Back to Library Journals

RAOC Gazette - page 84

Image details

Corps RAOC
Material type Journals
Book page
Chapter head
Chapter key
Chapter number
Full title RAOC Gazette
Page number
Publication date 1983
Real page
Colour Yes
Grey No
Early date 1983
Late date 1983
Transcription Departures: We say farewell and thank you for your
support during your tour to Sergeant Reed to Headquarters
London District and Lance Corporal Scarrot to Northern
Ireland. Congratulations go to Private Hodgkins on his recent
marriage to Dawn.
3 Base Ammunition
^ J ^ J ^
X ^ - ^ ^ ^ N .
//^SSSs ^ * ^ V \
// "^a^"^ \\
I I
jf,
] 1
I I
"»»rT>. I J
\ \ < r 3 ^ j k - ^ / /
XXs™ ^ v / / /
\^^jr= ^ '
T<£A^J=-I
Depot
C A P T A I N C H R I S O W E N did a
marvellous job in organising the Unit
Sports Day.
Despite the showers, all
events took place but, sadly, no records
were broken.
The spectators thought
Eddie Waring had come out of retirement
to act as MC. They were elated when
they found out that, instead, it was the
voice of W02 Jim Unsworth. He was
asked by one soldier for his autograph—
mind you, it was to sign for the PA
system!
The big event of the day was the Old Soldiers Race, which
was won by Major Stan Simpson, followed closely by Sergeant
Pete Salt Had Pete not stopped for a drink at the twenty five
metre point, he might have won.
Photo Captain B. A. Dowries.
Mrs Hopkinson presents Private Cameron w i t h his t r o p h y a t - t h e
unit sports day.
Congratulations to all those who won trophies, especially
Private Cameron who won the five thousand and fifteen
thousand metres. Our photo shows him receiving his trophies
from Mrs G. B. Hopkinson.
A disco was held in Wortham Hall to raise money for the
St Francis School for Handicapped Children.
A total of
DM950 was raised during the evening and the Commandant
authorised a donation of DM50 from his fund to make the
DM1,000. Special thanks to Corporal Lord and Mrs Knowles
who looked after the bar for the evening.
It was smiles all round for some people this month when
the promotion list arrived. Congratulations to those who made
it. For those who did not, what do you think of the pay rise?
The Wives' Club have successfully launched their first ever
fashion show in Bracht. The clothes were modelled by the
Bracht wives and a very colourful and vivid description of each
garment was given by Lieutenant Colonel Brian Allen. Jean
Metcalfe could not have done a better job.
We welcome the following to Bracht and hope they enjoy
their tour: Captain Morgan, Sergeant Norris, Corporal John,
Lance Corporals Wilson and Rhodes, Privates McGoldrick,
Archibald, Walsh, Chaddinor, Pollard, Mogg, Stant, Metcalfe
and Erett.
We say farewell and good luck to: W02 Harrison RE,
Corporals Goodall and Sullivan, Lance Corporal Martin and
Private Jones 468.
And finally as promised in last month's notes, a word from
our Padre: "The Lord is my Shepherd, and I still lost the Sheen-
dog Trials."
Ordnance Services Viersen
THE unit marathon team went to RAF Swindcrby full of
expectation for the Combined Services Marathon, the extreme
weather conditions on the loneliest, most gruelling course took
its toll and all the runners were below their most recent best.
However, W02 Pete Marsh recorded a two hours twenty six
seconds to take fifth place also helping the Army to win the
Inter Services Competition. Hot on his heels came our manage-
ment accountant running his last race for the unit prior to
posting. WOl George Gormley, finishing in thirty sixth place.
Our third string Sergeant Phill Ritchie had to retire at the
fifteen mile point due to injury which left the OC. Major
Ken Mullins running in the veteran class as the third to count
at one hundred and sixty fifth. The aggregate time for the
three runners was eight hours thirty five minutes which we
believe put the team in tenth place, however it is interesting to
note that, that time last year would have put the team second.
Once again for such a small unit a very creditable result.
Congratulations go to Corporal James and Marie Paton
on the birth of their daughter Hayley Marie, and to Sergeant
Brian Smith on his recent promotion.
Just a quick mention for the Orderly Room staff as we
seem to do all the work, Lance Corporal Kevin Pettitt and
Corporal D. K. P. Saunders, who have been issued with an
extra pair of arms.
Once again the Viersen hockey team were on the move.
this time at AFCENT to compete in the AFCENT six-a-side
International Tournament. The first stage was played with the
sun beating down and out of the three games played only one
was lost. Stage two was played in which out of the three
games, Viersen drew two and won one. The following day
Stage three was played and Viersen won two and drew one.
As a result Viersen gained twenty seven points and finished
ninth. The top eight teams qualified for the ' Bartel Trophy '
and as Viersen finished ninth, they qualified for the 'Amstel
Plate' with a bye in the first round but unfortunately lost in the
quarter final to RAF Laarbruck by two goals to nil, which
meant that Viersen were out of the Plate and Lance Corporal
Kevin Pettitt has to wait yet another year for his medal! The
scorers throughout the two days were Major Frank Ham, Mr
Keith Jeffreys and Sergeant John Kennedy.
The team that represented RAOC Viersen on 14th/ 15th May
was as follows: Major Frank Ham, Sergeants Eddie Pickett.
Dave Pope, Allen Richies, John Kennedy, Corporal Nigel
Eames, Lance Corporal Kevin Pickett and Mr Keith Jeffreys.
Special thanks must go to Mrs Ham, Mrs Richies. Mrs
Kennedy, Mrs Eames and Mrs Jeffreys who supported Viersen
and made sure the team stayed fairly sober.
The RAOC Shooting team are to be congratulated on win-
ning the Rhine Area Minor Unit Championship. The results
are as follows: Winners Rhine Area Minor Unit Champion-
ship (second year running), winners Rhine Area Minor Pistol
Championship (third year running), runners up Minor Units
SLR Championship (tied on points for first place but placed
second on count back of stage one match), runners up Minor
Unit SMG Championship.
Individual WOl Dave Timms second Individual Pistol
Championship. The team comprised: Major Ian Coleman,
WOl Dave Timms (Team Captain), Staff Sergeant Ced Warnes,
Sergeants Paddy O'Keefe, Jim Gallaher and Ian Haynes REME.
The team has now qualified to represent Rhine Area in
the Army Championships at Bisley.
SUPPLY DEPOT
VIERSEN
THIS Summer most of the unit are on a sailing course run by
Sergeant Alan Riches who is determined to knock into shape a
team to enter into the RAOC individual and unit team regattas.
The seven now on week three are: Captain Caroline Lewis,
W02 Andy Brathwaite, Staff Sergeants Ian McArthur and
Geordie Holliday, Sergeant Dennis Williamson, Corporal Nigel
Eames and Lance Corporal Garry Westmoreland. During their
first training all went well we even beached for a break on the
banks of the Maas. In the last ten minutes this was the
scene set for minor mishaps as Staff Sergeant Ian McArthur
at the helm and Staff Sergeant Geordie Holliday, the last
two to come home did not remember to put down their
centre plate and wondered why they floated back into the main
channel (we told them at the third attempt). That was not all,
as they came in Geordie jumped onto land and told Ian to
hold the post whilst he and Alan pulled it up to the other
boats. True to orders he held onto the post and the boat,
under his gravity went out, then splash! Geordie was no help at
all as he rolled on the grass in fits of laughter.
— 69 —
Book number R0406