /Palestine \ Jb^LLfft * Liberation Organisation conflict erupted in «jrV""WjlB Lebanon that we in Cyprus would be drawn ^UP^^W back into assisting in the Middle East, ^^Ei^^f particularly as we have only just given up our ^^S^m responsibilities in the Oman. But such is the ^^^r ' fickle finger of fate' that when the United ^ Nations decided that a Peace Keeping Force was to be established in Southern Lebanon it was also agreed • hat logistic support should be provided from the Sovereign Bases in Cyprus for the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, or UNIFIL. It is not surprising therefore that we have been preoccupied with the logistic problems associated with establishing the seven thousand strong UN Force since many contingents have been arriving with only the bare necessities for existence and in some cases not even that, and we have been filling the gaps with camp stores and rations and numerous other items mainly obtained on the open market in Cyprus. After visits by teams of UN officials and officers to Cyprus their immediate requirements were identified and future needs to a large extent established. But as these notes are being written it is early days and our final commitment to this force is still an unknown quantity. Suffice it to say that this has added a new dimension to our role and one which we are so far en- joying very much, although Major Ray Vincent, OC Supply Depot, and Mr John Bell, Armed Services Food Chemist might not echo those sentiments as they have been particularly in- volved in the difficult task of rationing the force. To assist Headquarters Land Forces Cyprus staff in these activities Lieutenant Colonel Donald O'Hare, Commanding 10 Ordnance Support Battalion has been in Cyprus for four weeks bringing with him Sergeants Jos Marrion and Mai Sharpe. Lieutenant Colonel O'Hare has now departed having done sterling work for the staff but the Sergeants remain for the time being. Sergeant Jos Marrion's excellent command of the French language has been like manna from heaven in our negotiations with the French officers whose Logistic Battalion are providing the basis for the support of UNIFIL. We have been visited by Captain Chris Burrows of CVHQ and Major Tom Bridges TAVR to carry out a recce prior to the vis:: of a TAVR Platoon here in September. They travelled approximately three hundred and fifty miles during the week- end they were here and went home looking the worse after their holiday. As a matter of interest they did visit Sergeant Cotney and his Laundry! The remainder of these notes will be taken up reporting sporting and social events, the facilities for the former, as any- one who has served here will know, must be absolutely unique. If anyone who reads this is therefore tempted to apply for a tour to Cyprus he is well advised to possess a sporting aptitude as -.veil as technical ability as both are a prerequisite for a post- ing here. Hard working, dedicated cross country runners are particularly welcome, and so saying that is an appropriate entree to our first sporting report. Cross Country Running. Although the season finished shortly after our last notes were submitted one result was still outstanding. Three teams from RAOC Cyprus took part in the Akrotiri to Episkopi Road Relay Race. In this event thirty [wo teams of five raced over the fifteen mile course and, almost inevitably, an RAOC team came second with another team filth. It comprised W 2 Ken Norgate, Staff Sergeant Dave Holvay, Corporal Tony O'Connor, Private Bill Black and Corporal Dennis Head who has now left us for Germany. Our j°,ss of Corporal Head is BAORs gain for he has established ftimself as a very competent distance runner indeed , RAF Akrotiri Station Commanders Cup. This is a com- petition covering a whole range of sports which RAOC Akrotiri ent er in conjunction with 48 Command Workshop and, after an exciting and tight finish, they came second overall having won the hockey as well as (surprise, surprise) the cross country. Saxon Six-a-Side Hockey Tournament. Once again we combined with 4S Command Workshop to take pan in this one day event. Our representatives were Captain John Vickers, Sergeant Don Pearson and WOl Jim Harper (despite cracked rib). Staff Sergeant Webb 48 Command Workshop Stores Section also played. Volley Ball League. This is a popular sport in Cyprus, a statement that is borne out by the fact that RAOC have five teams in the league. Dhekelia have two teams; one team known as the Saints and the other as the Sinners, One of these teams is a wives team but which one is hard to tell from the names. RAOC in the WSBA also has a ladies team as well as two mens teams. It's too early in the season to predict performance but all teams have won at least one game so there is still hope. Exercise Trackmaster. With this event the rally season got under way and our Team RAOC were out there with the rest ending the two day event in the excellent position of sixth out of about forty teams. The team, Corporal Dave Hummerston, Driver, and Corporal Bill Cochran, Navigator, came second in the Skilled Driving/Cross Country section and both they and the Land Rover are to be congratulated on a fine performance. Nesam 78. Various teams and individuals were entered from RAOC in this all island shooting competition. Although we did not win any prizes everyone is to be congratulated on performing well. RAOC Akrotiri v. REME Akrotiri Quiz- Following an internal knockout competition the Ammunition Depot team of WOl Jim Harper, Sergeants Ken Allen and Steve Mason and Corporal Ian Zycinski represented RAOC Akrotiri in the final which was held in the Families Club and well attended by supporters from both Units. Our team won the toss! A most enjoyable evening, which included a forty minute cabaret by our talented Adjutant, Captain Lawrence Wood, provided a fitting climax to the competition. Christodoulas March. Regular readers of T H E GAZETTE may remember that we entered this last year. It is a ten mile walk in aid of Cancer Research which takes place between Ltmassol Zoo and Kolossi Castle and is an annua] event. Al- though figures are not available yet, we believe we have col- lected another substantial sum this year for this very worthy cause. Further details in our next notes. Horseshoe Hike. Five RAOC children took part in this event which is designed to make them develop their powers of self discipline and endurance. They all trained beforehand by covering a total of up to four hundred miles in the process. Taking part in the Junior Hike, three days over thirty five miles climbing from seven hundred feet above sea level to six thousand two hundred feet above sea level, were Gordon Milne and Ken Norgate, sons of WOl John Milne and W 2 Ren Norgate one of our cross country stars, as well as Dawn Brydon, daughter of Sergeant Andy Brydon. In the Senior Hike, which covers five days and seventy five miles with hikers climbing to six thousand two hundred feet pbove sea level and back down again, were Fiona Milne and Andy Brydon. They all completed their courses and we congratulate them on a fine achievement, RAOC Officers Dinner. Held at the end of March we said farewell to Major John Rose and his wife Audrey as well as Major Richard Tregarthen and his wife Elizabeth. All four will be much missed both at work and socially. The Dinner was also an opportunity to welcome Major Peter Whitehead who has taken over as S 2 (Materiel). RAOC All Ranks Dinner Episkopi, This event is establish- ing itself as a regular and popular occasion and this one lived up to expectations with LFC clerks once again fighting to be last out. WOl Jim Burden and his wife Linda, W 2 Jim McGowan and his wife Jeannie, Sergeant Alan Dobbie and his wife Thelma, and Sergeant Jim Massey were bid farewell by CRAOC, Lieutenant Colonel Mike Mathams. Arrivals: Welcome to Captain John Vickers, W02 Derek Comey, Staff Sergeant Alan Smith, Sergeants Tom Goodwin and Steve Sutton and Corporals Graham Toze and Tom May oh. Departures: Farewell to Majors John Rose and Richard Tregarthen, WOl Pat Mackey, WOs2 Jim Caldwell, Jim Mc- Gowan and Alex White, Staff Sergeant Jim Massey, Sergeants Alan Dobbie and Roy Burden, Corporal Dennis Head and Lance Corporal Bob Freeman. Promotions. The following are congratulated on their pro- motion: WOl John Milne, Staff Sergeant Jim Massey, Staff Sergeants Phil Gadsden, Kevin Hogg and Geordie Gaut, |
| Book number | R0247 |