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RAOC Gazette - page 122

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Corps RAOC
Material type Journals
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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 day of the period
the last day of the week in fact
a
Friday, no less. I think I've laboured the point long enough.
The following week saw our bi-annual Technical Inspection.
Did I say bi-annual? But we had one last year. Oh well. The
inspection was carried out by the Deputy Inspector. Although
we are still awaiting the report. Lieutenant Colonel Elliott left
without developing a nervous tic and so we are quite optimistic.
On the sporting front, Ivan Jones has represented the
Corps at hockey on six occasions this season. Both Ivans are
regular players for the Hamm Station football team. Jones in
midfield and Sangster in goal. The team is fairing extremely
well in the 3rd Division Minor Units League, in which we hold
second place. The team has not lost a match now since
October!
Mr Ian Downie has now returned to University in Leeds;
his role as Issues Controller has been taken up by Mr Karol
Janecki. a Pole who has been with the MSO for some time.
We wish him a warm welcome and a pleasant stay with us.
STORES SECTION W1LL1CH WORKSHOP
IT is quite a long time since we last had time to write notes for
THE GAZETTE. The Stores Section has been extremely busy
since the Workshop took on the additional workload after
the closure of the VSD Moenchengladbach Workshop. Up
till now we have managed to cope but with undermanning taking
its toll difficulties are going to be experienced in the near future.
The Stores Section is at present moving all stores and the
office into a more modern location within the Workshop. We
think it has been worth the wait as when finalised we will have
everything under one roof. Changes are also taking place in the
Stores Section Staff as W 2 Caldwell is RHE to UK for his
last six months, then Sergeant Waller leaves in April to Kineton
followed by Corporal (to be Sergeant) Roberts on posting to
Soest (lucky fellow getting all this LOA).
Corporal Roberts has just come back from an RC course
and its ' GRACE' all the time even for NAAFI break. Rumour
has it that he is thinking of transferring to the RACD.
Finally we extend a warm welcome to the new WOIC Stores
Section namely Pete Regan on posting from 3 BAD and hope
that his tour here will be a happy one.
The Depot farewell was slightly different in that it occurred
as the OC was walking back to the Company Office from
Christmas farewell drinks with the MCLG labourers.
He
noticed and commented on the fact that there were no private
cars parked outside the Company Office—something he has
been trying to achieve since his arrival. The next thing he
noticed, seconds before the smoke grenades went off. was that
the Company Office was locked. Events from there moved
quickly and his cries for help to Captain Mark Wickham went
unheeded. Sergeant Yorky Coatcs and the rest of his crew
all dressed in combat kit, carrying rifles and wearing respirators
roared up on their stripped down and camouflaged Land
Rovers, hooded the OC, threw him (gently) into the back of
the Land Rover and roared off by a ciruitous route to a point
about one hundred yards from the front gate. The OC ad-
mitted afterwards that keeping his wits about him and noting
each turning he realised that he was about five miles away in
the middle of the Ranges (?). After being dehooded and
presented with his cannon he was escorted out of the Depot.
The fact that the Land Rover stalled and wouldn't restart at
the Depot gates was probably MTs way of saying remember us
(who could forget). We also said farewell to Lieutenant Bob
McCallum at the same time and he has now started to settle
in at 49 Company where we wish him well.
Second Lieutenant Gosney was welcomed by Privates
Smith and Lightfoot at Gutersloh airport who report that he
was extremely nervous during the trip back to Paderborn
having heard stories about new arrivals having tricks played
on them. However, nothing happened and after spending the
night in a windowless box room (due to overcrowding in the
Mess (?) and having coffee spilt in his lap by Stefan, the old
Yugoslav waiter), he was duly collected fifteen minutes late by
Private Lightfoot who then took half an hour to cover the ten
minute trip. Mr Gosney has since been searching for Privates
Smith and Lightfoot who he swears bear more than a close
resemblance to certain Officers of the Company!
Our congratulations this month go to W 2 Knoll and his
wife Angela on the birth of their Ladies Downhill Ski-ing Cham-
pion, Katrina Jane, who was born on 1st January.
We welcome to the Company Lance Corporals Wynne and
Powell (REME), Craftsman Hughes (REME). Private Hiett
(ACC), Private Evans and W02 Robinson.
Combat Supplies Battalion
WE are about to have a C-in-C's BAOR visit. Actually he's
just popping in en route to the rugby finals at Bad Lippspringe
but you know how these things escalate. We've known about
it for some time but this morning I received the phone call from
a certain higher formation, which must remain anonymous.
'About the programme for The Visit, (Have you noticed the
way they all seem to talk in capital letters) we don't want to
put you under any pressure but
" That must come under
the heading of ' Offrs you can't refuse.' Action has been duly
galvanic (the scientists among you will know exactly what that
means) and we await the results with interest. If all goes well
there should be some copy for next month's Notes. If all
doesn't go well there will be even more copy for next month's
Notes.
Connected, albeit loosely, is the fact that 1980 is scheduled
to be the year of the Apocalypse, said he (Spear) pointedly.
There are no prizes for guessing which Unit is going to end up
looking after the horses. While that gem sinks in, here are
the winners of this month's Company Notes Competition
44 COMPANY.
The Company dance took place inside 25
Field Regiment's Cookhouse although after the decoration team
had been there all day it was hard to recognise the place.
Frame tent poles had been adapted into uncommon shapes and
covered with hessian, parachutes and anything else that came
to hand. The final effect was, well, effective and felt by all
to be well worth the effort of putting it up. Unfortunately,
the same enthusiasm didn't appear when it came to taking it
down!
Highlight of the evening was the presentation of some
Royal Copenhagen China to Major Kevin Goad (who is leaving
us for much higher things) and of course his wife Anne (who
will be missed by all members of the Company who really
appreciated her friendly nature and bubbling enthusiasm). Also
presented was a signed photograph of this seasons Arsenal
football team and any of our readers who know Major Goad
will realise that the china will be hung in the loo and the
photograph will go in the lounge.
— 327
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