RAOC Gazette - page 108
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 the Major Units football competition we arc to face 3 RGJ in the semi-finals. Congratulations to our Soccer Cap- tain, Lance Corporal Peter Wells, who has been awarded his Army football colours. Our efforts to find some rugby news ended by locating a rugby representative hiding under a pallet somewhere in the Depot. Apparently in the only match played to date, the least said about the result, the better. The hockey team on the other hand are not ashamed of their record having won eight, drawn four and lost four matches. Our goal scorers are Captain Jim Wilberforce, Lance Corporal Saunders and Private Heam. Praise is also due to the steady hard work of the defence with our star goalkeeper Lance Corporal Phil Walker, Staff Sergeant Geoff Millard, Private ' Cheggars' Chegwidden and latterly Captain Mike Hart and Lance Corporal Steve Miller. Major John Royle has left his playtime representative Major Brian Willis in the Outloading Team. Major Brian has retired from the Army to start a second career in engineering in the private sector. We wish him the best of luck. Although they have lost a vital member of the team there has been a rapid expansion of numbers in this group to prepare for increased rate of outloading which started on 4th February with APR Stores leaving for Building Bl in Donnington. At this stage we are outloading to Bicester by road and rail and to Donnington by road at a total rate of about seventy tons per day. As we export stores we appear to import surveyors who take over the empty spaces with their measuring sticks. 4th February was another significant date in our lives as Brigadier R. W. Bromham took over from Colonel Aubrey Whent as our Commandant. Helping the local handicapped. COD team have had their share of success and failure over the last few weeks. After losing the first three games, albeit by very small margins, November saw the first win, beating Harlescott sixty to forty two, soon afterwards they beat Warren fifty one to thirty five, but then lost to the League leaders Phoenix Braves thirty nine to fifty eight. The new year got away to a good start by a win over Church Stretton ninety two to thirty eight (they lost their previous game with Church Stretton forty to forty two). So, together with the Hodders, Corporal John Longfield, Private Smudge Smith, Staff Sergeant Denis Ellison, Mitch Couzens, Basil Harewood and Major Norman Pendlebury, the COD team are playing well and hoping for a few more victories in the near future. Commission: WOl Coulton (to Viersen as a Lieutenant). Arrivals: WOsI Baird and Barnes, W02 Donnery, Corporals Moreton and Phillips, Lance Corporals Davison and Brown. Privates Southwick, Gamble and Smith. Departures: W02 Cornfield, Corporals Cooper and Sargeant, Privates Roper, Burton and Pettitt. Central Ordnance Depot Central Ordnance Depot Bicester THE highlight of the month was the farewell visit by the DGOS, his last official visit to Bicester prior to retire- ment. The General undertook a really challenging whirlwind tour of this large estate accompanied on part of his visit by Mrs Callan. The DGOS spent the whole of his time touring the Depot, visiting both Sergeants Messes and other Garrison RAOC Units. At an informal buffet supper at the Ambrosden Officers Mess, the Commandant, on behalf of all Bicester RAOC Officers, presented the DGOS with a home wine makers wine press (disrespectfully referred to by some wag as a ' berry' crusher!) On the following day, during his short stopover at Head- quarters COD, he was given a photograph album containing photographs taken during previous visits he has made to Bicester. Finally, after linking up with Mrs Callan (at some obscure point at E Site!) the General departed Bicester possibly for the last time as our DGOS but certainly not, we hope, the last time as General and Mrs Callan. We all join in wishing them a happy and peaceful retirement and every good fortune for the future. Chilwell THE Depot and Garrison was stunned by the death in hospital of Brigadier J. J. G. Smith our Commandant from 1972 to W w v 1974. Brigadier Smith was extremely well known and liked by all the staff who served under his command in Chilwell, the majority of whom among the civilian » « j * it grades are still serving now. His popularity V. \J/ JJ and successful leadership were summed up ^^4s = s5<^s^^' in their nickname for him which was ^^^_^^^ simply ' Big John.' He retired from the ^^•""^ Army after thirty seven years service to live in Beeston where he continued to make his mark in the Nottingham area. He became a prominent member of the Rotary Club, devoting himself to its charitable work and becom- ing only the second honorary member in the club's history. In 1975 he was a member of the organising committee of the World Rowing Championships at Holme Pierrepoint on the Trent. He was President of the Beeston and District Pipe Band and played a leading part in bringing the very successful World Pipe Band Championship to Wollaton Park Nottingham last year. Although serious illness caused him to change his life- style he was always prepared to give his time to these good works. The late Brigadier Smith was given a military funeral in the packed Garrison Church of St George where among the Chief Mourners were Major General Stanyer and Major General Phelps, the Chairman of Nottinghamshire County Council and many other prominent military and civilian personalities. The service was followed by cremation at Bramcote. We all offer our deepest sympathy to Mrs Smith and her son and daughter. The Unit football side have won their first ' P o t ' of the season by winning the Nottingham and District Thursday League Division 2 Championship for the first time ever. Still on the civilian competitions they are in with a chance of win- ning the Notts Thursday Cup and the John Ball Cup having already won the latter in 1978. The DGOS has lunch with the Warrant Officers and Sergeants during his farewell visit to Bicester. — 317 — |
| Book number | R0403a |