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RAOC Gazette - page 261

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Corps RAOC
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Full title RAOC Gazette
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Publication date 1981
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Early date 1981
Late date 1981
Transcription We played golf recently against the Navy's Ordnance
H inch. PSTO(N) and were sadly beaten. This was a new
^ .dlenge match, the trophy a heavily guarded secret turned
PSTO(N)
t ; to be a knuckle bone with a golf ball mounted.
suit had named it " T h e bone of contention," PSTO(N) himself
thought "Cock of the N o r t h " more appropriate and CRAOC
quickly said it was a good one to lose. With no further comings
and goings we carry on with work and golf and fishing and squash
and work.
SATO RA RANGE HEBRIDES
THE department is now getting back to the routine of work
after a month of leave and general maintenance. This can
clearly be seen by the departure of Major Gordon (SATO) to
SI Kilda followed by three weeks leave in the USA. Orders
were placed for J. R. hats after he mentioned he may visit
Dallas! Sergeant Dave Oakley's leave was different. He met
the woman of his dreams, got married and spent a few weeks
in Malta. Our best wishes for the future go to him and his new
wife. Sergeant Bob Charlton decided to go to Germany for his
leave although he almost cancelled it when he realized he would
not get LOA,
With all these absentees, the pressure has been put on W02
Dennis Leadbeater and Sergeant Dick Partridge.
Copious
amounts of paperwork in both their ' I N ' trays prove the point.
Sergeant Alex Travell is learning to walk again after having a
faster cast removed from his leg after eleven weeks, the result of
.mnoying a large opposing forward during a 'friendly' rugby
match. (Training is on Thursday Alex.)
Finally we bid farewell to Lance Corporal Fulcher who has
left us for CAD Kineton.
South East District
A RETURN to normal with all the
Branch staff coming back off leave * Look-
ing Good and Feeling Fit.' This is a relief
to our FS03 John Elnor who has been
working from dawn until dusk daily with
every problem under the sun to deal
with.
All this whilst the FS02 Stan
Talbot has been relaxing over a pint(s)
at various nineteen holes around the
country. John's duties included receiving
and displaying the Districts first, of a new breed of Army Fire
Appliance, the CarmichaeL This multi-purpose machine has
many new features including special high pressure hoses, air
tools and on board compressor, four sets of breathing apparatus
und a wide range of chemical clothing. The Carmichael has
already starred at two displays, one at Southampton and one at
LE(A), not to mention dealing with several fires within the
District,
We welcome our new typist, Mrs Elaine Selkirk, and say
farewell to Mrs Kay Craven who has relumed to the Head-
quarters typing pool,
Finally welcome back Eli, Mrs Iris Bedford's Stafford-
shire Terrier who has recovered fully from a most unpleasant
illness in a very sensitive spot.
STORES SECTION
17 PORT AND MARITIME
WORKSHOP
THE main news this month is of our new recruit into the
Corps. He is Private Dave Cook who was a Craftsman in
RE ME. After a successful trial period he has been accepted
into the Corps as a Supply Clerk,
We welcome one new arrival, Lance Corporal Chas Stringer
and say farewell to Private TafT Page who has left us for
BAOR.
Lance Corporal Tom Casey has returned to us after a few
days in hospital having his knee sorted out, he leaves us shortly
for CAD Kineton, farewell and bon voyage to him and his
family.
Corporals John Regan and Steve Spinks took part in a
workshop exercise on the Isle of Wight, it consisted of an
eighteen kilometre walk from the Needles to Carisbrook in the
centre of the island. Sergeant Tan Grimes was filming the
exercise with his video kit so both John and Steve decided to
show how it should be done by running the whole eighteen kilo-
metres. Could the fact that free beer was waiting at the end
also have been an incentive?
REMEMBER THE DEADLINE
IS THE 28th AT DEEPCUT
South West District
SINCE our last contribution to THF. GAZETTE
we have said farewell, on retirement, to an
old friend. Major Donald Walker has finally
laid down his boots and beret on retirement
from the Army, CRAOC and RAOC Officers
in the District lunched Donald out and presen-
ted him with a crystal decanter.
He has
retired to Cornwall with an invitation that
we are always welcome to a free meal when
passing—he forgot, however, to let us have his
address.
We. have since achieved this so
Donald, have the tankards ready to fill. Seriously though we
do wish him a very happy retirement and much success in any
future undertaking.
Another old friend who has arrived in our parish recently
is Lieutenant Colonel Denis Robson now the Manager of Short
Brothers Air Services Ltd., Nr Salisbury. At the moment he is
resident in Wyvern Officers Mess and attends all our official
lunches. He is well and we are pleased to say looks as if he is
prospering.
CRAOC held a rebadging ceremony recently which we
believe was quite unique. Corporal Grieves and Lance Corporal
McCarthy both ex 3 Para joined the Corps on transfer; we
wish them much success in their new careers.
We also welcome Staff Sergeant Lawrence into District
Headquarters from Headquarters S Field Force. Again our
best wishes for a happy tour.
WOl Maynard who was serving his last six months with the
Stores Section attached to 22 Engineer Regiment Workshop has
been selected from a number of candidates to be the Senior
Assistant Stores Officer, Wiltshire County Council with prospects
in three to four years time of becoming the Senior Stores Officer.
We were delighted to hear his good news and envious of his
salary—it goes to show that it can be done.
SUPPLY DEPOT RAOC
BULFORD
WE begin this month by saying farewell to Major Daykin on
posting to DGST(N) London and hope that his daily com-
muting does not take too much out of him.
We welcome our new OC, Major Cutchey from Head-
quarters BAOR and wish him and his family a pleasant stay in
Bulford at their ten roomed mansion.
Lance Corporal Ray Mabbott, our man of all parts, got him-
self married recently at Kettering; we wish him and his wife
Rosemary, the best of happiness in their married life.
Meanwhile Private Jimmy Strang, our Aberdonian, has
hitched a lift with 48 Company to Denmark where he is
experiencing life on a major exercise for the very first time.
Western District
NUMEROUS people seem to be on
leave. One can imagine sweltering offices
throughout UKLF being showered with
postcards (vulgar and otherwise) from the
droves of itinerants most of whom appear
to have gone abroad in search of cheap
wine and all those exotic experiences
which will dominate the office * lifeman-
I
ship classes' of future months.
Our own narrative continues with reminiscences of another
kind. You will recall a mention of the DGOS's visit at the
end of August from which both he and ourselves emerged (we
hope) unscathed. 52 Company RAOC (V) launched his pro-
gramme witth a demonstration of military skills which was
followed by an informal social gathering which was also at-
tended by our own GOC Major General Tony Ward-Booth (same
year at staff college!) and their respective ladies. For the
remainder of the programme we varied the itinerary and after
a lightning visit to the District Headquarters the DGOS
went on to meet the sizeable RAOC element serving with the
prestigious 22 SAS Regiment before flying to Long Marston
to visit the Stores Section and the Army Fire Brigade and
to wilt before blandishments of the irrespressible WOIC Stores
Section SSM Hinson. Well that's the way he tells it!
Regional Depot Hereford have made one of their
occasional contributions to our newsletter and would have us
Tecord and welcome, the arrival of Major Ralph Fhipps who
has taken over from Captain Alan Bull who goes with our
best wishes to Hong Kong. Less welcome news is the sudden
death of Mr Reece from the Pay Office. He had served in the
Depot for nearly twenty years, our deepest sympathy goes to
his family.
217 —
Book number R0250