Chapter 5: 1992 to 1999

Time to Move On (Manchester & Salford Universities Officer Training Corps)

As the end of DLOY as a regiment approached some thought needed to be applied to one’s own future and here my experiences from brigade staff work came in handy. In short, I, Major John Patterson, Sgt Wendy Stephen and an excellent team of other ranks transferred to Manchester & Salford Universities Officer Training Corps (MSUOTC) and were warmly embraced by Lieutenant Colonel Ian Walton WFR. The other ranks formed an effective Admin Troop while John Patterson set about rationalising the unit’s accounts and I took command of the Advanced Training Wing, later to be renamed “Owens Company.”

This our first semester, in the world of university life, was strangely quiet. The students had completed their military training and MTQ1 & 2 examinations and were now concentrating on university examinations until annual camp in June when they would reappear. In the mean time we were able to gain a familiarity with the workings of our new home and in my case plan a pre-Sandhurst course for the senior students at our summer camp in Barry Budden. Whilst we were working for the OTC in our early days we were still funded from the DLOY budget and as such had no problem accessing pay and travel funding, including travel by car to camp.

Figure 40: Pre Sandhurst Cadre MSUOTC 1992

Selection

The barracks in Higher Cambridge Street, Manchester were ancient and run down but it wasn’t long before plans were laid for a new building and within two years, state of the art, University Barracks was ready for us. Meanwhile we were adjusting to life with an exceptional calibre of soldier and to start the new academic year our freshers’ stand was planned and run with tremendous success. There were more students wanting to join the OTC – the best club in town, than we could possibly take and a selection weekend was essential. Colonel Ian had funds which allowed for an intake of around 125 out of the 400 interested students.

In a weekend at the beginning of October the OTC machine goes into overdrive with selection tests, based on DAB and RCB models, occurring over Saturday and Sunday; one day on outside tasks at Holcombe Moor Training Camp covering leadership and leaderless tasks, fitness, determination and initiative. The other day was spent in barracks covering planning exercises, interviews, confidence assessments and administration. All the students were assigned to groups of eight with half of the cohort spending one day inside and one day out. A tremendous camaraderie and team spirit builds up over the intense two days, often the like of which has not been experienced by the young people before and at which the army excels. Of course, when the numbers are in, a line is drawn and students are either accepted or rejected. The process of informing the students changed considerably over my time at Manchester. Initially the students were paraded and the results were read out. This created uproar and many tears as the bonds recently formed were so strong and emotional.

The process was changed to one of a party for all applicants on the Sunday evening while the number crunching took place and brown envelopes were subsequently posted out. This allowed everyone to leave the building still wanting to succeed with a warm if uncertain feeling but realising that they all knew much more about themselves and their peers. Friendships for life were often formed at this point.

For those to whom a place in the OTC was not offered an alternative for consideration was presented in the form of a place with a local TA unit which again could provide a route through to a commission whilst at university. Representatives of the recruiting teams from the local units would be at the barracks on the following Wednesday afternoon to collect students in this category. And so the training year had begun with a full cohort for ‘A’ Company MSUOTC.

Working for Ian Walton imbued me with an appropriate philosophy for commanding an OTC. I shared two full years with Col Ian including summer camps and MTQ2 examinations. He provided the right amount of drive whilst being mindful that the students were at university primarily to collect a degree. And of course fun was an essential element of his modus operandi. When tough decisions had to be made he never shied away and the removal of his adjutant was evidence of Col Ian’s tough management style. Applications and interviews for a new adjutant followed swiftly and his successor was the excellent Malcolm Gregory – initially appointed as a Captain but, later, with the weight of my pen and support of Col John Timmins, Malcolm regained his rank of Major.

Other Key Players at MSUOTC

Major Clive Rigby RE was second in command when I arrived. Clive & I shared much common ground as he was a deputy head teacher in a large secondary school. I thought that Clive was in a strong position to succeed Colonel Ian as commanding officer in due course. But this was not to be and Clive had returned to the Engineers before my second camp leaving the slot open for me to move back into a second in command appointment. I later met Clive when he was a Lieutenant Colonel and commanding Sheffield University OTC: I was delighted for him and it was good to catch up (we were both COs at that time.)

LG(S) entry reads Maj. C. S. RIGBY, M.B.E., T.D. (491573) to be Lt.-Col., 15^th Sep. 1995

I have no memory of a Training Major in my early days at Manchester and think that Clive had probably been doing the job. There had been a Major Frank Ham in post when I was a staff officer but he had “moved on.” Eventually a welcome appointment arrived in the form of Major Colm O’Rourke, Royal Irish Rangers. Colm had passed staff college and was delighted to join us. He impressed us with the work load he cleared. I also met Colm a few years later; he had joined the TA, having taken redundancy and was serving in Birmingham University OTC. So by my second camp, at Sennybridge, Ian Walton had quite a different command team. MSUOTC was very much a living unit - if you blinked there was another change.

Unfortunately at camp in 1993, whilst out on a night exercise in deepest darkest Wales, back home my mother died. I received the message via the radio! I completed the exercise through to its conclusion the following morning and then returned home to register the death and support my father with the funeral arrangements. I took four days out before returning to the fold.

Back to the Palace

Figure 41: Garden Party Cartoon July 1992 by Carol Parkes

In the summer of 1992 Diane & I were invited to a garden party for a second time. This time our friendly art teacher at school, Carol Parkes, recorded the event with the above cartoon.

Battlefield Tour

Colonel Ian kept us all busy and while the number of students in my Advanced Training Wing was relatively small Ian always had additional tasks for me. Having completed my first OTC camp and selection process a warning order came my way at CO’s conference directing me to arrange a WWI Battlefield Tour for the following autumn (1993).

As to order, on Thursday 21^st October 1993, a mixed party of MSUOTC members, relatives and friends set off together in some comfort to study the WWI battlefields of Ypres and the Somme, under the title of “Exercise Grand Military”. I had hired a tour guide – Mr Jason King, who was quickly impressed as I managed to get Lt Nick Donnithorne into Belgium without a passport. The Yeomanry combined with the OTC was a new experience for Jason and he thoroughly enjoyed his time with us. (Nick’s passport was in lodgings back in Chester.)

Having disembarked at Zeebrugge, we were quickly engaged in things military, joining the King of Belgium as he inspected a Reserve Forces parade in Bruges: British Forces were represented by a Yeomanry presence! We all felt the gravity and emotion surrounding the war graves and memorials and I could see that our students were particularly affected by their similarity in ages to so many of the fallen.

A visit to the wine supermarket on the way back to the ferry rounded off our tour and, for me that was another mission successfully accomplished.

At the end of March 1994 Colonel Ian, a Leodensian, handed over command to another Leodensian, Lieutenant Colonel Mervyn Deighton RSIGNALS. We had met before at Staff College and we got on well together - it was a pleasure working with Mervyn and work we did as on the horizon was our official opening of University Barracks by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II as well as running a busy unit.

Figure 42: Lt Col Ian Walton hands over to Lt Col Mervyn Deighton (left)

University Barracks

Colonel John Timmins, Lord Lieutenant of Greater Manchester, was our Honorary Colonel and I am sure, played a key part in securing Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II to officially open the new building. On the 1^st December 1994 the great day arrived. Colonel Ian, in his planning had made me parade commander and responsible for the OTC displays, two substantial jobs, both of which I thoroughly enjoyed and was honoured to undertake. The Queen’s visit to Manchester hit the 9 o’clock news taking me onto the broadcast across the nation – a definite high for all involved.

Figure 43: The Royal Opening of University Barracks

A few folks asked me if I felt “put out” with the command going to Mervyn. I was always comfortable with his command and pleased to be able to serve him and the unit to the best of my ability. Mervyn rewarded me with excellent annual reports which allowed me, in due course to succeed him as CO. The phone call came through one autumn morning in 1995 at school when I was asked to ring Brigadier Jeremy Gaskell Commander 42 (NW) Brigade at Preston. This was a unique occasion and he had good news for me – I was “pinked” – selected for promotion to Lieutenant Colonel and command of MSUOTC – wow!

Throughout the period of Mervyn’s command I had space to exercise my man management and staff duties, work closely with the CO and enjoy our new home – University Barracks. Colonel Mervyn took the unit to annual camp three times, although for his first camp the plan was very much set by his predecessor. Unfortunately for Mervyn, when Dr Dye, Chairman MEC, arrived to visit us at Strensall (York) in the field, Mervyn had injured his leg and was unable to give Roger Dye the tour of the troops. This was a good opportunity for me to step into the breach and lead the tour, pausing for a lunch of prawn sandwiches at an appropriate time. The weather was fine and the countryside – lovely; with a glass of wine, a good dinner, excellent company and a canvas chair, Roger, a keen caravaner was in his element.

The following year camp was held at Fort Tregantle where I had the honour to receive a 1^st clasp to my TD.

Figure 44: Lt Gen Sir Richard Swinburn presents 1st Clasp to TD

In 1996 camp was held at Crowborough (twinned with Horwich – would you believe.) By this time I was practically at the starting post for my command as there was little local activity during the summer and just the continental activities trip generally run by the permanent staff instructors; great fun for the students with bags of leadership opportunities.

On Assuming Command

Figure 45: Lieutenant Colonel John Tustin TD

The first of October 1996 arrived and we were straight into “freshers” and our selection process – this was almost second nature to me as I had been with the unit for five years, only this time I was the Commanding Officer.

Figure 46: My Team in 1998 at Remembrance Parade, Manchester University

L to R: Capt Paul Whittingham, Capt Wendy Steven, Maj Nick Williams, Capt Barry Winrow, Maj Simon Pritchard, Lt Col John Tustin, Maj Peter Hilton, Maj Malcolm Gregory, Maj Joanne Laverty, Capt Richard Parry

Special Events

There is no doubt a period of command is a very special period but one thing is sure – the clock is ticking and when it reaches two and a half years you are out. So, with no time to waste there was so much to do. Usually, in a command there is at least one high-profile event; Mervyn’s was the opening of University Barracks and mine was to be our centenary year celebrated over a weekend at the beginning of May 1998 with a reunion drinks party, an activities day up at Holcombe Moor to watch or join, “relive a day in the OTC” and a Regimental Dinner. Many invited guests were entertained from within both the world of the universities and the military and it was lovely to see so many former members. Sunday morning brought the celebrations to a close with a farewell gathering in the mess and much exchanging of details.

Figure 47: Maj Gen Robin Searby GOC 5 Division 1^st May 1998

The Choice of Venue for Annual Camp

One of the key attractions of the TA is the opportunity to travel and to see a wide variety of places. It was not by chance then that my two annual camps allowed the following two photographs; John O’Groats and Land’s End.

Figure 48: R&R at Annual Camp 1997 & 1998

Dining out Major JDA Patterson TD

I had known John from my days as a subaltern in DLOY; I think I had just become an officer cadet when John took up the post of Paymaster. To me he had always been the paymaster but he had a deep history even then with the Regiment having been a Sergeant when the Queen visited DLOY at Bellevue in May 1961. His autobiography, should he write it, would be a most welcome reference piece for the museum.

In 1992 under Options for change John & I were the two officers to move from DLOY to MSUOTC and so we continued our TA relationship for several more years. In 1997, eventually John decided it was time to retire and I was honoured as his CO to be able to orchestrate a special dinner with a selection of guests across the broad spectrum of his service.

Captain Wendy Steven

With John’s departure on the horizon, plans for his replacement needed to swing into place. Paymaster was a job I had always fancied myself but that opportunity had now passed by. I felt confident that Sergeant Wendy Steven could step up to the mark and Wendy was happy to go for it. To make the transition and commissioning straightforward Wendy would benefit by being a Warrant Officer when appearing at her commissioning board. Promotion to SSgt and then on to WOII were actioned while, I am sure, Wendy took a keen interest in the duties of a paymaster. As I was putting WOII WA Steven forward for a commission I was selected by the Brigade Commander as a board member. The commissioning board was held at Fulwood and there were several candidates. I was delighted to achieve the desired result and congratulate Captain Wendy on her promotion to the officer corps (and to be my paymaster).

Major Simon Pritchard CHESHIRES, served as Training Major throughout my period of command and orchestrated a most enjoyable camp based at Cameron Barracks, Inverness – my location of choice for my first camp as CO. Simon had managed to secure a little used training area on the Isle of Skye for our main exercise. Our GOC, General Robin Searby, didn’t miss the opportunity to fly out by helicopter to visit us on location. We also had access to a training area in Wyvis on the estate owned by Benjamin Coats (of textiles fame). During my camp recce I met Benjamin who took the trouble to show me around his house and give me a history lesson. He had some amazing tales to tell and pictures on the wall featuring Hitler and German princes. With our firm base in the grand Cameron Barracks standing above Inverness I thoroughly enjoyed being CO at camp and Simon had a big hand in making it happen.

There is one other person worthy of a mention rather through coincidence. Back in my early days in ‘B’ Squadron DLOY a fellow orienteer was Steve Tyrell. Now WOII Steve Tyrell RM was posted to me as a Permanent Staff Instructor and Company Sergeant Major; I recognised his voice when I first heard it on the corridor at University Barracks – a small world indeed.

Honorary Colonels

In 1997 Colonel John Timmins was approaching the end of his five year appointment as Honorary Colonel of MSUOTC and he asked me to consider whom I might ask to succeed him. This was new territory for me, considering a new Honorary Colonel. After some serious consideration there was an excellent and obvious candidate; the Universities Liaison Officer, my Brigade Commander from my days on the staff at Fulwood was none other than the cavalry man and Honorary Colonel of the DLOY Squadron – Brigadier Euan Morrison. We were shortly due to dine together at the Red Rose Club on 7^th March that year and before dinner over a glass of champagne I made my approach and offer to Brigadier Euan. He graciously accepted and I was particularly pleased. My guest that evening was my Adjutant, Major Malcolm Gregory QRL with whom I was able to share the excellent breaking news and the wheels were put into motion. I discussed the appointment with Colonel John Timmins and as I expected, Colonel John viewed this to be an excellent appointment.

However, when the news of my business reached TAVRA without recourse to them, in particular to the Chief Executive Officer, Brigadier Ian Shapter, fury rained down and I was taken to task. Some fast thinking was required here and if there is a God he was good. It occurred to me that Colonel John Timmins, purely by coincidence happened to be the current President of TAVRA NW&IOM and I had done my business with his blessing. This, my response, ended the discussion. Phew! Normal service with TAVRA was resumed.

Brigadier Euan Morrison made an excellent Honorary Colonel from my viewpoint as he knew so much about the students and the universities and of course we knew and respected each other.

Routine Activities for the CO

From the day of appointment as commanding officer events drop straight into the calendar as a matter of course. For me, these included attending Brigade Commander’s conferences, reporting to the Military Education Committee within the universities of Manchester & Salford and attending RFCA meetings and the Recruiting Sub Committee chaired by Colonel AJ Harkon MBE TD (Joe). The one which required most preparation was the annual report to my MEC. A paper copy of my last report is included in my hard copy archive material. Having issued their reports to the committee, the commanding officers of the URNU (Universities Royal Naval Unit), the OTC and the UAS (Universities Air Squadron) were available to take questions. There were few surprises at these meetings as frequent visits by MEC members to the units engendered a good rapport between us all. The Defence Dining Club served to meld the network over some excellent dinners with top flight speakers invited by the individual services, each in turn. With some persistence, I managed to secure the attendance of the well-known military historian, TA officer and TV presenter, Brigadier Professor Richard Holmes – quite a coup, I thought.

My first visit to an RFCA gathering was the autumn meeting in 1996. This was hosted by 4QLR at Kimberly Barracks, Preston. To my surprise there were COs from years gone by including David Claxton who had been my CO in the DLOY when I was a Lance Corporal. I felt that David was as surprised as I was when we met in this arena, despite many previous encounters at Red Rose dinners. With a good mix of military and civilian members, in particular local councillors, there was plenty of networking to be done as our “foot print” was maintained in society and we were all brought up to date with events and developments.

It was particularly good to meet with the other COs from the local units and indeed the CO of 4KORBR, Lt Col Tim Barrett MBE, organised a number of Lake District walks for commanding officers which were great fun. I joined one for a hike up Helvellyn with a small group which we completed, for me, in record time! The walk provided plenty of time to chat which continued over a beer back at base. We were, however, all conscious that the CO of 103 Regt RA had died from a heart attack on a previous walk.

The Brigade Commander’s conferences were very much business meetings held in Fulwood Barracks, HQ of 42(NW) Brigade, although I did forget to go to one and had gone off for a day’s walking in the Yorkshire Dales. Of course, I had to hold my hand up and apologise when my adjutant phoned me the following day. Compared with all my fellow senior officers I had probably had the best of days.

I enjoyed the Recruiting Sub Committee meetings held at Alexandra Court, Liverpool, home of RFCA NW & IoM. Although it was a drive, there was always a welcoming buffet and a good glass of wine. Recruiting across the Brigade area was always an issue which needed to be addressed and new ideas were warmly welcomed. The pressure was not on the OTCs as both Liverpool and Manchester were regularly well over-subscribed, so we were always popular attendees at the meetings. What we could offer was to liaise with our neighbouring units to accept our overflow of potential recruits. This we did as well as offering places to 4^th & 5^th year medical students within the universities; badged and paid by RAMC they were able to train with us at the OTC within a student schedule. The Royal Army Medical Corps was always under-recruited and we were able to help in this area with close liaison with 207 and 208 Field Hospitals.

Drawing to a Close

The whirlwind of command eventually began to blow itself out and my successor had been “pinked” – Lt Col Mike Glover.

Originally commissioned into the DLOY, and I do remember Mike as a subaltern, he had joined the regular army and served in The Queen’s Lancashire Regiment. We had occasionally met at Red Rose dinners but we got to know each other particularly on the staff at 42(NW) Brigade, both as Majors. When Mike completed his regular service he returned to the TA and before long was earmarked to succeed me at Manchester.

My dining out came and went and I left a silver statuette of a yeoman of The Duke of Lancaster’s Own Yeomanry to grace the dining table. Whenever I have dined at University Barracks subsequently, perhaps at ABF events, the staff have ensured that the statuette is positioned close – a nice touch.

Exercise Chocolate Lion was my final exercise. This was Easter Camp 1999 located up at Catterick and Col Mike joined us there allowing a convenient period of handover. Unfortunately, whilst “spending a penny” during the night I fainted sustaining several injuries, including a broken leg, as I fell. After coming round on my own, I knew I was in a mess but managed to summon assistance from my second-in-command, Major Peter Hilton. Peter took me eventually to Friarage Hospital in Northallerton where I ended my few remaining days in the TA. My unit duly returned to Manchester at the end of Easter Camp while I had my leg repaired with plate and screws and was eventually recovered by Diane. It was, in fact some weeks later, whilst still in plaster, that I attended The Defence Dining Club dinner at which I met with Brigadier Professor Richard Holmes. He was keen to hear my story.

Chapter 7 - Summary

1999 and later

Summary

Just over 26 years since I had joined ‘B’ Squadron DLOY my time in the TA had come to an end. During this period I had effectively served the equivalent of 5 full years in HM forces. And, while ending my time in an unfortunate situation in Friarage Hospital, I am in no doubt that the whole event was a quality experience.

Payback Time

I had decided, in my final year, that when my period of command came to a close that would be the time for me to bow out and concentrate on my career. Throughout my teaching career Bolton Council had provided excellent support and, while there was the odd comment from some staff, from those in charge there was an acknowledgement that service in the reserve forces made me a better person and was good for society as a whole.

Figure 49: Balancing TA and teaching; cartoon by Carol Parkes

Recovered from my injuries, I returned to my laboratory to continue running my physics department. Just over two years later an opportunity came my way in terms of a real step up in the world of education.

Career Change

On the way back from the pub one Friday lunch time, my colleague, Cath Chadwick mentioned a job in which she thought I may be interested. Bolton were setting up teams of specialists to help children who had problems with behaviour and attending school. These teams would consist of Specialist Health Advisors, Police Constables, Education Liaison Officers, Child & Adolescent Mental Health Specialists and support workers. Despite advertising for a coordinator and interviewing twice, Children’s Services had failed to find the right person. Now with an increased salary on offer they were about to interview for a third time. I enquired about the post and was interviewed at short notice to find I had just what they were looking for. Apart from the years of experience in education in Bolton what better multi-agency working and handling large budgets could there be than the armed forces. I was Bolton’s new Behaviour & Education Support Teams (BEST) Coordinator with an initial budget of c£500,000; what a change from asking for some new text books. Within two months I had left the class room and teaching physics!

I thrived in the job and my combined experience of education, management and personnel skills allowed me to set up the new teams so that new practices could be embedded in Children’s Services. Two years later, job done, I became a self-employed education consultant, working on the new Government programme to set up the “Children’s Database” including all 11 million young people. Bolton was a pilot authority with £1m to invest in the project. I found myself working with staff in Government departments as well as local authorities and thoroughly enjoying my lot. Concurrently, I had been asked by the governors of our local primary school to join their team and soon I was vice chair.

My TA experience had clearly made me a much more competent person with a broader remit. I continue to attend RFCA meetings and have been able to attend more ABF events. In civilian life I have been able to guide thinking on supporting reserve forces by our local authority and have helped councillors resolve issues regarding attempts to re-site our war memorial.

I was delighted to be invited to join the trustees of our Regimental & County Museum which has brought me considerable interest and pleasure and to whom I will, in due course, hand over both my hard copy and digitised archives from my service in the Territorial Army.

Figure 50: DLOY Emblazon

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