Page 113 - OO_2019

Estonia, and was designated as the UK Defence’s main effort for 2019.
Elsewhere, Col Tony Turner (N 94) is currently serving in the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and will next deploy for an operational tour of duty in the Middle East in the rank of Brigadier. He remains happily married to Charlie (D 95), who balances her time as a consultant radiologist at Southampton Hospital and raising their two children.
Col Jon Dowd (LS 90) is working in the International Section at the Defence Academy. He has been delivering the (snappily-titled!) Managing Defence in the Wider Security Context course in Lesotho, Albania, Chile, Palestine, Georgia, Ukraine and Ghana so far.
Maj Harry Wallace (St A 98) has just been posted back to 3 Commando Brigade, having served for two years as Officer Commanding King’s Troop, Royal Horse Artillery on mounted ceremonial duty.
Col Giles Harris DSO MBE (Ldr 91) is currently Chief of Staff of the MoD’s Euro Atlantic Security Policy Directorate, having handed over as Commander CABRIT in April this year. The CABRIT job took him and the family to Tallinn, Estonia, for just over two years from January 2017 to April 2019. He was responsible for setting up and leading a multinational operation of around 1,200 people. His new job is at the more strategic end of the scale, working with those who formulate UK policy for military contributions in the European and Atlantic security arena. He is also the very proud (but sadly not active enough!) Vice- President of Army Surfing. For the first time ever Giles, Alice and their three children are living in their family home on the Suffolk/Essex border!
Col Cameron Simpson (G 88) works in the Land Concept and Assessment Team based in Bristol, while Lt Col William Robinson (G 92) is about to relinquish command of the Royal School of Military Engineering and heads on operations. He reports that his family - Kerstin, Holly and Jack - are all doing well.
Lt Col Geoff Hargreaves (St A 94)
has handed over command of 3 PARA, whilst Lt Col Pete Perowne (G 98) will take command of the Household Cavalry Regiment.
Lt Col Sam Cates (Lx 96) moved to Northern Ireland in April 2018 to assume command of 2nd Battalion The Rifles. His first year in command has flashed by, having deployed to Gabon, Jordan, the Falklands and Sierra Leone (in 2018) on various training events, and to Kenya on an eight-week ‘war-fighter’ exercise this year. Preparations for the next major deployment to Afghanistan are now in full swing. Sam still sees lots of the ‘96 vintage, especially Henry Bryers (Lx 96), Jimmy Goddard (Lx 96) and Nev Ackerman (St A 96).
Lt Col Nick Berchem (D 86) is having a fabulous time in Saumur, France, where he is currently posted overseas as the British Army Liaison Officer to the French Cavalry School. The family are two years down and have a further two to go. His brother, Jeremy Berchem (D 89), is still a lawyer in Guernsey.
Lt Col James Cullinan (G 92) is working in the Land Warfare Centre in Warminster, finishing three years in warfare development and doctrine writing. Thereafter, in early 2020, he will assume responsibility for the SO1 Concepts role, again in LWC, which will see him looking into a crystal ball and trying to make sense of what the future may have in stall for the Army and to make sure that there are no significant surprises!
Down under, Lt Col Mark Mankowski (Sn 94) returned from Operation Inherent Resolve in the Middle East in July 2018 and took command of 16 Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery in December 2018. His family joined him in a move from Sydney in January to Mount Barker, just outside Adelaide in South Australia. This has been the best six months of his 20 years so far in the military. Highlights have included marching through the centre of Adelaide on Anzac Day and participating in a number of major exercises, culminating in Exercise Talisman Sabre 2019, where the Australian Amphibious Task Group achieved its full operational capability.
Maj Yann Searle (Sc 94) has been working as SO2 Future Plans and Operations with 12 Brigade.
Capt Will Wade (St A 07) is currently serving as Adjt Royal Armoured Corps Training Regiment, after returning from a two-year posting to Canada. Capt Wade is also the primary line manager for Capt Tom Arkell (St A 07), who is often a burden that he has to carry!
Capt Douglas Farquhar (B 08) has been trying to get back to Oundle, but training and overseas deployments keep getting in the way, while Jonny Farquhar (B 12) has passed the Reserve All Arms Commando Course and looks forward to working with 131 Commando Sqn.
Lt Ben Atkinson (Ldr 11) has deployed to New Zealand on exercise with the Royal Ghurkha Rifles; Lt Pete Dennison (F 11) has commanded his first platoon in the Rifles; Lt George Scrupps (Sc 12) has been based out in Cyprus with the Royal Anglian Regiment; and Lt Ali Humphreys (G 10) is enjoying his time in the Irish Guards.
From the Royal Lancers, Capt Tom Wythe (L 03) is working as a team leader at the Army Officer Selection Board in Warminster. He and Sophie were delighted to announce the birth of Phillippa in July. As the fastest rider in the Army, Tom has continued to captain the victorious Army Cresta team who won the Inter- Services Championships in St Moritz.
Lt Guy Parker (B 09) has enjoyed the fast-paced but fascinating work as the Aide de Camp to the Deputy Supreme Allied Commander in Europe. He remains in good health, but intelligence suggests he may soon require a trip to the tailors to ease a man bursting at the seams!
I have had a thoroughly enjoyable
year as a Troop Leader with the
Royal Lancers. A particular highlight
was a mounted overseas training
exercise in Finland alongside the US Marine Corps, US Army and Finnish Army. I have also enjoyed playing
cricket for the Royal Armoured
Corps and representing the Royal
Lancers at the Cresta Run, where I
was well looked after by ‘tower boy’
Rory Ramsay (Ldr 14). www
NEWS FROM HOME
THE OLD OUNDELIAN 2018 –2019
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