RAOC Gazette - page 270
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 |
in Denmark on Exercise Ample Express whilst nearer home SQMS Bill Lindgren took a party of potential pet ops to a little exercise with the Sappers near Tidworth to trial some new equipment destined for the Falklands. Congratulations to Private and Mrs Mark Prescott on the birth of Sylvia Louise on 31st August and to Lance Corporal and Mrs Colin Allan on the birth of Patricia Margaret on 9th September. We also wish every happiness to Private Kevin Abbott who married Dawn Elizabeth Potter at Christchurch on 27th August whilst one week later the Commandants elder daughter Susan married Mr Simon Taylor at West Moors Parish Church with the reception at the Officers Mess. Lance Corporal Woodward raised £130 for the Macmillan Unit of Christchurch hospital by completing a charity marathon in three hours twenty eight minutes. The Corporals Club held a very successful ladies Dinner Night on 23rd September. Captain and Mrs Graham were the principal guests. All our second batch TA special regulars have completed their initial training and are beginning to disperse this month. Other departures include W02 John Webb REME, Staff Sergeant Andy Sharkey, Corporal and Mrs Mick Bishop, Sergeant Ginge Cuthbert (congratulations on promotion) and family, Corporal Neil Willis and Private Mark Palmer. We wish them all bon voyage. Photo G. K. Gillberry. The Second Intake of RAOC Petroleum Operators from the T A on One Year Regular Army Engagements. Back row: Private Cross, Corporal Stephenson, Private Oatey, Sergeant Dickinson and Lance Corporal Jones. Front row: Lance Corporal Woodhouse, Lance Corporal D'Silva, Private Sergeant, Sergeant Francis, Private Holt and Lance Corporal Berry. We welcome Staff Sergeant Ian Leo and family to our Work- shops, Sergeant and Mrs Dave Holmes and family to the School and Corporal and Mrs Ian Moore and family to the Head- quarters. May you have a happy tour here. Photographed at the Staff Band Concert at Thatcham. was made two days before the Inter-Services Competition. The competition was a great success, producing nine competition days, most pilots each flying in excess of thirty five hours and cover- ing some eight to nine hundred miles on pre-set tasks. The tasks were of varying lengths, mainly depending upon the weather and air space controls, the longest being a three hundred and eight kilometre (two hundred miles) task to Bicester, Rugby and Henlow. Others included Didcot, Bicester, M3/M6 Junction back to Henlow (two hundred and sixty kilo- metre) and Henlow, Halton, Ledbury (Hereford), Henlow (three hundred and four kilometre). Squadron Leader Tootell was placed seventh overall in the Sports Class. The highlight of the month must be the visit of our Staff Band to Thatcham. It was a splendid day, with about four hundred guests and members of the Depot's Staff in attendance. Some seventy six Senior Citizens from Thatcham came as did several senior military and civil guests from county, district and local town councils. The Director of Supply Operations (Army)—Brigadier Berragan, as the Senior Military guest was in attendance with Senior Officers from both the RAF and USAF at Thatcham and Greenham Common, as well as other Army, Navy and Police Officers. In addition, seventeen German guests were present, who were staying in Thatcham as part of the annual visiting arrange- ments which exist between the twin towns of Thatcham and Nideggen in the North Eifel, West Germany. The concert was a huge success and the band was quite excellent under the baton of its Director of Music—Captain Rodney Parker. Before the event all the official guests were invited to a buffet lunch and the senior citizens were invited to a tea-party after the concert. All the guests and Depot Staff commented on the fact that this annual event was truly enjoyable and this year a little more colour and variety had been provided by the presence of our American and German guests. RADFAN Regional Depot Tharcham WE recently assisted the International Air Show at Greenham Common under the guidance of Major Eric Foster which resulted in several members of the unit being invited to attend. Thanks also to the influence and efforts of Mrs Pam Holden, our OIC Administration, the Commanding Officer—Lieutenant Colonel John Evans and Senior Stores Officer— Squadron Leader Bill Tootell were fortunate enough on the same day to be given a trip in the Good Year Airship ' Europa' over Oxford and Blenheim Palace. Squadron Leader'Bill Tootell represented the Royal Air Force at the Inter-Services Regional Gliding competition held at RAF Henlow in early August. The sailplane originally allocated to him, an open class ASM 17, was unfortunately written off by a fellow RAF Bicester pilot in a National com- petition and a hasty reallocation of a Sports Class Astir CS REMEMBERED From:—Mr C. J. Mclvor, 16 Gualby Road, Billesdon, Leicestershire. I wonder if anyone can help me. During the Aden emergency I was a member of an eight man patrol, all RAOC, in the Radfan led by Captain Francombe. Our Lead Vehicle was blown up, seriously wounding Captain Francombe and Driver McNaught. We had to abandon our other vehicle and were picked up many hours later by helicopter. The events leading up to and after the incident were recorded on film by one of the patrol an RAOC Photographer. After withdrawal from Aden the photographs were shown to many RAOC Units, showing the many rolls played by the RAOC during the Aden campaign. Unfortunately I never did see any of the photographs or any of the members of that Patrol again, (all ex-Boy Soldiers). Apart from Private T. Westwood who served with me in the Ordnance Para's. I do hope you can help trace these photo- graphs, or members of the Patrol, as it was a well publicised incident at the time. — 225 — |
| Book number | R0406 |