RAOC Gazette - page 136
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 |
mold as a training session and came away with team event and a very nice looking trophy. The marchers were Staff Sergeant Pete Learmonth, Corporals Alan Kelly and Bill Simpson, Lance Corporal Mick Wisbey and Privates Jimmy Glover, Tony Melvin, Phil Johnson and Shaun Gilman. Sergeant Ray Crooks, who manages the Company Athletics Team did very well to organise a team at short notice to compete in the 4 Ordnance Battalion Athletics Meeting. It was a most successful day with the Com- pany just winning at the last gasp when our four by one hundred metres relay team of Privates Shaun Gilman, Terry Boyle, Taff Hewett and Alan Petty came in ahead of 41 Ordnance Company. Young Gilman had a good day, also winning the one hundred metres, two hundred metres and long jump. Other firsts went to Private Jimmy Glover (fifteen hundred metres) and Sergeant Ray Crooks (shot and discus). Corporal Viv Arrowsmith, Lance Corporals Dickie Henderson, Alan Bates, and Billington and Privates Paul Duncalf, Phil Johnson, Tony King, Steve Clancy, Tony Melvin and Mick Donnelly made up the rest of the team who all did well. Our tug-of-war team comprising Staff Sergeant Pete Keast, Corporal Alex Raebum, Lance Corporal Scuff Williams, Cap Capper, John Bolland and Privates Steve Walker, Bill Waller, Taff Jones, Nick Mason and Kev Potts pulled exceptionally well to win the 4 Ordnance Battalion trophy. On a less competitive theme, Lance Corporal Alan Bates has started a Badminton and Squash Club which meets each Monday evening. The event has attracted many novices from the families —the best bit is the refreshments afterwards in the Unit Club! Talking of the Unit Club, Sergeant Mick Ainscough has been taking time out from pay duties to manage the con- struction of a patio for us all to enjoy this summer. Many members of the Company have ' mucked in,' but Lance Corporals Karl Bowkis. Graham Hilton and Privates Jimmy Egan and Paul Crook have spent more hours than most mixing concrete and laying crazy paving. The Company Summer Camp was from 5th to 17th June, with half of the Company going for the first week and the remainder for the latter. 2IC Captain Max Burnett, Second Lieutenant Nigel Astley, Staff Sergeant Ray Northcott, Sergeant Graham Ford and Corporal Alan Kelly have been involved in planning the fortnight. To everyone's delight they chose a superb location south of Meschede and west of the Hennesee. Lots of activities (windsurfing, canoeing, hill walking, orienteer- ing. swimming and rock climbing) together with superb weather were just the ingredients to make the camp a very enjoyable interlude. Congratulations to Lance Corporals Mitch Mitchell and Alan Bates and Privates Bob Wiley and Kev Donnelly on pass- ing their RPC2 courses. Private Paul Tonks has arrived, Sergeant Derek Howarth, Lance Corporals Graham Hilton and Alan Cooper and Private Kez Cooper recently departed for FI Log for six month tours. Permanent departures are Corporal Paddy Fleming and Privates Bon Kennedy and Biff Ramsay. Finally, congratulations to Corporal Roger Ball and ' Poppet' on their recent marriage. 43 ORDNANCE COMPANY THIS month the Company has been involved in the Staff College Demonstration at Sennelager. The Company lived in the field under arrangements made by our little brother—42 Ordnance Company (thank you 42). After many, many, many rehearsals of the script and the occasional monsoon our show ran very smoothly. The biggest cheer of the week was saved for those magic words ' an extra day off.' During the demo, Lance Corporal Paul Mehew was fortunate/unfortunate enough to celebrate his birthday. The temptation of a dug-in ' S ' tank belonging to the Bath Unit proved too much for the Company. With due ceremony, Lance Corporal Mehew was ' Buried at S e a ' ; Private Glenn Witherspoon doing a good impression of a Padre. Sergeant Noel Bolton, our MT SNCO, has found a new way to reduce his vehicle fleet to a manageable size; he gets Lieutenant Alan Paramore, our MTO to drive them. So far two have gone to the big scrapyard in the sky, one with a very modified front-end indeed. This after only two rallys; if the attrition rate continues by the end of the year we should be able to dispense with the MT Section! We can but wonder why Lieutenant Paramore doesn't use his Porsche for these events? This month has also seen the Company football team in action. After a nail-biting four three win over 62 Ordnance Company in the semi-final of the CCRAOC Cup, the Company travelled to Paderborn for the final against 53 Ordnance Com- pany. In an exciting match the Company won by three nil, thanks to fine goals by Lance Corporal Jimmy Wilson, Private Geordie Green and Corporal Ian Mellor. A sound defence commanded by Lance Corporal Ginge Burton and supported in goal by Lance Corporal Slimpy Ellis kept the opponents at bay. All in all a very nice start to our nine months in existence as a unit. Watch out SEME, we're after your title. This month has also seen a new skipper at the helm. We say a fond farewell to Major McGuigan and wish him a happy tour in CVD Ashchurch. Taking over the helm is Major Winton, whom we hope has a very enjoyable tour as OC 43 Ordnance Company. 11 ARMOURED BRIGADE OUR jubilant staff at the moment are Major Ralph Elliott, WOl Jim Coulter, Corporal Jim Swan, Lance Corporal Jim Billinger The Staff. (now Headquarters NORTHAG), Corporal Ian Portman, Private Nick Nolan, WOl Sam Johnston, Sergeant Martin Brown and Private Tony Evans. We have what must surely be a unique situation in having a total of eleven stars in the Brigade Headquarters today. The CDS is visiting, and I am sure there is no need to go into detail about the preparation beforehand; suffice to say the Head- quarters is sparkling in more ways than one. All staff have just returned from a holiday in the Harz (Exercise Main Brace). The weather was glorious, which I am told made up for some of the slight discomforts they had to contend with. As part of our regular training, the BEME, Major Hamish Cameron, suggested that we try a ' Hash' through the local woods. The planning, transport, organisation and marking of the course went very well. However, the weather on the day was atrocious to say the least. It poured down from beginning to end and consequently some of the trail, (laid by Corporal Ian Portman—known to his friends as ' Kung Fu '), had vanished. It was thoroughly enjoyable though, and we will do it again— next June! STORES PLATOON 4 ARMOURED WORKSHOP OUR Platoon social night was such a success that plans are already in hand for another. Special thanks must go to Corporal Spud Murphy for his efforts in making all the arrangements for the night. On the sporting front, nine members of the Platoon entered the Dulmen Marathon held recently. Inspired by sponsorship for the BLESMA Appeal, but sadly lacking in training, the team fared very well. Seven completed the course and two managed to reach the twenty mile point before the medics stopped them. Considering that only Lance Corporal Isteve Eddershaw had never run a marathon before the team performance was magnificent and they raised DM800 for BLESMA. Well done Lads. Congratulations go to Lieutenant Albon on his promotion from Second Lieutenant! He is soon to leave us for a Roulement tour of the Emerald Isle. Also to Sergeant Chris Davies on his well deserved selection for further promotion. We say fare- well to Privates Davies, Johnson and Williams. STORES PLATOON 5 ARMOURED WORKSHOP ITS been a very busy month in the Stores Platoon this month. Everyone has been getting into the Vogelsang fever, to do some — 113 — |
| Book number | R0406 |