RAOC Gazette - page 214
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 |
^ t Station J5tto£ ome Ministry of Defence ADJUTANT GENERALS DEPARTMENT IT must be over three years since the AG's Department had a mention in THE GAZETTE Notes. This has not been entirely due to pressure of work, but rather the fact that such a small RAOC presence does not often produce news-worthy copy. This month however there is a glut of news to report starting with the promotion of Jim Ashcroft, the SO to Vice Adjutant General, to Lieutenant Colonel (SQM). This must delay for at least two years any plans he was making for an early escape to his newly built retirement home in Cyprus, instead the RAF will no doubt be inundated with bids for indulgence flights each leave time! Jim recently took a few days off to go back to his old haunts at Calvert Lake to take part in the Corps Regatta and showed that he and Lisette had not forgotten how to sail, picking up six prizes including the Champion's Cup. The Branch Chief Clerk, W02 Nick Nicholson, whose substantive promotion earlier in the year went unreported— congratulations Q!, is now spreading rumours that his next job is to be in Hong Kong, obviously hoping that the Director of Manning (VAG) will ensure that the word is spread on his next visit to Leicester. Sergeant Ray Wells, the third and last RAOC member of this small military enclave in a civil service sea has been seen designing a cover for his first novel and hopes to find a publisher soon. The WRAC staff is headed by Sergeant Carol Aland as Chief Clerk of the AG's Private Office. Lance Corporal Claire Herridge, the SHW, has double cause for celebration. She has just announced her engagement (to a civilian!) and she has also been selected to work on the staff of HRH The Duchess of Kent. A great honour, but we will all be very sorry to see her leave. Privates Kate Mutch and Alayne Jones have recently joined us on the seventh floor. Brigadier Hulme with Mrs Eileen Ball. services, from her initial six years in the ATS from which she retired as a Staff Sergeant, subsequent service in the Army and then marriage to her RAF husband and tours in the Far East and behind the Iron Curtain. In addition to the award of the BEM shortly after the War, Eileen earned commendations from a General and two Air Marshals in her long association with the Services. Her farewell was suitably celebrated in the branch and a presentation on behalf of her colleagues made by Brigadier Hulme. We wish Eileen a happy retirement and look forward to receiving surfing postcards from California, which we know she plans to visit- Directorate of Supply Management VEHICLE DIVISION CORPORAL ALEX MATTHEWS, we are pleased to report, is well on the way to recovery from an operation carried out at Woolwich. Alex now knows the true meaning of ' hospital cuts.' Corporal Ian Pickersgill is now in situ on the Falkland Islands, waving the flag for Chilwell. It is quite amazing the lengths people will go to in avoidance of the forthcoming Nottingham Marathon. It is but five short weeks away as ' Q ' and Sergeant Mike Buck will confirm. However, aid is at hand. Sergeant John Blake and an assortment of pretty ladies, for which incidentally Chilwell is famous, are manning one of the critical check points around the eighteen mile point. The so called ' Wall.' Our intrepid pair are considering feigning collapse at this stage in the hope of mouth to mouth resuscitation from John's assistants. The Sergeants Mess recently had their Summer Ball, a lavish extravaganza of food and entertainment. The highlight was perhaps the landau drawn by two elegant white horses. Mess members and their ladies were able to experience first hand, travel of yesteryear, silent, sedate, almost regal. Colonel Warren has just acquired a horse, we understand, but by all accounts not yet ready for the Grand National. Corporal Joe McDonough is shortly commencing his EPC course. He was heard uttering strange gasping noises when reading the pre-course learning package. This could mean everything or nothing, for Joe is renowned for his strange utterances. Headquarters Director General of Ordnance Services ORD \IORD 5. Yet again we have been playing musical chairs in a general reorganisation of offices which has also seen person- ne! changes with Captain Stewart Crowe moving to Ord la on being relieved in Ord 5b by our newly arrived R 3 , Major Philip Lawson. The continual knocking down of dividing walls makes me wonder when the entire building is likely to collapse. However, we have once again settled down to a normal routine with all the Ord 1 clerks now ensconced in one main office under the eagle eye of SSM Colin White, the Superintendent Clerk, who has recently returned from a holiday in the South of France—some people have all the luck; particularly as, you will no doubt gathered, he missed the office upheaval! Our intrepid running veteran Lieutenant Colonel John Marsden has recently completed his second marathon this year, still maintaining a respectable time of around three and a half hours and Miss Angela Baker, despite injuring her ankle on the first attempt, has now completed three parachute descents! ORD 2. This month we, and above all Major Mike Harris, welcome the return of Captain John Bourton from his FILOG Battalion tour and congratulate him also on his promotion to Major. The main event of this traditionally quiet time of year has been the retirement of Mrs Eileen Ball BEM after six years as a Clerical Officer in Ord 2d. Eileen's time in the branch was the final phase in a long and eventful association with the — 177 — |
| Book number | R0406 |