Page 6 - The Gazette Autumn 2024

6 The Gazette QARANC Association
Col Cmdt Kevin Davies
It has been a hectic, frantic and fun QA 75 thus far. We have celebrated and commemorated in equal measure and our heritage is secure.
Regimental responsibilities are still an essential way of ensuring representation for our Corps and Col Andrea (Lewis) and I are fully committed to this as well as of course supporting our CNO at a time of constant churn. We welcome Susanne ‘Susie’ Squires to the staff at RHQ and wish her well with us going forward. In addition, of course we must thank the indomitable force of will that is Tracey Buckingham: a more solid and grounded colleague would be very hard to find, and her sage advice and sound judgement has served us all well.
Politics will always have an impact on defence. The Army and indeed our Corps is not immune to this. We must be vigilant and alert to opportunities that may well arise out of reviews and evaluations of our numbers, our capacity and our capability. Simply we must be ready to state our essential place in any analysis of Army Nursing both regular and reserve.
On 26 April a goodly number of us attended our regimental dinner in the great hall of Edinburgh Castle. A truly wonderful experience in terms of history and connection. We were joined by our Colonel in Chief making it extra special. In a very busy schedule HRH clearly enjoyed her time with us. We certainly enjoyed having her join us. The Governor, Major General Alastair Bruce proved a very hospitable host and his explanation of the past uses of the great hall including as a hospital ward made the evening even more relevant to our presence.
Many of you will have attended the reunion lunch in Birmingham on 27 April. If you did you may well have noticed that the CNO and both Cols Commandant looked a tad bleary eyed. True we had been at the dinner the night before at the Castle but a very early start meant check in at Edinburgh Airport at 0530hr for a short flight to Birmingham in order that we were in time for lunch. We made it but it takes a toll on globetrotting colonels would be my observations.
The lunch was one of the best attended I have known and the atmosphere tremendous. It was made even more special with a significant 40 reunion. Tremendous when you think about it.
Many of you will have been saddened by the passing of the wonderful Bridget McEvilly. Having served as both DANS and Colonel Commandant she made a significant impact on the Corps but more especially on all who came within her sphere. The full house at St Andrews Church in Aldershot was a testament to her legacy. I am not convinced that the officiating clergy was expecting a rendition of Tina Turner’s “Simply the Best” to have the dancing impact it did. He was very good about it though and I think understood that he was witnessing the impact and sense of fun that Colonel Bridget had on all of us.
Another fantastic highlight of the year has been the
Governor Major General Alastair Bruce with Col Cmdt Kevin
The strength of the event for me was the fact that army nurses regular, reserve
and retired looked so comfortable in each other’s company.
dinner at Hampton Court Palace. Unfortunately, I was unable to attend but the feedback is overwhelmingly positive, and credit goes out to the organisers. The social media coverage is further evidence of how wonderful an evening it was. The strength of the event for me was the fact that army nurses regular, reserve and retired looked so comfortable in each other’s company.
As I write it dawns on me that this will be my last piece for the Gazette as Colonel Commandant. Col Andrea will do the Spring ‘25 piece and I complete my tenure in May. On reflection it has been a whirlwind of activity. I was appointed in May 2020 just into lockdown and our challenge was to ensure we supported all our constituents. The strength that is our association met the challenge country wide and it was a privilege so support them.
We are entering another challenging era and our ability to provide the best of care in the most challenging of environments may well be tested. The technically unsupported environment will test us. I know instinctively that we are in good place to deliver. The evidence you have provided gives me great confidence.
You have been a pleasure to support. Indeed, it has been an honour. I will watch closely but with confidence as new challenges, but importantly new opportunities arise. Grab them with both hands and be successful as I know you can.
To steal a phrase: “Davies.....Out.”
Colonel Kevin Davies MBE, RRC, CStJ, DL, PhD, MA, RN Colonel Commandant QARANC