RAOC Gazette - page 28
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 | No |
| Grey | No |
| Early date | 1981 |
| Late date | 1981 |
| Transcription |
Central Vehicle Depot " VEHICLE DEPOT ASHCUVRCil AM months events begin with bonfire night at the local A^hchureh County Primary School. We. the Depot provided at great expense fifty per cent of the fireworks and a lot of the actual support. Corporal Pete Johnson set up the entire display with the aid of Lance Corporals Manning and Sheldrake and Private Duncan (250). The bonfire itself looked strangely similar to a neat stack of packing cases which had been accidentally left unattended inside the Depot! The following weekend was Remembrance weekend, this as combined with the Ashchurch Station Bazaar. The Bazaar achieved its aim by raising over £300 for local charities. The local beauty, Miss Tewkesbury, opened the event ably escorted by Second Lieutenant Alan Crosby (lucky blighter). The Commandant kept his eye on the proceedings to ensure no hanky panky took place. Remembrance day parade took place in Tewkesbury and at the local Ashchurch Church. Two Platoons from the Depot took part in the Tewkesbury Parade which was lead by one Platoon of Glosters; we were by far the smartest on parade. The Parade had a huge following of British Legion, Cubs, Brownies. Guides, Scouts, Boys Brigade and many others. One Detachment of twenty men took part in the local Church Service followed by a short march to the Cenotaph. The two parades were followed by a curry lunch and much gulping of ale. Sports wise the Depot has done quite well. The rugby team beat ASMT Leconfield sixty three nil and LEA forty two nil, The Captain W 2 Keith Wick was pleasantly chuffed. The Football Team beat our Sister Depot Ludgershall fifteen nil all we can expect from a superior breed of VS. Interdepartmental competitions seem to be in vogue, first hockey and then cross country. The course was a twisty two miles mainly on wet grass. Lance Corporal Keith Jones won in nine minutes twenty seven seconds. Mil Maint won the Team Event with first, fourth, seventh and twelfth positions. Well done all those who took part—every one finished eventually! Finally we extend our congratulations to Lance Corporal Mick and Mrs Jaqualine Doran on the birth of their son. VEHICLE DEPOT LUDGERSHALL THE month brought us an influx of visitors. One notable group was the Defence Supply Committee led by its current chairman the DGOS. These high ranking visitors seemed to enjoy their high speed runs around the test track in a variety of armoured vehicles. We also received visits from the Deputy Commander SW District and VQMG during the month. If you have a posting planned for Ludgershall we can assure you that the DOE are planning to install gas central heating in Hedge End so don't despair just yet. No improve- ments are in sight for the D Med block so our advice is to think seriously about remaining a bachelor. We have a number of courses planned in 1982 for keen soldiers and Ludgershall is certainly the place to come for qualifications if nothing else, (Get your posting preference forms in now). Even our bowling team under Staff Sergeant Geoff Patton is making its name let alone the football and run- ning teams and our members of the Corps and Army Rugby Teams. Even the Ludgershall exercises have their lighter moments. Private Berkon had to be shot on the last night exercise by Corporal Snowden who was in an ambush party. Berkon was oblivious to the good Corporals presence in the long grass and being desperate to well, you can guess the rest. Best wishes for 1982 to all our friends. Central Ammunition Depot Kineton OUR Newsletter starts this month by wel- coming Colonel H, R. Higgins to Kineton as the Station Commander and by saying a final farewell to Colonel D. C. Stone who departs for Bicester. There has been a lot of novel ways to dispatching Com- mandants from Units but the sight of Colonei Stone on horseback in the early hours being chased by the members of the Sergeants Mess looked like a re-make of 1 'Gone With The Wind and then the TT . Unit on parade to see him h chaired onto the Wickham Train (renamed Rolling Stone) was par excellance. 1 The annual fireworks display, organised by 'A' Company and led by Major John Taylor was a huge success even though Captain Nigel Rees lost not only his eyebrows but his much treasured moustache, they kept the huge crowd warm and enter- tained for a good hour, On the soccer field our team is not doing so well in the Wednesday League, this is mainly due to the recent exercise but on Sundays we are more than holding our own having won four out of the five fixtures. It has not been all hello's, farewells, and sports this month because a select team from Headquarters Company led by Captain John Connelly have been busy for two weeks on the Annual Reporting Centre scheme whereby Reservists report into their nearest Centre for Documentation, Kitting and NBC training, this has worked well according to our Paymaster Captain Alan Woodcock who has has his calculator going non stop. The Christmas season is making itself felt now with all the various Companies and Departments making arrangements for their parties, more about those in our next issue, providing of course yours truly is in a fit state. Finally we ofTer our congratulations to Corporal Richard Scott and to W/Private Sue Finch on their recent marriage which took place in the Emanuel Church Plymouth. Central Ammunition Depot Longtown THE Panic Period could describe the last month with the Bl Annual BFT, The Personal Weapon Test and the NBC Respirator Test all being done, would you believe, before the Annual FFR inspection was due. As a result of the good organisation headed by the OC Troops (Major Peter Price) all was ready and satisfactory for the inspection on the 19th. The team was entertained to a buffet lunch in the Sergeants Mess which I'm assured had no influence on the favourable report received. The month has seen a lot of coming and going with Corporal Bob Gannon on loan to ATC Colchester. The SAT Kevin Callaghan, Corporal Kevin Cronin and Mick Ellis helped out on SATON 7 for one week at RAF Burtonwood. Talking cf Burtonwood the ladies toilet pan missing from Area B, was^ last seen going West along the M62 and not to the umpires house; our apologies to the ladies who will now have to queue, CAD Longtown will never be the same after this month. We say farewell to two of the P and GS Ds, Mr Jack Davies and Mr Harry Cartner, who have served in Longtown for a total of fifty three years and that's a lot of soldiers postings. Jack and Harry were entertained in the Sergeants Mess by their fellow P and GS Ds and the military of the Ammunition Tech- nical Services (ATS), a posh name for SATO Department. We wish them a long and happy retirement we will miss them both. 1 Ammunition Inspection and Disposal Unit EVERYONE, well nearly everyone, had a belated holiday on Exercise Felix Focus the Unit's annual military training exercise held at Penally. Apart from the sun we did not have T all the rain we did have, the sailing we almost had, APWT, BFT and the Gas Chamber we negotiated and the cuisine (which was different) one could say we all enjoyed the experience . . . . The rumour that next year's exercise will be held at Butlins has been strongly denied. With all the recent involvement on Royal occasions, it has also been rumoured that certain team's vehicles will be displaying insignia indicating ' By Royal Appointment/ This has been denied, even by DLSA's own Staff. Although involved in yet another Royal visit, this time to Tyneside, SQMS Ray Evans has managed to go on leave, again. Something to do with a blank but signed leave-pass perhaps? The Liverpool Detachment were recently in discreet blue livery for the Conservative Conference at Blackpool. SQMS Dave Couling could also be seen swinging from stanchion to stanchion on Blackpool Tower. Tarzan is allegedly jealous and Bo Dereck looks appreciative. SATO (West) and the Hereford Detachment had a very wet Royal Tour of Wales to cover. No signed photographs either. Captain Roberts has been on loan as SATO (West) for a few weeks. There have been a few suspicions as to why perhaps he is avoiding the hot tongue Anyway he tells a good joke, now and again. Mr Arthur Watts, our celebrity of the month from Hounslow, finally got his hands on his Imperial Service Medal at a presenta- tion done by Brigadier Keightley recently. Congratulations are also in order for Lance Corporal and Mrs John Swiderski on the birth of a son. We have to increase our establishment some- how . . . . . . — 299 — |
| Book number | R0250a |