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RAOC Gazette - page 162

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Publication date 1983
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Early date 1983
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Transcription ^ t Station J^Etog
at ipomt
Ministry of Defence
ACGS(OR)
THE headlines this month are: Major
Allan promoted to Lieutenant Colonel,
congratulations from all in the Direc-
torate.
Congratulations also to both Staff
Sergeants Tim Graham and Sergeant
Trevor Allison on gaining their Sub-
stantive Staff Sergeant. Second mortgages have, as we have heard,
been taken out by both so as to entertain their colleagues at
some watering hole in the locality. Only thirsty lads get
posted to OR.
What about the rest of the news from the front: Major
John Hawkins has now been elected Chairman of the South
West District Gliding Club and is shortly to take part in the
Inter Service Gliding Championships at RAF Henlow. We
wish him the best of luck and maybe at the time of print we
may have a champ on our hands.
There are two new arrivals in the Directorate. From Ash-
ford we welcome Sergeant Christ Pattinson who has already
sought advice from SBC as to the best way to travel to Cyprus.
Welcome also to Sergeant Garry Middleton from exotic Naples.
You know what they say ' a change is as good as a rest,' we
don't think that applies in this case Garry—sorry.
WOl Bob Callan still waves his magic wand and cracks
his whip. Paper and files seem to vanish at a stroke. There
are no skeletons in his cupboards (to tell you the truth they are
frightened to be there).
Before this epic saga ends there are two cryptic messages
that I have been "asked to include. The first message from Staff
Sergeant John Flannagan to Jim Doran somewhere out there
in Antwerp. " Thanks for letting all my civilian staff take leave
all at once, I certainly did work my fingers to the bone." The
second is for Staff Sergeant Bill McClernon—They say your
leave record card is on to its second page for this year already.
Again a plea to all those hidden somewhere in the MOD
buildings—let's hear from you soon, we know you exist.
Headquarters Director General of Ordnance Services
ORD 1. It is with deepest regret that we announce the death,
after a long illness, of Barbara, the wife of our HEO, Peter
Beale. We offer to him and his family our deepest sympathy.
The end of an era! Major Tom Newby has finally retired
after fifty years continuous service with the Corps, the last
seventeen of which have been spent in Ord 1. We believe that
five farewell parties must constitute a record, which may never
again be equalled!
Tom's lap of honour commenced on 14th July when 24
! QM Category officers, past and present, representing almost
I 1 one thousand years of service, converged on Andover from all
points in the UK to honour him at a lunch in the LE(A) Officers
Mess. This was the very first such assembly of an ' OEO
Mafia,' ably organised by Lieutenant Colonel Bob Nesbitt who
presented the Guest-of-Honour with a ' ping' putter on behalf
of the assembled company. This very enjoyable party was
followed one week later by the staff of Ord 1 entertaining Tom
and Elsie, at a barbeque in the Sergeants Mess Garden. It was
here that Brigadier Jerrie Hulme presented Tom with a very
handsome salver which had been contributed to by the present
branch personnel and former senior Ord 1 officers with whom
Tom had served over the past seventeen years. Then followed
two "Thank y o u ' parties at which Tom himself was the host
and finally, on 27th July—the Anniversary Day! the officers
of Ord 1 formally dined out Tom at a luncheon in the LE(A)
Officers Mess.
Photo Corporal Beaton.
Brigadier Crawley leaves Andover in style.
So, never again will we see the RO's Garrison Half Inch
Handicap Relay Team of Newby, Hawley and Feltham (one
hundred and forty years service) meandering back to the office
from the Mess after lunch. So, to Badgie Newby we say good
luck for the future, may you and Elsie enjoy a long and enjoy-
able retirement
ORD 3. Earlier in the month, together with Ord 4 officers,
we dined out Brigadier and Mrs Crawley and Colonel and Mrs
Richardson, and with our best wishes for the future we presented
Brigadier Peter and Colonel Ralph with a salver each and their
respective wives with a crystal bell engraved with the Corps
badge. A few days later we lunched out Major Philip Lawson
who also retires from the Service and is taking up an RO
appointment in Ord 5. We wish both Philip and his wife
Sheila all the very best in the future and are glad that they will
still be around.
Within an hour of taking over the appointment of D Sup
Ops(A) we had to dispatch Brigadier Gerry Berragan, whom we
T w e n t y four plus T o m N e w b y — s o many we couldn't quite get
them all in.
— 133 —
Book number R0406