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RAOC Gazette - page 209

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Publication date 1978
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Early date 1978
Late date 1978
Transcription We welcome Lieutenant Colonel Clinton Hodder's car—
other car owners in the car park don't (it's a wee bit big),
Major Roger Tweed has moved over to our deposed scribe's
s pct in Engineers whilst he (Major Graham Browning) does
whatever he's got to do in Belize.
Not to be outdone Corporals Mike Earthy and Gypo
Walters took but thirty seconds on the Bank Holiday break
t volunteer to accompany a double red star issue to BAOR
via Antwerp. Trouble was on their return they dropped their
duty free on Euston station floor. Some people have all the
luck. Congratulations to Captain Brian Roberts—a swimmer
of renown bagging the most prizes in the Garrison swimming
competition. Congratulations also to Major John Staples, he
was a Captain at the last notes.
Bon voyage to Major Douglas and Marcelle Stobie now
en route to UNFICYP.
CONTROL DIVISION BICESTER
(See also "So that's where they went" on page 165)
MRS KATE BR1CE has presented Captain Peter with a son,
Andrew and Mrs Daphne Foster further increased the strength
when Corporal Colin's son and heir Andrew arrived.
Sergeant Paddy Ledwidge's heavily bemedalled chest is
now further adorned with the Long Service and Good Conduct
Medal presented by the DGOS in September.
Welcome to Sergeant Mick Roche who is with us until
retirement next April; to Corporal Jos Peacock who easily fills
any vacant slot, and farewell to newly promoted Staff Sergeant
Tony Graves who is getting a six months suutan in Belize
before returning to Costa Bicester; to Staff Sergeant Ian Major
who leaves on promotion to W02 in the School of Ordnance
(there is no substance in earlier reports that he is to become
Commandant there); to Sergeant Peter Sylvester who is leaving
the Service and Corporal Peter Berrett who has gone to 10
Field Workshop Stores Section in Tidworth.
And now back to the weeding and cupboard clearing . . . .
runner-up in the Junior Soldiers Rank and File SLR. A most
enjoyable day was had by all who attended and everyone was
full of praise for the organisation.
APPRENTICES COLLEGE
Headquarters and Admin Company.
This term we had
an intake of one hundred and sixty five recruits of which
eighty eight were REME. A gradual awareness that the blue
uniform belongs to the postman
and the Commanding Officer
l
does not always respond to mate' is creeping in. We have
welcomed Lieutenant Colonel K. E. Curtis as Commanding
Officer and Captain P. J. Taylorson as Adjutant, and say fare-
well to Lieutenant Colonel N. S, Bruce and Captain D. M.
Chisem. Our congratulations go to Lance Corporal and Mrs
Connor ACC, on the birth of a daughter,
A Company. This month presents me with a small problem
in as much as the Company Commander constantly reminds me
about brevity in my letters, then almost with the same breath
asks me to spin out thousands of words for GAZETTE Notes.
In the words of an American Marine Major whom 1 met in the
Shetlands recently, " Wot's a man got to do?"
It is* of course, the start of the Winter term. As usual
we have accepted a large intake and welcomed three new
Recruit Platoons into the College, complete with Lieutenants
Doug Matheson and Colin Nisbet, two new Platoon Com-
manders, along with Sergeant Howell who has also been
posted in. We wish them an enjoyable tour with Shiny 'A.'
Arnhem has started the term well, providing potential Staff
Clerks for Exercise Bold Guard in Germany and winning the
College Cross Country trophy. The boys all thoroughly en-
joyed themselves seeing how the real Army works and lives, so
much so that they all immediately applied for BAOR postings.
Yet again A/Lance Corporal Brooks won the College Cross
Country, leading Arnhem to their 5 second consecutive victory.
The 'A' Company Staff beat the ' B Company Staff convincingly
and demonstrated their superb fitness by polishing off the beer
faster than they had run the course!
Training Centre
HEADQUARTERS
EVERYONE has now returned fresh from leave and the pace
is now stepping up.
The SOI, Lieutenant Colonel Day is now preparing his
cast for a play he is producing * The Importance of Being
Earnest' in November.
Major Mentzel, our new S02, has now settled in and is
preparing for Remembrance Day and DGOS Study Period.
The Commander, Brigadier Dennison, has now started his
resettlement course and GS02 Major Baines has moved into
his new house.
On a recent training session for BFT the Commandant, S02,
WOl Johnston and Sergeant Thomson came across a fire in the
outside toilets of one of the married quarters and are proud
to report put it out before the fire brigade arrived (shades of
Operation Burberry).
We are glad the report that Sergeant Lawrence, Chief Clerk
* G ' and Sergeant Grant, RLO staff, were successful on their
recent BFT which now gives the Headquarters one hundred per
cent pass.
In a recent friendly football match the Training Centre
drew four ail with Training Regiments RE who were last seasons
South East District League and Cup winners.
The Staff of Hie Apprentices College say farewell to Lieutenant
Colonel Bruce on handing over the College to Lieutenant Colonel
Curtis.
SCHOOL OF ORDNANCE
DESPITE the School being closed, August nevertheless was
gainfully used by carpetting the premises throughout. After the
clatter of many feet over the tiled floors in past years an al-
most Cathedral-like silence now reigns. Both students and
instructors approve so we have got something right at last!
The only course notes of significance are those of the golf
course! Colonel Ozzie Logan and Captain John Clayton won
the Travers-Clarke Cup in the Inter-Unit knockout competition
at High Post This, incidentally, being the first time the School
of Ordnance has triumphed in the event although the RAOC
Training Centre has been successful in the past. Two other
successes are noted in the RAOC Autumn meeting: Major
Brian Allen won the Richards Cup and Captain John Clayton
the Autumn rose bowl. Well done one and all.
The Training Battalion and Depot Skill-at-Arms Meeting
was held on 17th September; here again the School had some
measure of success. The Officers team won the Officers march
and shoot competition with Lieutenant Colonel Mike Willis win-
ning the Individual Pistol and Major Graham Cowell being the
runner-up. Corporal Jones also distinguished himself by being
Having quickly re-established our superiority over the
* auld enemy' ' B ' Company (Top Cat's Commando) we now
look forward to a successful term, showing them the correct
way to achieve success. The Company soccer team plays its
first cup match against the RAMC College early next month,
we wish them well. Alamein Platoon will be going to Capel
Curig adventure training and Mrs Vipond, bless her, will do
her best to keep up all the work Lieutenant Cassidy keeps pro-
ducing for typing, and Deanna, our Clerk, will do her best to
put up with the OC. Our Joan is looking pleased with herself
and her constant chuckles about her Berlin posting has led
to discontent in the Company. All leave has therefore been
cancelled until morale improves!
B Company. This term B Company has two new Recruit
Platoons, Burma and Brunei, and after early teething troubles
both Platoons are settling in. However, both provide comedy
shows on the drill square.
The * Fighting Balaclava' have just returned from Germany
where they took part in Exercise Bold Guard along with some
members of Berlin Platoon. A great time was had by all as they
were led around the German countryside by Lieutenant Evans.
— 171 —
Book number R0247