Back to Library Journals

RAOC Gazette - page 167

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 Central Ordnance Depot Bicester
«
PLANNING BRANCH. Most of our in-
trepid Warrant Officers have returned
irorn
Adventure Training in Wales and
Scotland
full of tales of impossible strolls
over
unclimbable mountains and force
ten gale sailing on Loch Ness. We would
love to believe them all. WOI (SSM)
Roger Collins has stayed on in Scotland
to assist with the Admin so it cannot be
all rugged and rough.
Our congratulations to W02 (SQMS)
Terry Sutton who was presented with the
Long Service and Good Conduct Medal
by General Whalley during his first visit to COD Bicester as
DGOS.
CHIEF ADMINISTRATION
OFFICER. The wind of change
has once again blown across the department and as such these
notes concentrate on recent staff moves.
Staff Sergeant John Lindsay, after his short service as Chief
Clerk, has left for long service at Camberley. Lance Corporal
Ray Baillie has also left us (temporarily) for five months in
FILOG and from recent communications it seems he has
adapted well to an eighteen hour day.
Staff Sergeant Dave Withall has moved into the Chief Clerk's
chair for a full tour (albeit his last) and once settled in he will
no doubt, as has been customary for past incumbents, com-
mence his resettlement preparations.
When Sergeant Colin Watson arrived in January he was
immediately ' borrowed' by the Garrison Headquarters. How-
ever, after four months they saw the error of their ways and
returned him to us. The move from the relaxed, dare I suggest
sleepy, Garrison atmosphere seems to have left its mark, and
he now regularly complains of getting it in the neck (sic).
/^>^J
P-<^\
111/'lis
• itlMVS
(JJJXLiK yi>*Jaia
~*^y?*'-^M%*?* !:= %~*'
J^ j||g^r2^
• — r W m L . . . ***§**»
JE1£1£_1
Ap**§\
HH ]M
SgJ«7
^*^
Our photograph shows Major Jack Ewart (S02
Materiel
Headquarters Northern Ireland) and W O I
Alex Johnson
(FTOWO Headquarters Northern Ireland) discussing the finer
points of Materiel Regulations.
He is currently suffering from a bad back but is putting on a
brave face (ex-Para Brigade you know).
Our CSM, W02 Dave Thomas has at last decided to report
in and has quickly become a staunch member of our infamous
cricket team. He has already made his mark on space invaders
and is also renowned for extremely early morning calls.
Corporals Geordie Kelso and Geordie Jackson recently
competed in the Great North Run Half Marathon. Each
pushed a handicapped child in a wheelchair around the course
and collected a grand total of £350 for Charity. Well done to
them both!
Congratulations to Staff Sergeant Ralph Fella on pro-
visional selection for promotion to W02 and also for getting
his car cleaned.
1 SUB-DEPOT. We have girded our loins for an inflow of
stores from COD Donnington after the serious fire there.
Every nook and cranny is the subject of inspection and eagle
eyes are cast towards DSM(A) for unusual ' buys' which would
fill up previously declared spare pallet locations. Miss Diane
Walker, one of our Clerical Officers, retired on marriage to a
farmer near Didcot, and we wish her the best of luck at DLSA,
to which she was transferred. Mrs Quinn also left us after many
years service and hopefully she can now enjoy a long retire-
ment.
VEHICLE SUB-DEPOT. An air of normality reigns once again
over the VSD since our return from Adventure Training in the
Isle-of-Man. At least that is until the introduction of the ' Jokers
Club.' Head Joker, Captain Ron Chisholm very rarely gets
caught out although his weakness at the moment is Bar-B-Qs.
W02 Keith Wick has caught the dreaded plaque disease
and in two months has caught no fewer than thirteen varieties
from various visiting units throughout the Province. Corporal
Bill MacGregor ably assisted by Lance Corporal Keith Barrett
recently took the wraps off the new ' docks run ' van and its
equipment along with contents are a closely guarded secret.
Lance Corporal Keith Barrett has just returned from his
honeymoon and gives the ' pads' that silent, smiling and knowing
look.
Congratulations are in order to Lance Corporals Stevie Day
and Fingers Clapton on passing their HGV1 test and to Sergeant
Tony Johnson on provisional selection for promotion. Sergeant
Johnson is known at the moment as ' Hazard on the Hyster.'
We bid farewell to Private John Kirkland and say hello to
Private Smudge Smith, Lance Corporal Streaky Sayers and
Graham Calderwood on loan from the Main Depot.
2 SUB-DEPOT. We have re-opened Building D8 with the follow-
ing personnel taking up the reins. Mr Paddy Sinclair (Ex RAOC
Conductor), Staff Sergeant Mick Clitheroe, Corporal Terry
Gallagher, Lance Corporals Smudge Smith and Andy Love,
Privates Scouse Scott, Geordie Weldrake and Jock Paterson, all
of whom can be seen cleaning, painting and generally tidying
up the building. This of course when stores are not being dealt
with.
On a more cheerful note 2 Sub has had a good month on the
Sporting Scene, Staff Sergeant Mike Farebrother has been selected
to represent the Army at fishing, Sergeant Paddy Moore played
SUPPLY SUB-DEPOT. Training sessions are now well under
way in readiness for the Inter Unit Sports competition. (If all
goes according to skullduggery we will emerge victorious)!
Speaking of skullduggery, our rival teams are apparently
taking it seriously with a new underhand tactic being displayed
by the Ordnance Depots Headquarters team Captain—Major
Ewers. The ploy is simple and as effective as it is dastardly. It
operates thus:—any new arrival posted to the Supply Sub-Depot
showing a measure of sporting potential is rapidly transferred
to Ordnance Depot Headquarters and replaced by WRAC
personnel!
We welcome to the unit Lance Corporal Drozdonski from
Cyprus, Lance Corporal Conyon (our one and only WRAC
member) from Bicester and Private Penn from the Petroleum
Centre.
We say farewell to Corporal Adrian McDonagh and Private
Henry.
Last but not least we say welcome and farewell to Lance
Corporal Scouse Jones who was posted in then transferred at
the stroke of a pen! see above (skullduggery).

Lieutenant Colonel McColl explains points to the Anglo-American
Officers Wives Association on a visit to Bicester.
138

Book number R0406