RAOC Gazette - page 137
Image details
| Corps | RAOC |
|---|---|
| Material type | Journals |
| Book page | |
| Chapter head | |
| Chapter key | |
| Chapter number | |
| Full title | RAOC Gazette |
| Page number | |
| Publication date | 1981 |
| Real page | |
| Colour | Yes |
| Grey | No |
| Early date | 1981 |
| Late date | 1981 |
| Transcription |
IN § Jfor tjje DIRECTOR OF MUSIC THE ARMY SQUAD PRIVATE AKINLAMI joined the Corps in October 1980, did his recruit training with Cyprus Platoon Training Company, and was awarded the Best PT prize at their Passing Out Parade in January. Eighteen years old he comes from Livingstone in Scotland and attended the Craigshill High School. While there ho became the middle weight runner-up in the East of Scotland boxing championships and is a dedicated boxing enthusiast. While a recruit he used every opportunity to fit in boxing training, working during his own free time in the evenings and early morning. He had the occasional work out with the Irish Guards boxing team at Pirbright; was entered for, and won, contests at Arborficld and London in preparation for the Army Under Ninctccns Individual Boxing Championships. LEAVES THIS MONTH we say farewell to Major Tom Griffiths who has been our Director of Music for the past six years; he has been appointed Director of Music at the Guards Depot not too far away at Pirbright. He joined the Royal Lincolnshire Regiment in 1946, saw service in Egypt, Jordan, Malaya and Germany and attained the rank of Band Sergeant Major before attending the Royal Military School of Music at Kneller Hall in 1959. Ten years later he was back at Kneller Hall, this time as the School Band- master; the senior Bandmaster in the Army. Major Griffiths has conducted at many state occasions but his most memorable was the Fanfare Trumpets at the investiture of HRH Prince Charles at Caernarvon. In 1971 he was made an MBE and later that year was commissioned into the 17/21st Lancers when he took the ap- pointment of Director of the Royal Armoured Corps Band at Bovington. Private Akinlami Training Battalion Middle W e i g h t now in the Army Boxing Squad. Unfortunately, he was the only entrant at his weight in the Championships and was therefore denied' the opportunity to prove his ability. However, because of his known track record and form to-date, he has been selected as a member of the Army squad. ' Junior' as he is known, commenced training with them in February in preparation for the 1981 Combined Services Boxing Championships. Hopefully, he will go from success there to this years Scottish Amateur Boxing Championships where he intends to become the 1981 middle weight champion. Although a potential Supply Specialist, Private Akinlami's immediate ambition is to pass the AIPT course at the Army School of Physical Training and then serve for a tour in the Training Battalion and Depot gymnasium at Deepcut. A Major T . Griffiths M B E . Since 1974, when he joined RAOC, Major Griffiths has taken our Staff Band on tour to Barbados, St Vincent, Colombia, Mexico, Texas and Europe. He must have become one of the best known personalities in the Corps and everyone who has heard the band appreciates the high professional standard that has earned praise and reputation wherever they play. We wish Tom and his wife Shirley happiness and success in his new ap- pointment and hope they will remember with affection their time with the Corps. Our new Director of Music is Captain Rodney Parker who joins us from the Prince of Wales Division. We also warmly welcome his wife Cathy and daughters Ruth and Helen. NEW GOVERNOR THE Royal Hospital's famous scarlet-coated 'Chelsea Pensioners' are due to receive a new Governor later this year. The appointment of General Sir Robert Ford has been approved by The Queen and he starts the job of running the home for Army pensioners on 1st August 1981, taking over from General Sir Antony Read. There are four hundred and twenty ex-Army pensioners living in the Royal Hospital and with ages ranging from sixty three to ninety seven, their rows of proudly-worn decorations and campaign medals cover the Boer War, two World Wars and, lately, the Korean War. Next year the Royal Hospital, Chelsea, celebrates its three hundredth anniversary. It was founded in the reign of Charles II and the impressive building was designed by Sir Christopher Wren. — 354 — |
| Book number | R0404a |