RAOC Gazette - page 105
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 |
THE CORPS , LEAVES DEVIZES ON the 15th April 9 Ordnance Battalion paraded through the streets of Devizes to bid the town farewell. A sad occasion for the Army, Corps and town, the Battalion's farewell ended a century old Regular Army presence in Devizes. Although it has been the home of 9 Ordnance Battalion in its many guises for only eleven years, it has seen Infantry Regiments, Gunners, RCT, RAFC and many others in its history as a garrison town. Since 1971 as 10 Ordnance Maintenance Park, through the formation of 10 Ordnance Support Battalion to 9 Ordnance Battalion, the members of the Battalion both past and present have forged many close links with the civilian community in Devizes. They will no doubt have many fond memories of their service there. James W e r h l i assisted by the Director of Music starts the twenty four hour Blow. non-stop with musicians from the WRAC, RAMC Staff Bands and from the Guards Depot Pirbright helping out. During the Monday evening we were joined by the Ron Young Dance Orchestra and sixty members of the Frimley Youth Band who all helped to swell the funds. By 1200 hours Tuesday they were all tired but glad with what they had achieved. Altogether they raised an incredible £1,400.00 having played music from Beethoven to the Beatles, and from Schubert to Shakatak. Meanwhile, in the bar, the six darts players had scored half a million with four minutes to spare. The Sponsored Blow was entirely the brainchild of Musician Hall who took on the administration of the project. Thanks are also due to the staff of the Training Battalion and Depot for their logistic support. Photo Wiltshire Newspapers. ALL 9 Ordnance Battalion say farewell to Devizes. The parade by 91 Ordnance Company and AMF(L) Com- pany RAOC and supported by the Corps Band gave, according to the HTV report, ' a stirring performance worthy of the best infantry regiments of the line.' The fine weather, large ap- preciative crowd, and setting, all helped to make the occasion special. The Corps was represented by the Representative Colonel Commandant Major General Speller who took the salute with the Mayor of Devizes before leading the Mayoral Procession to the Town Hall for a civic reception. During the parade the Mayor presented the Battalion with a silver salver engraved with the Town's coat of arms as a memento of their stay in Devizes and the Battalion replied by presenting the Town with a set of Corps decanters to mark their departure. In all it was a memorable day full of pageantry and colour and it proved a fitting end to the Regular Army's connection with the town of Devizes. BLOW SAINTS DIDCOT ALL SAINTS CHURCH, Didcot, which has been 'Garrison Church' and a part of the Corps scene at Didcot for over sixty five years, is in need of urgent work as many of these old build- ings do. A sum of £15,000 is required. Because of our con- nections with All Saints, DLSA, who now represents the Corps at Didcot, felt that we should make an effort on its behalf and through a number of recent fund-raising events, has raised just over £500 towards a £1,000 Army contribution target. REME and WRAC are also contributing. Pictured below is the refurbished notice board at the entrance to the Church (we undertook the refurbishing) on which the three Corps badges are evident. The Rector, Norman Wadsworth, is an ex-Corps member and plays an important part in the local military and families scene. It" is nice to know that we still maintain such close links with All Saints. IT! ON the 16th and 17th of May, the RAOC Staff Band played host to a twenty four hour sponsored ' Blow.' The object was to raise enough money to buy a ' Flexi- Therm' machine for the Haemophillia centre at Alton near Basingstoke. Basically the machines job is to detect the size of a ' bleed' so eradicating many of the problems that haemo- philliacs suffer. After approaching Brigadier Parker for help, the sponsored blow, together with a twenty four hour darts match, was organised. At 1200 hours on Monday the 16th Exercise Longblow was started with the full band being conducted by James Werhli (a six year old—haemophilliac) under the careful guidance of Cap- tain Parker, also present was Lieutenant Colonel Mathews and the Managing Director of the company which produces the machine, Mr Paul Gregory. Throughout the next twenty four hours the music continued — 86 — The new notice board at All Saints Didcot. |
| Book number | R0406 |