A huge thank you (I think) to A.N. Other for his impartial committee member write ups...
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President:President:
Cdr 'Bug' Wrightson RN Rtd was a Field Gun Boss, although he would have preferred to have manned the loops but as a proper 'Rupert' he was not allowed. Bug was a tenacious and aggressive rugby player who enjoyed playing in the front row at the Hooker position which gave him the ideal attributes of an 'Axle Number'. These characteristics include being short, chopsy, no teeth and the ability to start a fight in a phone booth! Bug does not have hobbies as he is too busy rescuing silly buggers who get lost on mountains.
Cdr Bug Wrightson RN - Field Gun Officer 1988
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Chairman: Tom Dooley ran Field Gun on too many occasions to mention, won some silverware including one particularly very fast run in 1984. First Trainer in 1997, Tom became the first to steer his crew to victory for a decade, which is frankly just showing off! His hobbies include stretching, stashing cash under his mattress, bossing the committee around and basking in the almost Godlike status anointed on him by the 97 crew.
Chairman:
Tom Dooley - Trainer 1996, 97. PTI 1993. Crew: 1981, 84, 88, 91, 94, 95. -
Vice Chairman
Dennis Moffat
The committee would like to welcome the newest member of the team, Dennis Moffat. Unfortunately, due to his previous secret service he cannot be named to avoid breaching the Official Secrets Act. Dennis, sorry Agent X ran field gun on too many occasions too mention, won a lot of silverware, including one particularly fast run in 1984 and was first trainer in 1996. A legendary character on and off the track, X has seen action in many of the worlds flash points, Falklands, Gulf, Northern Island and Portsea. Although never officially diagnosed with PTSD, Agent X has displayed classic signs, the loss of one operative, “Lofty” causing him much distress. His constant search for “Lofty” has become heart breaking to witness with X constantly enquiring “Lofty?”. Those less enlightened members of the field gun fraternity wrongly assuming that X cannot remember anyone’s name! Not much is known about his private life or hobbies, but rumours abound that X still works for the government, torturing the countries enemies by forcing them to listen to Van Morrison records.
Dennis Moffat - Trainer 1995, 96. Crew 1975, 78, 81 & 84.
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Treasurer & Heritage Leigh 'Gabby' Hayes was destined to become a stalwart of 3 crews from a very young age. Whilst his schoolmates were watching Debbie does Dallas from under the covers, Gabby was watching the Woolridge report and had posters of bare chested Field Gunners on his wall! Now a commissioned officer, Gabby takes traditional wardroom values very seriously, such as wearing brogues and Babour jackets, having good ideas and avoiding going to the bar. His hobbies include not spending money, drinking beer with bits floating in it, naming old running crews, manipulating the Social Sec and thrashing Junior Rates.
Treasurer & Heritage
Lt Cdr Leigh (Gabby) Hayes - Crew 1993, 96, 98 -
Secretary: Brum "Goffa" Gough never actually manned the loops due to that fact that using step ladders to get over the wall was classed as a display penalty. However, without a doubt his dedication to the cause was as fierce as anyone. Brum was Pete Ruddock's bezzie winger and trusted Lieutenant and such it is to him the committee now look up to, sorry down to, for advice and guidance on a raft of matters. Brums hobbies include Basketball, Volleyball, Fencing, Polo, Rowing and Tennis.
Secretary:
Michael Gough - Battery Staff 1980, 82. Field Gun Staff 1987. Bar Manager 1991, 92. -
Newsletter: Unlike Brum Gough, Mick 'Maggot' Malone did man the loops, getting away with using a step ladder to get over the wall on many occasions. A tenacious and fierce competitor Mick would stop at nothing to taste victory, including running for Whale Island Sea Cadets aged 45 and with 3 A crews under his belt! Mick's hobbies include Basketball, Volleyball, Fencing, Polo, Rowing and Tennis.
Newsletter:
Mick Malone - Crew 1979, 83, 88, 93. -
Website/Shop/Social Media & Membership Steve 'Candygram for Mongo' Rowlands: The term Webmaster conjures up visions of a spotty geek or trainee serial killer, definitely not so in this case. As the nickname suggests Steve was the biggest and strongest member of the all conquering '97 crew. His ability to throw a Limber over the wall was only matched by his ability to devour calories at all hours of the day. After leaving the RN, Steve decided to continue with his martial arts and is now a 116th Dan, pink sock in origami and runs a successful business teaching it. Steve's hobbies include, choking people out, teaching people to choke other people, getting people to pay to be choked and and getting choked out by someone extra good at choking.
Webmaster & Social Media
Steve Rowlands - Crew 1994, 95, 97. Staff (OA) 1996 -
Social Secretary: Bill Parry, a veteran of 5 crews. Bill experienced mixed fortunes, including once re-enacting a scene from Ben Hur in front of the Earl's Court crowd which entailed getting run over by the Gun, the Limber and the other 17 members of the crew! A notable success was as Buffer to Tom's crew (yes him again), so he feels his true talents lay in rostering Sailors to clean the toilets rather than manning the loops. Bill's hobbies include cooking, decorating, gardening, pottery, furniture making and any other household chores
Social Secretary:
Bill Parry - Crew 1986, 89, 92, 96, 98. Buffer 1997 -
Assistant Social Secretary: Wayne 'Hodge' Hodkinson: Along with the Chairman, Hodge is the other ex PTI, Gym Mistress, Box Hopper on the committee. After running in the successful 97 B crew, Hodge was looking forward to a long and illustrious Field Gun career, unfortunately for him, Tony Blair's mob had other ideas and pulled the plug on the "Toughest Team Sport in the World" in 1999. Since then Hodge has dedicated his life to running ridiculously long distances at ridiculously quick speeds, drinking ridiculously varied alcoholic beverages at ridiculously quick speeds and falling asleep on the sofa. Hodge's hobbies: See above and part time psychology.
Assistant Social Secretary:
Wayne Hodkinson - Crew 1997 -
Tour Manager: Mark 'Sparky' Coombes, another member of the elite Silver medal winning collective on the committee, as well as being a successful businessman, makes Sparky, what is commonly known as a 'flash git' and a figure of jealousy for a large percentage of other committee members. As well as his field gun prowess and business acumen, Sparky is a spokesman for the 'drink responsibly' campaign. Sparky's hobbies include antique Persian rug collecting, Classic Car collecting, art collecting, high stakes poker, racehorse breeding and sailing his private yacht.
Membership Secretary:
Mark Coombes - Crew 84, 87.
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Communications, Senior Citizen & LGBT Rep:
Jed Stewart: Increasing the ‘Box Hoppers/Gym Mistresses’ numbers on the committee, Jed has joined to improve communication with the Senior Citizens of the association . As he is fast approaching his 98th birthday, it was felt he has the right attributes for the job including toileting issues and talking about people no one else knows. A doyen of three crews in the 70’s and one crew in the 80’s, Jed has an excellent rapport with a lot of the more elderly members. He also occupies a very unusual position in the PFGA fraternity... everybody likes him, which leaves him in a majority of one! Dragged kicking and screaming into the 21st century the PFGA now accepts that we need to be more forward thinking, for that reason Jed has also been nominated as the association's LGBT rep. Jed’s hobbies include taking pictures of other member's wives and girlfriends, driving elderly people and children around the countryside and setting off security alarms.
Jed Stewart - Crew 1971, 74, 79, 83..