RAOC Gazette - page 293
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 |
L jfar t|)t NORTHERN IRELAND M E N T I O N E D IN AWARDS DESPATCHES W01 (SSM) G. M. Brennen WOl (SSM) V. Greenwood Staff Sergeant D. Little GOC'S Captain M. J. Lentz Our sincere congratulations. THIS Brigadier Spackman. COMMENDATION MONTH'S that he has been recruited by Norman Fowler to oversee an ambitious project to computerise much of the work of the DHSS. Their gain is our loss, and we wish John and Jeanette success and happiness in the future. COVER COVER photographs are always hard to find. Apart from having an interesting subject, they also have to be black and white, taken vertically and provide sufficient space to accommodate the titling. Somehow, each month, one appears that will make the front page and they must be appreciated since there have been several requests to produce the past twelve months covers as a montage for the front of the December edition. Seen together, they show a good spread of activity—work, sport and adventure training and I hope they will encourage photographers within the Corps to ' have a go ' and provide future covers. They may also provide an incentive to keep your GAZETTES, particularly at unit level, since within their covers, they do contain a comprehensive record of life in the Corps over the year. With this in mind, we have had yearly binders produced to take twelve copies. They are in brown simulated leather, with a gold blocked title on the spine. The price is £3.00 each, from THE GAZETTE—which includes postage. They are particularly suitable for use in Messes. RETIREMENT OF BRIGADIER JOHN SPACKMAN WITH the retirement of John Spackman the Corps, and the Army, has lost one of its acknowledged experts in the field of computer technology. His career was launched from a platform of a first class honours degree, followed by a Doctorate, placing him within that select handful of Army officers who have achieved such academic distinction. During his service he filled many important appointments including that of Senior Military Officer at Porton Down. He will be best remembered however for his work in ADP, spanning appointments at CSDW, Blandford, WAVELL and NATO, culminating in his appointment as Director Supply Computer Services in January 1982 where he gave fresh impetus to ADP development within the Corps. A man of broad vision and dedicated involvement he saw the need for an ADP strategy for administrative computing in the Army as a whole. Thanks largely to his efforts there is now an accepted RAOC strategy, and the Q and Army strategies are being developed. When the Falklands crisis arose he instigated the rapid conversion of an embryonic electronic mail system into a working product. This proved invaluable during Corporate and has been in daily use since. That the RAOC is recognised as Army leaders in the field of information technology stems substantially from his personal commitment and infectious enthusiasm. John is a man for all seasons, full of humour, in love with life, and proud of his Welsh heritage. It comes as no surprise GARDEN OF REMEMBRANCE PERSONNEL from Ordnance Depot Antwerp, under the direction of Captain Allan Brown, have recently taken part in Exercise Weekend Swan, a voluntary exercise quite opposite to that which the name implies. The aim was to renovate and landscape the gardens of Talbot House in Poperinge, Belgium. Talbot House is the birthplace of the world famous TOC H Movement. During the 1914/18 War, Poperinge was the entrance to the leper (Ypres) Salient and the nearest habitable town to the front line trenches. The house was named after Lieutenant Gilbert Talbot, the son of an Army Chaplain, killed at Hooge earlier in the war. The Garrison Chaplain in Poperinge, Reverend Tubby Clayton ran Talbot House as a canteen and staging point for soldiers travelling to and from the front. Talbot House became known as TOC H ; the signallers code for the initials T. H. For many soldiers the invitation " come into the garden and forget about the war " became a temporary ticket to peace and sanity. Sadly the large garden had become run down over the years and was in desperate need of restoration. The type of work required to be carried out was well beyond the capabilities of the elderly couple who now take care of the house and continue to rim it as a hostel and a reminder of the First World War. And so with shovels in hand and the promise of two week- ends of hard work ahead, off went our band of willing workers under the technical direction of Corporal Pollin, ex-landscape gardener, and with the willing assistance of Mrs Brown, Lieu- tenant Holmes, W02 and Mrs Woods, Staff Sergeant and Mrs Nowak, Sergeants Brumby and Thompson, Corporals Du Feu, Hutchinson ACC, Connelly, Fagan and Stone, Lance Corporals Rennie, Stewart, Mounsey and Jeffers. We hope to be able to publish photographs of the gardens be- fore and after! THE RAOC ALPINE HOTEL A FAMILY SUMMER HOLIDAY IN B A V A R I A BOOKINGS are now being taken for self-catering family holidays in the Corps hotel (see August 1983 edition). July and August 1984 are reserved exclusively for holidays and the charge of DM10 (£2.50) for adults and DM6 for children per day in- cludes a comfortable room with hot and cold and balcony, use of a well equipped kitchen, showers, toilets and bar. Send now for further details and booking form to:—Chief Clerk, RAOC Alpine Hotel, 5 Ordnance Battalion, BFPO 16. I T S ALL GO IN THE ALLGAU. 242 — |
| Book number | R0406 |