Page 4 - Flaming Cauldron – Issue 56

ACC ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER

Letters to the Editor from

Around the Regions

Dear Editor altar and I must admit, it looked great. had been brought to Aldershot and put
Firstly, thank you for my copies of The Sometime later, Philip was posted to into the chapel at the ACC Memorial
Flaming Cauldron which I look forward the Royal Horse Artillery whilst I was Hall. I think the painting was moved
to reading. The following story I relate to posted to the RASC in Germany so that when we passed the Memorial Hall over
you is true. I was stationed at Tonfanau was the last I saw of him until around to the Ghurkhas. I would love to know
Camp in Towyn, North Wales at the All 10-15 years later. what happened to it as I have lost con-
Arms Junior Leaders’ Regiment. I shared I made a few enquiries and found tact with Phillip and would like to know
a room with Acting L/Cpl Philip Russell, out where he was living. I decided to go if he is still around. I hope you find the
before joining the Army he had studied touring the South of Wales and England story interesting.
art at College in Cardiff. The camp was and, having found out his phone num- 22463666 Cpl George Barker
very isolated so to pass the time when off ber gave him a call. He was delighted
duty Phil decided to paint a picture of to hear from me, he came over to our Editor: On receiving the letter from George
Our Lord near the Cross at Calvary, so hotel and we had a very pleasant couple I located Philip Russell and we reminisced
we bought an 8'x4' sheet of hardboard of hours together over a meal with the about his painting and the letter from
and Phil brought his brushes and paints family. The years seemed to drop away George. Philip was pleased to hear that the
from home. Whilst painting, Phillip had and the following day we spent a few painting was moved to St Andrew’s Church
difficulty doing the hands and feet, and hours together before continuing our at Worthy Down where it now resides.
also the posture, so he asked me to pose journey. Philip gave me a couple of pic- I also passed Philip’s telephone number to
for him laying half naked across his bed! tures of the painting which, by that time, George so they can catch up together.
We would store the painting behind our
lockers on inspection days.
Dear Editor,
I would like to let you know about our recent 60 year reunion. On 2nd September
this year, a 60 year reunion of N&O squads took place at the home of retired
WO1 Geoff Hawkins. In attendance were, pictured left to right- Pete Dau, Dave
Lane, Joe Lawrence, Geoff Hawkins, Howard Wulf, Keith Fraser and Harry
Tough. Dave Wade also attended but had to leave early and Tim Dodds was
unfortunately unable to attend. We had a great time and were looked after very
well by former WO1 Paul Critchley. If anymore surviving former N&O squad
members who joined in 1960 are around we would be pleased to welcome them
into our messenger group (St. Omer vets).
Sent in by former Cpl 23779542 Adrian(Joe)Lawrence

The painting is pictured hanging on the wall in the
Chapel at the ACC Memorial Hall in Aldershot before
being relocated to St Andrews Church in Worthy Down.
At a whopping 8’ x 4 ‘, the Padre is trying to find a wall
large enough in his church on which to hang it! I recently
met Phillip at his home in Aldershot where he proudly
displays several of his other paintings and head & shoulder
sculptures. Editor
One Saturday, during the OCs
inspection, he spotted the painting and
asked Phillip what he was going to do
with the finished article; Phillip said he
did not know. The OC suggested that
it would look good in the camp chapel.
The finished painting was framed and
mounted under a spotlight near the
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