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RAOC Gazette - page 5

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Corps RAOC
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Full title RAOC Gazette
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Publication date 1980
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Early date 1980
Late date 1980
Transcription Bassctl Hounds. They now have an established Bassctt family
of three (including Barclay the TV Bassctt) but at one time
could boast as many as thirteen. He set high standards where-
ever ho went and will be sorely missed. The large number of
friends they have made during the many years of service they
have both given the Corps will, I know, join me in wishing
Ian and Tina contentment and long life in their lovely old
cottage in Newark.
M.C.
etorb
THE RETIREMENT
OF
B R I G A D I E R J. A. M .
MACDONALD
THE RETIREMENT
OF
B R I G A D I E R J. S.
RYDER
BRIGADIER STUART RYDER retired from the Active List in
December after a long and distinguished career which started in
the ranks in 1944. After little more than a year he was com-
missioned into the Cheshire Regiment and then in 1947 trans-
ferred to RASC, a Corps in which he served until transferring
to RAOC on the McLcod reorganisation. His actual rcbadging
was delayed for a year or so whilst he completed a tour of duty
as DAQMG Headquarters Land Forces Hong Kong and it
was not until 1967 when, as a newly promoted Lieutenant
Colonel, that he attended a provision course prior to taking
up his first Corps appointment as Provision Officer in COD
Chilwell; this at the time of rationalisation of spares pro-
vision to the Army! In 1969 he was posted to the British De-
fence Staff in Washington where he relieved me as AQMG
Logistics, a move which set him on the path to ten uninter-
rupted years of exacting Staff appointments. On his return to
UK in 1971 Stuart was posted to the Ministry of Defence
where he served as AQMG E Man 4, Colonel Q(Maint) and
Colonel E. Man 3 before moving across London to First
Avenue House in 1975 for a short stint as Colonel Ord 1
before being promoted Brigadier and appointed DDGOS. Two
years iater he retraced his steps across London on taking up his
final appointment, Director of Clothing and Textiles.
Brigadier and Mrs Macdonald—and the Bassctts.
BRIGADIER IAN MACDONALD retired from the Active List
in November to take up a civilian appointment as Deputy
Secretary of the East Midlands Territorial Army Association.
He had a long and distinguished career which began on his
eighteenth birthday in 1943 when he joined the Seaforth High-
landers as a volunteer. The following year he was commissioned
into his Regiment and between 1944/48 saw service with its
1st Battalion in India, Malaya, Java and Singapore. Two years
later he joined the Corps in which he held a number of ap-
pointments in 15 Battalion RAOC, COD Bicester, Korea and
Singapore before being appointed Regular Adjutant to 12 GS
Company RAOC (TA) in Edinburgh where he formed the first
RAOC Pipe Band! This was followed by a tour of duty as
DADOS Headquarters Scottish Command after which he
joined the IM Course at Manchester. His next posting was to
the Ordnance Depot Aden where he received a C-in-C's Com-
mendation for RAD FAN Operations. In 1964 Ian moved into
the Ministry of Defence as DADOS Ord 4c and so started out
on a six long weary years on the same corridor in First Avenue
House during which he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel
and appointed ADOS. He eventually left the London scene
for depot appointments in 15 ABOD and on promotion to
Colonel in 1973 he moved to Donnington as Senior Stores
Officer. On being appointed Inspector RAOC in the rank of
Brigadier in 1976, he once more found himself in First Avenue
House; albeit on a different corridor! This time he was more
fortunate, for a little over one year later he moved to Chilwell
to take up his final challenging appointment as Commandant
and Garrison Commander at a most difficult time. Ian Mac-
donald has a wide range of interests. He was an Army Trialist
rugby player and an accomplished rugby referee at various
levels culminating in registration on the County Panel; a keen
offshore sailor and, he and his charming wife Tina, whom he
married in 1944, may have even made a few pennies breeding
Brigadier Stuart Ryder.
Stuart Ryder is a man of diverse interests, foremost of which
is his success as a literary critic and broadcaster, latterly for
BFBS in particular. He is a good all round sportsman and a
high quality cricketer. Following his days as a minor county
cricketer for Staffordshire and a regular Army cricketer, he
captained the Hong Kong side, and represented the Corps
for a number of years finally becoming Chairman of RAOC
cricket. He has also been known to play golf and quite recently
discovered that he was a left-handed player after years playing
the other way round! An officer of great charm, who did much
to enhance the reputation of the Corps; we will miss him and
I'm sure the large number of friends he and his charming wife
Lucy have made during their years with the Corps will join
me in wishing them both good health, success and happiness in
the future.
M.C.
— 234 —
Book number R0403a