RAOC Gazette - page 104
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 |
A. R U G B Y L E G E N D T H E Corps has said farewell to one of the Army's sporting personalities: Lieutenant Colonel Bruce has retired after over thirty years service. T h e ' Tartan L a i r d ' as he is affectionately known has been involved in Scottish, Hampshire, Army and Corps Rugby throughout those years. He came into the R A O C as a National Serviceman in 1953 and within a year was promoted Sergeant He was commissioned in 1958. N o r m a n Bruce's involvement with rugby goes back to his school days in his native Galashiels, by the age of twelve he was playing hooker in the first XV of his school, the Gala Academy. Statistics make dull reading, but some figures are inevitable. He played thirty one times for Scotland—seven times against France, once against Australia, seven times against Ireland, six times against Wales, twice again South Africa, once against New Zealand and seven times against the team which, whilst licking his lips, he describes as the greatest enemy of all— England. In the annals of Scottish rugby some seven hundred and twenty five men have been capped for their c o u n t r y ; of these only four top N o r m a n ' s record. Major Thompson makes the presentation retirement. to Mr Cook on Valentine bridge laying tank and arrived back in Ramsgate on a coal barge on his twenty second birthday, spending his last night in France sleeping in a newly dug grave in a churchyard! After the war he trained jockeys in Malaya and Singapore. A presentation to M r Cook of engravings of Lynx, Gazelle and Scout helicopters on behalf of his colleagues, was made by the OC, Major Thompson, with Mrs Lillian Cook also present. C E R E M O N Y IIS' C Y P R U S W O l (Cdr) Ken Stuart, presently serving with the United Nations Force in Cyprus, recently received from the Force Commander, Major General Greindl a badge and certificate following his ap- pointment as a Conductor R A O C . T h e appointment is the senior Warrant rank in the British Army and dates back to 1327 when mention of Conductors is made in a Statute of Westminster, in which Edward III enacted that the wages of Conductors of soldiers from the Shires to the Place of Assembly, would no longer be a charge upon the Shire. Lieutenant Colonel Norman Conductor Stuart, who comes from Devon, is seen here with his wife Joy. They have four children, Claire, Mark, Ian and David. Ken is a keen hockey and badminton player and founded the United Nations ten-pin bowling league three years ago. Bruce. N o r is his county record any less imposing. H e made his debut for Hampshire in 1954 when playing for Aldershot Services and in all played in forty County Championship matches, an unbeaten record. H e was Hampshire's captain in 1959 and in 1961 the Hampshire R F U elected him a vice-president H e played one hundred and seven games for the A r m y which included twenty caps against the N a v y and R A F and three against the French Army. H e also played seventeen times for the Combined Services. He continued to play serious rugby until age forty two and recalls a personal high point when he took the field with his son for the Aldershot Services at age forty six. N o r m a n and his wife Sheila are now living near Shrewsbury. H e will be taking up an appointment on the staff of Prestfelde Preparatory School in September where he, amongst other duties, will be coaching rugby again. Members of the Corps past and present wish N o r m a n and Sheila a happy future in Shropshire. F A R E W E L L , G I F T Photo Sergeant Tony MR S I D N E Y C O O K recently retired from 1 Aircraft Support Unit R A O C , where he was employed as a civilian storekeeper responsible for handling repairable helicopter assemblies. M r Cook was evacuated from Dunkirk after ditching his — Hodgetts. Conductor Stuart and his wife Joy, pictured with Major General Greindl after t h e Force Commander had presented him with his badge of rank. 85 — |
| Book number | R0406 |