RAOC Gazette - page 56
Image details
| Corps | RAOC |
|---|---|
| Material type | Journals |
| Book page | |
| Chapter head | |
| Chapter key | |
| Chapter number | |
| Full title | RAOC Gazette |
| Page number | |
| Publication date | 1968 |
| Real page | |
| Colour | No |
| Grey | No |
| Early date | 1968 |
| Late date | 1968 |
| Transcription |
RETIREMENT OF MR. CORDON HENDERSON HEAD MESSENGER COD CHILWELL CHANGE OF EDITOR THIS is the hist issue of THE GAXHTIL to be edited by Brigadier R, J. Volkers. who has been Editor for the last five years. After thirty-five years on the active list, twenty-seven of which were with the Corps, John Volkers doffed his uniform and took on the less physically active job of Editor, But although less active, he put all his efforts into making THE GAZETTE the best of the Regimental journals. And in this there is no doubt he was most successful. He left THE. GAZETTE in June finally to retire to Malta where he will enjoy the sun and read at leisure the work of his successor. Colonel Clifford Tooley, who is now in the chair of final decision. We offer John and Barbara Volkers our very best wishes for a very happy retirement on the GC Island and a particular thank-you to him for leaving us with a first-class GAZETTE. B. B. DRAMA FESTIVAL 1967—1968 THE Army Drama Festival is open to all Army Department Clubs in Great Britain. A team must consist of soldiers or civilians, or both, who are members of the club belonging to the establishment concerned, and the dramatic work offered must be a one act play or extract from a long play, the performing time for which should not exceed 40 minutes. Both preliminary and final rounds are judged by a professional adjudicator. This year Chilwell was selected as the venue for the final and the clubs appearing represented, the Ministry of Defence, London; the Royal Ordnance Factory, Blackburn; Donnington Garrison and Chilwell itself, The final took place in the Redman Theatre and amongst an invited audience of 160 were Sir Arthur Drew, KCB, JP, Chairman Army Department Recreational Association, and Lady Drew. Major General R. Gordon-Finlayson, GOC, East Mid- land District and Mrs. Gordon-Finlayson, Councillor Alec Old- ham, JP, Chairman of the Beeston and Stapleford Urban District Council and Mrs, Oldham, Miss Pauline Winks, Chairman of the newly formed Army Department Amateur Dramatic Com- mittee who was making her first appearance in her new capacity. Also present was Mr, S. J. C. Stock well, Secretary of ADRA. and an old friend of Chilwell, who was making his farewell appearance. The Theatre had been well prepared for this important occasion and the four plays presented in turn were ably per- formed. The adjudicator, Miss Kathryn Scott. Member of the Guild of Drama Adjudicators, had a most difficult task but at the end. in a brilliant summing up, she declared the Centurion Players from the Ministry of Defence to be winners with Don- nington and the Royal Ordnance Factory Blackburn close joint second. THIS MONTH has seen the disappearance from the Chilwell scene of one of the well beloved characters of our civilian staff. Gordon, as he is affectionately known to a great many and in particular those who frequent the HQ Building, reached the ripe old age of 75 in December last and until early this year continued daily to trundle bis bicycle to the Depot whatever the weather turned out to be. It was shortly after this that he had a slight heart attack and finally, after much pressure from both his wife and doctor, he was persuaded to retire. He entered service in Chilwell in 1936, having served throughout World War I in the Royal Artillery. He re- joined for service from the TA at the outbreak of World War II and served in the RAOC until August 1945, when he again took up his duties as a Messenger at Chilwell. He be- came Head Messen- ger in December 1955 and served in this capacity until the recent illness which necessitated his final retirement He formally retired in 1958 at the age of 66 years. As the custodian of the door at Build- ing 10, Gordon has known many of Jhe Corps Senior Officers Photo LfCpl. Cheveest personally and, when one catches him in a mood of reminiscence, many gems of former days fall from his lips and always with a twinkle in his eyes. On 30th April 1968 Gordon, with Mrs. Henderson, was able to visit, again, his familiar place of work and on this occasion he was the recipient of a gift of a clock from the Officers and staff of the Headquarters. AH join in wishing him and his wife a really happy and well earned retirement. F - V . P. {Continued from page 50, column 2) Drama Festival 1967—68* The success, in 1968. of the Centurion Players is an interest- ing break-through as, in each previous year, since the very start of the competition, the winning club has been the Royal Military College of Science. The photograph shows Sir Arthur Drew presenting the Rose Bowl to the producer of the winning play. A very enjoyable evening ended with supper about midnight, __ 43 RESULTS LMG PAIRS—Winners\ Sgts. Freeman and Montgomery, 15 ABOD (Rear); Runners-up; Sgt. Shields and L/Cpl. Price, 10 OFP. PISTOL INDIVIDUAL—Winner: Major PurcelL HQ 1 (BR) Corps; Kunner-up : CSM Doming, 1 (BR) Corps Veh Coy. PISTOL TEAM—Winners: Major Styles, CSM Doming and SQMS Wilson 1 (BR) Corps Veh Coy; Runners-up i Major Webster, SQMS Beck and L/Cpl. Kazim, 17 RVD. INDIVIDUAL sua—Winner; CSM Doming, 1 (BR) Corps Veh Coy; Runner-up: Sgt. Montgomery, 15 ABOD (Rear), TEAM SMG — Winners: Major Styles, CSM Doming, SQMS Wilson and Sgt. Saunders, 1 (BR) Corps Veh Coy; Runners-up: L t Steer, Sgt. Grant, Cpl Eckert and L/Cpl. Walker, 49 Sup Coy, RIFLE INDIVIDUAL—Winner: L/Cpl. Grey, 3 BAPD; Runner-up: Sgt. Pick, 3 BAPD. TEAM RIFLE— Winners: 21 hi. Dalby-Welsh, RQMS Merrison, Sgt Pick, Sgt Pinington, Cpl. Borrows, Ptes. Coles, Thonkins and Gray, 3 BAPD; Runners-up: Sgt Coldrick, Sgt Rollinson, Cpl. Butcher and L / C p l Alton, 154 FAD. CHAMPION SHOT: Sgt Shields, RAPC, 10 OFP. The following NSRA Silver Jewel awards, on the results of the 1968 Small Bore Championship Match held on 24th April, were made: Service Rifle Winner: Sgt Harry, Ord Dte. Target Rifle Winner: S/Sgt. Gardiner, 1 (Br) Corps Ammo Coy, — r |
| Book number | R0238 |