The Royal Logistic Corps

Conductor’s Parchment Ceremony 2014.

 

30 May 2014.

 

By

 

David Southall.

(Conductor’s Branch, Vice Chairman)

 

The Royal Logistic Corps, “Conductor’s Parchment Ceremony” 2014  was held at the Joint Officers/Sergeants’ Mess, Buckley Barracks, Hullavington, the home of 9 Regiment RLC, on the 30^th May 2014, by kind permission of The Commanding Officer, Lt Col S Donoghue RLC, and The Regimental Sergeant Major, WO1 (RSM) L Diprose RLC.

 

Firstly there was a rehearsal and briefing by the Senior Conductor, WO1 (Cdr) Z McLoughlin RLC for the New Conductor’s, who were about to receive their Parchments.

Then the arrival of the RLC Corps Colonel, Corps Adjutant and Corps Regimental Sergeant Major from the Headquarters The RLC at Deepcut.

 

At 1200hrs, saw the arrival of this year’s VIP who would be presenting the Parchments to the New Conductors, who was met outside the Joint Officers/Sergeants’ Mess by:-

On entering the Joint Officers/Sergeants’ Mess, the VIP was introduced to The Commanding Officer, Lt Col S Donoghue RLC, and The Regimental Sergeant Major, WO1 (RSM) L Diprose RLC, of 9 Regiment RLC, and was invited to sign the Official Visitors Book and join them for Lunch. After lunch the Official Guests joined those attending in the Sergeants’ Mess Bar for a drink and chat. Just prior to the Parchment Ceremony starting, The Royal Logistic Corps, Corps Regimental Sergeant Major, WO1 (CRSM) A Meek RLC then asked everyone to move to the Chippenham Room for the Parchment Ceremony.

 

“The Conductors Parchment Ceremony” 2014

 

Following lunch the VIP and Official Guests arrived and entered the Chippenham Room and the 2014 Parchment Ceremony began.

 

Presenting this year’s Parchments was: - Major General (Retd) MD Wood CBE, Colonel Commandant, The Royal Logistic Corps, accompanied by Colonel, The Royal Logistic Corps, Colonel JS Grinstead, MBE, ADC.

 

Also in attendance were The Senior Conductor, The Royal Logistic Corps, WO1 (Cdr) Z McLoughlin RLC; The Royal Logistic Corps, Regimental Sergeant Major, WO1 (CRSM) A Meek RLC and The Regimental Sergeant Major, 9 Regiment RLC, WO1 (RSM) L Diprose RLC. Lt Col P Fletcher REME & Major (Retd) S Powell, Defence Equipment & Support, Abbey Wood, Bristol And Mr Dougie Dau & Mr Colin MacDonald representing The Army Catering Corps Association.

 

  The Royal Logistic Corps, Corps Adjutant, read out a brief history of each of the new Conductors' Military Careers, prior to them receiving their Parchments

 

 

The Conductors Parchments were presented to the following Warrant Officers Class One:-

 

(Cdr’s Cockram, Rann, & Sedgwick)

General Wood presented Mrs Cockram with a Bouquet of Flowers, and Cdr Sedgwick’s Father with Boxed Bottle of Vintage Port.

 

 

After presenting the Parchments to the Serving Conductors, General Wood was invited to present a Framed Parchment to 96 years old Former Conductor, Frank Hagley, Ex RAOC who had been appointed Conductor in 1944. Cdr Hagley was accompanied by his son Brian, who had returned from Australia so that he could ensure that his father attended the Parchment Ceremony.

 

General Wood then addressed all those present, firstly thanking the Former Conductor’s and their Wives/Partners for coming along and supporting the New Conductor’s on receiving their Parchments.

He then spoke about the history of the Conductor Appointment, and pointed out, here was a Conductor from 1944 and 3 New Conductor’s in 2014. General Wood said that his own time uniform ends next year, when he finishes Appointment of Colonel Commandant, The Royal Logistic Corps, he explained that he will have spent over 50 years in uniform, starting at age 13 when he was an Army Cadet.

 

Finally General Wood spoke to the 3 New Conductor’s, firstly congratulating them on their Appointment, and then informing them of their duties and responsibilities that the Appointment holds as head of their respective trades, not only to the Serving Soldiers, but also to the Conductors Branch.

General Wood informed them that they held the end of the piece of rope that stretched back to 1327 and that they had to hold onto it until the next New Conductors are appointed next year.

 

General Wood and the Official Guest then left for a short break prior to having Official photographs taken with Serving Conductor’s.

 

Those of us who were left retired back to the Sergeants’ Mess Dining Room/Bar for a final chat prior to the

VIP and Official Guests leaving.

 

It was disappointing for the second year running,  that only the Senior Conductor was present at the Ceremony and that none of the Serving Conductors, or those Conductors who had gone on to be Commissioned were not there to watch and support the New Conductors receive their Parchment, as they had been supported, when they received their Parchments. Hopefully, after reading this point, they will make every effort to attend next year’s Parchment Ceremony.

 

 

(R – L. Former Cdr Frank Hagley & his Son Brian)

 

Finally, this was The Senior Conductor, The Royal Logistic Corps, WO1 (Cdr) Zane McLoughlin RLC last Parchment Ceremony before he retires after 22years.

 

At 1500hrs the VIP and Official Guest left, and that was the end of the 2014 Conductor Parchment Ceremony.

 

 

 

 

B. Row: - L-R (Lance Orderly) WO1 (Cdr) Cockram. WO (Cdr) Rann. WO1 (Cdr) Sedgwick. WO1 (RSM) Diprose. (Lance Orderly)        

 

F.Row:- L-R. WO1 (CRSM) Meek. Col Grinstead. Maj Gen Wood. Capt Strydon. WO1 (Cdr) McLoughlin (Senior Conductor)

 

Photos of the Conductors Celebrations via Google+ CLICK HERE