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RAOC Gazette - page 73

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Corps RAOC
Material type Journals
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Chapter head
Chapter key
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Full title RAOC Gazette
Page number
Publication date 1983
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Colour Yes
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Early date 1983
Late date 1983
Transcription South W e s t District
WE have said farewell but not goodbye, to an
old friend—Colonel Tony Sharpe—who leaves
this District to don his cloth cap. The Dis-
trict will not be the same without him, and
we were able to give him a small lunch to
mark the occasion. The GOC, Major General
Gray, also attended and our picture shows
the General presenting Colonel Tony with a
Wyvern plaque. Those of us in the ' airborne
machine' look forward to meeting Colonel
Tony at our annual RAOC Airborne Officers
Dinner at Deepcut—' Whoa Mohammed.'
We have also welcomed Lieutenant Colonel David
Braithwaite to the District as the Commanding Officer 9 Ord-
nance Battalion. We wish him a happy and successful tour.
Major Roy North has also relinquished his appointment,
after almost three years as 21C ASU SWD1ST. We are grateful
for all his good advice and friendship and wish him well in his
new appointment as OC ASU Shorncliffe. To his successor,
Captain Harry Twitchett, we welcome him and his family into
the fold and wish them a pleasant tour.
We offer our congratulations to Captain Peter Osborne on
his engagement to Sally. Captain Peter Osborne has, even
after a short time in RAOC, established himself as a Corps
tennis player. He played for the Corps versus the Royal Artillery
at the Aldershot Officers Club on 18th May. A closely con-
tested match played indoors in the Balloon because of adverse
weather conditions was nevertheless won by the Corps five
rubbers to five. He has now, unknown to the Commander
Supply, wangled a trip to BAOR for four days of tennis and
' right arm ' exercise with the Corps team.
Oh, 1 almost forgot. Our good friend Major Bob Bracken
will have left this Headquarters as S02 Supply (Mat) and taken
up his new appointment as S02 Aviation (Supply) Headquarters
DAAC. During his tour in the Branch we have admired his
totally relaxed approach to his work and the speed and skill
with which he carries out his BFT tests in those sexy white
shorts. Seriously though, we shall miss him a lot. Our girls
have been in tears ever since his departure but somehow, we
shall survive. To Major Bob, thank you for your good friend-
ship and hard work. We shall see you occasionally for lunch
in Wyvern Mess.
An old pal dropped in a few days ago. There was a
gathering of the Clans when Colonel Ricky Richardson came
along with Lieutenant Colonel John Evans to have lunch with
us. It was lovely to see Ricky looking so well.
We have just heard that Major Paddy O'Connell is posted
to us in July as S02 Sup (Combat). An old friend who we
look forward to joining us.
SUPPLY DEPOT BULFORD
COURSES for personnel of the Depot continue to flow with
Taffy Humphreys preparing to be educated at Tidworth, Private
Jock Cairney fresh off his victualling course now attempting to
be upgraded at Bicester, and Mr Colin Stewart our Depot
Superintendent, learning to be a Safety Officer at Blackdown.
Lance Corporal Alan Robbins our Depot NCO continues to
toil on in the absence of the Depot Superintendent, despite an
attack of the Bulford Bug, and is still browsing through the
courses pamphlets.
We give a warm welcome to Mr Kevin Aberdour our half-
labourer, and say a sad farewell to Mrs Sue Hudson.
STORES SECTION 22 ENGINEER REGIMENT
WORKSHOP
WITH half of the Regiment away and only one Field Squadron
in station, activity in the Section is at an all time low. Physical
and sporting activities however have continued to thrive in the
Workshop as a whole and has produced excellent results with
every member of the Section passing the BFT on first attempt.
Well done lads. Even our ageing warrant officer waltzed through
it with minutes to spare! In his view the APTC ought to think
about reducing the timings on future BFTs! Furthermore, he
completed a fourteen miles charity walk at the weekend and
collected a small fortune from members of the Regiment in
sponsor money to compensate for his aching feet.
Lance Corporal Lofty Holmes has returned from Lecons-
field after successfully passing a HGV 3 course, complete with
' milky bars.' He arrived back just in time to join 3 Squadron
and accompany Lance Corporal John Brogan on their trip up
to Cumbria to join the Fire Brigade, complete with Green
Godesses. However, now that the situation has improved they
are on their way back to sunny Perham Down. Never mind
lads Summer holiday is not till July and I am sure that you
would rather be back in Perham any day!
Colonel Tony
Sharpc is presented with a W y v c r n
Major General Cray.
plaque
by
North W e s t District
AS Supply Branch geared itself up for pre-
y\.
ARU inspections of units in various parts of
/
\.
our far flung empire, a small exercise in-
/s.
N.
volving Green Godesses intervened. Much
/
\.
\ . hard work ensued and W02 Preen the
' ^ ^ ^ • ^ • • • r
DOWO, Staff Sergeant Dewhurst and
^ ^ H f l v ^
Sergeant Baker who were loaned from 81
^^^^H)r
Ordnance Company, managed to cope with
^^^^^
a large number of receipts and issues of
^ ^
both vehicles and equipment.
While
vehicles and equipment were being issued,
Mr Lampitt the DFA (RTU from a course for the occasion!),
the Inspector Army Fire Services Mr Tandy, Mr Williams, Mr
Turner and Mr Garroway from CAD, Longtown and Mr Edgar
from BAOR, all helped to train fire crews at Weeton Camp.
We thank you all for your hard work.
Green Godesses and equipment safely garaged, the Com-
mander Supply and Major Attrill RAOC the S02 G4, led the
District Shooting Team into the District Small Arms Com-
petition. Colonel Fleming was reported to have turned slightly
crimson, every time he was asked what his scores were!
The most surprised Colonel in the District recently, was
surely Colonel Musson, Commandant CAD Longtown. A
routine visit to the Fire Station at the CAD, turned into a well
kept surprise, a farewell presentation by the Fire Brigade prior
to Colonel Mussons retirement. He was truly lost for words.
Accompanied by his wife Rae, he drove a fire engine out of the
station and into what we hope will be a long and happy retire-
ment. Best wishes to you both for the future.
Western District
HEADQUARTERS
NEWS has just come in that our man
in the South Atlantic has been seen in
South Georgia. Or was it a miniature
penguin with a ' Geordie' squawk.
Wherever you are Brian our best wishes
and we look forward to your return.
A new appointment has been created
in the District Headquarters namely a
Stress Control Officer. His task is to observe unusual and /or
eccentric behaviour that is likely to lead to stress. Comd Sup
is establishing a similar appointment in the Branch as the
following indications of stress are giving cause for concern:
S02 (Cbt) actually signed something and was seen in his office
on two consecutive days. S02 (Mat) nearly missed leaving
early one evening when he realised that there was a whole three
day pediod during the Summer when he had not arranged to
play cricket. S02 (AS) almost purchased a GAZETTE. S03
(Org/Mob) failed to maintain the Branch Rabies Control
Register and nearly arrived on time for work recently. DFA
had a travel claim rejected and was heard to mutter that it didn't
really matter and that life was too short. DOWO forgot to
water the S02 (Mat's) office tomato plants. Chief Clerk was
rumoured to have smiled twice in two weeks.
— 60 —
Book number R0406