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RAOC Gazette - page 78

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Corps RAOC
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Full title RAOC Gazette
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Publication date 1983
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Early date 1983
Late date 1983
Transcription Congratulations go to Sergeant France, Corporals Thompson
and Cundliffe and Lance Corporal Sainsbury on their recent
promotions and to W02 Bob Pardy, who spends his time watch-
ing other people work, and who has been given authority to wear
the Oman Peace Medal! Our outgoing QM, Major John
Connelly, has also been in the medals. He recently received a
Bar and two roses to his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal.
Not understanding why we received two roses, enquiries had
to be made and we were informed that the spare was for the
medal worn on his nightshirt!
Followers of the unit badminton team ' will they—won't
they go down ' saga will be sorry to hear that W02 George
Ferguson has been posted to the Falklands. They obviously
went down! George will be sorely missed by the badminton
team. Not, I hasten to add, by me, because he's not spoken
to me since the first mention in THE GAZETTE.
The recent expedition of the WRAC Company to Capel
Curig ended successfully. They had a couple of good, hard
walks despite the weather but didn't manage Snowdon because
of the snow. A special mention must go to those who lent
a hand with the cooking who managed to turn Compo into
something quite beyond description.
Vehicle Depot- Ashchurch
WELL here we are in the very wet month of May, and a very
busy month it's been for the Maintenance Team. With Privates
Scouse Thompson, Mick Jones and Smudge Smith away with the
Unit Shooting Team and Private Kraig Keeble on his motor-
cycle course. One may wonder how all the work gets done?
Well that's down to the hard working boys that are left in the
servicing pits, consisting of Privates Mark Richardson, Eddie
Waring, Brumy Hill, Mark Adcock, Clint Leigh and Denny Tait.
Farewells this month go to Corporal Steve Hughes on his
posting to Canada. Lance Corporal Terex Terrell and Private
Benny Bentley on their detachment to the sunny Falklands, and
welcome Lance Corporal Joe Fielding and his family.
PR GROUP STORAGE.
We welcome our new boss W02
Dodge Allan, we even laid on a freshly decorated new football
Headquarters for him, have a happy stay ' Q.'
Sergeant Ned Kelly returned to work from a very success-
ful Unit Shooting Team season, as captain of the unit team he
returned with lots of silverware. He was backed up by other
shooters from the group: Privates Don Bayliss, Dick Wells and
Willy Williams. They have now qualified for Bisley. Well
done. The rest of the lads are busy putting in for summer
courses. One that amused us was the Sub Aqua Course applied
for by Private Ian Duck, he now has to see the quack for
medical clearance!
The stork visited Lance Corporal Stan Bowles and his wife
Lyn and presented them with a son Nathan David, congratula-
tions Stan. Finally a question:—" Whafs yellow, weighs five tons,
has two big wheels, two little wheels is driven by Private Daz
Keelor and eats Scotsmens bicycles?" Answers please to
Sergeant Jock Thompson ' C ' Vehicle Storage.
ISSUES. This month we say farewell to WOl Paddy Quinn
on his retirement to civilian life. His replacement is WOl S.
Laverton and everybody here is trying to drop their Irish accent
for a Lincolnshire one.
Also leaving us, for a short while at least, is Private Graeme
Oliver. He's taking an offer of free travel with the Corps
Mobile Display Team. We wish him well and look forward
to getting some work out of him on his return in October.
The talk in the sporting circles must have been Corporal
Geoff Parks vital? goal for our football team when they
managed a ten goal victory, the other week. Super Geoff scored
from all of twenty yards and his wooden leg didn't splinter!
We have had an influx of new faces and take this oppor-
tunity to say welcome to Privates Taff Davies, Colin Harrison
and Ian Wilson.
These notes are going to press as the Dept is depleted in
strength by the Shadow Units departure for a weeks training
camp, about which we will undoubtedly hear on their return.
It will leave us that short of manpower that Daphne Brush
is being given a clip board and told to book her own
Vehicles in.
KIT STORES. The annual stock take of the Battery Shop and
Tyre Bay Sections have come and gone in the last month and
we are pleased to say there were very few ' hiccups.'
On the sporting scene the following members of Kit Stores
are enjoying a very successful season with the Unit Football
Team, Sergeant Mick Spencer, Corporal Steve Parrott, Privates
Jock Blakey and ' E T ' Holmes.
After competing in the Inter Departmental Basketball
competition we came out winners for the second year running.
In the first game against our fiercest rivals Issues, we came out on
top winning by twenty five points to four points. Wc then
beat Regimental and Training Wing eight points to one point
and in the final managed to overcome Storage by eight points to
four points. The team consisted of the following Major Rcid
(Capt), Staff Sergeant King. Sergeant Spencer. Corporals Parrott
and Godwin, Lance Corporal Clarke and Privates Thome, Manlcy
and Matshall.
Congratulations are also in order to the following Kit Stores
personnel who represented the unit tug-of-war team in the RA
UK TOW championships: Major Reid, Lance Corporals Rccs
and Baughen, Privates English. Black. Wragg. Harvey. Dillow
and also to Lance Corporals Denvir and Jeffers. The result was
five hundred and sixty kilos winners; six hundred and eighty
kilos runners-up.
We wish Corporal Rod Godwin and Helen all the very best
for the future and congratulations on their recent marriage.
The bad news is that he is off to the Falklands on detachment
for four months straight after his honeymoon. Some people
have all the luck!
On the departure scene we would like to say farewell to
Private Nobby Clarke on his posting to BAOR. the Tyre Bay
will never seem the same without you said Sergeant Mick
Spencer with a smile on his face.
Also farewell but not for long to Private ' E T ' Holmes
who is on temporary detachment to the Corps Mobile Display.
Don't fall off the tower ' ET.'
We would like to welcome to Kits Privates Thornc. Black.
Oakley and Walton and wish them a pleasant tour.
Vehicle Depot Ludgershall
THE Army Vehicle Display at Ludgershall has been the main
event since our last notes. Some one hundred and twenty
Vehicles were on display for the Under Secretary of State for
Defence, the Master General of Ordnance. Quartermaster
General, Director General Ordnance Services and many other
VIPs. The Display was an outstanding success other than for
one minor hick-up caused by an over zealous and under briefed
Watchman who denied entry to the test track to the Under
Secretary of State who was being taken for a ride!
The Display was a two day event, the first day being an
official viewing by the MPs/VIPs and on the second day the
Display was open to outside Headquarters, units and members
of the Vehicle Depot.
" Hats on " was the cry as the Vehicle Depot RAOC Ludger-
shall rugby team departed for their Belgium tour. After a
pretty hair raising convoy drive to Dover, the team plus six
other Civilian rugby teams embarked on what could only be
Corporal Caughan of Vehicle Depot RAOC meets General Sir
Peter Leng the M G O and Major General Whalley the DGOS al
the Army Vehicle Display.
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Book number R0406