RAOC Gazette - page 100
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 |
There's yet another big P here. Major ' Big Phil ' Philip Inman and rugby have finally arrived at this Division and reality. Measuring ten feet in all directions and moving at the speed of a CPSA picket, our new S02 Weapons 2 should find himself with much free time, as did his predecessor Major Roger Tweed, to pursue his blood sports once he has returned from his Provision Course. A warm welcome to his wife and family. Major Roger Tweed by the way is still our VESPER Officer and is now sited in Engineers Branch. He still has much free time which he fritters away as Secretary of the Donnington Garrison Golf Society and Assistant Secretary of the WEST- MIDDIST Inter Services Golf League. Until last week he was also the Officers Mess Secretary and the time he spent on that has now been redirected to writing an autobiography titled ' TOLSTOI' under the pseudonym of Warren Peace. A big pat on an ageing back for W02 Les Dalton for the award of his Army Colours for rallying. W02 Des Williams, erstwhile and yet again Chairman of the Garrison Families Club, is back from Australia: Exercise Long Look. He's not saying much at present but promises to give me something for THE GAZETTE shortly—probably an obnoxious rendering under plain wrapper or an EID. Our American in Donnington, Lieutenant Colonel Clinton A. Hodder the Second (once remoxed, twice evicted) is putting it about. During office hours he can frequently be found at RSAF Enfield, St Christopher House. LE(A) Andover, Upper Heyford and of late, under his car. At other times he's coach- ing, or playing in, the Garrison basketball team (Mondays and Thursdays); inspecting Army Cadets—" shape up or ship out sonny"—(Tuesdays and Wednesdays): addressing the local Chamber of Commerce or judging local competitions (in between) and vacuuming the Officers Mess gaming machine of its con- tents (too frequently). When the time comes for him to spend a full week in both office and home then Japan would have fallen out with the IsIe-of-Wight. A warm welcome to Sergeant and Mrs Stuart Ambrose and family, and congratulations to Lance Corporal and Mrs Andy MacDonald on the birth of their daughter Natasha. Captain Brian Roberts has departed on posting to BAOR and Corporal Dick Parkinson is now in Belize on a six months detachment. Corporal Dave Prescott (' Paddington ') is currently attending an RPC1 course. Past members of this Division will be delighted to know that the Officers Mess troubleshooter for Telford Wines, and hockey umpire of repute. Major David Simmons, has changed his briefcase; he's added a further strip of jungle tape and now carries it under the right arm. Major John Cantor; Jean Au Griitin at Madeley Dry Ski Slopes, wants to know where he is going because everybody here is asking him where he is going and it's driving him up the wall. It's his super bicycle and seat on the Friday night PFS lorry to Bicester that they're after. Don't telephone Weapons 1A, for Major John Staples is away on a Management Course followed by a ski-ing course. ' He who has imagination without learning, has wings and no feet'—Joubert. Mrs Fay Cowdry at the cake stall. supported and the singing enthusiastic. It looks like being a regular feature in years to come. Now that the festivities are over all the DLSA sportsmen are stirring. The badminton and squash players have been active throughout the winter but it will soon be time for the intrepid Bari Cup team to start swinging their sticks again. Irene Napper has left us after thirteen years at Didcot Station. She must surely be known to every person serving at Didcot over that period. She also makes the best cheesecake this side of Egon Ronay. To her new job with the DOE in Didcot she takes a wealth of experience, a record of tireless work for us, and our very best wishes for the future. Directorate of Supply Computer Services YOUR previous correspondent has achieved what can only be described as a Houdini type escape from DSCS. Practice attempts have at last paid off although illusion will not become reality until a posting order materialises. In addition, he had little difficulty in passing on his scribing duties—always knew he was a smooth talker. Our thanks go to him for his past efforts. . Our resident tame Australian, Major Dave Reid, has been joined, albeit on a temporary basis, by Captain Trevor Smith RAAOC. His month's attachment will be over by now but wc wish him luck at Shrivenham, and hope to host him once again on completion of his course. (Transport willing!) The Director General made his farewell visit during January and this is covered more fully in the COD Bicester newsletter. He was too early to see us undergoing our BFTs—a sight to behold! Whilst loathe to mention BFTs, particularly in the company of so many officers, this has been prompted by W02 Jack Strachan who has discovered a way to achieve the necessary three miles in a less painful manner; he has taken up free fall parachuting! Congratulations are in order for Lieutenant Ken Miller on commissioning and in deciding to further his career in DSCS. We welcome WOs2 Wood and Govan from 154 FAD and Head- quarters BAOR respectively. We have said farewell to Major Clive Beaumont who is oft to the War School. Captain Dean Hutchinson (with dog Eric) to 1(BR) Corps, Stores Company and WOl Brian Edmondson to RSRE Malvern. Finally, to dispel all rumours, Dean Hutchinson has actually departed. The Red Setter seen lolloping about is in fact a smaller version of Eric and belongs to another new arrival Captain Alislair Shackleton. Directorate of Land Service Ammunition THE Didcot Branch of the Guild of St Helena, led by Mrs Fay Cowdry, held their Annual Winter Bazaar; a supreme effort on everyone's part, organisers, ' producers' and customers alike, enabled the Branch to collect £380 for charity. Stars of the show were undoubtedly the puppets made by Roger and Suzy Atkey. A visit by Major General Staveley provided us with an ideal opportunity to welcome the new COSLOG to Didcot and tell him something of our work here. We were also visited by the DGOS just before Christmas for a full briefing by DLSA senior management. He then addressed the civilian staff and was on his way to drinks with the officers and members of the Sergeants Mess when a Wheelbarrow appeared bearing a Christmas cracker. After a short but unequal struggle (and a controlled explosion) the DGOS won. What was in the cracker? a Resettlement Bulletin! Planning for the DLSA Christmas activities started even earlier this year. The annual running battle between the One Big Party lobby and the Many Branch Parties consortium ended in a draw, with the usual compromise of one big party and many Branch parties! Needless to say a continuously good time was had by all. A somewhat bleary-eyed gent was heard to remark, as he offered up bottle to glass, " If this is GM Branch it must be Friday." We held a DLSA lunchtime Carol Service for the first time, organised by WOl Jim Harper. The service was well — POST YOUR NEWSLETTERS IN TIME TO REACH THE EDITOR BY THE END OF EACH MONTH LEAVING ONE MONTH FOR PUBLICATION 311 — |
| Book number | R0403a |