RAOC Gazette - page 64
Image details
| Corps | RAOC |
|---|---|
| Material type | Journals |
| Book page | |
| Chapter head | |
| Chapter key | |
| Chapter number | |
| Full title | RAOC Gazette |
| Page number | |
| Publication date | 1980 |
| Real page | |
| Colour | Yes |
| Grey | No |
| Early date | 1980 |
| Late date | 1980 |
| Transcription |
quarters NORTHAG. Sergeant Paul Gardiner has been heard to sing " Tiptoe through the Tulips" since receiving his postinc order to AFCENT in Holland. On the sporting front over half the RAOC members of the Headquarters are giving a good account of themselves in the squash leagues. Whilst Lance Corporals Dave Aisbett and Geordie Wilson are both congratulated on being selected for the Northern Ireland Corps soccer squad. Sergeant Paul Gardiner, Lance Corporal Derek Draper and Private Ray Preston are also busy representing the Unit at basketball in the Northern Ireland League. Staff Sergeant Fred Sloan also deserves men- tion for helping his team gain a third placing in the Unit safe and skilled driving competition. On a lighter note, W02 Pete Murray recently visited Alder- grove Airport and used the ladies ' frisk' lane but was dis- appointed when the female searcher passed him on to her male counterpart. Apparently she only frisks the men at Christmas! Still better luck in America, where he is taking a spot of well earned leave. At the time of writing our Superstar Sergeant Bert Dovell is recovering from a kidney operation. We all wish him a speedy recovery. Featured in the photograph are the Clerical Staff of Brigade Headquarters on a typically windy day with the City of Londonderry in the background. Seated our new pin-ups Chris Bell. Linda Reeve and Tina McKernan, and standing the rogues gallery left to right Lance Corporal Derek Draper, Corporals Pete Grills and Dave Wood, W02 Pete Murray. Privates Bill Currie and Ray Preston, Sergeants Mick O'Hare and Paul Gardiner and Staff Sergeant Fred Sloan. brief virtuoso solo lasting thirty five minutes, issued haver- sack rations and EX-LAX and the performance closed. Quickly. The Director and Colonels Brian Barratt and Bob Herdman gained the sympathy of their audience by their sustained attempt To present their topic over all this music—Allelujah! Despite all efforts to the contrary, sport still happens at the Graven Hill and this month it must be somewhat ruefully reported that the DSCS giant-killing soccer team has been beaten by a very sporting team from Cambridge Military Hospital. The game was played in the thickest mud with fine goals scored for DSCS by WOl Mike Wilson and W02 Dave Briggs. Many is the party prompted by December and certainly one of our best was the Annual Dance. This time, the Graven Hill Theatre was warm as was the huge cake being distributed around needy mouths by Major David Marks. With good at- tendance this party has been written up separately in the Bicester Tatler (incorporating the Morning Star) and it is to there too that you must look for details of the VESPER Annual Boxing Day Meet. Good luck in 1980. Northern Ireland •^ ^A^ |^^"^Cto^™^| I /ifc&^SL-N I I *^^??1 I I £fw§w$ I V W ^iww M V \sV»7v M V^ ^ S W y ^W_<IJ S ^^^^r HEADQUARTERS RAOC CRAOC (Lieutenant Colonel Hopkinson) dashed into the Press Office demanding ".What's the cricket score?," at nine o'clock in the morning! We don't even know what day it is at that time, so our reply of " England losing by one alu- minium bat two umpires and nine men on the leg," did not help. We knew the worst when he hung his black tie outside his office. When England win the MCC (which for the unconverted does not mean Merseyside Clog Corporation) tie flies. We consoled with " Well there is always another day " and he cheered up—just a little. We have had a super Ladies Dinner Night when all had a good time, the Mess bills are now knocking the smile off a few faces which is all right and proper. Captain Bob Manners has been recalled to the Garrison football side again (It seems he lets in less goals than anyone else). Captain John Withers has refereed several important rugby matches, and modestly displayed his rather smooth rugby referees association pullover, and Major Rod Brown keeps running round Ulster—under the impression that he is keeping fit—Huh— when we feel energetic we go to bed and sleep it off. 321 EOD Unit OUR congratulations to all the latest recipients of the follow- ing well earned awards: Major Chris Ahearne MBE, Sergeant Jim Gilbody BEM, Captain Tony Jacques, Staff Sergeants Roger Crow and Denis Thynne MD, and W02 Roger Davies GOCs Commendation. The Headquarters Section EOD Operator, Sergeant Fred Bassett, has gone off on his travels as the province reserve operator for several weeks. He has been very active since his arrival and says that he is going off to South Armagh for a rest! The SAT WOl Mick Heath, who thought he was due for a rest from the hurly-burly of Headquarters Northern Ireland, went to Bessbrook for two days. This was not to be as W02 Arthur Burns had laid oh a planned operation for the first day and the Provisional Irish Republican Army followed up with a large explosion the next. We wish to report the ultimate demise of WOl Steve Cox on posting to Didcot—via commissioning ceremonies at Black- down. His replacement WOl Terry Park has already established himself on the Inspectorate leave ladder. We say farewell to our CQMS Staff Sergeant Willie Baird who is leaving the Army after a full career—we wish him well in civil life. Lance Corporal Dave Dart, SATOs driver departs to OAD, Bielefeld after a clerks course and marriage. We welcome Staff Sergeant Mick Farrell and Private Taff Morn's. 8 INFANTRY BRIGADE LET us start this months notes by saying farewell to Corporal Mick and Anna Hopkins who have left us to join the Head- quarters I (BR) Corps in Bielefeld, and of course we welcome from Bielefeld Corporal Bill and Kathy LaighL Another new face is that of Private Ray Preston from the Training Centre in Deepcut who replaces Private Bill Currie who we con- gratulate on his forthcoming promotion and posting to Head- NO. 1 SECTION. Received a visit from the ' Sun ' and featured in that popular newspaper 20th December edition. Lady Newman, wife of the RUCs Chief Constable, popped in for morning coffee and after seeing a demonstration of EOD equip- ment, was presented with a Unit plaque. The highlight of our month was a Christmas party held in the Felix Club for thirty underprivileged children. The children were collected from three main areas of Belfast On arrival they were treated to a film show and a singalong session, this was followed by a magicians act. After a tea of jellies and cakes Father Christmas, alias Driver ' D o b o ' Dobinson, made his entrance to hand out presents for all the children. The Headquarters 8 Infantry Brigade Clerical Staff City of Londonderry in the background. with NO. 2 SECTION. The relative peace and quiet of Londonderry was shattered this month when in the space of a few days two two hundred to three hundred pound vehicle bombs exploded before EOD action could be taken. The cost of the damage for the first is still being counted and is already past the £3,000,000 mark. Father Christmas arrived early, bringing the Section a Video Cassette Recorder, new colour TV and a TV game. They have also taken delivery of a new Wheelbarrow, at which Captain Ian Marshall was heard to mutter " This one is going on display in a glass case." the — 283 — |
| Book number | R0403a |