Back to Library Journals

RAOC Gazette - page 172

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 Crosby who is congratulated on his selection for promotion
and move to TA Headquarters at Corsham later this year. The
Unit will miss his flair and sense of fun not only as MC at Unit
social functions but also in the gym and on the sports field.
In the Garrison Summer Fun Runs the Unit 'A' team com-
prising WOl (SSM) Sam Bartram, Corporals Shore, Cureton
and Morrell is currently in second position out of twenty six
teams—their sterling efforts in local charity marathon races
has motivated Mr Nick Dumper our MHE Operator and Bulk
Storekeeper to lead a team of civilian storekeepers into a com-
mendable and improving thirteenth position.
Congratulations are also well deserved by Sergeant Flower
and Corporal Pollock on gaining RPC1 and Lance Corporal
Clyde; now safely back but thinner from Turkey Exercises, on
his RPC2 qualification.
Welcome to Corporal Beverley, Corporal Thompson and
wife together with Privates Wyse, Wollaston and Preston.
Farewell to Corporal Naismith and Private Liggett Finally,
our longest serving Supply Supervisor, W02 Jim McBryde and
family are off to UNFICYP for a well earned change of climate
and tempo. His distinguished long service in 3 MSD has been
recognised by the award of the GOC Northern Ireland Com-
mendation. His strong sense of duty, leadership by example and
dryest of Perthshire humour will hopefully not create too big
a vacuum.
On the social side of life the Officers Mess were the bi-annual
hosts for the SSAFA Cocktail Party which was. as usual, a
resounding success. They have also held a Ladies Dinner Night
to dine out Colonel Musson and Captain Gill. Colonel Musson
is retiring 'down under' to Australia whilst Captain Gill is also
going down—to Kineton. We would like to wish them and
their families all the best for the future.
The Sergeants Mess has been no less busy with a Regi-
mental Dinner to dine out the Commandant and WOl Cliff
Long of 39 CTT. Cliff has gone to ACIO Liverpool and will
be missed by all. This was followed shortly by a Ladies Dinner
Night to dine out Sergeant Alec Baillie of ACIO Carlisle who is
retiring from Service life. Our best wishes go with Alec and his
wife Moira.
Past members of the Sergeants Mess may remember our
Chief Steward Ms Reta McDougal. She recently handed in
her notice and disappeared, only to re-appear some three weeks
later as Sergeant R. McDougal WRAC attached to ACIO
Carlisle. This automatically makes her a Mess member, much to
the consternation of the Senior Member.
On the arrivals front, we bid welcome to Colonel Cosgrovc,
Captain Nunn, WOl Tony Wagstaff 14/20H, Sergeant Bob
Gallagher 5 INNIS DG, Sergeant Mick Gavaghan SG, and
Corporal John Fulton. Welcome back, also to Staff Sergeant
Brian Maxwell from ' over the water.'
We bid a temporary farewell to Sergeant Pete Hurry, off to
the Falklands, and would like to congratulate both Pete and Staff
Sergeant Nigel Hedley on their substantive promotion.
Two of our civilian staff have retired recently. They arc
Mrs Monica Frood from Control and Mr Richard Christmas
from S and R. They each received a magnificent clock and
many thanks for their sterling work over the years.
Central Ammunition Depot Kineton
I CAN quite honestly say, with my hand
on my heart, that it has only rained twice
in Kineton over the past six months or
so. Readers of these notes will remember
from the last contribution that the last
time it rained was the day we all went to
the ranges. The other time was the day
on which it was decided to play the
' Base Org Inter Officers Mess' tennis
match. What a laugh! Poor old Major
Humphrey Jones and Major Brian
Jenkins, the managerial team behind the day, could only stand
back and watch as the puddles in the court got deeper and
deeper and the players exchanged tennis shoes for flippers. Need-
less to say the CAD Kineton Team coped well with the con-
ditions and finished the day as winners.
Before leaving the Army, Sergeant Jim Kilby pleaded with
me to pass on his thanks to all those who participated in the
Eurofishing Thong Contest recently staged in Stratford. It was a
marvellous day, and all contestants sung the praises of the
organisers. All those that took part had their competitive
spirits tuned up to a remarkably high scale and several Thongs
were hooked along with many others!
On yet another sporting topic, I would like to point out
that the result of the athletics meeting held earlier in the year
and reported in the July edition of THE GAZETTE was in error
and I have been asked to notify readers that ' B ' Company
did not come second!
The RQMS W 2 Nick Reader and Captain Willy Hurst
are off to Australia and New Zealand respectively on Exercise
Long Look. Both have been seen even more than ever in their
respective messes in training for the difficult times ahead.
Our acting Adjutant, Captain Rosemary Stiven has at last
been convinced that this is the post to hold if you are to feel
any sense of achievement at all. Only a few minutes ago she
received an application from one of her girls to keep a gold-
fish in the block. Permission was granted only on the follow-
ing provisos: That the fish be female, that she does not create a
disturbance by causing excessive noise, that the size of the
bow] be in accordance with the guidelines laid down in JSP 315!
You see, life isn't all fun here at Kineton!
Finally, a small note of thanks to the organisers of the
Station fete which took place recently and raised something in
the region of £1,000 for various charities. We had the usual
Kineton Station weather and great fun was had by all.
Central Ammunition
Depot
Vehicle Depot Ashchurch
ISSUES SECTION. The month was a successful one for Privates
Garey Kelly and Terry Wilkinson who passed their A and C
Vehicle Course. Congratulations also go to Private Steve North
on successfully passing his RPC2 Course.
We would like to welcome to the Unit Lance Corporal Frank
Eckersley and his family from ODA. Private Les Chaplow
from Berlin who recently transferred over from Infantry to get
a bit of the action. Other newcomers to the Section are Private
Douglas from CVC, Privates Phil Smith, Dave Jelley, Mark Gale
and Shaun Heath from Blackdown, last but not least welcome
back to Lance Corporal Keith Jones who has just returned from
a six months tour with BATUS.
MIL MAINT. Congratulations to ' Tommo' Thompson on
passing his A and C Course " Am I a Tankie now?"
You can stop drilling us now Joe, you've passed your
RPC1. Well done Lance Corporal Joe Fielding.
We say farewell to our own Jock Tait off to the sunny
Falklands. We will all miss you Jock!
Sub Aqua Kit is now a necessity for working in the pits
when there has been a heavy thunderstorm.
Private Waring has left us to ' C ' Group. Mind you we
have acquired another one Private Tick Keeble. NB: Ask
Keeble how many extras he gets per day for the word ' Boss.'
ISSUES. BFT Training is starting our day with everybody
bright and cheerful at 0630 every morning and by 0830 every-
body feels as if they've done a days work.
We've had a lot of newcomers in the last month or so,
so we'll start by welcoming Privates Dave Jelley, Paul Green-
howe and Phill Smith from the factory. Also Private Les
Chaplow who's rebadged from the Infantry. He says he'd like
to know what it's like to work at the sharp end?
Congratulations are in order to Privates Trevor Parkin and
Steve North on passing their A and C Vehicle Course and finally
a warning to M/Cyclists: Don't ask Private Dave Jelly for a
' T a p ' when he's working on his car!
PIC. Private Taff Davies has just completed a Sub Aqua
Course: and Private John Frame has just done a disappearing
act to Bicester for five weeks. We welcome Private Douglas
from BAOR and Privates Shaun Heath and Mark Gale from
Blackdown.
Lance Corporal Frank Eckersley has taken over as NCO
IC as we say farewell to Corporal John Allinson and family who
are off to Antwerp ' Good luck, John.' (The NAAFI Wagon
won't be the same without you, Dawn.)
Longtown
IN this part of the world, legend has it that the Romans lost a
Legion. The lost and forgotten Legion is still working and wait-
ing to be rediscovered at Longtown. All visitors will : be made
most welcome especially those from the sunny south.
To get back to the present, we were recently visited by
both the outgoing and incoming GOC and by the new DLSA,
Brigadier Skinner.

143

Book number R0406