Page 26 - Linton Link

CATERING CORNER
An update from the catering staff here at Linton, by Cpl Danny Bucknole
It has been an interesting few months in the Catering Flt at Linton, we have seen faces come and go and there is no stopping any of us from slowing down
First big loss to the Flight was Mr G
(Bryan Griffiths, Officer Mess Manager), having been here since 1989-1997 as a Flt Sgt in the officer’s mess then 1997-2018 as a civilian head chef to then become the Mess Manager of the officer’s mess. He knew the place and people like the back of his hand and is already sadly missed. Brian is now loving life spending more time with his family and gardening and on the odd occasion roped Nigel (Sgt Kerswell) into a bit of manual labour digging fence pole holes and fixing fence panels. We all wish Brian a long and happy retirement.
Following this WO Ronnie Parry, who finished his time after 37 years served, and is planning his retirement to the sunny island of Malta with his wife Jackie. Best wishes also go out to Ronnie and Jackie. WO Paul Phillips was assigned back to Linton on a last tour of duty after spending 6 years away at Food Services Wg (FSW), Worthy Down followed by an embedded post within the previous CRL contractor. Despite being a Lancastrian, he is secretly delighted to be back in Yorkshire in the DCSO/WO Cat Flt post.
Huge congratulations went out to Sgt Nigel Kerswell who was fortunate enough to be picked up for promotion to Flt Sgt off this year’s board. Nigel has been posted to FSW as the Training Officer; needless to say, the Sgts mess bar is down on taking since his departure and White rose close is very quiet now there is no Whitney Houston being played. Now with Mr G and Nige dearly departed, Aramark found themselves a new mess manager. Ex-Army staff Sgt Gareth
Temple call sign Shirley (don’t know why?) joined the world of catering and had big shoes to fill from Mr G and Nigel, but so far, he is surviving and doing a great job, so a warm welcome to Gareth, hope you enjoy your time here.
and made room for SAC`s Jess Murfin, Sam Shepheard, Liam Vivian, and fresh from training we have LAC Jake Allen, who is chomping to get in into the thick of it.
Sgt Jack Horner grasped the opportunity to become the Adj thus making way for a new head chef in the officer’s mess, Mr Paul Gallimore. Paul has come across from Ripon to take on the role as Head Chef; having served in the
“Yours truly thought playing strollers football would be a walk in the park, safe, gentle and fun... nope”
army as a reserve chef for many years and completing tours in sandy places and is very familiar with Military environment. We all welcome him and his experience into the Officers mess in the coming months.
Now to the mere mortals on the shop floor, we have had a few coming and goings. Cpl Jane Horner has been posted to RAF Leeming and enjoying her time away from her husband so that has left a space for Cpl Jay Seymour from RAF Waddington to join us mid-March. SAC`s Ryan Green, Tom Douch, John Jones, Dave Hall have all moved to pastures new
Also, our very own SAC Shaun Bunday bagged himself a jolly on the shiny new HMS Elisabeth for a 4-month detachment and travelled to America seeing the sights of Disneyland, typhoon lagoon and probably a few bars for a social drink. But now he is moving on to new pastures, and going green by joining 3MCS at RAF Wittering, so best wishes to him in his future.
Finally, on the fun side we have Jess, Emma and Steve are all going for a week’s Skiing in Bavaria as part of Snow Eagle, so please don’t be picking up any injuries as one idiot is enough in the kitchen with a broken bone. Yes, yours truly thought playing strollers football would be a walk In the park safe, gentle, and fun... nope. In goal and a ball hurtling at you from the halfway line, probably going over the goal, and you decide to put your arm up to stop the ball and say ’ouch’ and feel a little bit sick, never good, then go to hospital and the nurse says to you, you are a 37 yr old man with a 10 yr olds injury just makes matters worse. I have the London Marathon in April so Training is going great (slowly) and my arm will soon be smelling, luckily it is only for a few more weeks.
I think we have covered all things in the world of catering for this edition hopefully I will let you all know about my Marathon and the time I completed it in and the money raised for my charity which is the brain and spine foundation.
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