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RAOC Gazette - page 63

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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 CF)t Station JBtttog
I3t Home
Headquarters Director General of Ordnance Services
SECRETARIAT
MAJOR HOB ATKINS has gone to
Rhodesia for n few weeks, Sergeant
Dave Flinn has eventually recovered
from a broken arm sustained whilst
playing soccer back in October, and
two very enjoyable Christmas parties
are now but just a pleasant memory.
Apart from this, news is sparse, but we do wish all members
of the Corps, past and present, a Very Happy and Prosperous
New Year.
ORD I
LIFE in the Branch is following the pattern which is routine at
this time of the year with everyone looking forward to Summer
holidays and a quick end to a relentless winter. The near
Siberian winds—not uncommon in the Salisbury Plain Area—
seem to lose momentum only when they reach the stark walls
of LE(A)! However, despite the cold weather members of the
branch have still been able to take part in sporting activities;
Major Richard Ginn and SQMS Mick Gallagher regularly
play hockey and soccer respectively but in both cases team
fortunes fluctuate with the barometer—which team was it which
lost fourteen to one? Colonel Gerry Bcrragan and Major Robin
Farcy have had their feet wet during the past month or so, both
having managed to get afloat whenever an opportunity has
arisen.
We welcome Mrs Jean Pcarcc (EO) who has joined Ord Ic
as replacement for Mr Dave Forrester whose retirement was
reported in our previous Newsletter.
ORD 3
WE have sadly said farewell to Colonel John Alway who, after
two years as the mainstay of Ord 3, has left us for some hard
earned R and R as AAG AG9. We wish the Colonel and his
wife Marion all the best for the future. Into the ' hot scat'
we welcome Colonel Ralph Richardson who has joined us from
the Sunny (and duty-free) climes of Hong Kong; we all hope he
enjoys a happy, contented and rewarding stay with us.
Having been unable to win even one match during the tennis
season we arc now trying to go one better by winning the LE(A)
five-a-side soccer tournament; a very daunting task when con-
sidering that with the programme already half completed we have
collected only one point from eight games with five goals
scored and forty four against! ; all the glory for four of our
goals going to our devastating forward line of Major Robin
Lee (three) and Captain Lennox MacEwan (one) with the fifth
goal being scored from the penally spot by Mr Bernard Smith.
Things would have been even worse but for the unflagging
efforts of our ambidextrous goalkeeper—Miss Paula Line (cat
your heart out Tommy Docherty). The remainder of the squad,
Lieutenant Colonel Brian Allen, Major Scan Brown, Captain
Tony Bridges, Mr Gil Bawdcn, Mrs Sue Hulme (second goal-
keeper) and SQMS Tom Burke (Captain and Manager?) are
keeping in strict training hopeful of reducing the goal difference.
ORD 4
AS ever December has been a month of many highlights not
least being the DGOS walkabout visit to the branch. DBD
claimed that the visit afforded him the opportunity to familiarise
himself with his staffs surroundings—but alas, two days later
there was a major office reorganisation. Despite the festivities
and celebrations conferences, visits and studies continue to
dominate the scene with staff involved at Wigston, Kincton and
Ruddington. Lieutenant Colonel Dudley Upton paid a visit to
AG9, reputedly to arrange despatch of seasonal gifts (in the form
of POs no doubt).
A DBD Christmas dinner was held in the Rothsay Hotel
Weyhill, afterwards there was dancing to a disco. The ' with i t '
DJ had even the youngest member of the company (Miss
Jackie Cockrell) performing the St Bernard and Valctta
Waltzes whilst Fred Wilkins displayed his hillbilly talents during
an American square dance. Brigadier Dalton derived immense
pleasure from a party game which included kissing the ladies
to the tunc ' The Tcddybcar's Picnic'—the mind boggles whilst
the body boogies!
The Ord 2/4 live-a-sidc indoor soccer team continue to
give a good account of themselves, with the season just past the
halfway mark they arc unbeaten and lead the table by two
points and arc a game in hand to the second placed team.
Mr Paul Conner and SSM Jimmy Jameson attended and
passed a CWD course at JWSS whilst Mr Jim Barnctt has
just completed an IMCA Pickup course—very useful too at this
time of the year!
Finally, we say farewell to Major Bob Bracken who has
left us to assume the appointment of S02 (Mat) at Headquarters
South West District.
Directorate of Supply Management
HEADQUARTERS
THE rather hectic time, with all the parties leading up to the
holiday, was started olT early this year by Miss Jo Gaunt on her
departure to be married. Jo gave a little party—with some
very stimulating home made wine which went down very well.
S Man 2 gave her a Tcasmadc which so far has done its job
admirably! Our congratulations and good wishes to Jo who
has become Mrs Simpson. Jo will in fact be with us for a little
while longer when hopefully, she will get a posting slightly
nearer to her new home in Southampton.
This month also sees the arrival of Lieutenant Tony Young
on posting from the Brunei Malay Regiment. We welcome
Lieutenant Young to S Man 2b(3) and say farewell to Mr Mike
Wildish who has gone over to an ADP appointment.
VEHICLE DIVISION
SQUADRON LEADER PETER AUTIE was so thrilled at
being mentioned in the October edition of Tun GAZETTE that
we thought that we could sec our way clear to do it again.
A successful DSM Christmas Party was held at the Grange
Farm Restaurant with everyone appearing to enjoy the evening
—including SOI Vehicle Branch who managed to over-provision
on feminine company to the tune of one hundred per cent. Con-
spicuous by his absence Captain Paddy O'Conncll attending yet
another course at the School of Ordnance! This time it was
FRUC — could a posting order be winging its way from
Stanmorc?
Welcomes this month to Major Bob Lawton from 2nd
Armoured Division and Corporal Joss Peacock from Control
Division. Farewell to Private Nobby Clark on posting to
Ordnance Depot Northern Ireland.
Directorate of Supply Computer Services
THEE KOMPUTER RIGHTING 4 THIS RAG am working
nough like a dream. It arc also remembering 2 wish all
GAZETTE readers a Happy New Year from DSCS, 1880 should
be fairy dynamic 4 us all.
Those of you reading your newspapers will be aware that
the likelihood, of British Steel now buying DSCS, is now
small. It is in view of this that secret negotiations will shortly
be in hand with The Bicester Exhaust Centre.
That particular company has been inspired by the pro-
fessional standards set by this Directorate-like Captain Warwick
Stanton, in NBC kit, watching a brother officer scratching his
eye
In The Gas Chamber? Or Company Sergeant Major
Cooper who was found digging in on the firing point as the
DSCS gunmen approached to classify. No matter, of the three
participants seen there was a marksman and two good passes.
'Tis amazing what the gentry can do.
The Director General's Study Period was dam' nigh opened
by a flatulent fanfare from Major Richard Powell's side drum,
in hot pursuit of which came the Directorate Massed Band.
At the conclusion of their first number the band was heaped at
the feet of Colonel George Crooks. He then awoke, played a
— 282 —
Book number R0403a