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RAOC Gazette - page 188

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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 you cry? He's a Military Training Instructor and (nottalotta-
people know this) his specialist qualification greatly improves
his chances of promotion. Why not check it out with your
OC today—not all MTls are in Blackdown!
Our March Passing Out Parade was taken by Colonel
Blakemore, the Commandant Central Vehicle Depots. Topping
the bill during the month was the handover of the Company
from Major Ken Collins to Major Jim Keating. Major Collins
was properly seen off at a Regimental dinner and a Company
social. We wish him success on the Food Technology course and
in the future. A warm welcome to Major Keating.
We also say goodbye to our Second-in-Command Captain
Mike Dalley—congratulations on promotion to Major.
His
replacement. Captain Gordon Coombs is now studying his
crystal ball and taking miracle lessons. Sergeant Nick Neal
has moved on to Cyprus, Sergeant Dick Wheeler is going to
BAOR while Sergeant Geordie Tones is off to the Sneaky
Beaky Air Service. Corporal Lyn Owens moves to WRAC
Company. Platoon Commanders feature prominently on the
arrivals front — Second Lieutenants Jed Argyle and Mark
Whitaker and Lieutenant Alan Inions. Sergeants Roy May and
Brian Lambert are already competing for the coveted Beast of
Blackdown title. Internal reorganisation early in April will
see the joining together in matrimony of Corporals Ski Zycinski
and Judy Blair, our lady PTI. Our congratulations and best
wishes go to them.
Finally—don't forget. Don't be ' MT ' headed—become an
MTI!
EMPLOYMENT
TRAINING
SCHOOL
THE Employment Training School continues to emulate a
conveyor belt with an output that would impress industry. The
many cap badges which abound in the School precincts all
serve to remind us that there is life outside Deepcut!
On the postings side we welcome to our Butchery Branch,
Sergeant Charlie Potts from 79 Supply Depot and say good-
bye to Corporal Trixie Standard, also of the Butchery Branch
who has gone to 10 Ordnance Support Battalion.
WOl Dave Clark has now become Captain Clark: his
appointment as WOIC Basic Clerical Training filled by WO I
Give Walch: welcome to the School.
Northern Ireland
HEADQUARTERS
RAOC
ENOUGH of this lighthcarted banter, 1
thought, let us take a more serious view
of things this month, for instance Cap-
tain Bob Manners retirement from active
goalkceping, he made this announce-
ment one morning when he came into
our GAZETTE Press office (what a high
sound name for a desk in a dark corner
hidden behind a filing cabinet) wearing a
stitched up eye. "Ah Dr H o o k " we
remarked "wherc's your funny hat?." Then trying to be
sympathetic "You must have hit the woodwork" (an expression
we have heard on some television programme called match of
the day or some such misleading title). " The Ironwork" he
corrected " I've now definitely stopped playing and from now
on I'm managing the Lisbum Garrison Team."
Thinking
of the ups and downs of a football managers career we said
"Well one thing's certain. You won't get sacked." " W h y ? "
" Because they can't find anyone else." End of diplomatic
relations with S03 Vehicles and aging S03 Supplies.
Funny thing this addiction for rough games and dangerous
activities. Take the last three CRAOCs.
1. Lieutenant Colonel Maurice O'Dca goes swimming with
the seals in Strangford Loch and was lucky not to get
'culled' (Sorry Sir! We're a bit militant this morning).
2. Lieutenant Colonel Bryan Hopkinson. Sorry again Colonel
Bryan Hopkinson, played cricket on our one sunny day and
got himself sunburnt.
3. Lieutenant Colonel David Bramble gets himself mixed up
with thirty thugs kicking a pointed ball around, to see fair
play! this to our mind is courting disaster, the only safe time
seems to be when they all get down and look for something
they never seem to find. (Eventually they all get stitched up
at the MI Room and then stitched up in the bar, and are all
friends again, and the referee who during the melee was a
person of doubtful parentage, becomes their great long lost
brother and they all buy him a pint). It's all beyond our
understanding.
At least Major Tim Proffitt has been converted (No! not
kicked between those posts that look like a big H), he's stopped
playing hockey and has joined those more sedate ranks who
sit and think, only think mind you, about doing some
gardening. Ah well.
HEADQUARTERS
39 INFANTRY
BRIGADE
SINCE our last offering Lance Corporal Taff Jones has in-
creased the local population by one, our congratulations go to
him and his wife Doreen on the birth of their son Neil
Leighton.
A new Lance Corporal has also been born, our con-
gratulations to ex-Private Jock Currie who has just returned
from leave, having told Mum the good news.
Staff Sergeant Phil Morris has reluctantly deserted us on
promotion to W02, to go to Cyprus. All the best, see you
back here in two years. We welcome in his place, Staff
Sergeant Norman Eldridge from the land of LOA. Norman
assisted by Corporal Russ Crombie, has already shown the
Signals Squadron how to play football by helping them beat
their arch enemies 233 Squadron.
Still on the sporting scene, Captain Dick Jordan, Cap-
tain Max Burnett, Corporals Taff Roberts and Shuggie
Shearer (REME) were part of the Squadron team squad which
won the Northern Ireland Minor Units Rugby Cup against,
once again, 233 Signals Squadron. They also played in the
Army Minor Units Cup but were unfortunately beaten in the
semi-finals by 59 Commando Squadron RE.
Our congratulations to Lance Corporal Brian Kay who
recently returned from Bicester having successfully completed
his RPC2—it is nice to have a drill expert on the staff.
Sergeant Nigel Radford, with six months left to do in
Northern Ireland, is continually pestering our poor Superinten-
dent Clerk, W02 Pete Duffy, for his posting—does anybody
want him? Please!
Corporal Pete Daffern, in an effort to get back to Hong
Kong, has signed on the dotted line for another three years,
however, it also means a further six months here in 39 Brigade.
(Isn't he lucky).
With BFT raising its ugly head again, the Brigade Staff
Clerks can be seen, several times a week, running around the
Headquarters.
Lance Corporal Paul Ashton has now just
about made the grade if he can cut out his visit to Hewie
over the last fifty yards.
In an effort to get the clerks fit, and fight the flab, the
Super has introduced a Staff Clerks Squash Ladder. The only
person being challenged is our draughtswoman, Lance Corporal
Denise Higgins—We wonder why!
321 EOD Unit
HEADQUARTERS
SECTION.
The
past month has been a relatively quiet
one, the loudest ' bang' in the head-
quarters was that of Major David
Hodgens' last packing box lid slam-
ming shut. He has taken boxes full
of the latest technology and gadgetry
off to the School at Kineton—his next
post Major David Furness-Gibbon is
the new SATO, at present he is taking
a crash course in map reading—having
failed twice to locate the ICP during a recent task in Belfast!
The football match against No. 1 Section was a close
fought battle, narrowly ending in an eight nil defeat for us.
There was much muttering of a ' packed ' team as there only
appeared to be one or two RAOC players in their team.
However, revenge was sweet, we recently trounced them at
a games night organised to say farewell to Sergeant ' Fred'
Bassett.
We welcome Staff Sergeant Dave Booth the new No. 1
of the Lisbum team and Lance Corporal Mick Morgan who
is to be SATOs driver.
AMMUNITION
INSPECTORATE.
Our four members con-
tinue the fight for the use of the one and only telephone;
WOl Terry Park continues his quest for a miracle cure,
carpets and timber. Sergeant Spook Anderson has become an
off shoot of the Army Football Referees Association, while
Captain Nigel Smellie worries people over his current ' pro-
ject.' We say farewell and good luck to Lance Corporal Tich
Town on posting to BAOR, we have all been waiting
expectantly to see whether he has got any ears after his pre-
posting trim.
WO. 1 SECTION. With the recent changeover of RCT drivers
it was decided we should find out who the new sportsmen of
— 381 —
Book number R0403a