A certificate recognising 40 years of dedicated service has been presented to an employee of GLSU.

Angela Wood, who has worked for the British Army since May 1971 and for the GLSU since January 1981, received her award from Brigade Commander 7th Armoured Brigade, Brig Paul Nanson.

Speaking at the presentation, Brig Nanson said: “It’s very humbling to be able to give you this award, you’ve spent 40 years here in Germany and that’s 40 cold winters.

“It’s not just the Desert Rats giving you this award, it’s the British Army saying thank you for all your hard work you have given.”

Angela first started working for the SSO Hohne in May 1971 as a clerk/typist and since then has had a varied career working throughout Germany including Army Legal Assistance in Bielefeld, a secretary at Gloucester School and her more recent position as a civilian personnel officer at Bergen-Hohne since 1994; there she provides Maj Steve Mullins OC GLSU with advice and guidance on employment matters and translating documents.

Maj Mullins said: “I remember when I first started in this role, Angela’s only comment to me as a wet behind the ears 44-year-old but young LE major was ‘my job is to provide you with advice, it is up to you whether you decide to take it’.

“Angela is diligent and extremely capable and knowledgeable and has the moral courage required to hold her post and her loyalty to the numerous OCs.”

Angela married her husband Tony in 1990, and they live locally in Bergen. They have four children, including an adopted son and eight grandchildren.

Delighted at receiving her award, Angela said: “Although it’s been 40 years, to me it’s gone really fast. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed working here and regularly keep in touch with the friends I have met over the 40 years.

“I’ve got three years left here and then my husband and I are going to retire to the parish of St Philip in Barbados where we have built our own house.

“We will miss Germany very much but the children will look forward to having a great place to go on holiday.”

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Smokers stubbed it out across Bergen-Hohne Garrison on March 14 in support of No Smoking Day.

The day-long, UK and BFG-wide initiative encourages smokers to quit and to get more information about how to do so.

The Dental Centre in Hohne promoted the campaign by handing out leaflets and discussing options with those who wished to quit smoking outside JB’s Restaurant at lunchtime and the NAAFI Max in the afternoon.

“No Smoking Day is important because we have a lot of young Servicemen and women here who smoke, but there are so many reasons to quit,” said Capt Fiona Cunningham RADC, who was manning the stand. “Health reasons are the most important, but there are financial benefits to quitting too.”

If you missed the stand on No Smoking Day but are interested in quitting smoking, you can get more information from your unit PTIs and dental and medical centres, which offer smoking cessation clinics.

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