The Medical Centre has had a very busy year yet again. In fact, going back to the end of last year, we finished off last year with the deployment to Sierra Leone, for those whose geography isn't up to scratch, a small country on sub Saharan West Africa (coincidentally twinned with Hull). Our job out there was the usual providing medical cover for the Battalion and also a teaching role for the Sierra Leoneon Army in basic first aid.

On returning from Sierra Leone, after a well deserved Christmas leave, the Battalion then deployed one company plus to the Oman on exercise "Rocky Lance". The RMO plus Cpl Farrell, L/Cpl Frances, Pte Makin deployed with this exercise to provide local medical cover.

On return from the Oman, the RMO once again deployed this time with Cpl Higgott, Pte Pidge and Pte Harvey to Jamaica on exercise "Red Stripe". Again to provide local medical cover for a company level exercise. Unfortunately, contrary to popular belief, this was not an opportunity for the RMO to top up her suntan due to the fact that Jamaica was in the middle of the monsoon season!

Whilst the RMO plus some staff were trying to shelter from the rain in Jamaica, most of the rest of the department were assisting on Op Peninsula, the MOD Forces aid on the recent foot and mouth epidemic in Cumbria.

Once back in the UK and thinking we were reunited as a medical section, the RMO's services were called on once again for a quick trip back to the Oman to help out with medical cover.

Also this year we have had three postings into the medical centre with L/Cpl Pammen (RAMC), posted in from 5 GS Med Reg in Preston, Pte Anderson (Chinny) posted internally from Mortar Platoon to the medical centre and Cpl Farrell posted back to the medical centre from ITC Brecon.

We are also sorry to say goodbye and wish good luck to Pte Pidge who is transferring to QARANC to become a student nurse and Pte Kilby who is leaving the Army to go to college hoping to pursue a career in teaching.

Best wishes go to L/Cpl Steve Francis (RAMC) and Wendy on their marriage in June, to Pte Andrew Harvey and Claire on their marriage in August this year and Pte Chris Makin who is marring Charlotte in August.

As you can see it has been an extremely busy year for the department and we look forward, before the end of the year, to our new posting across the water and the challenges this will bring. However, the down side to this is that we leave behind our physiotherapist Bill Pittaway but wish him all the very best.