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RAOC Gazette - page 215

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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
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[cast that's their story. Another representative in the province
is Corporal Des Hardon with II Field Squadron who, apart
;•'(• ,vn issuing stores, reports that the fishing is excellent and that
n . : , major logistic problem is moving his fishing tackle.
At the Unit Headquarters in Ripon WOl Paul Taylor ably
supported by Corporal Bob Whittaker, Lance Corporal Robbo
Robbinson and Private Roger Moody plus of course our
recently arrived Driver Private Ollie Ollerenshaw continue to
give full support to the Regiment. Private Jock Herd has now
departed to the sunnier climes of Aldershot.
Life on the social scene provides infinite variety. The most
recent even in which we were all involved was a highly success-
ful families day organised for the entertainment of children
of all ages. Superb weather (organised by Corporal Whittaker)
ensured that the water obstacles in If s-a-Knockout were not too
ur pleasant.
48 AMF(L) Company
THERE is a definite lack of material this month
as the Company has now returned from block
leave refreshed and ready to launch itself T into a
spate of exercises lasting from October 78 non
stop through to October 79 so our slightly bare
LOA pockets are flapping in anticipation.
The Company has started its big work up
to Dryshod Training in Scotland s our pre-Hard-
fall Training, So once again ski march boots
are on and our morning PT now sees us with
weighted Battle Order, in preparation for Bergans.
The Company soccer and rugby teams have started the
season, but not on the best footing but we are sure things will
improve in the future,
Most of the Officers seem to have been away on recces or
study periods lately. The OC, Major Burden is currently in
Eastern Turkey on Advance Enterprise, whilst Captain David
C?,l dwell has been to Kenya, and Lieutenant Alex Boyd to
Southern Germany and is about to depart to Scotland for the
Dryshod Recce.
We are all currently packing and preparing paperwork to
fulfil our Airportable role, and will soon see the culmination of
all our work when the entire Logistic Support Battalion (of
which the Company is a part) goes to South Cerney to emplane
to our designated destination. AH our thoughts will be revealed
in further issues,
We especially welcome Corporal Mike Whitehouse RAAOC
attached to the Company on Exercise Long Look and we have
v.o doubt that Lance Corporal John Miles is enjoying himself
at Bandiana the home of the RAAOC.
We congratulate Lance Corporal Taff Walsh of the Bakery
Section on promotion and we say farewell to Corporal John
Borthwick after twenty two years service and wish him good
luck. We welcome to the Company Staff Sergeant Lee, Sergeants
Fitzgerald and Turnbull, Corporals Hawkins and Prince and say
farewell to Corporal Scull, Lance Corporal Ormond, Privates
Barlow and Noble.
Central Ordnance Depot Chilwell
PRIDE of place this month must go to
the Sergeants Mess where most of the
activity seems to have been taking place.
Our team who entered the DBD Inter
Sergeants Mess six-a-side football com-
petition sailed through to the final at
Kineton, collecting an impressive sixty
one
«
yv fy
//
Points on the way but regrettably
^\
^^Jf
jff
were defeated in extra time by the home
^&=&^A&
team. The Senior Member is particularly
^ ^ ^ ^
grateful to ASM Brian Jarvis and SQMS
^*""*^
Steve Meyers for battling on after
receiving nasty injuries. It was not until after the runners-up
trophies had. been distributed that the team told him he was
registered as first substitute—he is now the proud possessor of a
runners-up trophy for his splendid efforts in driving to Kine-
ton, consuming untold quantities of chicken curry and Gordons
Gin (mainly Gordons Gin) and occasionally shouting '* Up
Chilwell." Conductor Jayne was last heard tryng to convince
the PEC that he ought to be nominated substitute for all indoor
jimes at the forthcoming Games Evening with Derby County
football Supporters Club and that suitable trophies be purchased.
The Sergeants Mess excelled on the occasion of their Annual
Ball. Early evening saw the Mess shaking to the sounds of a
Caribbean Steel Band as members and guests gathered for the
reception, after which everyone retired io the main ballroom for
an excellent evening of dining, wining, dancing and entertainment
so ably organised by ASM Dave Pretty and his REME col-
leagues. Our principal guests, Brigadier and Mrs J. A. M.
Macdonald, were accompanied by their charming daughter
Catherine who has been visiting from America. In spite of his
ethnic affinity with the Caribbean, the Mess Treasurer, Staff
Sergeant Andy Andrews, could not be persuaded to fill in for
the delayed steel band with a galvenised bucket and stick, but
he did look groovy. And really, 4< Staff Andrews, standing next
to the Commandant and saying Dis knockin de bagpipes into
de cock hat," is asking for trouble.
At the end of the month we were pleased to welcome
General Stanyer who with Mrs Stanyer spent a day with us.
Whilst Mrs Stanyer went off to talk to the ladies, the General
visited us at work, visited the Sergeants Mess and then lunched
with the Corps Officers of the Garrison. We hope it won't be
long before he comes back to try another rusty nail! Another
visitor to the Depot was Mr Hornsby from south-east London,
an ex-RAOC Soldier of 1942 vintage who came to Chilwell for
a trip down memory lane. He enjoyed his day, thought the
Depot itself hadn't changed much but the people had,
The junior ranks wives ' Hilltop Social Club ' continues to
thrive, thanks to an enthusiastic committee which was named in
a recent GAZETTE letter. Their finances, as a result of Coffee
Mornings, Tombola Evenings and a Bring and Buy are flourish-
ing. They donate money to SSAFA and set some aside for
their children's Christmas parties, which will be in addition to
those kindly arranged by, and held in, the Sergeants Mess every
year,
Yet again we congratulate WOl <RSM) Maurice Gosling on his
small bore shooting prowess. For the umpteenth time he has
represented the Army in the annual Inter-Services competition
and was runner-up (beaten by one point) in these championships.
In another competition, representing the Army against the Police,
he was not feeling at his best and could manage only five
hundred and ninety eight out of a possible six hundred! Well
done RSM.
With the summer behind us the winter sports gets under-
way. The football team under new management are training
hard and have got off to a good start by beating Kingsway*
United nine nil in the Nottingham and District Thursday League.
On the rugby field the aroma of wintergreen is in the air yet
again as the squad pull on those famous black jerseys. Former
players will be delighted to learn Chilwell Dragons have
registered two RAF scalps in their first three games. Stalwarts
in the side include our local AT, Sergeant Steve Marsh, who
continues to be poetry in motion; Private Smudge Smith, the
one man demolition engineer, and Private Charlie ' Crash ball *
Lechmere.
Any reader aspiring to greater things should note that the
in-thing for senior officers is now torn Achilles tendon. But
more of that in next month's letter when we shall be able to
report on the great Chilwell ten mile chase—a sponsored race to
raise funds for charity, SSAFA and local civilian charities in
particular. It looks like being a good day with a virtually un-
known team—OEOs Athletic—threatening to run away with
the trophies.
The Shadow Unit are off this morning on a two weeks
exercise in BAOR under their new OC who has just arrived
from BAOR. Welcome Major David Braithwaite and your
family.
Welcome also to Major Ken Coboume who comes to the
Stores Branch from Berlin, and also to Lieutenant Colonel
MacColl who has arrived with his family from BAOR, like-
wise Captain Phil Martel and family. Conductor Woodward
has come to Chilwell to complete his last six months service.
This month's letter ends on a sad note. It is with regret
that we tell readers of the death of Betty Piggot, wife of Major
Frank Piggot (Retd), both so well known in the Corps. Sad
also to record the death of Andy McAnally, an EO with Plan-
ning Branch for the past three years.
Central Ordnance Depot Donnington
THE Garrison Corporals Club held their first Summer dance
which was a great success. The cabaret included a * Drag
Artiste' and Lance Corporal Brian Smith, in his apparent
innocence, did not realise until the early hours that the Artiste
was not what he appeared to be,
The Sergeants Mess hosted the Officers Mess at a games
night The Commandant captained the Officers team. After
some devious scoring the night was declared a draw. RSM
Nobby Clarke pulled the Sergeants Mess out of the fire during
Book number R0247