The Magazine for the Paderborn Community April / May 2016
To Fiji, With Love Pages 20 & 21
Paderborn Community - NEED TO KNOW! The Magazine for the Paderborn Community
For the latest accurate and official information
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Contents
4................ New Station CO & RSM ........................ 5................................... Day ......................... Half-Term Remembrance with Home-Start Find out what’s happening on the online calendar at: 6................................... .................. Chief of General Staff Visit www.bfgnet.de/paderborn/whats-on 8 & 9..................... 3........................ Noddy’s 300 Challenge 10................... hristmas1 Acknowledgements ........................ Soldier’s Act of Heroism Dave Allen Army Press Office (Germany) 12 & 13................................... ........................ Need To Know Need to Know Dominic King, Army Photographer Cpl Mark Webster RLC, Army Press Office Photographer 14 ...............Girl Guiding, Scouts & WRVS & 34................ Gareth Palmer, Army Press Office (South East - Colchester) 16............... 9 & 22 to 23.. Puzzle Page Capt Rick Newman, SO3 Media Ops 20X RBL Paderborn Branch 19....................... Big Brew Up 2013 1........................ RBL Paderborn Branch 20X, Garrison and Paderborn Station All UPO’s, UWO’s and contributors to Unit submissions 20 & 21.................................... To Fiji With Love Fiji Day 2013 Chaplaincy, Community Services and Agencies Staff, parents & pupils of all contributing Garrison schools 26 & 27................................. Competitions ........................ SSAFA’s Summer Fete All advertisers 28 to 33.............. 3 & 36 to 37...... Education Our gratitude to everyone who submitted material and contributed to this edition of Punchlines. 34 to 38................ 7........................ Sports For All 39 & 40................ Round Copyright: PUNCHLINES is published bi-monthly by kind permission of the Commanders of ........................ Army Garrison Press Office 20 Armoured Infantry Brigade and Westfalen Garrison. It is not an official publication and the views expressed, unless specifically stated otherwise, do not reflect MoD, Army or Garrison 41 to 48................................. Winter ......................... Unit Updates policy and are the personal views of the author. It is self funded through advertising revenue. No responsibility for the quality of goods or services advertised in the magazine can be accepted 51.................................... Brit Fest Community Clipboard by the publishers or printers. th
The Garrison Information Team reserves the right to omit, amend or edit any advertisement, article or picture at their sole discretion, without liability. Produced and edited by the Garrison Information Office.
Printed by Druckerei Egeling Werbetechnik. Tel: 05253 940565 info@egeling.com
Paderborn Community
52 For the latest accurate and official information! 52 51..................................Garrison Contacts
Moving in and out of the Garrison - Check out this link for some handy information! http://bfgnet.de/paderborn/paderborn-pubs/index.php
CONTACT DETAILS Please send your stories, photographs and information for the next issue to: E-mail: punchlines.magazine@gmail.com
Telephone : Civ: 05254 982 2105 Mil: 94879 2105
Address: Punchlines HQ Westfalen Garrison Antwerp Bks, BFPO 16
If you want your story included in the Summer 16 edition of Punchlines, please send it to punchlines.magazine@gmail.com by Fri 13 May 16 Did you know that Punchlines is also available online? www.bfgnet.de/paderborn/publications 3
New Paderborn Station Commander Lt Col JST Mateer IG
Born and raised in Northern Ireland during the 60’s and 70’s, a military career of “some description” was always going to be on the cards, but it was an Army Cadet visit to the Guards Depot in 1978 that sealed the deal and an insanely committed Guardsman joined the Micks a couple of years later in 1980. A full and enjoyable soldier career soon followed which culminated in a number of RSM posts, including RSM 1IG and the Inf RSM at SCHINF. Commissioned life began in 2005 with a spell as 2IC of a Rifle Coy before moving on to the more traditional roles of Welfare, Recruiting and Transport Officer. Two years as Officer Commanding the Army Development and Selection Centre in NI, followed by a short but superb 18 months as an SO3 G3/4 with the British Peace Support Team in East Africa. QMT and deployment on HERRICK was followed by QM at RD and a further two more QM posts in a Garrison role for NI and London. His Operational service includes Kosovo, Iraq, Afghanistan and numerous tours of NI. Other parts of the globe that have had the pleasure of his company include Belize, Falkland Islands, Canada, Oman, Rwanda, Uganda, Ethiopia and Djibouti. Current service in Germany amounts to eight years in total; mostly in Muenster with a short spell in Berlin in 1992. Lt Col John Mateer is married to Janice, whom he met in Münster in 1982, and they have two daughters, Ashleigh and Nicole. Also accompanying Col John and Janice will be Murphy the bonkers Hungarian Vizsla. A keen sailor and lover of most outdoor pursuits, he intends to take full advantage of the fantastic opportunities on offer in Germany. When not out doors getting cold and wet he enjoys good food, good wine and watching Homes under the Hammer, Come Dine and Escape to the Country!
New Paderborn Station RSM WO1 (RSM) S Risdale
WO1 Steve Risdale recently took up the post as HQ Paderborn Station RSM, after WO1 (RSM) R Evans moved into his new role as Unit Welfare Officer, 5 RIFLES, upon his Commission. WO1 Risdale grew up in Sheffield, and joined the Army in November 1995. Upon the completion of recruitment training, he joined the 1st Battalion The Duke Of Wellingtons Regiment, based in Weeton Barracks, Blackpool. During his time at Weeton he conducted several tours of Northern Ireland and overseas exercises to Belize, Poland, Germany and the Falkland Islands. In 1999, he relocated to Hounslow as part of the Unit move, where he conducted public duties for two years. In 2001, another Unit move saw WO1 Risdale move to Osnabrück; here he completed numerous overseas exercises, two tours of Iraq as well as the Section Commanders Battle Course (SCBC) and the Platoon Sergeants Battle Course (PSBC), before taking post as a Rifle Company Platoon Sergeant. In 2006, WO1 Risdale transferred to the 1st Battalion The Light Infantry who were based in Paderborn at that time. He conducted his most memorable operational tour as a Brigade surveillance controller on Op TELIC 13. Between 2010 and 2012 he served with the Platoon Commanders Division at the Infantry Battle School, in Brecon, as a Colour Sergeant Instructor. On promotion to WO2, he took post as a Warrior Sergeant Major and subsequently as a Company Sergeant Major. More recently he was the Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant Technical for 5th Battalion The Rifles. He is married to Sabrina, a German national. Together, they own two retired race horses and Spencer the Rottweiler. His interests include carp angling and running. He very much looks forward to the challenges that lie ahead in his new role as HQ Paderborn Station RSM. 4
Half Term with Home-Start Home-Start is a national family charity that helps families with young children, offering support and friendship to parents as they learn to cope, improve their confidence and build better lives for their children. During the Half Term breaks, Home-Start schemes across BFG organise events to help parents bond and spend valuable time with their families. This gives parents the opportunity to speak with each other, which is valuable during times when loved ones are away. This February, the Paderborn and Sennelager schemes ran their activities simultaneously, in order to provide each other with some support whilst new staff settle into their roles. The Home-Start Organiser for Sennelager is Donna Hendricks. Having previously worked as a counsellor, Donna is no stranger to working with children. Just three weeks into her new role she said, “It is early days yet but Home-Start is a great organisation, with an excellent reputation. It has a good working relationship with other agencies and Units, so I hope to build on the hard work of my predecessors, as well as getting to know our families.” Donna is also hoping that she can offer something different to families in our community, “I have done the transition from army to civilian life, and feel I have come full circle with an unexpected but exciting return to the military community in Germany. I hope to offer what I have learned from my experience as a parent and understanding of the ups and downs of military family life.” The week of fun was filled with families taking part in arts & crafts sessions to celebrate the Chinese New Year. Gift bags containing all the necessary craft items needed to create Chinese hats, design their own Chinese Dragon or lantern were handed to each child to get creative. Whether stickers, paint or pens were the tools of choice, the designs were varied and colourful and were a great way for interaction between the parents and children. CESSAC Bluebell Café, who has supported Home-Start and their activities on more than one occasion, kindly donated tasty snacks. Alisha Sutton attended the Paderborn arts & crafts session, she said, “Having previously lived in Hameln, I knew of Home-Start and the good that they do for families; however I was working at the time and had no need to use the service. Now I am in Paderborn, and not working, I attend the regular groups; it helps to break up the day and routine. Home-Start is a good way to meet people and for children to interact with each other.” The fun wasn’t confined to the Community Centres, which house the Home-Start schemes, as two coaches full of excited children and their parents took a trip to Paderbini Land in Paderborn; this trip was subsidised due to a generous donation from SSAFA (Paderborn). With slides, ball pits and plenty of things to climb, everyone had lots of tiring fun. Holly Morrall has worked for Home-Start for nearly a year now, first starting off as the Secretary. She is now the Home-Start Organiser for the Paderborn scheme, where her role sees her doing home visits, organising events and training volunteers. Holly explained, “During the school holidays we close our regular groups, however we facilitate other activities during the holidays. In time, we hope to expand the provisions available, give back to those who support us and to build on the relationships we have with our families. I really believe in what Home-Start do.” Holly went on to say, “I would like to thank SSAFA and CESSAC Bluebell café for their kind donations and their support to Home-Start.”
If you are interested in volunteering for Home-Start, contact: Paderborn: 05251 528609 Monday to Friday from 9am to 1pm Sennelager: 05254 9304723 Monday to Friday from 9am to 1pm 5
Chief of General Staff Visit The head of the Army, Gen Sir Nicholas Carter, recently returned to his old brigade in Sennelager. On arrival at Brigade HQ, the Chief of the General Staff met with Commander 20th Armoured Infantry Brigade, Brig Ian Mortimer, to see how the high readiness training is progressing for the role of Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (VJTF) in 2017. He was also briefed by Commander BFG, Brig Ian Bell, on preparations for units returning to the UK through rebasing, with 5 RIFLES set to return to UK in the summer. While in Bde HQ, the CGS was able to present well-earned commendations to both Capt Pomfrett and WO2 (SQMS) Hollowell. Capt Pomfrett received the GOC Force Troops Certificate Of Meritorious Service for his work in Sierra Leone as part of the initial VANGUARD Enabling Group (VEG) Headquarters in support of Operation GRITROCK, the British Military’s response to counteract the Ebola Viral Disease (EVD) outbreak in West Africa. WO2 (SQMS) D Hollowell was presented the Commander Land Forces Commendation for his outstanding work on Ex Black Eagle, where he used his intelligent analysis and application of Joint Supply Chain knowledge to identify and implement innovative procedures that drove forward significant improvements in output, resulting in a saving of £130,000 to the public purse. CGS then moved on to visit 1st Battalion The Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment in Barker Barracks, Paderborn, where he took the opportunity to speak to the regiment about topics such as the Army’s leadership code and women on the front line. While with the Armoured Tigers, he was delighted to be able to open the new Welfare Centre, the Tigers Den, before meeting soldiers families over a cup of tea. The Army’s chief then visited the Queen’s Royal Hussars in Athlone Barracks, Sennelager, where he, firstly, spoke to a tank crew from C Sqn. The discussion focused on the recent Gunnery Camp to Bergen- Hohne Ranges, where the regiment scored an impressive 95 per cent in firing tests. Back in Paderborn, CGS dropped in on 5 RIFLES to see the battalion being put through their paces on exercise at both Combined Arms Staff Trainer and Combined Arms Tactics Trainer in preparation for BATUS later on in the year – before the Mailed Fist take on the role of VJTF. CGS mentioned how much he enjoyed returning to Germany and that he had always enjoyed his time here on postings throughout his career.
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Time For A Spring Clean?
Relate BFG advice on revitalising your relationships Spring is in the air: the time of year for de-cluttering your cupboards and giving your life a shake-up. But it’s not just your home and wardrobe that could do with some extra attention this Spring, Relate BFG is helping people to put the zing back into relationships as well. Relate BFG’s Director Clare Macklin said, “Spring is a perfect time to freshen-up your relationships, whether it’s with a partner, friends or family. This is a time of year when people naturally want to haul everything out of the corners and give things a bit of a spruce-up – and your relationships should be no exception.” Here are Clare’s tips for giving all your relationships a Spring clean:
Couples - Make a list each of three things you love about your relationship and one thing you’d like to change, and then swap. Doing it this way keeps things positive, but gives you both a chance to improve on something. Families - Do something new. Families often get stuck in the same routines, like always meeting up for Sunday lunch. Plan something new and see how it can change the dynamic – arrange a day at the seaside, or play some games in the park. Friends - Make an effort to show your appreciation for a friend. You could take someone out for lunch to say thank you for their friendship, or even just a card in the post or a text message can make a real difference.
Clare added, “The secret to long lasting relationships isn’t luck. Relationships of all kinds fare better when they’re frequently rejuvenated, so why not try putting the spring back in your step this year?” Relate BFG is here to help people at all ages and stages of relationships.
For information, advice and support Call: 0049 521 9254 2709 Email: office.relatebfg@googlemail.com
Family Links Parent Nurturing Programme
Weekly from:
Wed 13 April 16 - Wed 22 June 16 At: AWS Sennelager Youth & Community Centre Husaren Strasse
FREE
33104 Sennelager Between:
0930 hrs – 1130 hrs For more information or to enrol yourself on the Nurturing Programme please contact the AWS Paderborn reception on:
Tel No: 05254 982 4340 or Mil: 79 4340
Noddy’s 300 Challenge Charity events are a common occurrence within our community; however occasionally there are those events that capture our attention more, as they are a test of both physical and mental endurance. This was the case when 37 Armoured Engineer Squadron (37 AES) from 35 Engineer Regiment (35 Engr Regt) took on the demanding challenge to complete three hundred Physical Fitness Assessments (PFAs) in a twenty-four hour period. PFAs are a biannual mandatory fitness test, designed to assess a soldier’s body strength and endurance. The requirements vary between Corps; however for the Royal Engineers each soldier must complete 1.5 miles in 10.5 minutes, 44 press-ups and 50 sit-ups, both in 2 minutes. Why did 37 AES do this? To try to raise £3000 for two charities; Naomi House and the Army Benevolent Fund The Soldiers’ Charity. Naomi House was chosen because it is a Charity which is affiliated to 35 Engr Regt and has been so for approximately three years. Naomi House provides a full and comprehensive hospice service to terminally ill children and their families. For these children, Naomi House becomes their home from home. Teams take the time to get to know the family and their wishes, so that they can offer individualised care and respite support. More information can be found at: www.naomihouse.org.uk Army Benevolent Fund (ABF) The Soldiers’ Charity, provides lifetime support to British Army soldiers, veterans and their immediate families, when in need. They give grants to individuals, through Regiments and Corps, for a selection of reasons: from housing and elderly care, to education and training. The ABF support a wide range of specialist charities that sustain the British Army ‘family’, across the world. More information on the charity can be found at: www.soldierscharity.org The brainchild of the Noddy’s 300 Challenge came from Sgt Neil Coleman and LCpl Jamie Leathard, who thought it would be a fantastic opportunity to bring the Squadron together, as well as to kick-start the year’s Charity work. The Squadron continued with the running of this event, despite the recent loss of a fellow comrade; it was therefore dedicated to the memory of SSgt Peter Cluff. Throughout the whole event, SSgt Cluff’s Sapper 300 Rugby Shirt was worn during every PFA, as the Squadron wanted to show that the family were in their thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. Noddy’s 300 was decided on the fact that 2016 will mark the threehundred-year anniversary since the formation of Corps of the Royal Engineers. It was organised in just three short weeks, with the full support of the Squadron’s Officer Commanding (OC) Major Tony Cheales, who explained, “This wasn’t my idea, I think that is why I am most proud of it. The Squadron were given the task of coming up with a team cohesion task: the energy and enthusiasm is all down to them”.
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So at 1200hrs, on Tuesday 9th February, fifty members of 37 AES committed themselves to Noddy’s 300 Challenge, with additional support coming from those who were recovering from an injury. Outside support was provided by 35 Engr Regt wives, who organised a cake sale in Bridges, in order to raise additional funds for the event. Mrs Louise Burke said, “I came to support my husband and by making a cake, I have helped with the fundraising.” She went on to say, “The help and support provided by everyone will go a long way to boost morale.” Bridges was used throughout the 24-hour period in order to give the participants somewhere warm and dry to rest in-between each of their PFAs. The use of Bridges was undoubtedly much more appreciated as the weather conditions worsened throughout the night, preventing the participants from relaxing in the tentage that had been provided.
The Squadron persevered through strong winds, heavy rain and even snow; they were not going to let the weather make them fail. During the evening, they were also joined by personnel from the Regimental Headquarters, including their Commanding Officer, Lt Col Guy Boxall and the Regimental Sergeant Major, WO1 (RSM) Ben McGauley. As the new day started, the weather did not improve and by 0600hrs Sgt Neil Coleman started to feel the strain on his body, “This was the worse one for me, because I had rested. Getting up and back into it after a break was hard. I thought the press-ups would be the worse part, but it was the running that was difficult, my legs just gave way.” This is very different to Neil’s initial thought at the start of the event, when he believed that everyone would find the press-ups the hardest as these are usually seen as the most fatiguing part of a PFA. Also feeling the strain on his body was Sgt Waddell, who was looking forward to getting home for a hot bath and some Tiger Balm. When asked why the Squadron didn’t complete the challenge in the warmth of the gymnasium, he replied, “Because that wouldn’t be very taxing. This has really put us through our paces.” He expressed an idea for future Squadron events, “I look forward to a Monopolython next time.” By 0930 hours, despite being soaking wet and tired, everyone was in good spirits. They had completed 296/300 of the PFAs, yet they agreed to continue to their finish time of 1200hrs; this would see them complete well over the target of 300 PFAs. Sgt Coleman wanted to express his sincere gratitude to 1PWRR, especially their CO & RSM, and to the wives of 35 Engr Regt for all their hard work and support throughout the event. To date, the Squadron have not only completed the challenge, but they have raised a staggering €1200 in the sale of cakes and bucket donations, as well as over £2690 on their Just Giving page. To mark the end of the Noddy’s 300 Challenge a toast was made with Port, in memory of SSgt Peter Cluff.
Soldier Saves Life On the morning of Wednesday 23rd November 2015, Pte M Veveers, who previously served with 26 Royal Artillery Regiment, was out running with his dog around Lake Padersee in Schloss Neuhaus, Paderborn when he noticed someone in the lake, which he had never done before. He did think it was slightly odd, especially on this particular day due to the low temperatures. It wasn’t before long that Pte Veveers realised this person was alone, so stopped to determine what was happening. It was then he noticed that it was a lady looking extremely pale, and it became apparent she had been in the water for some length of time. He made several attempts to get her attention, and even tried to encourage her to swim to the bank towards him, which was somewhat 50m away. Pte Veveers managed to stop some bypassers and asked them to call the emergency services, whilst searching for buoyancy aids to throw out to her. A bypasser called out to her in German, but there was still no response. In the meantime, it was becoming clear that the lady could not stay in the water much longer as she had started to turn blue, so Pte Veveers made the decision to swim to her and pull her out. Once out of the water, the severity of her state could be seen, she was stiff and still unresponsive; however she was breathing. Fortunately, the emergency services had arrived by this point. The lady spent three days in intensive care and a further week in hospital recovering from her ordeal. It has been said that if she had been in the water any longer that she could have died, due to her hypothermic condition. In recognition of this act of selflessness and courage, Pte Veveers is to be honoured with an award for his bravery and saving the life of another, on Saturday 9th April 2016 in Wewelsburg.
Road Safety Be Safe, Be Seen Many accidents happen to cyclists and pedestrians because vehicle drivers cannot see them until it is too late to stop. The problem is worse at night and in poor weather conditions. Make sure you wear the right clothing to be seen. By wearing the right clothing, chances of being seen are increased wear bright and fluorescent materials during the day and reflective materials at night.
What To Wear Cyclists - clothing should be bright so during the day fluorescent ‘day-glo’ colours and reflective at night. Lights should be fitted to both the front and rear of the bike at night, as these are a legal requirement. A helmet will not prevent an accident; however if fitted properly it may provide protection in the event of an accident. Clothing should be lightweight to avoid cyclists becoming overheated. Pants shouldn’t be loose-fitting or flared, as they can get caught in the chain whilst riding. If wearing a backpack, ensure the straps are tied up and can’t become tangled in the spokes of the wheels.
Walkers - again, clothing should be bright and fluorescent during
the day and reflective at night. Many drivers cannot see pedestrians until it is too late, especially at night and in poor weather conditions, so wearing the right clothing increases chances of being seen. Reflective clothing at night reflect the light back at the drivers so that they can see the pedestrian. Reflective materials are available such as self-adhesive strips, and stickers, which can easily be attached to clothing and other items.
Foreign & Commonwealth Families’ Coffee Morning The Army Families Federation (AFF) worldwide receive a high number of Foreign & Commonwealth (F&C) enquiries on a monthly basis; this is due to the complexity, and often uncertainty, surrounding Visa and immigration issues. In order to alleviate some worries that F&C families based in Cyprus were having, the AFF team ran a Foreign & Commonwealth (F&C) Coffee Morning, which was very well received by both the families and the Chain of Command alike. Having already identified that many Paderborn Station F&C families were not attending the same regular coffee mornings as the AFF Coordinators, the Regional Manager for AFF Germany, Katy Brookfield, wanted to use the same idea as a way of accessing those families, within our community, that her team do not see when they are out and about. On Thursday 10th March, in the Arndt Strasse Community Centre, the first F&C Coffee Morning was held and offered families a variety of information and one-to-one advice from representatives of AWS, LSU, HIVE and more. F&C specific questions, cases and issues could be asked at a valuable Q&A session from HQ BFG Subject Matter Expert for Foreign and Commonwealth Expert, Graham Macklin, and his colleague Rachel Wilson. On hand to offer assistance if required were representatives from Westfalen Garrison and Paderborn Station, including the Westfalen Garrison Commander, Colonel John Connelly. As F&C issues are highly specialised, the only person within the AFF organisation who is qualified to give advise, is the F&C Specialist, Katherine Houlston; who is based in the UK. Luckily modern day technology meant that the F&C Coffee Morning could be used as a platform to draw upon Katherine’s expertise, by offering her services on a one-to-one basis, via Skype. Six individuals used this fantastic opportunity, with one particular individual feeling like a weight had been lifted off her shoulders, having spoken to Katherine. The Skype link up has also helped Katherine Houlston to identify some common concerns from the families she spoke to, this information will now be used to ensure that the F&C pages on the AFF website are updated. The website is viewed as a very useful tool for families and Unit Welfare Offices, as many of the answers to questions and issues can be here. Katy Brookfield, AFF Regional Manager Germany, said, “We hope to run a similar event for Gütersloh and Bielefeld Stations in the near future. The AFF Coordinator based in Gütersloh is currently looking into suitable venues to ensure we have both internet connection and it is a family friendly environment.” Katy went on to express her gratitude to all those who came along to the event, and to all those who offered their expertise on the day. Katy finished off by saying, “By putting on these events, even if we help just one person then it has all been worth it.” You can find the F&C pages on the AFF website at the following: www.aff.org.uk
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Important Information for O’Girke Customers
NEED TO KNOW
On 1st March 2016 Paderborn Court opened the insolvency proceedings regarding the O. Girke company. Anyone who is owed money by that company must notify the administrator of the outstanding debts by 18 April 2016. Customers who have made direct payments to O.Girke should check with the holiday company or the insurance before 18 April 2016 that all payments which they made to O.Girke were in fact paid to the holiday company/insurer before the administrator was appointed. Any queries should be addressed to the administrator, via email info@ stange-westhoff.de or at the following address:
Stange Westhoff Rechtsanwälte Insolvenzverwalter Adenauerplatz 4 D-33602 Bielefeld
Aral Fuel Card Downtime Aral would like to inform you that due to scheduled technical maintenance, your Aral Fuel Card will not work for one hour between 0600hrs and midday on the following dates:
Sunday: 15.05.2016 Sunday: 11.09.2016 Sunday: 06.11.2016 Vauxhall UK would like to make owners of Vauxhall Zafira B 2005 to 2014 models aware of a condition which could affect your vehicle. Investigations have found evidence of improper repair of the blower motor resistor and its thermal fuse, which is designed to protect the blower motor system. This can lead to overheating of the heater systems electrical components and the potential for a fire. If you own or drive a Zafira B 2005 to 2014 model, please contact either of the two Opel Authorised Repairer Centres, which have been identified
and briefed to arrange for the remedial work to be carried out.
Opel Gütersloh - Knemeyer http://opel-knemeyer-guetersloh.de/ Opel Sennelager - Bauer Bickmeier http://www.opel-bauer-bickmeier-paderborn.de/unser_team.html
Aral cannot advise exactly what time the hour will commence on these dates. Normal service will resume from midday on the dates stated. BFG Personnel planning to use the Aral Fuel Card during these periods are encouraged to make alternative arrangements. If you must use your card during the technical update, then please ensure that you keep both receipts issued by the teller as Aral will not entertain a tax refund without them. For more information about how to claim a refund in the event of your Aral card not working, please visit http://bfgnet.de/advice/bfg-fuelcard.html
Lisa Horder
Paderborn Dependant Representative Seeking co-operation between employer and employees to increase efficiency and ensure the well-being of staff. Room 1.11 Headquarters Westfalen Garrison Antwerp Barracks | Sennelager | BFPO 16 Tel: (Civ) +49 (0) 172 212 3230 E-Mail – DII: BFG-HQ-G1-Pro-DAC Personal: lisa.horder100@mod.uk 12
SFA Handbook
NEED TO KNOW
The new Service Families Accommodation (SFA) Handbook has recently been distributed to SFA across the estates. The handbook provides occupants with all essential information on the Defence Infrastructure Organisation who are responsible for the housing estate in Germany and Babcock who are responsible for property maintenance and repairs. It also includes all the details that you will need in order to contact them. Other items in the Handbook include steps to reducing condensation, energy saving tips, snow and ice clearance, grounds maintenance and much more. Please ensure you have taken the take time to read through the Handbook.
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Services Welfare Officer Alanbrooke Bks: Yvonne Griffiths
Centre Contact Number (Civ) 05251 101 531 (Mil) 94879 3531
Services Welfare Officer Barker Bks: Rachel Hales
Centre Contact Number (Civ) 05251 101 229 (Mil) 94879 3229
Fun, adventure, life skills and friendship for all girls and women, aged 5 and up.
For 5 - 7 year old girls who, look, learn, love and laugh.
For 7 - 10 year old girls, who enjoy up to the minute activities.
Paderborn: Monday 1600 - 1700hrs
Paderborn: Monday 1730 - 1900hrs
Sennelager: Tuesday 1615 - 1715hrs
Sennelager: Tuesday 1730 - 1900hrs
The WRVS Centre is located above The Warrior Club.
The WRVS Centre is located in Building 16, above Monty’s Bar.
Normal Opening Hours: • Monday: 1400-2130 • Tuesday & Thursday: 1000-1400 • Wednesday: 1000-1800 • Friday: 1000-1400 • Sunday: 1800-2130
Normal Opening Hours: • Monday & Tuesday: 1000-1400 • Wednesday: 1000-1700 • Thursday: 1530-2130 • Friday: 1000-1400 • Sunday: 1600-2100
&
1800-2130
Please contact the WRVS Services Welfare Officer at your location to check times, as these could change at each location.
&
1830-2130
Please contact the WRVS Services Welfare Officer at your location to check times, as these could change at each location.
Services Welfare Officer
Services Welfare Officer(s)
Dempsey Bks: Evelyn Perry
Normandy Bks: Michelle Foldvary & Mindy Wood
Centre Contact Number (Civ) 05254 982 4240 (Mil) 94879 4240
Centre Contact Number (Civ) 05254 982 2617 (Mil) 94879 2617
Senior Section For young women aged 14 - 25, who can plan their own activities, or help with the other Girl Guiding Units.
For 10 - 14 year old girl who want to hang out in a girl only space.
Paderborn: Monday 1700 - 1830hrs Sennelager: Tuesday 1800 - 1930hrs
Adult Volunteers For women aged 18+, who may want to volunteer for even just a couple of hours.
Contact
To volunteer or register your daughter, go to: http://www.girlguiding.org.uk/ get_involved.aspx For more information in Paderborn Station, please email:
The WRVS Centre is located next to the NAAFI.
The WRVS Centre is located above the NAAFI.
Normal Opening Hours: • Monday & Wednesday: 1000-1730 • Tuesday & Thursday: 1000-1330 & • Friday: 1000-1300 • Sunday: 1600-1900
Normal Opening Hours: • Monday - Friday: 1000-2200 • Saturday: 1500 -2100 • Sunday: 1600-2200
1730-2130
Please contact the WRVS Services Welfare Officer at your location to check times, as these could change at each location.
Please contact the WRVS Services Welfare Officer at your location to check times, as these could change at each location.
girlguidingpaderborn@hotmail.co.uk
Have You Thought About Volunteering? Do I really have the skills you need? - You don’t have to be an adventurer like Bear Grylls to get involved with Scouting. Do you have first aid knowledge? Are you good with numbers? Handy in the kitchen? We all have useful skills and you can volunteer and help in many ways.
1st Paderborn & Sennelager Scout Group Do you have boys or girls who would like to become a Beaver, Cub or Scout? Meets are every Tuesday evening, during term time, at Bishopspark School For more information please contact the Scout Leader, Peter Nixon, on 02941 3182
For 6 - 8 years between 1800 - 1900hrs For 8 - 10½ years between 1830 - 1930hrs For 10½ - 14 years between 1830 - 2000hrs 14
What if I don’t have that much spare time? - Volunteering with us is easy, fun and flexible - how much time you give is completely up to you. Whether you help out once a fortnight, month or term or just at special events or camps, there is bound to be a role you can play, and no matter how you get involved, we’ll make sure you’re properly trained and supported. What will I get out of volunteering? - As well as gaining externally
recognised skills and having a brilliant time, Scouting also offers the chance to build on personal skills, like teamwork, confidence and leadership. A study found that over 90% of our volunteers believe that the skills and experiences they have gained through Scouting have been of relevance to their working or personal lives.
My child is Scouting - is there anything I could do to help? - The short answer is yes. Many of our helpers and leaders are parents of our youth members because they’ve seen firsthand how Scouting benefits young people and want to give something back. It’s also a chance to spend more time with your children and learn new skills. Speak to your child’s leader to discuss how you might become involved. Are there age restrictions on helping out? - As long as you’re over 18, you can help out as an adult volunteer in Scouting. There is no upper age limit for adult volunteers. If you are aged between 14-18, there is the option of becoming a young leader. If you’d like to get involved, please contact Peter Nixon on 02941 3182
Military Wives Choir Paderborn In the Spotlight with Sue Chard
What made you join the Paderborn Military Wives Choir? - I joined the choir as a way of meeting people and getting involved in the community. I love music and have wanted to try singing. Have you sung in another Military Wives Choirs, or any other choir, before? - I was a member of the Hohne Military Wives Choir and
joined for much the same reasons as given above. Moving to Paderborn area, having been a member of another choir, I knew I’d meet people with similar interests.
Do you read music? If so, do you find it helpful? If not, do you find it a hindrance? - I can read the basics of music and it does help to some degree. However it's not necessary to do so. Our musical director, Dave Reeves, helps us by singing the lines himself and uses a keyboard to play the notes. The choir members are very supportive and encouraging. We learn each part of a song separately before putting it all together. Were you made to feel welcome on your first night? - I was made to feel very welcome and enjoy coming every week. I must say too that the choir is very supportive of its members when difficulties arise. What do you think of the new Musical Director, Dave? - I think Dave is a really great MD! He’s so
passionate about music and his enthusiasm is catching.
What do you think he brings to the choir? - I remember the first rehearsal that I went to that he took!!
The choir sounded good before he came but he has given us added enthusiasm and confidence! His love for music and his knowledge of music shines through the performance and I feel we have learned such a lot since he has been MD. He has taught us the importance of diction and breathing and is teaching us how to sing! This has really improved the quality of the sound that we make together - I think!
Did you enjoy the recent Bundeswehr charity concert? - Yes, I very much enjoyed the Bundeswehr concert. It was our first concert with our new musical director and we wanted to make him proud of us. I think it was a great way of showing our support to English and German military charities and a great way to integrate with the local community. We were nervous to start with but were really pleased with how it went.
What did you enjoy most about it? - I personally feel that the choir achieved a lot that night at the concert. We were very well received by the audience and were overwhelmed when the Bundeswehr commander said that we were “Fantastic ambassadors for the 20th Armoured Brigade!” We were so proud of what we’ve achieved in such a short period of time. What do you enjoy most about the Military Wives Choir ? - I enjoy the singing and hearing the voices coming together - the harmonies we make are sounding great! It's great to see how the songs come together from the start of learning a new piece until we know it. I enjoy the social side of the choir too as well as the mutual support that exists between everyone. What would you say to anyone thinking about joining the Paderborn Military Wives Choir, but are not 100% sure?
I would say please come along and give it a try!! You don't have to read music. It's a lot of fun and the sense of achievement is great. It's a good opportunity for a military wife to have some 'me time' in an environment where everyone has a good understanding of what military life is all about. At the rehearsal you will find a group of very supportive ladies too whose top priority is to have fun through singing. Anyone associated with the military here can join, including veterans and their families. The phrase “If you can shop at the NAAFI, then you can join the choir,” helps people understand the membership criteria easily. Once you join you will start to learn the songs that are sung by other MWChoirs all over the UK and overseas. So if you are posted elsewhere in the future, there are other military wives choirs where you will receive a welcome and will instantly have something in common and feel a sense of belonging. We really are,
“Stronger Together.”
Are you new to the Garrison, or been here a while and fancy trying something new? A warm welcome awaits you at the Military Wives Choir, come along to any rehearsal. No auditions, just a fun environment where women can mix and socialise together through singing. You don’t have to be ‘Military Wife’ to join, anyone affiliated to the military is welcome, “If you can shop at the NAAFI, you can join our Choir.” Whether that be as a single soldier, veteran or civil servant - you name it, you are welcome. With an exciting Summer ahead of us, Paderborn Military Wives Choir would like to invite you to come along to one of our rehearsals.
Where: Löseke Community Centre, Sennelager When: Every Monday @ 1845hrs (during term time)
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Crossword Nr 28 April/May 2016 4
5 8
6
6
7
Sudoku
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9
1 4 11
11
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3
12
17
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19 21 22
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2 4 8
3 6
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4 1 5 8
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6 5 9
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30 31
7 6 3 1 7
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Notes:
1. Agree it was thus dispatched (6) 2. Could score but no return to team (6) 3. Disposition of wildlife (6) 4. It doesn’t matter if you take time to listen to cow (4) 5. I get out of lavatory for hire (2,3) 6. Clown presents joke to Queen (6) 7. Flag flown and darts thrown (8) 11. Completes by removing the middle! (4) 12. Sick feeling caused by energy in sauna at sea (6) 14. Swerve to avoid eternal change (4) 15. Hold back engineers, sailor and head of department (6) 17. Give thanks to Irish father for information (4) 18. Careless work when it carries to the fielders (8) 20. Assert it is normal to lose time (4) 22. Clingy individual let devil inside (6) 24. Sid returns to give weapons then take them away (6) 25. Cultivate tease back and place before lair (6) 26. Possible when led astray to find the light (6) 28. Sample disorganised state (5) 30. Part of Britain? I’ll say! (4)
Scrabble Dabble
C
E
N D E
S
T
How many words of 3 letters or more can you make using the Scrabble letters above. There is at least one seven letter word. Target: Fair 5, Good 10, Excellent 15 words.
0700 0800 0900 1000 1100 City Hall Greektown High Park Little Italy Yorkeville Sal has a small Toronto-based company that offers Segway tours around the city. Help him sort out today’s schedule by matching each of his tour guides to their start time and location. Clues 1. Of Emily’s outing and the trip starting at Little Italy, one will be at 1100 and the other will be at 0900. 2. Of the trip starting at City Hall and the trip starting at Greektown, one is with Peter and the other will be at 1000. 3. Peter’s outing will begin 1 hour after the tour starting at High Park. 4. Emily’s tour is either the tour starting at City Hall or the 1100 tour. 5. The 0800 trip won’t start at City Hall. 6. Janice’s outing will be at 0700. 7. Latoya’s tour will start at Little Italy.
Answers available via email: punchlines.magazine@gmail.com 16
City Hall
Peter
Latoya
Janice
Down
Emily
Chester
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1. Opinion delivered with feeling? There is a time and a place! (11) 8. Six balls before tea? It’s obvious (5) 9. Incredible feeling a love begun (11) 10. Require pole down river (4) 11. Tied new arrangement of yellow flower (7) 13. In original sin Eve remained for no reason (5) 16. European monetary union gets the bird (3) 18. Can’t be trusted so put cess in order (7) 19. Child cared for by the ocean? (7) 21. Not completely eager to get older (3) 23. Saying spot how old I am (5) 27. Decorated Edward after suffering (7) 29. Region found in Far East (4) 31. A unit marching under 7d? It’s not very good (11) 32. Spanish exclaim at good book finding it scented (5) 33. Enter exam it could signal destruction (11)
3 9 5 9 1
Logic Problem
32
Across
7
Yorkeville
10
5
Little Italy
3
High Park
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Greektown
1
Army Library and Information Service Sennelager Library: 05254 662 0630 World Book Day - 3rd March
International Women’s Day - 8th March
World Book Day is an annual event to celebrate authors, illustrators and our favourite books. Sennelager Library hosted a free party to celebrate! Children listened and took part in an interactive story time and went on to create some wonderful caterpillars on our craft table. Older children had a go at our tricky book puzzles and our book quiz, earning themselves a well deserved piece of cake! As an extra treat, children who took books out were allowed a lucky dip to win some surprises.
Sennelager library celebrated ‘International Women’s Day’ on 8th March. This is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity.
School Visits We were very lucky to have children from William Wordsworth and Robert Browning schools pay Sennelager Library a visit. It was lovely to see the children learning about the library, choosing books and reading aloud with their friends. Barker Library is looking forward to meeting the FS2 children from Bishopspark School later this month. They too will be learning about what we do at the library as part of their ‘World Book Week’.
Sennelager and Barker libraries have many books available to borrow on inspirational women. If there is a female that has inspired you or someone you would like to know more about, let us know and we will try and source this for you if we don’t have it on our shelves.
Barker Barracks Library Easter Activities Monday 4th - Friday 8th April
What Can My Library Do For Me? Sennelager and Barker Libraries offer a free borrowing service for military, dependent, UKBC and veterans. We offer a vast variety of adult and children’s fiction, non-fiction, language courses, education material, audio books and much more. If we don’t have what you are looking, we can usually obtain for you through our request service which is also free. We also have computers offering free internet access and printing. If you aren’t already a member, why not join? We look forward to meeting you soon!
Watch This Space! The Book Bingo winners will be revealed in the next edition...
Easter Egg raffle
One raffle ticket for every book you borrow this week Join us for Easter games and activities
& The Summer Reading Challenge details are being finalised, it’s set to be an exciting Summer...
ARMY LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SERVICE PADERBORN LIBRARY TEL: 05251 101 128
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The Royal British Legion Paderborn Branch 30 Years In The Making
The Paderborn Branch was formed, in 1986, in the old “Superintendents’ Mess” of Crocker Barracks. Jim Griffiths called a meeting to discuss the possibility of forming a Royal British Legion (RBL) branch; a total of twenty-eight ex-servicemen attended the meeting and agreed, by vote, that a branch was to be formed. At that time, the branch was known as The Royal British Legion Sennelager Branch, which was later changed to the Paderborn Branch. A committee was formed with Jim Griffiths MBE elected as Chairman; he carried the position for twenty-eight years until his retirement from it on 20th October 2013. The position of Chairman was then handed over to the very capable hands of Robert Millar. To commemorate thirty years of the Branch, Vice President / Poppy Appeal Organiser Jim Griffiths MBE expressed his gratitude for all the efforts that have been provided over the years, “I would just like to thank the many people who have assisted us over the years, and helping raise the approximate sum total of €800,000 for The Royal British Legion’s ‘Poppy Appeal’. We hope this will continue to endeavour. We would like to ask for your support this year especially, as it’s our 30th Anniversary; by taking part in events that are organised, or even organising your own event, in aid of ‘The Poppy Appeal’. We are aiming to raise an anniversary total of €50,000. The easiest way to support is by donating, even just a small amount, to the charity when you see collection buckets around the Station. If you wish to organise an event in aid of ‘The Poppy Appeal’, then please do so but please ensure you are fully insured. This also applies to those who wish to take part in an event.” The Branch, at present, is located on Dempsey Barracks, Sennelager, where it has been for the last eighteen years. If you wish to join the Branch and become a member of the Legion, visit “The Poppy Inn” on a Wednesday evening from 1900hrs, unless stated otherwise, and speak to the Branch Chairman, Robert Millar.
Fun Run 2015 Every year, The Poppy Appeal Fun Run takes place and 2015 was no exception. Fun runs were organised and took place throughout British Forces Germany (BFG) raising over €4,000, without the usual support of Hohne, Fallingbostel and Herford. A big ‘Well Done’ to all those who took part, the results from the 2015 fun run were: First - 1 PWRR, Paderborn (Total raised: €1,165) Second - King’s School, Gütersloh (Total raised: €802) Third - William Wordsworth & Robert Browning Schools (Total raised: €790)
Poppy Appeal Fun Run in Dortmund, 1988
This helped the Paderborn Branch to raise an annual total of €33,000, which went to the ‘Poppy Appeal / Welfare’ funds. Jim Griffiths MBE, Vice President / Poppy Appeal Organiser, said, “Thank you for all of the support, once again, over the past year and we look forward to your continued support throughout 2016.”
The Royal British Legion Paderborn Branch e.V (V.R.2077. BR 3440)
Car Boot Sale/Flohmarkt Dempsey Barracks, Husarenstr, Sennelager Sunday 24 April 2016. From 11:00 – 16:00
Visitors will not be allowed entry until 10:45 Tea & Coffee + Bar Facilities Fish & Chips + Other Attractions English Breakfast, 11:00 – 13:30 All car booters are welcome also Commercial Stalls. Pitches 5 metres wide €10 donation. Commercial stall; size and donation negotiable on booking.
Tables available for €5 donation includes a €2.50 refundable deposit on return of your table
Book now to avoid disappointment
Book now by telephoning Jim Griffiths MBE on 05254 4208 (Leave your number on the answer machine if no answer)
Deutsche Gäste sind Herzlich willkommen.
Kein Eintrit bis 10:45 Uhr We are open to the public
All visitors are welcome, come along and help us to help others who are not so fortunate.
LIVE ON
to the memory of the fallen and the future of the living.
SERVICE NOT SELF
UK Registered Charity No 219279. Germany V:R: Nr. 4077 www.britishlegion-paderborn.com
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To Fiji With Love Tropical Cyclone Winston is the most devastating storm to ever be recorded in the Southern Hemisphere; sadly it reached the beautiful island of Fiji, where a large number of our community in BFG originate from. On Friday 19th February, Cyclone Winston hit with gusts of 325 km/h and waves over 12 meters high, leaving a wake of devastation. It destroyed over 18000 homes and buildings - leaving tens of thousand homeless, it has left many cut off from utilities, telecommunications and much needed medical services, as well as sadly taking lives. Approximately 40% of the Fijian population has been affected, with thousands now living in over 875 temporary evacuation centres, or with other families. The total cost for the damages is expected to be in excess of $470 million. In the aftermath of such devastation and destruction, it takes the support of a whole global community to begin to rebuild this beautiful island. Cyclone Winston has personally affected some of the BFG Fijian community, in some form or another. For many here in Germany it is the uncertainty, and the inability to be physically present at a time of familial need. It currently takes an average of two weeks to get in contact with families due to loss of electricity and infrastructure. SSgt Akuila Dresa, 1 Regt RLC explained, “To listen to the stories of family members who have lost everything they have saved and worked for over a lifetime is quite emotional. It is our responsibility to help them begin again.” So what does the community of British Forces in Germany do? We rally together, to support our fellow comrades and friends, during their attempts to help their loved ones in this time of crisis. With donation drives and charity events taking place all across Westfalen Garrison, everyone got involved to help begin the reconstruction of Fiji. In Bielefeld Station three members of the Fijian community have sadly been directly affected in the wake of Cyclone Winston, by the loss of family members and homes. The Station rallied together to raise money by holding a car wash event, featuring Fijian food and music, where they raised a whooping €2,339. Cycling enthusiasts, led by Keith Fish, raised funds by spinning the distance from Bielefeld to Fiji, in one very long group session on Saturday 12th March. The following weekend, in conjunction with the Royal British Legion (RBL), a table top sale and luncheon was held at the RBL Phoenix Bar, which raised €1300 for the appeal. Antea Nauesu, one of the event organisers, said, “We are greatly appreciative of the Bielefeld Station community for how they have come together to support us, we are truly humbled by it.” In Gütersloh Station, money was raised through bake sales, grocery bagging, coffee mornings and holding donation buckets at the front gates of PRB and Mansergh Barracks, despite the freezing temperatures, strong winds and rain.“Being a Fijian and looking at what my country is going through, the first question that popped up is ‘what can I do to help rebuild?’ Over the last couple weeks the co-operation and mutual support shown, not only by the Fijian community but also by the Garrison as a whole, is amazing. I am utterly proud to see that the community have really shown such a tremendous amount of support,” said SSgt Akuila Dresa. He went on to explain that the funds raised by Westfalen Garrison will be donated to the Fijian Red Cross, and will be presented in the form of a cheque, to the Red Cross by Retired Major Hall, the British Army Liaison Officer.
In Paderborn Station events such as curry lunches, auctions and coffee mornings took place amongst the Regiments, as well as a cake sale that was held at Bishopspark School. “Following the awful events in Fiji, we wanted to do our bit to get involved in the relief effort,” explained Sharon Birch. Parents, staff and pupils, who baked dozens of cakes and muffins, supported the cake sale, which took place on Wednesday 2nd March. The School was inundated with visitors and in total they raised over €500. St Peter’s Church kindly transferred money directly to the Fiji Winston Appeal account and a variety of buckets raised money across the Station. The old 41 Army Education Centre (AEC) on Alanbrooke Barracks was utilised as one of a few collection points for clothing, bedding, shoes, books, toys and household item to name but a few. Mrs Maria Vatunilagi from Paderborn Station, is coordinating the finances for the Fiji Winston Appeal, she explained that the money raised was being split in two ways. One was to pay for the 40ft ISO container to send relief to Fiji, this was costing €4750, the rest will be donated to the British Embassy in Fiji. Maria is in communication with the Fijian Government in order to ensure that the donations being sent were going to be exempt from Fijian Tax. She said, “I would like to thank the BFG community for the kind donations and the help we have received during this difficult time our beloved country is facing.” Finally on Friday 18th March, the first ISO container bound for Fiji, was delivered to the 44 HQ & Spt Sqn, 35 Engr Regt. Through the cold and wet weather, the Fijian community came together to load box upon box of donations, reaching over 130 boxes. During the loading, Maria Vatunilagi said, “I feel emotional because everyone has come together for our community. The British Forces have whole-heartedly given so generously, without question. I am overwhelmed.” SSgt Akuila Dresa. 1 Regt RLC, CSgt Turagavou, 1PWRR and Sgt Yaravoli, 35 Engr Regt were just a few of the key personalities who were instrumental in the organisation of the first 40ft ISO container to leave BFG on Monday 21st March. Loading the boxes on to the container, Sgt Yaravoli said, “This makes me feel so happy, however when the stuff arrives home it will be even better as it will put smiles on their faces.” Finally Sgt Yaravoli said, “We are only here to organise (the relief effort). It was the generosity of the BFG community that made this happen. From the Brigadier to the youngest child who donated, I’d like to say a massive thank you for your kind heartedness.” The first ISO container of donations from the British Forces in Gernany is due to arrive in Fiji on Friday 20th May.
No Rest for Charity Football Tournament On Wednesday 2nd March, major Units within Paderborn Station came together; to not only strengthen relationships, but to raise money for charity during a 5-a-side football tournament. The event, which ran all day and utilised the gymnasium and astro-turf pitch on Barker Barracks, was organised by Sapper Ncube of 44 Headquarter & Support Squadron, 35 Engineer Regiment to raise money for the Restless Development charity and the International Citizen Service (ICS) programmes.
Restless Development is a global youth-led development agency, whose mission is to place young people at the forefront of change and development. Too many young people do not have access to the services, education and support that they need, so Restless Development train and support young volunteer development professionals to help spread knowledge, develop skills and address priority issues within their communities. The agency also work to get governments and policy-makers committed to creating an environment that recognises and supports the active role of young people in society at all levels. You can find out more information, or donate, by going on to: www.restlessdevelopment.org
Brecon Nurse Helps Rebuild Nepalese Communities An Army nursing officer from Brecon has helped to rebuild remote Nepalese communities after the devastating earthquake that hit the country in April 2015. Major Lynda Ricketts has been in Nepal with 70 Gurkha Field Squadron, 36 Engineer Regiment on Op MARMAT 2 - which means 'rebuild' in Nepali. Living in tents pitched in the foothills of the Himalayas, the troops have built schools, community centres and houses in the villages of serving Gurkhas, their families and veterans. Major Ricketts, 41, said: “It’s been very rewarding to come to Nepal and support the Gurkhas as they help rebuild their own country. I’ve been in the Army for 20 years and deployed on combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, so a humanitarian mission like this has been a different and interesting challenge.” Major Ricketts is a senior nursing officer with Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps and is based in Sennelager with British Forces Germany Health Services. The former Gwernyfed High School pupil said: “My role is to look after the overall health of the troops and provide medical treatment. We’re leaving in pretty austere conditions but the guys have been really robust and safety-conscious while they’re working, which has meant I’ve only had minor ailments to treat.” 70 Gurkha Field Squadron deployed to Nepal from October 2015 to February 2016, with 69 Gurkha Field Squadron taking over from them.
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WW1 Soldier Social Media Project In Print First there was an idea - What if social media had existed in 1914? What would a young soldier in the Territorial Force post on Facebook and Twitter? How would his friends and family interact with him? And an objective - To paint a wholly realistic picture of the First World War, both at the front and at home, which would engage all ages, but particularly younger people. Then it became reality - Walter Carter’s first post was in early March 1914 (2014). He was a porter at Clapham Junction during the day and a soldier at night, attending the Drill Hall in Battersea near where he lived. He was also courting his girlfriend Lily. This unique not-for-profit project tells the story of Walter and covers the entire War, providing not only his own experiences but, importantly, those of his family and girlfriend back in England. Whilst the characters are fictitious, the story is entirely based on fact and is continuously checked by military historians both for accuracy and authenticity. There are currently over 17,000 people following Walter on Facebook. And now it is a book - WW1 Soldier’s Tale Part One is an adaptation of the social media project and contains all the posts and comments from the cast of characters from March 1914 to June 1915, together with the photographs, maps and newspaper cuttings that bring the story to life. Follow Walter as he leaves his job and goes to join his Territorial Force Battalion before leaving for the horrors of the front line. What impact will this have on Lily? Will his sister Rose survive as a nurse on the ambulance train in France? Discover what happens to his elder brother who was one of the first to arrive at the Front, not to mention his other brother who doesn’t want to fight. And how will Ma cope as more of her family are joining the war? Available now on Amazon as a paperback and Kindle Book, WW1 Soldier’s Tale makes the events of the early part of the war come to life through an engaging cast of characters. The book is ideal both as an introduction to the War and for providing personal accounts of the events of that time for those already familiar with the military and social history. Order your copy here: Book - http://goo.gl/f4loyI Kindle - http://goo.gl/OenQrR Any profits raised from the sales of the book will help to fund the future research and writing necessary to enable Walter’s story to continue to be told through to the end of the War and possibly beyond.
www.WW1SoldiersTale.co.uk
Paderborn Anglo-German Club After fifteen years as the Secretary and twenty-one years as the Chairman of the Paderborn Anglo-German Club, Frau Heidi Johnstone and Herr Heinz Köhler respectively, retired from their roles. At the most recent Annual General Meeting, a new Chair Lady, Mrs Angie Reeh (a senior Civil Servant with the County of Paderborn) and a new Secretary, Herr Tobias Ibers, were elected. There was also a new Committee member, Herr Volker Greavers, who is the son of Herr John Greaves, Treasurer.
L-R: John Reid, Volker Greaves, Alan Patterson, John Greaves, Angie Reeh, Heinz Köhler, Heidi Johnstone, Tobias Ibers and Silke Robinson
The Committee, at least, is a little bit younger and from this the Club will benefit, as it benefits already, from new ideas and events, which are hopefully of interest to a wider range of people, perhaps even in the British community.
Forecast of Events Thursday 14th April 2016 - Visit to the SCP Sports and Training Centre at Almepark-North in Paderborn followed by dinner in the restaurant ‘Bergschnieder’ Wednesday 4th May 2016 - International event in the Historic Town Hall of Paderborn, with various Clubs presenting themselves and the traditional fare of the countries Saturday 4th June 2016 - SSAFA’s Summer Fete in Normandy Barracks Tuesday 26th July 2016 - Tradtional stroll across LIBORI, which starts from the garden of the Konrad-Martin-House in Paderborn Friday 9th September 2016 - Having ‘a go’ at Golf on the Haxterhöhe Golf Course in Paderborn followed by a Club evening and dinner at the Haxterpark restaurant Monday 10th October 2016 - Visit to Peter’s Glass Painting Enterprises Thursday 10th November 2016 - St Martin’s Goose Dinner in ‘Gasthaus Spieker’ in Hövel-Riege Thursday 8th December 2016 - Anglo-German Christmas Carol Service in Paderborn Cathedral Tuesday 10th January 2017 - New Yea’rs Reception, Hotel AROSA Tuesday 7th February 2017 - Annual General Meeting, Hotel AROSA
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DO YOU HAVE A LEGAL PROBLEM? If you are a serving member of the British Forces based in Germany, a dependant, UKBC, a member of NAAFI staff or subject to Service law or discipline then we can help you. We have a team of qualified solicitors ready to provide you with legal advice, assistance and representation. Our services are absolutely free of charge from start to finish. We specialise in criminal defence work and will represent you during interviews with the RMP / SIB and at Court Martial hearings. If you are pleading guilty at the Court Martial or dispute a matter which is going to trial then we can provide an advocate to represent you at no cost. We can also assist with advice relating to AGAI action, divorce and separation, Summary Hearings, certifying documents and Service Complaints. If you require assistance or would like any further information, please contact RAF Legal Services today on: Telephone: (Mil) 94879 4847 (Civilian) 0049 (0) 5254 982 4847 E-mail: WestfalenGar-RAFLegal-NG-GpMail@mod.uk RAF Legal Services (Northern Germany) Building 150, Normandy Barracks, Sennelager, BFPO 16
Career Transition Partnership (CTP) Joint Service Housing Advice Office
Future Dates for Upcoming Events 2016 Networking Workshop Tuesday 21 June Resettlement Centre Normandy Barracks Sennelager -Find out how to network to enable you to get the job you want
For further information, availability or to book, please contact: RC Germany Civ: 05254 982 5448 Mil: 94879 5448 Email: rcgermany@ctp.org.uk
CTP Employment Fairs Scotland, Perth – Thursday 28 April
East Midlands, Lincoln – Thursday 19 May
Don’t miss out on the chance to meet local and national employers with both current and future job vacancies – book your place today
For further information, availability or to book, please contact: RC Germany Civ: 05254 982 5448 Mil: 94879 5448 Email: rcgermany@ctp.org.uk
German CV Writing Workshop
Self Employment Awareness Workshop
Monday 6 June Resettlement Centre Normandy Barracks Sennelager
Thursday 15 Sept Resettlement Centre Normandy Barracks Sennelager
*An English CV draft and some knowledge of the German language is required*
For further information, availability or to book, please contact: RC Germany Civ: 05254 982 5448 Mil: 94879 5448 Email: rcgermany@ctp.org.uk
Civilian Housing Brief
Date 06 Sept 16
Time 0930 -1230
•
.
Events are open to all Service Leavers who are registered with CTP
Venue
AWS Conference Room, Normandy Barracks
Understanding why YOU need to make housing plans •
-Assess if starting a business is the right choice -Delivered in association with X-Forces
For further information, availability or to book, please contact: RC Germany Civ: 05254 982 5448 Mil: 94879 5448 Email: rcgermany@ctp.org.uk
Location Sennelager
The housing options and information about: o House Purchase o Affordable Home Ownership Schemes o Private Rent o Social Housing, including: § Local Authority Housing § Housing Associations and Placement Services o Homelessness MoD and Government Incentives o Forces Help To Buy & Tranche 4 o Government Help To Buy o Affordable Home Ownership Schemes
•
The MoD Referral Scheme
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Support for Single Leavers and Service Veterans
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Independent Financial Advice
Housing Briefs are designed primarily for Service Personnel and their dependants who intend to settle in the UK, and open to everyone at any point in their career. Attendance at this course does not count against Resettlement Entitlement.
Book via CTP at the Resettlement Centre, Mil 948 79 5448 Or email rcgermany@ctp.org.uk
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SSAFA’s Great British Summer Fete Something for Everyone Whether you are are looking for an afternoon of lazing in the June sun watching the various competitions and displays in the main arena or looking for a special gift or even feeling competitive - there is something for everyone at the Great British Summer Fete. Human Hungry Hippos, Beer Crate Tower competition, tea tent, Pimms tent, food galore it’s all going to be on Normandy Barracks on Saturday 4th June.
Stallholders Currently we are looking for stall holders who would like to either sell some of their own handmade or imported products (make sure you are fully registered) or it may even be a stand to advertise your business. Whatever it is we are happy to chat through your requirements. Get in touch with Molly, as seen on the poster, and then you will be set for your pitch around the arena.
Evening Entertainment It is not all about the day time either. In the evening we have the Military Wives Choir launching the evening in style before the band ‘29 Fingers’ prepares to entertain you through till 11pm. Food and drink will be available throughout the evening so that you can enjoy the music, the company of friends and a fun night.
Entry Look out for the wristbands that will soon be on sale across the Garrison. A €2 wristband will get you not only entry into the event but also to the amazing raffle. Prizes will depend on how many wristbands you buy but we are looking at BIG prizes such as iPADS, TVs and so much more. With 5 different wristbands to buy then your chances of winning are hugely increased - but why stop at 5? Children are unable to enter the raffle but they will still need a wristband to gain entry; underschool age children are free. If you are not sure then you can buy a wristbands on the day at €5 per band - so don’t miss your chance to get one early.
SSAFA Paderborn This Fete has been organised by the SSAFA Paderborn Committee as a thank you for your continued support. Through your generous donations over the last year they have been able to support families who have found themselves in the most appalling of unexpected circumstances; to help established charities, such as Homestart, provide greatly reduced events during the holidays and are willing to support those veterans who also need help under their national remit: a lifetime of support as The Armed Forces Charity. To see more about if SSAFA could help you or someone you know visit their webpage: www.ssafa.org.uk
You can follow the progress of the SSAFA Paderborn Great British Summer Fete on their web page: www.bfgnet.de/news/bfg-news/great-british-summer-fete-2016.html
Spotlight On Our Community Jordan Forrest Tell us about yourself. I am Jordan Forrest; I am 17 years old and live in Paderborn. My dad was in the Army as part of 15 Signals Regiment, until 2015. I have lived in Germany my whole life. I am currently an athlete within the German sports club known as LC Paderborn, my current athletic professions are 100m Sprint and 110m Hurdles; however when it comes to a work placement, I am extremely interested in Information & Communication Technology (ICT).
What are you studying at school? I am studying my A-Levels to get achieve an BTEC National Diploma’s in Business and ICT, at King’s School in Gütersloh, whilst doing a Level 2 NVQ in Business Administration at King’s Vocational Hub.
Where is your placement for your NVQ in Business Administration? The HIVE, in the Paderborn Community Hub, every Wednesday and Thursday.
When did you start your HIVE placement? I started my placement in January this year, and it will last until July.
What type of things have you done so far on your placement? Basically, I have been dealing with customer enquiries; both face-to-face and via the telephone. I have been filling up the stands in the HIVE, blogging, photocopying, creating information notice boards as well as updating the HIVE database with local business information. I have also been out with Stef around the Sennelager area filling up information stands.
What plans does the HIVE have for you throughout the remainder of your placement? I will be starting a Young Person’s Guide to BFG, which will be about places to go in the local area that are more appealing to teenagers. It will also include clubs, groups, sports or cool places to hang out; as well as useful information about learning to drive in BFG, getting around and exploring nearby cities, and not forgetting the important support agencies available to young people here.
Are you enjoying your placement? Yes, and I have settled in quite well. Although, it is taking some getting used to how much cake the ladies in the office bring in.
What do you hope to get out of your placement with the HIVE? Firstly, my qualification as well as experience within the work place. It would also help with my CV. Already in the first month my confidence has grown massively and I hope to build on this througout the rest of my placement.
Does you feel it is beneficial for students to take part in placements like these? Yes, as it would give the younger students the experience within the work place, and it would also provide them with a good idea of what job they could end up in, and whether or not they like it, allowing them the chance to change their mind.
What is your favourite thing to do here in Paderborn? My favourite thing to do in Paderborn is go to the Ahorn Sports Park with my friends, as there are great opportunities for athletics and any type of sport.
If you were the Station Commander for a day, what would you change and why? I would make a smaller high school in Paderborn, to reduce the journey times to Gütersoh as currently my school travel time is usually about one hour. 28
John Buchan School Fundraising For Fiji On Friday 11th March, staff, pupils and parents took on the epic task of running, cycling and rowing the distance from John Buchan Schol to Fiji; this is a massive 16,103km. Starting with staff having a 7am Studio Cycling session, the distance was soon being covered as everyone took a turn on the rowers and static bikes, which were set up in the school gymnasium. Later in the day, parents were invited to join the staff and pupils in clocking up kilometres by running laps of the school field. Finally to ensure the target is met, the community as a whole were asked to accumulate kilometres over the weekend, which would be added to the total (distances had to be recorded on apps and proof given to the school). Much to the delight of all those involved on the day, it wasn’t all about the tiring exercise, as members of the Fijian community showed their appreciation by entertaining everyone with a show of Fijian song and dance. The Paderborn Military Wives Choir performed later in the afternoon, whilst a wide selection of tasty Fijian cuisine and homemade cakes could be enjoyed in the school hall. To round off the schools amazing contribution to the Fiji relief effort, a van was loaded up with all the generous donations of items such as books, bedding, toys and clothing, which was added to the first ISO container that left Paderborn on Monday 21st March.
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Bishopspark School Karneval Back in February, the students and staff at Bishopspark School enjoyed a fantastic morning of shenanigans to celebrate Karneval. The day started with a super assembly led by our language specialist, Mr McHale. With cries of ‘Palau!’ our children enjoyed dancing and singing along to tunes learned in German language classes at the school. They also picked up some facts about the Karneval tradition in Germany, while the Headteacher lost a good chunk of his tie, as is customary during this season. The highlight was the Karneval parade that passed out of the school gates, along to the NAAFI and then back into school. Dozens of parents lined the parade route, made merry and tossed sweets to the children who were quick to collect them up. Bishopspark School also had the honour to be invited to take part in a special local Karneval event in Paderborn. Our Y3 children donned their costumes for the second time in a week and braved the cold and rain to set out on to the streets of Paderborn to join a massive children’s parade. Musicians from PWRR provided some brilliant rhythmic stylings for our children to dance and march along with. We were also pleased to be invited to ride on a float a particular privilege. Our children were fantastic ambassadors for the school and the BFG community so woulda huge thanks them for this. Gratitude must also go to Mrs Robinson, Miss Stephens, Mrs Fish, Mrs Sill, Mrs Battiscombe and Mrs Bruce for guiding and supporting our children while we were out and about. Many thanks also Alan Patterson – the Paderborn Station Liaison Officer – for facilitating the visit. It is hoped this will take place again next year, perhaps with even more of our children.
Easter It was great to see so many Reception (FS1 & FS2) parents join us both the Spring Assembly and the Easter Bonnet parade. The assembly showcased our children’s singing talents while the bonnet competition showed off the super craft skills of children, and of course, parents! Every single child sported a fantastic hat and wore a smile and their behaviour was brilliant, as usual. Easter chocolates were given to all children for taking part. It was almost impossible to choose between the entries, but – as is traditional – prizes were awarded for the top 3 hats in FS1 and FS2. In FS1, Ellie-May, Jackson and Harley took 1st, 2nd and 3rd place while in FS2, Max, Lucas and Peci won 1st, 2nd and 3rd. Well done to all of our children and thank you to our parents for supporting both events. Meanwhile on Wednesday, children KS1 and KS2 took part in a cracking (!) competition. Decorated eggs and some ‘egg-cellent’ Easter creations were assembled and presented for judging. There were so many brilliant entries – and so varied – that it was hard to pick the best of the bunch. In the end, the winning creations came from Lexi, Jay and Max (Y1), Mayog, Daisy and Joshua (Y2), Evie, Sneha and Semi (Y3) and Bethany, Jack and Laili (Y4). Well done to them and to everyone who created something special to share with the rest of the school.
Sport Relief Children from Nursery to Year 4 enjoyed a super selection of Sport Relief-themedactivities, from a well-stocked cake sale (thanks, parents!) to – literally – hundreds of miles of running races. For example, our youngest (FS1) children ran 155 laps (equivalent to 25 miles) in the wet and the cold but really enjoyed themselves nonetheless. All of the children and staff took part and whopping €1034 was raised for Sport Relief! “Well Done & Thank You”
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King’s Musical Madness by Charlotte Roberts (Yr 13) With another year comes another musical, and this year King’s School took to the stage to perform ‘Our House’; a musical filled with the Madness songs that so many people grew up with. The students put on a brilliant performance with their impressive singing, dancing, and acting, which really helped bring Casey Street and all the characters there to life. With this year’s show came a lot of new faces; there were multiple cast members for whom ‘Our House’ was their very first experience performing onstage.
There were also cast members for whom this would be their last performance at King’s School, and there is no question that ‘Our House’ was a brilliant send off for all of those leaving. Being on the stage in front of an audience is such a special moment for performers, and what made ‘Our House’ so unforgettable for the entire cast were the memories and the friendships created - as the saying goes, your cast members become a second family. As always, the lighting, music, dancing, and acting was great, and the show would not have happened without all the help and dedication that went on behind the scenes to bring the show together, including all those who gave their time to help with the costumes, the set, and backstage on the performances. There is no doubt that King’s school hall was definitely the ‘House of Fun’, and on behalf of all involved we want to say a huge thank you to all who came and we hope you enjoyed the show!
Service Children’s Education Local Dependant Supply Pool Teacher Westfalen Garrison MS/UPS
April - July 2016
SCE seeks to establish a pool of teachers to be available for local supply work in SCE Schools across Westfalen Garrison. The pool exists to provide cover as and when the need arises for such occurrences as ad-hoc daily cover and Fixed Term Appointments (FTAs) to cover long-term sickness and maternity leave.
Open to all King's School Pupils Get your booking form from the
ARMY WELFARE SERVICE
Info Shop (next to the Careers Office) in King's School Gloucester School.
If you are a local dependant and a qualified teacher you are eligible to apply. Salary values for teaching posts mirror those in the England and Wales Teachers Pay and Conditions Document. Superannuation is in accordance with the Teachers’ Pension Scheme. These posts require an Enhanced Disclosure from the DBS. Service Children’s Education is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to share in this commitment.
If you are interested, please drop into a school near you and request an application pack. References - For clearances purposes SCE require a minimum of 3 references, these must include your most recent employment working with children.
DATE 30th April 28th May 2nd July
VENUE BOOKING DEADLINE Shopping and lunch in Hannover Thursday 21st April Laser Game, Bielefeld Thursday 19th May Saturday evening meal at Yellow River Chinese Thursday 23rd June Buffet in Paderborn Opportunities to socialise with friends from across the Garrison, outside of school, are limited. Please make the most of these events whilst they are on offer!!
Forms, together with payment in full, should be returned as soon as possible to the INFO SHOP, as numbers are limited. First come – first served!!
Paderborn United Visit Taunton School Over the period 17-20 February two teams from Paderborn United, along with 3 coaches and 3 managers visited their sponsors Taunton School to undertake some pre mid-season training with Arsenal Soccer Schools. After an early start from Paderborn to Dusseldorf the teams arrived at Heathrow and made their way across London in the Taunton School bus to the Emirates Stadium, home of Arsenal Football Club. A stadium tour gave a great insight into the world of the professional player with visits to the changing rooms, trophy areas, press room and seating in the best seat in the ground the Governors Chair. Ending with a short visit to the club shop the teams made their way down to Taunton School in Somerset. Upon arrival at the school several jaws dropped and one young person asked ‘does nearly Headless Nick live here’ as the magnificent school was illuminated in all of its glory against the darkness of the evening. After a hearty meal and being shown to the dorms, team members were able to enjoy the school boarders’ facilities, including the pool table, table tennis, swimming pool as well as numerous games before settling for the night. wIn the morning there was a tour of the Preparatory School ahead of a morning of football in the Arsenal Soccer Schools Festival, during which both teams played three 20 minute games of football in their respective age groups. Although all players demonstrated total commitment during the competition, the might of the opposition was evident. Both teams drew one game but lost the other two to very well drilled teams. Following a shower and change into clean clothes the teams were again spoiled by excellent lunches. A visit to Wookey Hole, the homes for humans for around 45,000 years was next on the agenda. Here the players and adults alike learned about the history and Witch myths of the tunnels and caverns. A very good and thoroughly knowledgeable tour guide ensured we all remained mesmerised until the fabulous 4D cinema experience. Back at the school and the players were hungry for more football so, after the evening meal, they headed down to the sports hall for a good session of 5-a-side football before finally heading back to the common room to watch DVDs and enjoy some downtime. Day three started with a tour of the Senior School and boarding houses as well as classrooms and was followed by an excellent session of football training by Arsenal coaches. Despite the wet and cold weather happy smiling faces enjoyed the experience and took forward their lesson into the next game. After lunch, there was a visit to the Vivary Park High-Ropes where some of the players were taken out of their comfort zones. An ‘off the ground’ diverse range of challenges and activities created an exhilarating, adrenalin charged experience for all to enjoy, some from the ground! Back at the school there was the opportunity to relax muscles in the swimming pool before dinner. This was again followed by another session of indoor football before again chilling session with DVDs. The final day was match day with the younger team taking on the Arsenal Soccer Schools team and the older team facing opposition from the Taunton School senior team. Both teams fought hard and played some very good football, scoring several goals, but they were overcome by stronger opposition with the younger team losing 4-1 and the older ones losing 5-4. Phoebe Draper from the U12s team received the Man of the Match Medal from Arsenal Soccer School’s Coach, Liam Carey, following her excellent display on the pitch. At the end of the matches it was homeward bound for Paderborn United after a Club presentation to Taunton School’s Headmaster, Mr Lee Glaser, as a small token of thanks. From this trip 17 club members have taken with them lifelong memories and experiences. They have had the opportunity to train with professional coaches and squads as well as challenge themselves by undertaking other opportunities, such as caving and the high ropes. This would not have been possible without the support of others. Thanks go to the Paderborn Garrison Fund for their sponsorship, AWS Paderborn for providing the bus and Taunton School for providing a fun and memorable tour in a safe and wonderful environment. If you would like more information on football in Paderborn please email: paderbornunited@gmail.com Taunton School is co-educational, non-selective independent school set in a spacious 56-acre campus in Somerset. Forces families receiving CEA pay only 10% of boarding fees. For further information call: 01823 703303, email: registrar@tauntonschool.co.uk or visit: www.tauntonschool.co.uk
“Taunton School has provided me with stability - not only in my education but also with my friends.”
Proud supporters of Paderborn Junior FC
• Pay CEA + 10% of boarding fees • Co-educational, vibrant boarding community from 7-18 years old • Excellent sport programme and facilities, extensive co-curricular activities including CCF, Duke of Edinburgh, music and drama • Holiday flexibility when POTL and R&R arise • Transport service to and from school and airports • 56 acre campus in beautiful South West England, close to coast and countryside
For more information: 01823 703303 / registrar@tauntonschool.co.uk www.tauntonschool.co.uk/forces 33
Rugby Players Tackle Belgian National Side As the Six Nations Rugby Championships began the rugby players of BA(G) had their own international fixture to contend with with the visit of the Belgium National team. With the Belgium side ranked 29th in the world and having aspirations of one day of competing against the major rugby nations it was always going to be a testing opening fixture for the Army’s representative side and so it proved. Although the initial period of the game was even, a series of penalties awarded against the Army team saw the Belgians gradually gain the upper-hand and shortly after they scored their first try with two more following in quick succession. While, the Belgians remained dominant in the scrum and mauls the BA(G) team failed to capitulate and after a concerted period of pressure which saw some big hits and expansive play from the backs they managed to score a try of their own through Serjeant Mataika, 5th Battalion Rifles. With Lance Bombardier Cook, 26 Regiment Royal Artillery, adding the conversion the home crowd had something to cheer just before the end of the half. With the start of the second 40 minutes the Army fifteen needed to start on the front foot and this they did maintaining their attacking impetus with continued forays into the opposition’s half but, despite their valiant efforts, they were unable to break through the strong and well organised Belgian defence. From then on in the Belgian’s experience began to show and through clever control of the ball and utilizing the space on the wings they ran in several tries to end the game with what appeared on paper appeared a convincing 49-7 victory - yet was in reality anything but. Speaking afterwards team captain Lieutenant James Cantrell, 5 Rifles said: “We always knew it was going to be a hard start to the season and a tough fixture because of their strength in the pack. We are a developing side and these fixtures provide a fantastic indication of the standard we must aspire to if we wish to compete at this level and higher individually and as a team. The spirit we demonstrated was fantastic, our heads never went down and we can look to build on today, learn from the experience, rebuild and take the positives into the next fixture.” Something Captain Shaun Reeve, BA(G) Rugby Director, was quick to reinforce: “What the guys have done is fantastic considering that only a few months ago we did not have a team or any fixtures in place. This season is all about establishing ourselves and I think today has given us great exposure and shown we can compete and progress. We have received really good backing particularly from all the Units who have been incredibly supportive releasing soldiers for the game.” With over 5000 Army personnel still living in Germany a thriving and developing rugby community exists with a strong league in place and for the representative side there are more fixtures of an international flavour planned against a Netherlands Development Team, Denmark and a Germany league team before they take on British Army (Cyprus) in a season finale. In addition to this the youth game in BA(G) is prospering as well with three clubs who are continually seeking to develop their game and play all-comers across a broad spectrum of ages. They also have an exciting fixture waiting for them later in the year when it is anticipated they will play in an exhibition tournament at Twickenham against Navy youth teams during half-time of the Babcock Trophy Army v Navy match in April.
RIFLES Shoot Down The Tigers Earlier this month Barker Barracks, Paderborn was the venue of the Army Inter Unit Boxing Championship quarterfinal bout between hosts 1st Battalion The Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment (1PWRR) and 4th Battalion The Rifles (4 Rifles) from Aldershot. Renowned in Germany for their boxing pedigree the “Armoured Tigers” went into the bout against their Divisional rivals with a strong squad and morale high after several successful training camps in the UK and were hopeful of progressing into the last four. However, despite the vocal home support these aspirations were quickly dashed as the Rifles showed their own prowess in the ring taking a 3-0 lead into the interval. Although Private Bull won the welterweight fight for 1PWRR the Rifles quickly responded and increased their advantage winning the next two bouts and in the process an unassailable lead in the contest. In a thrilling conclusion to the evening Lance Corporal Woods 1PWRR emerged victorious over Rifleman Brown in the heavyweight bout to make the final score 5-2.
INTERESTED IN KITESURFING?
Plans are being made to establish a Kitesurf Club in BFG. Kitesurfing is a Category 2 Army Sport and has significantly grown in popularity over recent years. In order to register your interest, please contact: Capt Paul Markham (HQ Army Legal Assistance) paul.markham100@mod.uk Ext: 94881 3762 Interested applicants are to outline whether or not you have kitesurfed before and if so, to what level of experience. Complete beginners are welcome.
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Paderborn United Football Club Paderborn United Football Club has recently established a male U16s football team to play in the Kreis Paderborn, and are looking for players between the ages of 14 and 16. Training takes place on Tuesday and Thursday evenings between 1730-1900hrs at the Bad Lippspringe Sports Pitches. We can offer the opportunity to develop and enhance football, as well as increase general fitness levels from the support of FA qualified coaches, all within a friendly environment. We also offer the opportunity to participate in football-related trips and activities. Two squads from the club recently went back to the UK and trained with Arsenal Academy coaches. Previously, teams have taken part in international tournaments in Dortmund, Kassel and Spain. It always hoped to find more opportunities for club members in order to help them gain valuable life skills whilst pursuing their passion. If you live within Westfalen Garrison and are interested, then please get in touch. If transport is a concern, please enquire as we may be able to help. If there is enough interest from the Bielefeld and Gütersloh areas, then alternate options for training will be considered.
If you are interested in getting involved, please email: paderbornunited@gmail.com
Westfalen Garrison Women’s Volleyball Team A women’s volleyball team was the brainchild of Marica Leawere, which was formed back in July 2008 along with several ladies who were either serving or residing in Paderborn, as dependants, at that time. Since then, the team has gone from strength to strength and competes as part of British Army (Germany) Inter-Unit Volleyball Competition, which is currently underway and will be continuing until June this year. They are the only women’s volleyball team within British Forces Germany and compete against men’s teams. They recently lost in the semi-finals to Gütersloh’s men’s team, as part of a charity tournament to raise funds for those affected by Cyclone Winston in Fiji. They are looking to recruit new players irrespective of any previous experience, from across the Garrison as a whole. During the competition season, the team trains on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings, between 1800-2000hrs, in Barker Barracks Gymnasium. If you are interested in getting involved, or would like some more information then please contact Marica via email: markos_1999@yahoo.co.uk or tel: 05252 838 0835
...AND SO MUCH MORE! A DAY FOR ALL THE FAMILY AND A CHANCE TO BE A MUCKY PUP
RACE COST 10EUROS ADULT 5EUROS CHILD COST INCLUDES COMPLETION TSHIRT & GOODIE BAG SEARCH THE MANSERGHMUDFEST 2016 ON FACEBOOK
Gunners Take On The Challenge Of Telemark A team of 6 soldiers from Gutersloh based 26 Regiment Royal Artillery (26 Regt RA) tested their physical endurance and determination against everything the Swiss Alps could throw at them in Exercise Telemark Titan, the British Army Telemark skiing championships. With its origins in Norway Telemark is the only technique to incorporate downhill, jumping and cross-country skiing and requires competitors to have courage, endurance, determination and of course a high level of fitness to enable them to tackle the demanding events; epitomising all the characteristics expected of the modern day soldier. The exercise started with 5 days of training, which included general ski tuition, for the complete novices, then race drills and training for the Telemark specific obstacles such as the 15 metre jump the team would have to conquer. With the training over 6 days of racing began in sub zero temperatures and testing visibility. However these conditions were not seen as a hindrance to the 26 Regt RA team but just another challenge to overcome add-ing an even more competitive edge to the racing. One of those who took part in the championships was Gunner Jack Beale who, as well as never having skied before, found himself in Switzerland only weeks after joining the Regi-ment week. “I had always wanted to ski so to get to do so soon after joining the Regiment was a fantastic opportunity and something unexpected” he said. Adding, “The offer to come on this exercise and have the chance to take part in the championship was too good to miss. Having never skied before it was really hard to start with and I had quite a few falls to begin with. But I just kept getting up, practising my balancing and getting the turning techniques right and by the end of it I could ski, get down the slopes and was able to do Telemark turns as well. Telemark is really enjoyable, great for your fitness and something I would like to do again - the adrenaline buzz you get as you come down the course is brilliant, the jump is a bit nerve racking, but when you get to cross the finishing line it is a mixture of both relief and excitement.” For 26 Regt RA team captain Captain John Baileff, it was particularly pleasing to see the team working so well together, “Although the Telemark disciplines are a series of individual events everyone supported each other when it got hard or when things were not going well. Each evening we sat down, talked through how the skiing had gone and helped each through the challenges. The spirit amongst the team was fantastic and I was very im-pressed with everyone, they have all done brilliant.” On his own performance John remarked, “Although I had skied before Telemarking was a completely new discipline for me. Telemark is one of those sports that you have to give 100% to, it takes you completely out of your comfort zone and really tests your fitness and determination. Whereas Alpine skiing is about speed and attacking the slope Telemark is a different challenge it is more about finesse and a graceful sport. For Telemarking it is key to get yourself into the right position on the hill, relax and put into practice all the tech-niques shown to us by the instructors to succeed. Telemark has definitely broadened my horizons and is something I can see myself doing again.” While this positive approach worked well for John, who qualified for the Championship races, also worthy of special mention are novice skiers Gunners Liz Harris and Kieran Bourne. Despite their inexperience Kieran came second in the development classic race and Liz emerged as the overall top female in the development category. The championships concluded with all skiers taking part in a 3km mountain race where they had to climb a steep hill on skis or on foot and then ski back to the start. It was an event that the leading skiers took about an hour to finish but for the less experienced it took a little longer really testing their resoluteness to the limit.
The Queen’s Royal Hussars Live Firing Three weeks ago The Queen’s Royal Hussars (The Queen’s Own and Royal Irish) deployed from Athlone Barracks, Sennelager to the vast training area at BergenHohne for a live firing package. In challenging weather conditions Exercise Bergen-Hohne saw the Regiment put through their paces and gave them valuable time on their vehicles before they depart for BATUS, Canada and Exercise Prairie Storm. From the very basic skills and drills on the Challenger 2 Main Battle Tank through to troop firing packages everyone gained immensely from the exercise. For Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Alex Porter the exercise was the culmination of months of hard training that began on the ranges at Sennelager and also saw periods of simulation training in the CAST and CATT in Normandy Barracks. As he explained: “We have a number of new Troopers in the Regiment who are fresh from training or newly moved into crew positions so for them its about getting used to a gun tank; we do a lot of training on simulators but to actually drive and fire a gun tank is different and for many a real eye opener of the task expected of them. We commenced the Exercise refreshing the basic skills of operating the vehicles, got the crews working together as cohesive teams and from this we moved into a firing package on the range to give them experience and confidence before finally progressing to troop firing packages. The aim of the exercise has been to make the crews effective in a pressurised environment; it has been a successful exercise.” For 18-year old Trooper Tom Gleisinger, a tank gunner on his first live firing range it has been a steep learning curve at times but as he remarked: “really good to get some experience in before going to Canada. The exercise has been hugely beneficial, its given us good working time together as a crew practicing our drills and doing it all for real on the ranges is definitely different compared to simulation training. You really get the sense of the power of the Challenger.” Another soldier experiencing his first exercise was Trooper Daniel Flanagan who said: “I only joined the Regiment just before Christmas so the last 3 weeks have been really good to get hands on working on the tanks in the field and seeing them fire in action. It has been absolutely brilliant. It has been hard graft but I have learnt so much and cannot wait to get out to Canada.” With the 3 SABRE Squadrons and the Command and Recce Squadron returning to Sennelager over the coming days the Regiment can look back on a productive and worthwhile exercise that saw them successfully achieve passes in the Annual Crew Tests and provided everyone with the perfect foundation for their deployment to BATUS over the coming months. Lieutenant Colonel Porter concluded by saying: “With the completion of Exercise Bergen-Hohne we are ready for and can now start preparing in earnest for our next big serial in Canada. BATUS is incredibly important for us as a Regiment it will be the pinnacle of our training year and will lead to us being ready to deploy with the NATO High Readiness Task Force as the lead Armoured Battlegroup next year.”
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Sappers Are Tested By Hector As part of their soldier development programme 180 soldiers from 35 Engineer Regiment have been participating in Exercise Hectors Trials. Conducted over 3 days Exercise Hectors Trials was designed to test the Sappers in various military tasks but with the primary aim to provide the Junior NCO’s with the opportunity to develop the skills needed to confidently lead and command soldiers in the field. With deteriorating weather conditions and freezing temperatures, combined with the arduous unforgiving ground, the exercise was always going to be demanding but add in section attacks, CBRN testing, a mine strike that included a casualty extraction and vehicle recovery just to name a few of the tasks the soldiers had to complete before undertaking 10km night marches it was evident that personal field discipline and fitness were going to be key to successfully completing the Exercise. As Officer Commanding 44 HQ and Support Squadron Major Andy McCran explained: “Exercise Hectors Trials was intended to test and assess the soldiers battle procedures, teamwork, and discipline in a variety of tasks as well as evaluating their navigational abilities and route selection. With the extreme weather conditions the soldiers endurance and resilience has been throughly examined and they have responded outstandingly. It has been a very successful designed exercise. Although this is a relatively low level training exercise it marks the start of our preparations for our training year supporting 20 Armoured Infantry Brigade and is setting the foundations for our deployment to BATUS, multi national training as part of the Very High Readiness Joint Task Force and other future tasks.” One of the Sappers taking part was Timothy Dorning who said: “Mentally this has to be one of the hardest things I have had to deal with, the weather and the weight we are carrying are physically demanding but mentally it has been really challenging you get to a point where you want to give up then realise everyone in the section is counting on you to continue so you push on and get through it.”
5 RIFLES Live Firing Sennelager ranges has recently seen the Riflemen from D Coy 5 RIFLES conduct a live firing exercise as part of their preparation for deployment to BATUS in Canada. The live fire element of the advanced skills training package involved a Platoon attack on multiple simulated buildings before clearing two bunker positions with grenades.
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20th ARMOURED INFANTRY BRIGADE HEADQUARTERS Office Opening Times Mon - Thu: 0830 - 1430hrs Fri: 0830 - 1230hrs
Welfare Team Welfare Officer: Capt Jason Styles Welfare Sgt: Sgt George Oppong Welfare Clerk: Becky Davey
Contact Details Office: 05254 982 4953 Duty Mobile: 01732 098 662
Exercise DIAMOND ALPINE GAUNTLET Sixteen lucky individuals from Headquarters 20th Armoured Infantry Brigade took the opportunity to enjoy seven days skiing on Exercise DIAMOND ALPINE GAUNTLET. The aim of the Exercise was to develop individual leadership skills and collective team building, as well as reinforcing the adventurous training ethos within the HQ by delivering a Joint Services Adventure Training Ski Foundation Level 1 (SF1) course. There where also two advanced skiers within the group who conducted continuation training toward SL1. The adventure began with the long twelve-hour journey to Saalbach-Hinterglemm in Austria, which was made considerably longer with the not unexpected traffic jams around Munich. The journey was not without incident when WO1 Jay Wheeler decided to blindly accept and follow the route kindly mapped out by the SAT NAV, which resulted the departure from a perfectly free flowing autobahn to what can only be described as a cross country route through quiet country villages, accompanied by several U-turns, before thankfully rejoining the autobahn once again. On arrival in Austria, Capt Piers Davis decided that in the middle of a snow storm, a valiant run up to the Hotel car park minus snow chains was order of the day, it was modestly and professionally achieved. The base for the Exercise was Hotel Adler, a wonderful Hotel whose friendly staff, excellent food and top draw facilities were outstanding and made for a very enjoyable and pleasant stay. Day one was greeted with an early start as the first Gondola was taken up to top of the slopes for a quick assessment of skiing ability, before splitting into groups. Saalbach-Hinterglemm is the largest ski resort in Austria and offers excellent pistes for beginners and intermediate skiers alike with a variety of runs providing challenging diversity over 280kms of amazing mountain scenery. For the majority of the week, the weather was good allowing for great skiing conditions; however by early afternoons the snow became quite wet, which tested skiers technique and fitness levels as they perservered through some heavy slush. At the end of the week, the Instructors conducted a formal assessment that qualified all those who had taken part in SF1, including Cpl Kirsty Hudson who only began skiing at the start of the week. The week would not been complete without some anecdotes, which included WO1 “Bomber� Bamford taking out a number of fellow skiers from behind including Maj John Harrington who ended up careering down the mountain for what seemed like a kilometre before stopping in a big heap, and Capt Pier Davis becoming somewhat frustrated and very tired at his glacial speed of improvement thus resulting in the jettisoning of poles and rapid exit off the piste (on foot). The Exercise was a great success and enjoyed by all. A big thanks goes to OIC Exped Maj John Harrington and SSgt FofS(IS) Ian Cooke for co-ordinating and organising the Exercise. The Instructors: SSgt Paul Hanna APTC, 5 RIFLES and SSgt Leah Coxon, 1 I G for providing quality instruction and to Grant and Green Tax Free motors for kindly helping to support the event.
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1ST BATTALION THE PRINCESS OF WALES’S ROYAL REGIMENT Welfare Office Opening Times Mon - Thu Fri
0900 - 1500 0900 - 1300
Tigers’ Den Opening Times Mon - Thu Fri
0900 - 1600 0900 - 1300
Gunnery Camp Recce Throughout the last three weeks of February, 1PWRR deployed to the Sennelager range complex to conduct its first Battalion-wide mounted gunnery camp since re-roling to Armour. It was the first time that the Recce Platoon had fired their 30mm RARDEN cannon and 7.62mm belt mounted machine guns, since taking ownership in early 2015. It was the culmination of intense training on the weapon system being headed up by Cpl Grant - one of the Platoon’s Regimental Instructors, Gunnery. The Recce Platoon’s platform of choice is the CVR(T) Scimitar, which is essentially a small tank. It is dwarfed by the larger Warrior Infantry fighting vehicle and Challenger 2 main battle tank the British Army possesses. Its low profile and quiet engine make it the ideal choice for reconnaissance on an armoured battlefield. With outstanding sight systems for use in both the day and night, its primary task for the vehicle and the crew is to find where the enemy is and set the conditions to allow the rest of the Battlegroup to have an effect on said enemy. It should only use the weapon system as a last resort and this is when skills must be of the highest standard! The ranges were run starting with low level static shoots progressing through to moving down the range in a pair of vehicles whilst withdrawing from an approaching ‘enemy’, or in this case wooden outlines of enemy vehicles. Towards the end of the gunnery camp, the Platoon were doing shoots by night using the thermal imagery only. This is an impressive level of competency for such newly trained crews. LCpl Rutter is a gunner within the Recce Platoon and is becoming one of the more competent gunners. He said, “Once you are in ‘contact’ with the enemy, the high pace, noise and adrenaline within the confined turret is an awesome experience. I am looking forward to getting to BATUS in Canada and integrating with Warrior and Challenger vehicles on the prairie.” The top crew of the gunnery camp was commanded by Cpl Higgins with LCpl Plumstead as his gunner and LCpl Fern as the driver. “Well Done” to the crew.
Cross Country Team Last season the 1PWRR team was dwindling in terms of participating member; however, this season has seen renewed interest in the cross country team. It has been a very busy time for the Battalion due to demands placed on it so not surprisingly it has been difficult, or more accurately, impossible, to corral our best runners together at any one time. All understandable of course, it is clear where priorities must lie, which makes it all the more impressive that we have gone from a depleted team with a ‘let’s see who turns up on the day’ approach to a team that fills the team registration sheet on race day with some to spare. Not only that, but a team who has managed to win a very respectable medal haul in the BA(G) cross country league 15/16. The Battalion was well represented across the spectrum of award categories, including: Gold Silver Silver Silver
Pte Rose from A Coy in the Junior Category. Cpl Urwin, Platoon Sgt in C Coy in the hotly contested Senior Category. It is important also to recognise the upturn interest in the cross country team this season is due to Cpl Urwin. RAO Capt Stalker in the Female Veteran Category. QM(T) Capt Grant in the Male Veteran 2 Category. The Male Veteran 2 Category is much like Male Veteran 1, except the runners are even older!
Silver 1 PWRR were runners up in the Major Unit’s Award. While the BA(G) league is over for this season, the running does not stop there. The Battalion will be entering a twenty-one strong team into the Tri-Service Half Marathon during Easter leave and will also be sending nine runners to the Munich marathon in October. “Well Done” to all the members of 1PWRR that have spent their wet Wednesday afternoons running around muddy tracks in Germany. Let’s all look forward to doing it again next season, and turn some of this seasons silver into gold.
5th BATTALION THE RIFLES Welfare Team
Office Opening Times
Welfare Officer - Capt Nick Hedges Welfare SNCO - Sjt Richard Udale Welfare JNCO - LCpl Michael Walker Welfare Clerk - Mrs Claire Ellis
Mon, Tue, Thu & Fri: 0800 to 1730hrs Wed: 0800 to 1230hrs
05251 101 582 05251 101 582 05251 101 513 05251 101 513
Out of hours contact - 05251 101 534
“Welcome” New Unit Welfare Officer I would like to introduce myself to any of you who may not yet know me. I am Capt “Evo” Evans, and have recently resumed the role as Unit Welfare Officer from Capt Nick Hedges. Some of you may also recognise me from my previous role within the Station, as the Station Regimental Serjeant Major, or as a previous member of the Battalion. I have served with the Army for many years, with postings to the Infantry Training Centre Catterick as well as in Germany. I take my role as UWO extremely seriously and have an open door policy when it comes to the families and single soldiers of the Battalion so if any issues arise then please feel free to pop in for a brew and a chat. I am always around during coffee mornings and around camp so please stop and say hello. I very much looking forward to meeting you all either at our Chosen Tots group, one of our coffee morning or any other events that we will be holding in the near future.
The Welfare Centre The Welfare centre is home to the Chosen Tots group, which is a mums and tots’ group for parents with young children that want to escape the washing and cleaning for a couple of hours in order to socialise and meet like-minded parents. They run several activities during the group, and occasionally organise trips to zoos, tierparks and other places near to Paderborn. It is free to attend, all they ask is for a small donation that is put towards trips out and craft materials for the children. The group is run on a Tuesday morning between 1000-1200hrs in the welfare centre. For any more information please give us a call in the Office or come along and speak with any of the Ladies that run the group. We also hold a coffee morning on a Thursday between1000-1200. So if you’re bored of watching the same old television and fancy having a chat and a cuppa then please feel free to pop in. There is tea and coffee laid on for parents with fresh rolls etc from the local bakery and lay on bacon and egg rolls once a month. There is also squash laid on for the little one with plenty to do. Within the welfare centre we have a soft play area which can be hired out for parties for the young ones. It is open to all within Paderborn Station, and with this you get the hire of the room so they will have plenty of room to run around and have lots of fun. The cost of hire is €25, plus a €25 deposit to secure date and booking. If you would like information on how to book and check dates that are available then please feel free to give us a call in the office. There are also three bouncy castles available for hire, and the smallest is ideal for children aged 7 and under. The middle one is a 3-in-one where you can either have it as a bouncy castle, a bungee run or a gladiator jousting area. This is a longer bouncy castle therefore the area should be looked at prior to booking. The third one is huge with a large area bouncy castle then steps to a long steep slide. Again it is best to check out the area prior to booking.
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3 ARmoured close battalion reme Welfare Office Opening Times
PRI Shop Opening Times
Mon , Tue & Thu 0800-1700 Thu 0800-1330 Fri 0800-1200
Mon, Tue & Thu 0900 - 1600* Wed & Fri 0900 -1300
Tel: 05251 101713 Fax: 05251 101799
Tel: 05251 8728785 Facebook: Barker Barracks PRI Shop
Email: remebn3@hotmail.com
Fully stocked with Yankee candles and gifts!
*Closed for lunch 1200 - 1300
Ex PRAIRIE PHOENIX We are now over 3 months into our deployment to Canada and we continue the graft to overhaul the mammoth fleet. With a steady stream of vehicles passing through the workshop the progress is beginning to really show. Vehicles roll in (some are dragged), and within a short period of time they’re transformed into fully functional machines ready for the exercising troops who will drive out onto the prairie in May. With help from their four skilled drivers our Vehicle Mechanics have been making good headway through the 172 SVs that we have to repair and service. They work on six vehicles at a time which makes the workshop a real hive of activity. In addition to moving the vehicles, our drivers are muscling their way through a plethora of level one jobs. These include anything from changing wheels (at 195 kg per wheel) to replacing filters and conducting some basic electrical repairs; the work that they do allows our REME tradesmen to focus on the more complex engineering tasks. In fact, we have 13 crewmen employed across the Company Group and consequently they are a vital and extremely welcome addition to our team. Some of our tradesmen are detached as Temporary Staff to BATUS Workshop. Armourers are working in the Armaments General Support Group and are the subject matter expert in all weapons systems equipped on armoured vehicles including the main armaments and entire turret systems. Metalsmiths are regularly working amongst the vehicle repair lines and are conducting expedient repairs such as fabrications and welding sections of Challenger 2 main battle tank armour. Our Electronics Technicians repair the electronic systems found on armoured vehicles such as Battle Group Thermal Imaging sights (BGTI), Turret and Gunner Service Boxes as well as main vehicle electrics. Finally, not forgetting the Recovery Mechanics who have been busy safety testing all lifting equipment. Some are currently deployed to Montreal to assist with the unload of the Spring Sailing which has recently docked from the UK. The vehicles are then loaded onto a mile-long freight train and transported across Canada to BATUS ready for the forthcoming exercise season.
Bull Pen Refurbishment Work is underway in the refurbishment of the Bull Pen; this includes new carpets, a fresh coat of paint and new sinks. The renovation is a welcomed addition to the new soft play furnishings that arrived at the start of the year. Planned completion was for the end of March, final pictures of the refurbishment will be posted in the next edition of Punchlines.
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35 ENGINEER REGIMENT Welfare Office Opening Times
Mon - Thu 0900 -1400 Fri 0900 -1200 Mon - Thu 1400-1630 (Appointments Only) Out of Hours: Barker Barracks Guard Room: 05251 101 243
Regimental Round-Up
Unit Welfare Team
UWO UW SNCO CLERK
Telephone
Capt Mark Brookfield Sgt Craig Broomhall Miss Marion Graham
05251 101 213
It is hoped that you have all had a good start to 2016 and are ready for what is shaping up to be a busy year for 35 Engineer Regiment. The Regiment ran a section competition in the area surrounding Bar Pyrmont. This gruelling three-day exercise saw over 120 Sappers undertake section attacks, CBRN testing, a mine strike that included a casualty extraction, basic vehicle recovery as well as command tasks and 10km night patrols between exercise areas. As always seems to be the case when 35 Engr Regt is on exercise, extreme weather conditions set in and pushed everyone involved to their limits. The exercise was just the start of preparations for the upcoming training year.
29 Armoured Engineer Squadron then deployed out on a low level armoured engineer exercise to further build on the successes of the section competition. Two weeks spent in some of Germany’s coldest months proved challenging but they all dug deep and persevered. They undertook everything from building basic defences out of razor wire, to bridge laying and mine clearance.
The next few months will be very busy for the Regiment. Each Squadron will in turn deploy out to Canada to undertake a large scale armoured exercise across the prairie. They will be using the preceeding months to hone their skills to enable them to fulfil their role to the best of their abilities once on deployment.
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1 ARMOURED MEDICAL REGIMENT Welfare Office Opening Times
Contact Telephone Numbers
Mon-Thu: 0900-1230hrs & 1300hrs-1600 hrs Fri: 0900 - 1300hrs
Unit Welfare Officer - 05254 982 2417 Unit Welfare SNCO - 05254 982 2904 Unit Welfare Clerk - 05254 982 2436
Find us on Facebook - 1AMR Welfare Dept
Fax - 05254 982 4832 Out of hours (Dempsey Barracks’ Guardroom) - 05254 982 4126
The Hunger Surgery Café
The Gift Box (PRI Shop)
Opening Hours Mon-Fri: 0900 - 1400hrs
Opening Hours Mon-Fri: 0900 - 1445hrs
Ex DiAMOND SNOW PLOUGH Earlier this year, 24 officers and soldiers from 1 Armoured Medical Regiment embarked on Exercise DIAMOND SNOW PLOUGH 2016, a 2 week ski Adventurous Training exercise to the French ski resort of Les Deux alpes. Headed up by Captain Watson RLC (Sp Sqn 2ic), the Ex was aimed at novice skiers with a few more experienced than others, the end state was to ensure that all participants gained the Ski Foundation Level 1 qualification, which is a pre-requisite for the Ski Foundation Level 2 and towards to Ski Leader Level 1 (instructor). All kit and equipment was demanded and supplied through Loan Pool stores in Bicester, everything was of a very high standard with a majority of it being new and unused, this meant that there would be no need to delve into our pockets for any skiing equipment. With personal contributions being £175, with the remaining cost being offset by various agencies meant that it was easily affordable for all ranks. The ski area of Les Deux Alpes was so vast that it was not skied in its entirety and with the largest skiable glacier in Europe provided us with the perfect ski area. The self-drive journey from Dempsey Barracks in Paderborn to Les Deux Alpes took around 13 hours, but with plenty of drivers we were still fresh for when we arrived. Our accommodation for the duration was the Résidence Le Goléon which were self-catered apartments, most rooms were en-suite twin rooms, there was a dining area and communal lounge/tv area with TV and WiFi. The chalet also has a boot drying room and secure ski storage room. Once there, we took no time in getting stuck into the snow with our skies, as that afternoon we were straight onto the mountain for our first taste of altitude. After the first afternoon of finding our ski legs which had some of us doing a fair impression of Bambi on ice. It was decided to have our first daily debrief in the V-Bar, staffed by the Dutch, and with a constant supply of ribs, we were briefed on the outline plan for the remainder of the week. Day to day life was good, we would be waking up with the birds at about 6am most mornings to collect our freshly baked bread from the bakers, the rest of the team would wake for around 7am and would begin to make there lunch and prepare there daysack for the ski session. Everyday we would be ready at the ski slope for 9:00am for our daily instruction. The weather conditions were variable from brilliant sunshine to complete whiteout. We were split down into 2 groups, beginners and intermediate, the intermediates consisted of 5 persons and was led by Captain Watson and the beginners were led by WO2 Wiley (RE) and had the larger group of 8. Over the duration of the week we learned a lot, we regained our ski legs which after a day came back and learnt some new skills such as carving, how to ski in variable terrain snow conditions and coming up onto our edges. With the emphasis on control of line and speed, those who had ski days under our belts greatly improved our technique, those who had never skied before thoroughly enjoyed the experience (although, their leg muscles would disagree). As much as everyone on was learning and having fun, reality hit home as there was an avalanche on the local Bellecombes run in the resort that was closed, this reminded us that the mountain is to be enjoyed and respected. Overall the experience was priceless, the instruction was top class and the French Alps were amazing, and would recommend it to anyone irrespective of age or time served in their career. All participants were successful and were awarded the Ski Foundation Level 1 with the addition of some having more bruises than others.
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the QUEEN’S ROYAL HUSSARS Welfare Office Opening Times Contact Telephone Numbers Mon - Thu: 0830 - 1700hrs Fri: 0830 - 1300hrs
Find us on Facebook - The Queen’s Royal Hussars
Potential NCO Pre-Cadre
Tel: 05254 982 2344 Out of hours in an emergency: Guard Room 05254 982 2433
QRH Wives’ Coffee Morning
Every Friday 1000-1200hrs in Happy Hussars Tea / Coffee / Biscuits / Cake Available Children’s Outdoor Play Park & Indoor Soft Play Area Come along to meet other wives, as well as to find out what is going on within the Regiment and visit the Welfare Team about any issues.
paderborn STATION Welfare Team UWO - Deboral Herlihy UWWO - WO2 Mark Heap Clerk - Kerry Shay
05254 982 4292 05254 982 4293 05254 982 2437
Welfare Centre Opening Times Mon to Thu: 0830 - 1530hrs Closed for lunch: 1245 - 1330hrs Fri: 0900 - 1230hrs
Farewell Station Commander As many of you will be aware the Station Commander Lt Col Pott is leaving BFG in April. Lt Col Pott has been committed to the Welfare of all staff within Paderborn Station, as a Welfare Office we would like to thank him for his support and wish him all the very best for the future.
Expanding Welfare Provision Paderborn Station but its very nature is a diverse environment to be working in, especially with welfare provision being provided not only to HQ Paderborn Station staff but also UKBC’s and orphan units. While we will continue to support Teapot Tuesday we are looking to have a ‘HQ Paderborn Station’ coffee morning, however, it does not necessarily have to have a coffee or be in the morning. Any ideas as to how you would like to see this developed will gratefully received.
New Bouncy Castle By the time you read this we will have had delivery of our Pirate Ship Bouncy Castle and weather permitting it will have been tried out too! If you are interested in making use of this facility then please do not hesitate to contact the Welfare office to discuss this further.
EMERGENCY NUMBERS Mil Civ Forces Health Services (TAS) ........................ x.2333.............................................................. 05254 982 2333 Dental Emergencies (Out of Hours) ........... x.2414 ............................................................. 05254 982 2414 German Civil Police ....................................... 0-110 .............................................................. 110 German Civil Ambulance ............................. 0-112 .............................................................. 112 German Civil Fire ........................................... 0-112 .............................................................. 112 Babcock (Household Faults) ................................................................................................... 0800 888 4242 RMP (Routine Calls.....................................Mil: 2223 or Civ: 05254 982 2223 DEFENCE FIRE & RESCUE SERVICE Emergency.....................................................Mil: 2444 or Civ: 05254 982 2444 Watch Room.................................................Mil: 2367 or Civ: 05254 982 2367 Fire Station Manager...................................Mil: 4160 or Civ: 05254 9824160 Fire Safety Advice/Information................Mil: 2057 or Civ: 05254 982 2057
MEDICAL Barker Bks Medical Centre........Mil: 3258/3256 or Civ: 05251 101 258 326 MRS Sennelager (Main Reception).........Mil: 2414 or Civ: 05254 982 2414
SCHOOLS Bishopspark School..................................................................05251 543 9548 John Buchan Middle School....................Mil: 5411 or Civ: 05254 982 5411 King’s School, Gutersloh........................................................... 05241 84 2210 Chaplains Robert Browning School...........................Mil: 2401 or Civ: 05254 982 2401 Brigade Chaplain............................................Mil: 2051 or Mob: 0173 510 3404 William Wordsworth School....................Mil: 2698 or Civ: 05254 982 2698 Garrison Chaplain..........................................Mil: 2033 or Mob: 01722 086348 QDG ..................................................................Mil: 2436 or Mob: 0172 208 6344 Robert Browning Affiliated FS1 Settings QRH & 1AMR.....................................................Mil: 2966 or Mob: 0172 208 6315 Dempsey FS1.............................................Mil: .2603 or Civ: 05254 982 2603 1PWRR ..............................................................Mil: 3274 or Mob: 0172 208 6347 Normandy FS1...........................................Mil: 2466 or Civ: 05254 982 2466 35 Engr Regt & 3 CS BN REME ..................... Mil: 3932 or Mob: 0173 520 5861 Teddy Bears FS1...........................................................................05254 932 443 5RIFLES .............................................................Mil: 3559 or Mob: 0172 257 8097 Bishopspark School Affiliated FS1 Settings Honeypots FS1 ............................................................................05251 296603 COMMUNITY SUPPORT Army Welfare Service ..................................Mil: 4340 or Civ: 05254 982 4340 British Forces Social Work Service .....................................Civ: 0800 724 3176 NURSERIES AND FS1 SETTINGS BFG Licensing Offices .................................Mil: 2638 or Civ: 05254 982 2638 (For those located at a school, see ‘SCHOOLS’) Central Bank HQ ..........................................Mil: 4352 or Civ: 05254 982 4352 Acreswood Day Nursery, Paderborn....................................05251 878 1648 Customs & Immigration Advisor ..............Mil: 2372 or Civ: 05254 982 2372 Happy Days Nursery Sennelager .........................................05254 930 5160 Garrison Information Officer ....................Mil: 2069 or Civ: 05254 982 2069 Happy Hippos ...........................................................................05254 930 5170 Garrison Amenities (SO3 G1 Coord)........ Mil: 2032 or Civ: 05254 982 2032 Labour Support Unit (LSU)...........................Mil:5486 or Civ: 05254 9825486 TRANSPORT HIVE Sennelager..........................................................................05254 982 2771 Paderborn Bus Escort Supervisor............Mil: 2960 or Mob: 01722 074 539 HIVE Paderborn.................................................................................05251 57191 Admin Transport Service...........................Mil: 2842 or Civ: 05254 982 2842 Service Liaison Officer ............................... .Mil: 3342 or Civ: 05254 982 3342 White Fleet Clerk.........................................Mil: 2343 or Civ: 05254 982 2343 Veterinary Clinic ...........................................Mil: 2361 or Civ: 05254 982 2361 Youth Club Transport ................................Mil: 4340 or Civ: 05254 982 4340
41 AEC ..............................................................Mil: 4019 or Civ: 05254 9824019 E-Learning Centre...........................................Mil: 4133 or Civ: 052549824133 WELFARE OFFICES Sennelager Library......................................................................05254 662 0630 Normandy Welfare Ctr/1MWD...............Mil: 2383 or Civ: 05254 982 2383 Paderborn Library............................................Mil: 312 or Civ: 05251 101 128 QRH ...............................................................Mil: 2344 or Civ: 05254 982 2344 1AMR.....................................Mil: 2417 / 2904 or Civ: 05254 982 2417 / 2904 35 Engr Regt............................Mil: 3213 / 3305 or Civ: 05251 101 213 / 305 WRVS SERVICES WELFARE OFFICERS WRVS Alanbrooke Bks ..................................Mil: 3531 or Civ: 05251 101 531 1 PWRR...........................................Mil: 3823/3321 or Civ:05251 101823/321 WRVS Barker Bks.............................................Mil: 3229 or Civ: 05251 101 229 5RIFLES.....................................Mil: 3513 / 3582 or Civ: 05251 101 513 / 582 WRVS Dempsey Bks.....................................Mil: 4240 or Civ: 05254 982 4240 3 CS Bn REME.................................................Mil: 3713 or Civ: 05251 101 713 WRVS Normandy Bks..................................Mil: 2617 or Civ: 05254 982 2617 110 Pro Coy, 1 RMP......................................Mil: 2725 or Civ: 05254 982 2725 20th Armd Inf Bde.......................................Mil: 4699 or Civ: 05254 982 4699 DENTAL Alanbrooke Bks Dental Centre ....................Mil: 3645 or Civ: 05251 101 645 OTHER HELPLINES Barker Bks Dental Centre .............................Mil: 3290 or Civ: 05251 101 290 Army Families Federation (0900-1400hrs)..........................01520 744 9741 Normandy Bks Dental Centre....................Mil: 2482 or Civ: 05254 982 2482 BFG Relate...................................................................................05219 254 2709 Early Years Officers.........................................................05254 982 4902/4903 Home-Start, Pad...........................................................................05251 528609 GUARD ROOMS Athlone Bks ..................................................Mil: 2428 or Civ: 05254 982 2428 Home-Start, Sen.........................................................................05254 9304723 Alanbrooke Bks................................................Mil: 3534 or Civ: 05251 101 534 Royal British Legion..........................................05254 4208 or 05250 937 328 Barker Bks.........................................................Mil: 3243 or Civ: 05251 101 243 Dempsey Bks................................................Mil: 2328 or Civ: 05254 982 2328 If you are using a military phone for the following freephone numbers, Normandy Bks...............................................Mil: 2232 or Civ: 05254 982 2232 remember you still need to dial 0 before the helpline number: Childline........................................................................................0044 800 181 1111 Samaritans...................................................................................0044 8457 909090 HOUSING SSAFA Forces Line (10.30 - 19.30, Mon-Fri)...........................0044 800 731 4880 Housing Office...............................................Mil: 4435 or Civ: 05254 982 4435 Combat Stress 24hr Helpline....................................................0044 800 1381619 Victim Support Central Referral...............................................0044 800 724 3176
BFG PARENT PARTNERSHIP SERVICE HQ BFG, BFPO 140...........................Mil: 94881 2683 or Civ: 05219 254 2683
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Paderborn Anglo-German Club The Club’s main purpose is the furtherance of friendly relations and mutual understanding between the British and German communities of Paderborn and the surrounding area. Contrary to popular belief, membership is open to ALL military personnel and civilians. An elected committee, for the good and benefit of all club members, manage the Club.
You Break It, I´ll Try And Fix It I´LL HAVE A GO AT ANYTHING -Washing machines, Videos, TVs, Lawnmowers, Hoovers etc Need a hand to set up your satellite? Also can supply and fit Freeveiw Satellite Give Chris your handyman a call On 0179 5107246
Activities are chosen that are of equal interest to both the British and German members, the more that club members put in, the more the Club can give out. If somebody has an activity that they would wish to see included in the programme of events, they can propose it at the Annual General meeting, which is held in February.
Kika Lomi Lomi Massage & Acupressure Therapy
Most if not all club members speak English, so communication is not a problem. The Club is open to anyone of any age, race, rank or religion as long as they share the same principles of the Club founders in wanting to further the friendly relations and mutual understanding between the British and German communities of Paderborn and the surrounding area.
Email: keith.baileymbe@gmail.com
Healing Flows Where The Attention Goes
Dr Keith G Bailey MBE Ph.D Lomi Lomi Massage Practitioner & Acupressure Therapy
Tel: 0049 (0) 1746 932 256 Facebook: Kika-Lomi-Lomi-Massage
Delivery & Pick-Up Services Tel: 05254 660 4755
For further information, please contact either:
John Greaves, Treasurer: 05293 475
Bluebell’s Cafe Arndt Strasse Community Centre, Paderborn
A large selection of hot & cold snacks, drinks and cakes are available.
fast Big Break nd Juice
Coffee a inc. Tea OR
day Every Sun 1:30pm 10:30am -
Only €10
50
Opening Times Monday - Friday 8:30am - 2pm Sunday 10:30am - 1:30pm
Husarenstrasse 12 33104 Schloss Neuhaus
Gyros,Salad, Snacks Grillgerichte Pasta Pizza
Opening Hours: Tuesday - Friday: 1200-1430, 1700-2200 Saturday: 1200-2230 Sunday: 1400-2145
COMMUNITY CLIPBOARD
Defibrillator Awareness “The community response to cardiac arrest is critical to saving lives”.
Café Business Opportunity There is an opportunity to take over a commercial letting from the German Café located on Normandy Barracks.
Strengthening our community’s response to cardiac arrest could save lives. Defibrillator awareness will show just how simple and easy to follow Debfillrilators are.
Are you interested in holding a Defibrillator Awareness session at your coffee morning, in your Mess, workplace or eductional setting?
The current café sells a selection of German cuisine, which is popular amongst both British and German personnel. It is hoped that a similar café will continue to be run.
Katrina Mason, a registered Nurse, will be happy to come along to show you what a Defibrillator is and how easy it is to use.
Applications Open To Everyone
Email: katrina-mason1@hotmail.co.uk “Swift bystander CPR and rapid access to defibrillation are vital for successful outcomes from cardiac arrest”
Further information can be found at: www.resus.org.uk
For an application form, please contact Maureen Lea on 05254 982 2016 or WestfalenGar-HQ-G4-Est-Clerk@mod.uk *The decision on who will get the letting will be made by a board of senior Westfalen Garrison staff and Station representatives.