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RAOC Gazette - page 113

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Corps RAOC
Material type Journals
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Full title RAOC Gazette
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Publication date 1978
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Early date 1978
Late date 1978
Transcription floor there being considered somewhat softer to the nether
regions than the gyms for some peculiar reason,
The swimming pool has now re-opened and is well attended
by the Station families, primarily the wives. It was because
of this that a Dutch Colonel when walking to the Mess and
having been passed by two bikini clad girls, kept on saying to
himself " It's a holiday camp, it's a holiday camp/' The CO
had all his time cut out to persuade him otherwise.
We must congratulate Lance Corporal Steve Skidmore,
Privates Brian Beedon, Ian Cheshire and Geoff Whitley for
passing the RLSS Bronze Medallion Course, and give a special
thanks to Mrs Anna Wrotchford who volunteered to instruct
them. We now have very capable life guards to look after our
swimmers. Mrs Wrotchford also runs a wives swimming class
and she has not lost one yet.
Volleyball, the latest Army recognised sport has now been
included in the Station list. The team is doing well in the
1st Rhine Area League. We have so far played five matches
and won three. It's all a matter of fingers and height really,
To encourage the up and coming cricketers of Wulfen
Station the Station Commander donated a silver rose bowl as a
trophy to the Lane Single Wicket Competition to be played
for twice during the season. After a good days' cricket the
first name to be engraved on the bowl was that of SSM Brian
Hosband (not so young but certainly up and coming).
The nest competition will be held in August when Brian
hopes to make it a double entry prior to his posting to Black-
down. The cricket team is doing well with two wins under
its belt. The fielding is superb and the bowling (after all the
Colonel opens), together with solid batting does the rest Watch
out all comers.
On the athletics field we have not performed quite as well as
last year. However, we have hopes in the Corps sports. Cap-
tain Paul Henwood did win the javelin in the Rhine area sports
and Private Stringer came second in the discus, so there is some
talent about.
There is a quiet respite from an influx of visitors now.
We sit back and wait for July when the DUS of S Mr Stevens
and the Representative Colonel Commandant, Major General
Stanyer, are due to come. That's not mentioning all the children
from boarding school and the friends of members of the station,
More about these next time.
154 FORWARD AMMUNITION DEPOT
AFTER the Station notes concerning all members we come to
the Unit particulars. First we give a warm welcome to those
who have joined 154 FAD. Major Wes Thomas our new
Ammunition Officer, Sergeant Dave Scrivens wife and family to
the ATOs Department, Private Graham Powell fresh from
Blackdown, a new driver, and Corporal Brian WiggelL Wel-
come to you all.
We have said farewell to Major Clifford Coote, Judith and
children,. Staff Sergeant Bob Monday, Sheila and terrors, and
Lance Corporal Phil Dawber, Mary and daughter Mona. We
wish them all the best in their new Units.
Congratulations to Private Geordie Young on promotion to
Lance Corporal, Corporal Jim Fleming to Sergeant, W02 Mick
Wright to WOl on posting to us and Staff Sergeant Bill Robinson
on his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal
1st British Corps
HEADQUARTERS
A
M^
PRIDE of place in our column this month goes,
M^L
deservedly so, to Sergeant Roy Coe who, for his
^ t ^k
sterling efforts as PA to the Brigadier AQ, was
^ ^ E ^ ^
awarded the British Empire Medal in Her Majesty
^^•I^T
The Queen's Birthday Honours List Many con-
^ H ^m
gratulations Roy.
^M
G TRAINING (EPS. There has been no change in

the personnel in our branch since our last con-
tribution to the Corps Magazine. Significant events
that are perhaps worthy of a mention are that we are currently
heavily involved in preparing for Exercise Summer Sales 78,
and are generating the usual mass of paper and traces that any-
one who has been involved in this particular exercise will be
all too familiar with; and, secondly, all members of our team
have mysteriously developed a burning desire to become rag
and bone men! This latter occurrence can be directly linked to
The Royal Signals!
R AND D. Under pressure as we are in the depths of Corps
Headquarters, we thought it was about time we penned a few
notes for THE GAZETTE. There are many new faces and we
*
would like to introduce a few members. Our Chief Clerk,
Sergeant Fred Laycock, has recently joined us from G Operations
and it is hoped that he will take some of the pressure from the
shoulders of Corporal Colin Stephens, who has been stand-in
Chief Clerk under the ever watchful eyes of the Supervising
Officer, Captain Wally Auton and his assistant WOl Allan
Robinson. Our WRAC
representative,
W/Lance Corporal Elaine
k
T
Malcolm is almost grey with the worries of the new SIC
system in Courier and Signals. Private George Grant, our
publications clerk, is on * World Cup' leave and he will no
doubt be keeping a low profile when he returns after his team's
poor showing! Private Tony Mackey is all smiles due, no doubts
to his impending move to GSD at the end of the month.
Private Stuart MacDonald, the stats clerk, is looking utterly con-
fused and wondering which job he'll be given next! Private
Bob Pullan has recently joined us from the Depot on completion
of his trade training and we wish him an enjoyable tour in
BAOR. In an effort to push the sales of our magazine to
non Corps members we would like to mention Corporal Tom
Baillie (RPC) our Post NCO who, apart from his duties, does
three PE tests a week! Corporal Ray Brown (QLR) our Admin
NCO and longest serving member who is mainly responsible
for the cleanliness of the building and repair of office machinery.
Last, but by no means least, is our reproduction clerk, Mrs
Maralyn Bedford, who puts in eight hours non stop work on
our very busy Rank Xerox machines each day.
Finally, we bid farewell to W02 Bob Toland to MOD,
Corporal Michael McNichol to Headquarters NORTHAG and
Corporal Des Home to COD Bicester. Welcome to W02 Bill
Johnston from Headquarters UNFICYP, W02 Mark Cochram
(on promotion) from Headquarters Northern Ireland, Corporal
Gary Middleton, also from UNFICYP and Corporal John
Taylor from COD Bicester.
ORDNANCE
BRANCH
VISITS take precedence
this month with a return visit of the
i
team filming the New' RAOC film, this brought together the
Garlick Players for another performance, needless to say there
was a repeat later as one of the close-ups had to be re-taken;
we are now eagerly awaiting the premier which is to be held
either at Leicester Square or Soho, the latter venue probably
has something to do with the mask W02 Joe Fletcher was
wearing.
The DGOS visited certain 1 (BR) Corps Units during mid-
month, the visit culminating with the DGOS and Mrs Callan
attending the RAOC Association Bielefeld Branch Annual Ball,
a very successful and enjoyable evening.
On the sporting front, members of the branch were part of
the team which won the 2 Division Badminton inter-unit trophy,
At tennis, the branch and associated members reached the semi-
final of the Commander's Cup.
Personnel-wise the branch is now at full strength with
Major Stuart Rowsell finally back! but he has been re-(leaved)
by Major Brian Mills. Leave in Ord Branch these days, you
could almost say, is a Major operation.
BLUE.
1 (BR) CORPS STORES COMPANY
FOR those members of the Corps who have not had the
honour to serve here in Richmond Barracks, I must explain that
it is not of the normal military type. Indeed it was a Luftwaffe
clothing factory until we * liberated' it in 1945. Because of its
vintage it has air raid bunkers which, it would appear, were
much in vogue at the time. I find myself wondering whether
there is any connection between the fact that the bunkers and
the cellars flood and the fact that our Sergeant Lee has just be-
come Garrison Diving Officer for the newly formed Sub-Aqua
Club.
Whilst on the subject of the sporting life I must mention,
because they asked me to, that our orienteering team has qualified
for the Army/BAOR Championship.
The Unit is now under new management with Major
Fleming commanding. Major Freeman has left us to assume
his appointment in Canada, We wish their families welcome
and bon voyage respectively.
The recent warm spell soon saw the gladiators taking off
their rugby strip to don cricket whites. During a recent friendly
between the senior and junior ranks the CRAOC, Lieutenant
Colonel Man, was bowled by a ball which was not so much
a 'bouncer* as an attempt at assassination! Whilst on the sub-
ject of killing and blood, there are now so many parachute wings
and commando daggers around that I wonder if Records know
something about our war role that we don't.
Births: Congratulations go to Privates Shorey and Ward
on taking delivery of this year's models of daughter and SOD
respectively.
Book number R0247