RAOC Gazette - page 256
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 |
and those closer to home can take their bows, for the plaudits they have earned. As we are few in number but even so, too numerous to mention, we will only drop the names of two stalwarts, Sergeant Dave Turner with 655 Squadron AAC, and Sergeant George Chalmers with 3 Commando Brigade Air Squadron RM, both have received postings to Hong Kong— is there any hope for the remainder of us? 1 AAC SUPPORT SECTION THE rundown of the Unit prior to reforming at Middle WaJlop as part of t Aircraft Support Unit RAOC is at last under way. Meetings, work studies, organisation research, and working parties have taken place generating a lot of bumf and the predictable decision has been reached. We are now occupied in bin dismantling, packing stores, and their movement to Middle Wallop, where works services are taking place to accommodate us. The photo shows the Unit less Mr Mills and Toby, his faithful dog, who won the hearts of all when he took a dis- liking to MOD policemen and had to be restrained from taking his customary unsupervised walk about. They have left for the grassy slopes of Boscombe Down and we wish them good hunting and best wishes for the future. Of those shown only two military and Mr Taff James, our longest serving member, remain. Lance Corporals Ferrier and Walker are posted to BAOR and Mr Munns and Mr Kerfoot have found alternative employment in the Netheravon area. Apart from being very busy dismantling bins etc, and rushing stores to and from air- ports seven days a week, life is good. We would like to welcome Private Askew from BAOR and wish those who have left us all the best for the future. •^:s£?.;& s ';s:3 For the military members of the Depot there was a welcome break from the hard work of Fair Value preparation when they went on Exercise Mule Train. They had a quiet start awaiting PUE, and vehicles but when they did arrive they soon got moving, but only after one of the Eager Beavers jumped off its four tonner and bit Sergeant Kelly. During the exercise they receipted and issued some six hundred tons of SIMO. The issue being done overnight with a three hour period in NBC. Needless to say they were very pleased with themselves. Another boost for morale was the fitness train- ing, The officers and seniors agreed that early morning runs brought out the best in a man ; some of the Company didn*t. The time to return to sunny Chilwell soon arrived, the clinking of bottles in plastic carriers could be heard at five hundred metres promising a festive Christmas. Sincere congratulations to WO I M. C E. Gosling. This, for a change, is in no way connected with small bore shooting. In fact his wife must take most of the honours because of the arrival of baby Christopher. (The RSM has been banned from future 'Dog and Stick' walks for obvious reasons)), A report on the famous Chilwell Chase was promised in last month's notes and we are happy to say, despite the weather and the poor form shown by OEOs Athletic on the day, the event was a great success. The Chase was a sponsored race with the aim of raising money for charity, which is something we are getting quite good at in Chilwell. Teams from all over the Depot competed and came from as far afield as Bicester, Martin Owen was a member of the Kimbolten School team who ran out very fast winners, followed by the two Bicester Hash entries. First of the home teams to come in was the Officers and Gentlemen of DSM, An enjoyable morning organised by Colonel Owen, rounded off with the presentation of prizes by Miss Chilwell 1978, saw the SSAFA and local civilian charities benefiting by £350 with a bit more to come. Welcome to Major Royle and family, also welcome to WOl Barlow, Staff Brennen, Privates Wei bourne, Clark and Mc- Guire. All ranks of COD Chilwell take this opportunity of wishing other members of the RAOC and their families a very Happy Christmas. Central Ordnance Depot Bicester 16 BATTALION. Following stead- fastly in the 1977 footprints of Major Jim Ashcroft, Major Andy Robertson has been introducing novices to the fun of sailing in the West country. A period of five* successive weeks of sailing instruction took place, by Bicester Garrison, beginning with a Sail Training Course for blind people which will soon appear in THE GAZETTE as a separate article. In mid September, as part of the Unit's Summer Camp at Penhale, sail- ing courses began at Falmouth. Students were few due to operational commitments in BAOR, so we included some members of the Royal Navy who added just that extra bit of interest. The weather was delightful, as well as eating our Royal Navy pattern sandwiches at lunchtime by the sea, enjoy- ing the glorious yachting views of Falmouth, in bright sun- shine, we did a lot of sailing. The course came along so quickly that on Thursday we were able to take a sailing excursion in our dinghies to St Mawes, just across the Rhodes about three miles away. Here we anchored (all good practice), and took a short break to see St Mawes before re-assembling for the return trip. The second course was quite different in that we experienced what are known as ' fresh breezes * nearly all week. We produced some good young helmsmen on this course. For the first week in October we moved to Plymouth where we met some old sailing hands who wanted to progress to RYA Intermediate or Advanced Certificates. Again the sun shone, and sailing in the Sound was something quite different from Calvert Lake or even Falmouth. The course, which in- cluded characters such as Carl Hoe, Val Lacock, Len Salis- bury, Chad Craddock, Moe Mullany, Dave Connelly and Bob Williams, as well as David Major and Roy Small, found that righting an inverted dinghy in a small tide rip demanded some attention and muscle, Carl Hoe enjoyed righting his Laser, and did it time and time again! Back to Falmouth for the last week, and again the same delightful scenery and weather. (Full marks to the Met Officer at RNAS Culdrose who told us about the weather and even 1 AAC SUPPORT SECTION Corporal Dave Flower, Lance Corporal Dave Ferrier, Mr Terry Muns, Lance Corporal Barry Walker, Mr Fred Kerfoot (Major Retd), W O l (SSM) Joe Johnston and M r Taff James. Central Ordnance Depot Chilwell DURING September all the activity was in the Sergeants Mess; this month it is the turn of the Officers Mess. Last Saturday was the occasion of the Garrison Officers Mess Annual Ball when the members of the Mess danced to the strings of the Corps Band and some cavorted to A W vV" MM the Thunder ball Disco down at the Chet- T\ \Mf JL fl wynd end. The week before saw another X ^ ^ ^ S ^ very successful Club Night. These are ^ ^ ^ ^ y evenings on alternate months when in ^*"**^ place of a Regimental Dinner we have a t less formal occasion. The ladies join us and a guest speaker gives an after-supper talk on some interesting and appropriate topic. This time our speaker was Lieutenant Colonel Alan Kennedy from across the way in DSM, He gave a most interest- ing talk, complete with slides, of his adventures in South America, when in 1976 he ran the logistic side of things for the British Equadorian Expedition. An evening enjoyed by all. Next month it will be the turn of the soldiers who this very evening are holding a gala charity evening in the form of a Grand Disco Nite at the Pedro Club. $&£t 210 |
| Book number | R0247 |