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RAOC Gazette - page 79

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Material type Journals
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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 II
described as the ' sail of the century.' The tour was a memorable
occasion and some remarkable rugby was played by all.
Events worthy of note were W02 Tony Evans discarding his
rugby boots in the moat and was heard to mutter some apt verse. A
compulsory swimming race was held between Sergeant Ron
Audrain, Corporal Addie Goudge (RAPC), Corporal Kel Chivcrs
and Lance Corporal Murf Aspland in the static water tank.
The event was watched by all and judged by the tour Sergeant
Major—Lance Corporal Dave Berry (ACQ—what did they do to
anger the Sergeant Major? There were many hilarious occasions
on the tour and I'm sure these will always be remembered by
all. Our thanks once again go to all those in ODA who made
the tour an outstanding success.
We welcome back to the fold Mrs Rosemary Pape after
her long and uncomfortable stay in various hospitals. We wish
her a swift recovery and return to normal health.
On the posting scene, we wish Lance Corporal Taff Griffiths,
Privates Martin Bowen and Richard Pyke every success in their
new postings.
Petroleum Centre
THE Unit Football Team has perhaps
been something of a joke, indeed for
many years an entry appeared in the
Guinness Book of Records ' In a Dorset
Junior Shield match at Chideock on 19th
December 1970 referee Douglas Chainey
sent the entire RAOC team off.' Happily
subsequently, an entire Italian team plus
some officials were sent off in a game and
the entry disappeared. At last the ghost
was finally laid to rest when at the end of the football season
The Petroleum Centre Football Team was awarded the South
West District Minor Units Sportsmanship Trophy. As nearly
forty players of four cap badges played for the Unit during the
year this was very much a corporate effort. Congratulations to
all concerned—some of whom will read of this from pastures
new.
Congratulations also to Major Sid Pincher who won the
RAOC Officers Individual Small Bore Target Rifle Cham-
pionship.
Sergeants Rayner and Botterill (and their long suffering
wives) chartered Thunderer for a South Coast cruise. It didn't
quite qualify as adventurous training. Planning continues for
the Pennine Walk (which does) and for the exercising of Privates
Radcliffe and Williams 525 in Turkey.
Despite all this activity the basic bread and butter work-
load just grows and grows like Topsy. An extra Kerosine pack-
ing task (in the heat of Summer) and a double issue of lubricants
M
"
w
"
to the Falklands come to mind. Why is it that the ship carrying
our stores has to break down in mid-Atlantic.
The most important new arrival this month was Helen
Louise Drew (via Poole Maternity Hospital). Why does the
Registrar of Births refer to Bond Avenue as ' Fertility Alley'?
Also arrived were Lance Corporal and Mrs Allan attached from
51 Company and Private Probert from the Depot.
Congratulations 1 (apart from the proud Drew parents) are due
to W02 Lindgrcn, A/CSM Nightingale, Sergeants Avery, Candy
and Taylor on their selection for substantive promotion ; Sergeant
Rayner and Lance Corporal Wicks on their substantive pro-
motion and Lance Corporal Anderson on acting promotion.
We have said farewell (or au rcvoir) to Private Smith to
51 Ordnance Company, Lance Corporal Moorhouse to AMF(L)
Company and Corporals McDonald and Piunkett to FI Logistic
Battalion.
'
Regional Depot T h a t c h a m
THE Summer Season is well underway,
with the Depot activity building up by
the assembly of various items of clothing
and equipment required for Field Train-
ing including the equipping of the various
shows up and down the country, at the
same time we have the mammoth task to
receive back the various items used on
winter training.
Mr Ellis Sampson one of our long
serving civilian officers has retired after thirty five years loyal
service. On the occasion of his last day of service he was
presented with the Imperial Service Medal by the Commanding
Officer Lieutenant Colonel John Evans which is in addition to
the BEM presented to him for his involvement during the
Falkland Islands Operation. Ellis has had a colourful life of
dedication receiving other awards including that of the Police
' Long Service Medal' (with three clasps) for thirty two years
special service. We wish Ellis and his wife Edna a long and
happy retirement.
The Commanding Officer, Officers and Depot Staff extended
an invitation to the widow and sister of the late Brian Blayney
who was the Executive Officer in Provision, Control and
Accounts during the period 1966—1982 when he died after a
long term illness. Brian was well respected by Officers and
subordinates alike and to show their affection, it was decided
a tree be planted in his memory—a ' Horse Chestnut' because
of his interest in the horse racing fraternity. Mrs Mary Blayney
together with Brian's sister Mrs Kathleen O'Connor were pleased
to attend the Depot and commemorate the tree by placing an
inscribed plaque at the foot of the tree.
On the same day we were pleased to invite back one of
our retired long serving employees, Mrs Tessie 'Healy who
retired on the 3rd November last year. To whom the Com-
manding Officer Lieutenant Colonel John Evans presented the
Imperial Service Medal for twenty five years loyal service.
We offer our congratulations to Squadron Leader Bill Tootell
in winning a gliding ' Competition Kitty' held at the RAFGSA
at Bicester. He completed the final task by flying around the
triangle from Bicester to Enstone, to Banbury and back to
Bicester in forty eight minutes, the only competitor out of
twenty five entrants to finish the task. Flying ' hors concors,'
the three-times open class world champion—Squadron Leader
George Lee also completed the task in forty two minutes. The
'fly off' between all the winners of ' Comp Kitty' is to be
held later at Dunstable.
' Comp Kitty' is being held at several Gliding Clubs all
over the country to raise money to help send four world class
pilots and their crews to represent Britain at the bi-annual
world gliding championships to be held in New Mexico in
June.
REMEMBER THE DEADLINE FOR
COPY —28th OF EACH MONTH —
WITH THE EDITOR AT DEEPCUT
Photo G. K. Gillberry.
Sergeant Stray, Lance Corporal Hammond and Lance Corporal
Evcrlcy representing the Pet Cen Football Team at the presentation
of the South West District Sportsmanship Trophy.
66 —
Book number R0406