Page 60 - The Gazette Autumn 2024

60 The Gazette QARANC Association
SCOTTISH BRANCH
A year of remembrance and revelry
What have Scottish Branch members been up to since January? Well, for some there has never been a dull moment.
In March we had our Corps Day celebration in Perth, which is a great location being central for most of our members. It was extremely well-attended, including by serving members – our retirees love to see them, and always ask lots of questions about life in the Corps today.
Our fabulous secretary, Sheila Jones, was announced as the worthy recipient of the QARANC Association Medal 2024 in April. To say she was shocked was an understatement! I don’t recall ever having seen Sheila rendered speechless, but I think we pulled it off this time. To be fair, the circumstances of the announcement were quite unusual in that we were on holiday in Portugal but attending a meeting on Zoom. I’m sure Sheila thought I was being a bit overzealous in insisting that we attend, little did she know there was an ulterior motive.
Who could fail to have been moved by the D-Day 80 commemorative events, attended by our very own Una Smith ARRC. Unfortunately, due to a travel delay Una and her group were unable to attend the main service but she took part in services at the Paratrooper Memorial in Ranville and the 15th Scottish Division Memorial in Tourville.
Una also visited the ‘Standing with Giants’ installation, laying a wreath and cross for Sister Mollie Evershed and Sister Dorothy Field, who helped save the lives of 75 wounded men before losing their own as their hospital ship went down after hitting a mine off the French coast.
The installation stands behind the British Normandy War Memorial overlooking Gold Beach and consists of 1,475 silhouettes, each one eight foot high. At the centre are the figures of these two women. As Una said afterwards it was a busy trip, at times very emotional, however she felt very humble to be able to pay her respects to her nursing forebears of the QAIMNS.
Our summer event, in Glasgow, involved a tour of the City Chambers followed by lunch at the rooftop restaurant of the Carlton George Hotel. Sitting close to the entrance is the Lamp of Remembrance, erected by ex-Service Nurses of Glasgow in memory of those who died in WW1 and WW2.
Keen to get home to East Lothian afterwards was one of our Honorary Members, Lt Col (Retd) Gerry Taggart RE, who was heading straight to a Skiff Rowing training session in preparation for the
I don’t recall ever having seen Sheila rendered speechless, but I think we pulled it off this time.
Una Smith with silhouettes
Broughty Ferry Regatta. Gerry was taking part in the Novice Mixed class and was well supported by family and friends, as well as our Treasurer Ron Buist and his wife Carolyn. Apparently, you remain a novice until you win a race and as Gerry pointed out afterwards, he remains a novice. What a great effort Gerry and better luck next time.
For the first time since Corps Day in 2019 we were back in Inverness to meet up with some of our members, with some of us making a very enjoyable weekend of it. We’ve also been to Kinghorn in Fife, where the view of the beach and the Forth bridges was amazing, made even better by blue sky and sunshine.
Come July and we were off to Dundee. As it was Ron’s old stomping ground, he had found us a fabulous venue and I can attest the coffee and conversation were excellent. It also gave us the opportunity to have our first committee meeting in person in a long time. Again, Ron found the perfect location and yes, a wee glass of wine was taken after the proceedings were over.
In December we will hold our Festive Lunch in Edinburgh, at the New Club in Princes Street. Our event is on the top floor looking out over Princes Street Gardens and up to the Castle, so the view could not be more spectacular, especially with all the Christmas lights.
Karen Irvine RRC