Page 297 - The History of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps 1962–2021

THE HISTORY OF THE ROYAL ARMY VETERINARY CORPS 1962 – 2021
considered by a variety of other departments before a satisfactory Framework of Documents could be agreed, and upon which the DAC could be successfully launched as a Defence Agency.24
The first report and accounts for the DAC were presented to Parliament in July 1996 and published in the autumn. It was a new public accountability that came as part of the Centre’s status as a Defence Agency. The Commandant and Chief Executive, Colonel Andrew Roache, reported that in spite of many challenges, the DAC continued to provide a reliable and adaptable service to customers both inside and outside the MOD. The standards of animal training had, he said: “never been higher and the contribution made to security and ceremonial operations was immensely valuable.” Crucially, he also went on to report that “the collocation of Army and Royal Air Force Operations at Melton was complete.”
This centralisation of facilities and expertise was a factor that enabled the DAC to make net cost savings of 4.6% during the reporting year, which significantly bettered the 2.5% set by the MOD. The CE said that central to the success of the Agency, had been the hard work and dedication of the staff, both military and civilian. It was recorded in the DAC Annual Report and Accounts (1995 – 1996) that the enthusiasm and commitment of everyone involved had ensured the continuation of the hard work that had maintained the customary high standard throughout a period of change and uncertainty. The CE also quoted the Minister for Armed Forces, who had said: “the DAC was a national asset”, a view he wholeheartedly shares.25
Melton re-build
“Seeing is believing...” wrote the Corps Director, Brigadier Paul G H Jepson,26 when it was announced that the Private Finance Initiative to fund the Melton rebuild was progressing better than expected and that a surprising a number of credible bidders had entered the arena promising that the bricklayers should be starting work in 1998.
The introductory quote by Brigadier Andrew Warde was in response to the 25-year Public Finance Initiative contract put into place that would see the rebuild of the facilities at Melton Mowbray. The rebuild saga, which had begun in 1966, had, when the Ministry of Defence proposed to merge all dog training with the RAF, entailed the very survival of the Corps.
24 Chiron Calling Winter 1993/1994.
25 DAC Annual Report and Accounts 1995-1996.
26 Chiron Calling ‘Directors View’ dated Winter 1997.
27 Chiron Calling Winter 2001/02 ’Directors View.’
As said earlier, the first inkling regarding the rebuilding of the facilities at Melton Mowbray was mooted in 1949. Truth being, they did not become a reality until 2000! The wooden huts were first erected in 1938 with a life expectancy of five years. Everyone who served on the site will recall the buildings as stark, open and communal with each barrack block housing sixty soldiers. And on the occasion of any Corps functions, they were simply accommodated by erecting tentage to link the Old Forge with the Amenities Centre.
The updating of facilities at Melton Mowbray must be viewed in the context of the War Office and later the Ministry of Defence seeking the disbandment of the RAVC in the numerous series of defence cuts. The result being that changes were piecemeal over the decades. One factor that cannot be overlooked here was the level of insecurity that heaped on RAVC personnel and, at times, an understandable low morale.
The consequence of the DAC PFI contract27 was far reaching for the RAVC. Not only was it the first such Army project to get underway, it was, as Brigadier Andrew Warde (DAVRS) emphasised in Chiron Calling (winter 2001 – 02), more than a rebuild bringing ‘new offices and administration facilities’ – it was, more crucially, that the new structures signified that the ‘.... threat of closure was lifted.’
REALM (DAC) Ltd was a consortium set up specifically to rebuild the human facilities area or the so called ‘Top Camp’, and to maintain the whole unit contract for the 25-year period. Taylor Woodrow built the accommodation; another partner was meant to provide the catering expertise and Glendale Facilities Management (GFM) was to provide overall site management. Glendale, part of the Parkwood group of companies, were responsible for ensuring that buildings services and staffing were maintained in accordance with the terms of the contract which was signed in August 1998. GFM, who had some experience of grounds management and equine management, became the employer of the majority of the civilian personnel working at the Centre and the immediate impact on site was the appearance of civilian uniform which all GFM staff were expected to wear. For everyone, this was a piece of visual hope that the long-awaited building programme was, at last getting underway.
The majority of personnel transferred to GFM
289