RAOC Gazette - page 176
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 |
s urvnor ^i' ; sards corner advantage. The winners received IDexion and Parker pens went to the runners-up (Allsorts 1 '{v.;-ed from the s Regimental Wing), B Sub-Depot 'A and AC A, were tne n ^ i g semi-finalists, received miniature trophies, w h"-' On Sunday the standard of football was again high and the object of the day was achieved—to bring together as many civilian and military members of the Garrison as possible under an atmosphere of friendliness and competition and at the same tjrne raise a little bit of money for charity, Twenty teams took part in the Garrison Charity Shield competition, and despite the weather spirits were not dampened. The civilians had the edge on the military teams and walked off with the prizes. MTSP Branch were worthy winners, having not lost a match all day; A Vehicles from 38 Central Workshop were runners-up a P j The Gentlemen of Building 177 along with DOE fielded the losing semi-finalists. Many ex-Chiiwellians will be interested to know that the ten Harwell quarters in Field Close, occupied by officers in the past, are currently being modernised and are soon to be allocated 10 warrant officers. A modernisation programme is soon to start on certain selected married soldiers quarters. With all the moves involved, the Housing Commandant, Major Bert Ambler (Retd) and his Housing Warden, Mr Colin Munday, are having a harder time than Karpov and Korchnoi. The Junior Ranks wives club, aptly named the ' Hilltop,' is :hriving, thanks to its enthusiastic committee. It is making very good use of the community centre with coffee mornings and bingo evenings. Trips in the minibus to the supermarkets are popular, while volunteers look after the babies in the creche. There is a strange air of quiet in the Garrison Nursery. The only sound that can be heard is that of the Supervisor, Mrs Jean O'Grady (wife of WOl O'Grady) and her assistant, Mrs Jan Pollock (wife of Private Pollock) charging their batteries in preparation for the new term. The Rev Frank Beech, Vicar of Attenborough, has been oar C of E Chaplain for some time and Father Edward Walker of Tollerton Hall, Nottingham is our comparatively new RC Chaplain. It is good to see them officiating together when we have the occasional inter-denominational service* It was also good to see and listen to Major Frank Piggott (Retd) take the service one Sunday during the month whilst the Rev Beech was holidaying in Rheindahlen. Frank, of cricketing and football fame, is of course well known throughout the Corps. He has given up football but can still be seen representing the Garrison at cricket and also on the occasional ' Dog and Stick.' What is happening in the Planning Branch? Just as they get a :iew leader, and we welcome Lieutenant Colonel Tony Beaumont, Captain Bill Overton slips a disc—doing what?, WOl Bob Collyer tears a ligament whilst golfing, WOl Jim Neilson tears his groin, and W02 McLarty slips a disc whilst racing to beat the call for last orders. Whilst all this has been going on Colonel Owen has been handing over, and we con- gratulate him on his promotion, and Squadron Leader Bob Notman has been coping with Fair Value, and Major Peter Wallis getting his Shadow Unit ready for exercise—but more of that next month. It is always sad to see people go, particularly on retire- ment after they have served a lifetime in the Corps. We seem to have more than our share this month. Major John Duggan leaves after more than thirty years service, he called in the other day and it was good to see him looking so much better after his long illness. Lieutenant Colonel Nick Reynell leaves and we are pleased that he is happy with his lot in a job not far away at Northampton. Major Lane, Tim or Ricky, retires to Dorset and we are sure he will be contented there. Central Ordnance Depot Donnington CAPTAIN ROBIN S I D E R reports that he and W02 Gordon Lumsden did a great job organising the Garrison Swimming Gala. The gala was well supported, and a lot of talent was revealed. Major Graham Browning's efforts in the one hundred yards breast-stroke were quite remarkable. He was leading by some twenty metres and then stopped at the end of the third length, thinking he had won. An official pointed out to him that 4x25=100. Never mind Graham, we are sure that had nothing to do with your forthcoming six month Belize tour. It's been another non-event month so far as sport goes, other than the swimming gala. To mention W02 Lumsden again is appropriate as he has officiated at the Junior Army Swimming Championships, the Junior Inter-Service and the Inter-Service Swimming Championships. Arrivals: WOl Alford, Corporal Rothery, Lance Corporals Gardner, Watkyns and Edwards, Privates McKirdy and White. Departures: Lance Corporal Kirby, Privates Lee, Armitage, Hodgson and Price. Promotion: Sergeant Ledingham to Staff Sergeant. Birth: to Private and Mrs Hall—a daughter, Karen. Marriages: Private Hay to Private Jacqueline Docherty WRAC, and Corporal Parkinson to Miss Margaret Capper. Central Ordnance Depot Bicester 16 BATTALION A COMPANY. The highlight for A Company in recent weeks was Exercise Caledonian Jaunt in which an intrepid band set forth to canoe the Caledonian Canal. Canoeing from coast to coast ^ * ^ . through the Lochs of Scotland proved to be a pleasant enough experience—it didn't even rain too much. Sightings of the Loch Ness Monster at this time were later proved to be Lieutenant McGhie in jovial mood. D Company—Exercise Shanks Pony. Intrepid members of D Company braved the unknown again when seven unsuspecting women departed Bicester, in a blaze of sunshine, to spend five days hillwalking and pony trekking in South Wales. The arrival in Wales was delayed by mechanical problems with the transport, dealt with ad- mirably by Private Karen Reynolds. The group had no cause for alarm* as the advance party was in the capable hands of Lance Corporal Sue Farrah, who had enlisted the support of the male inhabitants of the campsite in erecting all the tents I In the morning Lance Corporal Joyce Pan and Private Jackie Briggs were up bright and early, encouraging everyone with a ** Good morning Campers," raring to go on a two mile run to the village and back. Even the hunger induced by such exercise did not overcome the results of the culinery talents (?) of Second Lieutenant Caroline Paxton, who was subsequently banned from cooking for the remainder of the exercise. The hillwalking and pony trekking took the group through v some of the most spectacular and scenic countryside in South Wales. Initial reservations " I'm not getting on that huge beast" soon disappeared and by the end of the third day all had managed at least one canter, albeit unintentionally, Private Mandy Stuckey and Private Campbell had never ridden before but by the final day had become quite proficient. Private Mandy Stuckey established great rapport with her pony despite her insistence upon saying "Good Boy" to her mare,called Jo. In spite of aching limbs and tired muscles, which precluded early morning PT after the first day, the group returned refreshed and ready to face the rigours of Bicester once more. Central Ammunition Depot Kineton TRADITIONALLY August is a quiet month for CAD Kineton, but not so this year. Our ever increasing workload has ensured that all personnel have been working very hard. In spite of this everyone remains cheerful. This month started off with the presentation of the I^ong Service and Good Conduct Medal to Private Frank Gillman of the MT Section by the Com- mandant Colonel Berresford. Congratula- tions to him and his wife who has supported him so ably throughout his service. On the Uth August there was a liaison visit to British Aerospace by a party from the GW Section, Production of Swingnre and Rapier was shown and the meeting between two government run l concerns * was most beneficial. A week later the CAD were host to the Chief Army Fire Service Officers Annual Seminar. During the delegates stay they were given displays of terrorist incendiary devices—• and dinner in the Officers Mess. The Bank Holiday weekend saw a party led by W02 Burton involved in yet another extraneous activity, in providing a stand at the Town and Country Festival at Stoneleigh. * Wheelbarrow ' raised much interest for the public and it was surprising just how many civilians knew of its function and especially the Corps commitments on the anti-terrorist front In sport our cricket and tennis teams have been playing regularly with our tennis team being successful in beating the Royal School of Artillery, thus entering the next round of the Army Unit Cup. On the individuals side Sergeant Smith won — 145 — |
| Book number | R0247 |