RAOC Gazette - page 148
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 |
The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst DURING this first quarter of the year there have been quite a few comings and goings. We welcome Captain Tony Lever who joined us from Bracht, replacing him whom we will mention this once, Major Jim Houseman who has now departed for NORTHAG. We would like to thank him for all he did for us during his stay by really helping to get the RMA on the map in the RAOC world. We also welcome Major Bedford from 7 Field Force as replacement for Major Mike Groves who is off to No. 1 Ammuni- tion Inspectorate Disposal Unit on promotion. Our con- gratulations and best of luck to him. Private McKinney has joined us from the Apprentices College and is settling down well in New College as a Company Clerk. Not much news from New College this month—sounds as if the Chief Clerk, Staff Sergeant George Frazer is beginning to get slightly worried at the daunting prospect of losing one of his two Corporals, Ken Robson, who is off to SHAPE soon, and he still hasn't got a replacement lined up yet. Across in the depths of that historical building Old College, Sergeant Steve Smith and Lance Corporal Bob Day are keep- ing their usual low profile, although the latter is rumoured to be giving up his recess to go on his RPC2 Course. Good luck. In Victory College Staff Sergeant Ron Carr can be seen working his fingers to the bone as, alone, he tries to teach doctors, dentists and vets and such like to be soldiers. Space Headquarters is thriving again now that Staff Sergeant Kit Hewitt has returned to the chair in G Branch after a spell in hospital for an operation. His post was very ably looked after by Corporal Ann Dyson WRAC, who did a wonderful job, assisted by the dark and mysterious Private Karen Grostate. Downstairs in AQ Branch Private Sue Baines and Clerical Officer, Mrs Maureen Gobbett, are holding the reins while the Chief Clerk, Dave Beynon, is in Rhodesia. Sergeant Steve Smith has organised sandbags and swinging lights for his return and warned all Mess Members to stay away for at least six months after his reappearance. Northern Ireland HEADQUARTERS RAOC WE had some pleasing feedback which indicated that some folks do read our contributary notes to THE GAZETTE; this should spur us to greater things but life in the past few weeks has hardly been as exciting as ' Dallas,' not that we con- descend to watch that type of thing, but we hear Mr Wogan's comments on the programme, when we are breathlessly waiting for him to announce his non winners each morning. The young lady, who deals with our coffee, demanded a new kettle or else and told us to write another rhyme, so in order to ensure continued supplies of this essential tho' (we are told) poisonous liquid, here goes: — Sing a Song of Sixpence Sing in rhyme or prose We've seen some struggling ginger hairs Beneath our Chief Clerks nose Said Staff with pride and manliness A pink tinge in his cheeks I think it's doing very well In just a brace of weeks (cries of three weeks in the background) We said is it a covert job That you have got to do Or are you going to play the lead In a film of Fu Man Chu* It's nothing of the sort said he With a certain depth of feeling They already use my hair as a mop • They now can paint the ceiling. *An old time Chinese villain (with a long moustache) we read about in our youth. And we were told that some circumstance which was not explained in detail caused Staff Sergeant Harry Hibbert to have himself a haircut, a most unusual event these days; most mysterious! We have said goodbye to Lieutenant Colonel Bryan Hop- kinson and wish him well in his new environment, and wel- come to our new CRAOC Lieutenant Colonel Bramble. — STAFF CLERKS WELCOME TO: WOl Dave Gray our new Superintendent Clerk, Sergeant Scottie Gordon PA to the Chief of Staff, Sergeant Keith Tomlinson G Intelligence and Lance Corporal Ed Hodgson G Registry. Goodbyes to: Sergeants Bill Roche, Bob McCarthy and Alan Keating. Congratulations to Steve Phillips on his promotion to Sergeant. 321 EOD Unit HEADQUARTERS SECTION. The first month of the year is behind us and on the whole all has gone well. On the sporting front, Ord Branch H e a d q u a r t e r s N o r t h e r n Ireland challenged us to a squash match for the ' Busted G u t ' trophy, of which they were the holders and confident of remaining so. Our representatives were: Staff S e r g e a n t Russ E d w a r d s (Captain), Captain Peter Walsh, Captain Bill Jay, Sergeant Taff Davies (our secret weapon) and Sergeant Spook Anderson. Ord Branch fielded: Lieutenant Colonel Brian Hopkinson, Major Rod Brown, Captain Bob Manners, Captain John Withers and WOl Mick Allen. On previous form the result should have been a foregone conclusion. However, they reckoned without Taff Davies, a recent posting in and No. 1 Seed, he produced a surprise victory against CRAOC which set us on target for a memorable three two victory. The Headquarters EOD Team—24 Echo have obviously been tasked by RAOC Records to carry out trials of EOD ' bodies.' In normal times we have a spherical No. 1 in the shape of Sergeant Fred Basset (very useful for rolling down roads on manual approaches) and from time to time he is replaced by our Stats AT, Staff Sergeant Russ Edwards, six foot four inch of lean sartorical elegance who minimises on pro- tection at ICPs by hiding behind lamp posts. Whichever is on duty, they are ably assisted by our two midget No. 2's Privates Kev Connor and Geordie Unthank. The number of gadgets in SATOs office continues to expand. As well as CCTV, Video Recorder, Remote Control Telephone, he and CATO now have separate control over the Pye Westminster radio loudspeaker. Thus, when TOPCAT jobs are few and far between, one can sneak out without telling the other. Captain Nigel Smellie is settling into his new appointment in the Ammunition Inspectorate and their driver Lance Corporal Tich Town has been presented with a son by Avril, his wife. Still on the baby front Sergeant Davies's wife produced a son for him back in Wales. NO. I SECTION. The last two Fridays in the Felix Club have been devoted to frenzied throwing of arrows and the hitting of balls. This was due to the welcome extended to the Civilian Searchers and the Crumlin Road Prison Warders Association when they took up the challenge of a games night. Both evenings were very successful and we look forward to return matches in the near future. Sambo the cat is now well ensconced as the Section mascot and proudly stalks the Grand Central Hotel in search of her tinned food! The loading bay seems well suited for her toilet requirements. NO. 1 SECTION. The EOD work has been very quiet but this has not resulted in the atrophication of the teams. During the month Brigadier Cowdry paid us a flying visit. Prior to his visit the local Quartermasters have found to their horror that supplies of Deep Bronze Green paint and three inch paint brushes have rapidly reached PAF or is it called the Reorder Level in modern inventory management jargon. During the month the Section put on an explosives demonstration for Head- quarters 8 Infantry Brigade, 3 RRF, 1 Staffords, 1 UDR, 5 UDR, 40 Commando RM and the RUC. On the day about one hun- dred spectators were entertained and informed about the capabilities of explosives and typical IED effects. It is always sad to see members of the section depart and this is particularly so at this time as our APC/RCT drivers are leaving us. only to be replaced by seven new and eager faces. Staff Sergeant Ron Strafford departs shortly for his favourite depot at Kineton and the Skipper, Captain Ian Marshall, is leaving for his new post in 3 BAD. Our other member who will 349 — |
| Book number | R0403a |