RAOC Gazette - page 69
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 |
in a Divisional Field Training Exercise along with the BAOR element of the Unit. The Company was fully exercised in its many tasks and all personnel enthusiastically tackled every- thing that came their way. Valuable experience was gained in working with Chinook support helicopters of 205 ' Geronimo ' Company of the US Army. We were most impressed with their ability to swallow up an Eager Beaver and carry an underslung load as well. This makes change of locations quite painless. The exercise ended all too soon and the participants were whisked back to UK and Chilwell. The Chilwell members of the Company wish to place on record their thanks to CRAOC 1st Armoured Division, the Ordnance Company and 1(BR) Corps Combat Supplies Battalion for all their help before and during the exercise. The Commandant w i t h , from the left, Mrs J . Metheringham, Miss Chilwell 1 9 7 9 and Mrs J . Leighton, pose with a selection of Christmas gifts for Children's Homes. Early this month we sent our FLT drivers off to MHTU at COD Bicester for the FLT Driver of the Year Competition. Lance Corporal Price and Private Ballantyne were the only military representatives of a strong civilian contingent. After our success in the R and T Electric 4000-lb last year with Lance Corporal Aubrey, Private Ballantyne proved that we can operate diesels as well, by winning a tankard for the ' Best Individual Soldier Award.' Turning to another annual event, the DGOS Study Period, we must congratulate Lance Corpora] Drabble who quite unabashed in front of a powerful audience took part in and brightened up,' a difficult presentation on Soldier Manning in the Corps. Our Exercise Long Look visitor, Captain Paul Derby RAAOC has now returned ' down under' looking forward to Christmas in the sun. Before he left he was ' lunched out' in the Garrison Officers Mess and presented with the appro- priate Shields by the Garrison Commander, Colonel Whent and the Acting Senior Stores Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Weather- burn. Captain Derby reciprocated with two very smart RAAOC Shields which have pride of place in the Officers Mess and Stores Branch. He said that he had enjoyed his stay and had made many friends. We enjoyed having him and wish him well back home. In the meantime Captain Garry Hawthorn has come back ' up over' and we shall hear of his escapades in due course. Sadly we heard of the sudden death on 15th December of ex-Sergeant A. Brickies, who retired recently from the COD after completing a full career and lived and worked locally. Sergeant Brickies had many friends in the Unit as was shown by the number who attended the funeral at Bramcote Crema- torium on 20th December. Our heartfelt sympathy goes out to Mrs Brickies and the family. On a lighter note but nevertheless sad, outloading continues at a steady rate with APR stores going to COD Bicester and slow moving detail to COD Donnington. The rate will build up early in the New Year with stores for APR and detail stores from Building 157 going to COD Donnington. Finally we wish all our readers world-wide, Health and Happiness throughout 1980. Central Ordnance Depot Donnington THE Fortunate and Favoured Few made the annual pilgrimage to Deepcut for the DGOS Study Period; as at any Command Performance the actors vied for the top award and the Oscar was surely won by an excellent lecturer from The Industrial Society who gave a superb impression of Dr Magnus Pyke as, with extravagant arm and hand gesticulations, he explained the labyrinthine intricacies of Leadership in Industry, however, best remembered was three and a half seconds during which a very attractive lady in black underwear danced across the stage; her statistics whetted the appetite even more than those of Combat Supply in BAOR. Some of the students were accommodated in the Fawlty Towers of Frimley—complete with a John Cleese-style manager and a whole posse of Manuel look-alikes who, with studied dis- regard for the needs of the exhausted and hungry guests, made dinner last for one and three quarter hours. And three persons in a two-bedroom only invites the attention of the security services! Our friendly Adjutant, Captain Robin Sider, has won him- self a fortnight's holiday in Greece. The local Chamber of Commerce ran a competition and the good Robin peered into every shop t window in the area to list ' rogue ' goods on dis- play: finally, every soldier in Regimental Wing (it is reliably reported) was ordered to produce a suitable slogan for Robin's entry. Well done Robin and Regimental Wing. The Sergeants Mess Christmas season was launched with a Mess Dinner and social evening which WOl Ron Plenderleith had organised for sixty local senior citizens. It was most en- joyable and RSM Nobby Clarke is having thoughts of billing the senior ranks who assisted, as they too had such a good time! An hour's drinking prior to dinner, a good menu well ' prepared and presented, had all in a jolly mood. WOl Stu Hudson entertained all with his talents. The big trio—WOl Ron Plenderleith, W02 Roy Oswick RMP and W02 Jack Payne RAMC led the singsong generating enthusiasm and volume from the whole company. To all the Mess staff, unpaid volunteers, Mrs Reg Clarke, Mrs Doreen Plenderleith and Mrs Sylvia Horrocks, our thanks for their grand efforts in making it such a successful night. ' Match of the Day ' football took place at Parsons Barracks between the Officers and Sergeants Messes after Christmas drinks. OIC Soccer ensured that prominent members of the Sergeants Mess Team were absent by taking them away to play the RAF at Hereford! However, even fielding thirteen players, the Sergeants Mess still only managed a draw—and that was in the last minute of the game. Scorer of the Officers goal was that old gladiator Major Sid Pincher who volleyed high into a gaping net after a poor goal kick. Referee Ron Miller, playing for the Officers Mess this year, had his work cut out and Sergeant Jock McGavin was rightly shown the Yellow card when tackling Master Mouse Second Lieutenant Tom Mouat! Scorer for the Sergeants Mess was W02 Mick Mays who forced the ball over the line after a goalmouth scramble. The Officers still lead on the many challenges they have accepted. Finally, welcome to: Corporals MacMillan and Jones, Lance Corporal Brown, Privates Meldrum and Smith. Farewell to: Corporal McDouall to BAOR, Sergeants Callow and Irvin. Corporal Taylor and Lance Corporal White on discharge. Congratulations t o : Marriage—Private Parsons to Doris Pitt and Private Redmond to Carrole Cradock. Births—To Lance Corporal and Mrs MacDonald—a daughter Natasha and to Private and Mrs Barstow—a son David. Central Ammunition Depot Longtown THE time has arrived for another newsletter from this tropical paradise on the Costa del Solway. Many months ago, I said that I would introduce readers to the mystiques of an Am- munition Depot but didn't manage to leave the Headquarters! Having left Headquarters and reached the five mile peri- meter road; before my eyes I can see a mass of railway lines and a magnificent building being constructed. Rumour has it, that it is the re-opening of the BR Gretna branch line but I have it on good authority that it is the new Army Department Rail- way Staff engine shed and repair workshop, due for com- pletion in the near future. I continue my walking and am confronted by three large sheds bearing the words Ordnance Storage Depot. The OSD is controlled by Mr Robin Bird and holds all the empty ammunition packages, fitments and components required by the Royal Ordnance Factories when manufacturing ammunition. In addition, they hold inert am- munition which is issued world-wide for training purposes. However, time has caught up with me and I am unable to continue my trek, though I can see lines and lines of build- ings behind the perimeter fence. Perhaps next month I will see what is there. — 288 — |
| Book number | R0403a |