Page 6 - Flaming Cauldron – Issue 58
P. 6
ACC ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER
Major Eric Lewis
Secretary Designate of the ACC Association
I am thrilled to introduce myself as (Worthy Down), Army HQ (Andover)
the Secretary Designate of the Army and finally returning to Marchwood
Catering Corps Association, taking (Sea Mounting Centre) where I finished
over from Wally Vincent who has my military career. I add these units and
held the reigns and supported the locations, not to show where I served,
Association for nearly 5 years. I thank but rather hoping to jog a few memories
Wally for his ongoing commitment, ded- with the aspiration to reacquaint past
ication, and the service he has provided friendships.
and know, he will be sorely missed by all I am very proud of my service with
and a very hard act to follow. as a chef in the ACC (and RLC) and
A little about myself. Prior to joining remember fondly (now) when being a
the Army, I worked for over 4 years in the chef meant being tested 3 times a day
hotel and restaurant industry in South and the norm was to work long and
Wales as a commi/sous chef. I joined unsociable hours. I did not appreciate
the ACC in October 1981, initially the long arduous hours at the time, but
in 13 Squad on the Depot side – no through reflection have recognised that it
hisses please from the Apprentice cohort, before has given us a unique esprit de corps. This is borne
being up-squadded due to my previous catering out by the Association and you, its members; who
experience and civilian qualifications held. I was would have thought that the ACC Association
very fortunate to have had a full and rewarding would be thriving some 29 years post its demise?
career, both in the ACC (12 years) and RLC (28 I attended the Cenotaph this year (2021) alongside
years) as a chef and commissioned officer. Serving another 50 Association members, some I knew,
across the Army (in posting order): 3RGJ (Celle), some I did not, but we all had one thing in
2nd Bn Grenadier Guards (London/Ballykelly), common, we were chefs and proud of it.
3 ADTR (Duisburg), 4 Regt RA (Osnabruck), The current plan is that I will take over from
2 RTR (Fallingbostel),1ADSR (Herford), Wally at the beginning of April 2022 and I write
29 Regt RLC (South Cerney), Blandford this well before that date and currently do not fully
Garrison, 20 Armd Bde (Paderborn/Sennelager) appreciate the scope of the role. As such, I have no
and lastly (as a chef/soldier) Army HQ (Wilton) manifesto to share, other than to state that I look
where I served as the Command Catering Warrant forward to being your Secretary, so please do get
Officer and from where I was commissioned. in touch, either by email, the website or just old-
On commissioning, I served with 4 LSR fashioned snail mail – a letter. I will look forward
(Abingdon), 17 P&M Regt RLC (Marchwood), to your correspondence, whether that be to;
DRLC (Deepcut), HQ Defence Explosives and provide guidance, ideas for the betterment of the
Munitions (Kineton), Food Service Wing as OC Association or simply to touch base.
2021 Festival of Remembrance
I’m delighted to report that Webmaster Royal Scots Dragoon Guards and
Colin MacDonald proudly carried the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry
ACC Association Standard at this year’s Army Catering Corps Association
Festival of Remembrance at the Royal
Colin was pleased to attend although
Albert Hall on Saturday 13th November.
a little disappointed to learn that the
In addition to many Standard Bearers
ex-service Associations featured for
from the various branches of the Royal
approximately 4 seconds on the TV
British Legion, the following ex-service
programme, if you blinked you may
Associations were also invited:
have missed this! David Ashburner last
Royal Naval Association
represented the ACC Association at the
Royal Air Force Association
Festival of Remembrance in 2011 so it
Royal Marines Association looks like we may have to wait another
Queen’s Own Highlanders 10 years for glimpse of our Standard
Regimental Association once again.
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