Page 5 - Flaming Cauldron – Issue 54

ACC ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER

Dear Editor,
Thank you for the newsletter, I read with interest
about the Course for Omani Catering Instructors.
It was a shame we didn’t know it was taking place,
as I along with Norman (Steve) Stevens were
European Instructors at The Force Catering School
and Kevin Brennen the OC in the mid 80’s to the
early 90’s. At that time all the catering within
the units was provided by Asians mainly Indians,
along with Sri Lankans & Bangladeshis, with the
occasional Pakistani. These chefs were recruited
from the top Hotels in their native country, and
depending where the head chef came from,
depended on how they interpreted the dishes.
All Army units had at least 2 British Officers,
usually the CO & QM and an Ex REME Warrant
Officer. The way dishes were cooked & served varied
from unit to unit, it was our job was to standardize
the food throughout each unit. We had a maximum
of six students on each course, which ran from
Saturday through to Wednesday, 7am till 2pm. As
bread was almost impossible to buy it was always
the first thing we taught them to make, and the first
task each morning, then it was either soups & sauces,
potatoes & vegetables, main course dishes and des- News from down-under
serts. During Ramadan, as no food was required
during the day, we used to go round each unit teach-
Member Brian Kay from Australia regularly keeps in touch with
ing them how to use Field Cooking Equipment.
the Association especially with regard to his work, and that of many
During our time there, cooking was regarded as
others, for the Returned and Services Leagues (RSL) of Australia.
a woman’s job, it wasn’t till very late in our time at
Brian kindly forwarded the attached cutting and reports: I’m busy
the School that we got a young Omani man who
with my RSL work and like the UK Army we are strug-
we trained as both a Chef & later as an Instructor.
gling with our younger veterans reintegrating back into
There were two Indian Instructors that taught
civvy street and gaining meaningful employment, and sadly
Arabic food, and a Sri Lankan that did waiting
with increased suicides among all veterans. Our RSL Sub
courses. The biggest shame about not knowing
Branch decided to sponsor a veterans’ rugby league football
about them being here
team and they will have an inaugural match with a Regular
was that they visited
Army service team during our Sub Branch Open Day (another first for
Skegness, which is only
us). I attach a report from the local newspaper on the Open Day and
a couple of miles from
we’re keeping our fingers crossed that the weather is kind to us next
where I live.
week. Take care, regards, Brian.
Yours, Dave Button
President Bray Park-Strathpine Sub Branch Inc.
Dear Wally,
I have passed on the information on the ACC Remembrance Day
events to our current and past Colonel Commandants AACC. Once
again I’m sorry I missed you on my recent visit to the UK, and wish you
all the best for future ACC commemorations. Thank you for publish-
ing my article in the last Edition of your Corps Journal, The Flaming
Cauldron, Summer 2019, it keeps our connections very much alive.
I note the ACC involvement in the National Memorial Arboretum
this year; I was stationed at Whittington Barracks Litchfield in
1960-62 as a Cpl Cook with the Mercian Brigade; my father SQMS
J.C.Kay ACC was an Instructor at the Catering Training Centre, and
my younger brother David was a Bandsboy with the Worcestershire
Regiment. Very much a ‘family’ affair! So Litchfield has a special
place in my memory of service in the British Army and the ACC,
and I look forward to reading a report in the Corps Journal on this
Commemorative Service. Fond Regards, Brian Kay
SECRETARY@ACCASSOCIATION.ORG | WWW.ACCASSOCIATION.ORG PAGE 5