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RAOC Gazette - page 325

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Full title RAOC Gazette
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Publication date 1983
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Early date 1983
Late date 1983
Transcription Major Adam Woodward eagerly awaits Mike's replacement
Captain Harry Jones from Viersen arriving via the Falklands!—
the dreaded rolling gap strikes again! On the other hand Major
Richard Rhodes ' loves' the Falklands (we didn't ask his wife,
Sally, for her thoughts), he is on the move again after four
months having only just got his feet under this E/S Man desk
and is en route at the moment with shiny Lieutenant Colonel
pips that have come a few months earlier than expected, con-
gratulations to you sir. Corporal Andy Wilson has found him-
self on the list of those selected for Sergeant! Sergeants Geordie
McShane and John Edwards are looking increasingly happy as the
return of our long lost Chief Clerk from (yes you guessed it)
the Falklands gets closer. Last but not least our congratulations
to a very happy Major Eamon Hannaway on his promotion.
Colonel Alan Newcombe (Dep Comd Sup Combat Supplies)
has been going up on the world during the month. Our two
photographs show him with Che Guevara (?) in the cage of a
thirty metre turntable ladder at the recent Army Fire Services
BAOR/UK Pump Competition at Bracht. The first photograph
shows the two intrepid astronauts before the ascent and the
second one shows them up, up and away. Brigadier Alway
can be seen safely earthbound and obviously thinking about the
Grey book in the second shot! We are happy to report that the
Photo Bryan A. Dowries.
A closer look at those at the top.
good Colonel returned safely to earth later. Major Peter Hewlett
one of our growing (or in his case shrinking) band of ROs was
a great success as a fully robed Justice in the recent RATS
production of ' The Noble Spaniard' which was a notable
theatrical event in Rhein D. Meanwhile in the Ammunition
world Lieutenant Colonel Bruce Owen has decided not to cash in
his life savings to buy a BMW just to keep up with the Wattses
(no, not the Whatsits—the Wattses—Lieutenant Colonel David
Watt in fact). He is sticking to his 300 bhp (or thereabouts) MG
Metro complete with leather helmet, goggles and Snoopy
scarf!
Lieutenant Colonel Owen was reminded fairly dramatically
of how tempus fugits when he entered the 3 BAD tenth
Anniversary Freedom Half Marathon recently. His son, out on
hols from Welbeck College also entered — result, father
seventeenth (not bad), son third (very good!). With the ammo
boys—Corporal Simon Goodband has finished his jail sentence
in JHQ and returned to the fieshpots of Walsrode. We welcome
in his place Corporal Bruce McKnight from 3 BAD who was
last seen in THE GAZETTE climbing the Alpspitz. Unfortunately
the only thing he will be climbing here is his ' in tray'! And
now a belated entry. Mr Bob Usher of our Rations branch
tells us that although he served for thirty seven years in the
RASC and latterly the RAOC, when he retired in 1979,
because he was working in a Staff branch his going was not
recorded in THE GAZETTE notes. We hereby set this omission to
rights (only four years late!) and formally thank him for
his long and loyal service and wish him many more fruitful
(no pun intended!) years with us in the Ration world. Well
done Bob!
Three of our runners, W02 Dave O'Brien, Staff Sergeant
Dave Latham and Sergeant Kev McKernan, spent a weekend
in Paris partaking in the Paris twenty kilometres Road Race.
Their excuse for not winning was that too many of the twenty
eight thousand entrants kept getting in their way—other mem-
bers of the Headquarters are now thinking up similar excuses
for bachelor weekends!
Prospective competitors for the RAOC Cross Country
Championships should take heed that our manager is fairly
confident of success. With three teams in the line up, we
wish them all good luck!
And finally, we say farewell to Mrs Gilly Sparrow from
Supply Registry, who left us after a short stay, she is off to
RAF Uxbridge. In her place now is Mrs Betty Tucker, we
hope you enjoy your stay.
Ordnance Depot Antwerp
ODA have played host to HMS Ajax this month, and challenged
the ship's company to a game of rugby at which ODA came
away the victors with a satisfactory score of fourteen four.
Later that night the Petty Officers and Ratings were entertained
at a games evening in the respective messes. We are not sure
who the final champions are but it is felt that the NAAFI might
be providing new carpets for the JRC.
Remaining on the sporting front we are pleased to report that
our rugby team have won through to the second round of the
Belgian Cup. This is a civilian competition of which our rugby
team has met some strong opposition from civilian teams,'and
they are to be congratulated on their achievement so far.
We congratulate the following on their substantive pro-
motions, WOs2 McAdam, Warrier, Lance Corporals Jordan and
Leadbeater.
Welcome back to Corporal MacGregor, Lance Corporal
Scarrot from Northern Ireland and Private Young from the
Falklands.
3 Base Ammunition Depot
A rather hectic period with a number of
Military and Sporting activities.
On the military side BFTs are in
progress, people can be seen running
around the Depot under the watchful
eye of SSI Ward.
Regimental Wing had the unit out at
Arsbeck for a night exercise consisting of
a yomp to Arsbeck, with full kit and
blisters, tactical manoeuvres and recce
patrols culminating in a fighting patrol.
Cheers were heard back at Bracht on completion of the exercise
until it was learnt from Lieutenant Bates that "it would be a
tri-annual event.
The wives can be seen in combats training for a charity
assault course attempt, all sponsorship money being donated to
BLESMA.
The Officers and WO's have returned to work bleary-eyed
after Exercise Plain Sailing when a lot of valuable information
was learnt.
With all the barbecues and summer balls finished Mess
representatives are now seen selling tickets for the various Christ-
mas activities. Wanna buy some raffle tickets?
On the sporting scene the CAO came back from two days
golf at Essen with the thirty six hole Handicap Trophy and
runner up in the Stapleford, meanwhile Staff Sergeant Ladley
was winning the thirty six hole scratch and coming runner
up, with Mr Pat O'Brien in the Greensome beating W02 Kirby
and Sergeant Hains on count back.
The hockey team are after a mention in the Guinness Book
of Records for the most goals conceded in a season; so far the
total being in the forties after five games.
The unit sent a team to the Rhine Area Canoeing champion-
ships and for the second year running won the Novice event,
Corporal Ned Kelly being runner up to Corporal Bruce Mc-
Knight.
The football and rugby teams are having a mixed season
with more wins than losses in both sports.
The Army Fire Brigade Pump Competition was held at
Bracht between the UK Champion Army Fire Brigade, Bramley
and 3 BAD the BAOR winners. The 3 BAD Army Fire Brigade
won the event with the best ever recorded time of 30.9 seconds.
Commiserations to Bramley for their strong challenge but we
have a team to be proud of.
Congratulations go to Lance Corporals Miller, Cameron,
Murphy and Leatherbarrow on their promotion. Thanks and
— 270 —
Book number R0406