Page 61 - The Gazette Autumn 2024

MILLBANK BRANCH
Millbank Branch goes to the Palace!
Friday 17 May dawned as a bright and sunny day – a perfect day for a garden party in fact! As luck would have it, Julia Jones and Karen Eifflaender, were fortunate enough to have been invited to Buckingham Palace to attend the annual garden party. It was hosted by the Not Forgotten Association, whose patron is HRH Princess Anne, who attended with her husband Commander Tim Lawrence.
The Not Forgotten Association is a small charity that has been supporting veterans and wounded serving personnel since 1920. They provide social activities, outings, respite and breaks with the aim of bringing veterans together and supporting families. They are a fabulous asset for our veteran community.
On our arrival at the Palace, we were welcomed by a very jolly Beefeater and guided around to the garden where there was music playing and seating laid out for the guests. The weather was glorious, and everyone was in their finery, it was so colourful!
Amongst the guests were familiar faces from the entertainment industry and we soon found ourselves celebrity spotting! There was even an impromptu sing song with singer Alfie Boe
and some of his fans!
Soon after our arrival, we were
invited to partake in some of the delicious offerings that had been laid out for us – a range of finger sandwiches, wraps and bagels along with some very lovely cakes – it would have been so rude not to have done so, so we did the decent thing and enjoyed ourselves from the spread before us!
We were also free to have a wander around the palace
The weather was glorious, and everyone was in their finery, it was so colourful!
gardens – a beautiful oasis in the centre of the capital that we would not normally be able to see.
The Princess Royal was introduced to several of the beneficiaries and their guests/carers, before we were all treated to a display of military music and a Beating of the Retreat which signalled the end of a very lovely afternoon.
Millbank branch held it’s AGM at the Union Jack Club with 21 members present. The committee was voted in with a new addition, Elizabeth Ward, who replaces our long serving committee member and former Treasurer Adele Rutledge.
As well as the Corps being 75 this year the branch is 70 and we marked this occasion with a birthday cake. We combined the cake cutting with a presentation of a card and flowers to Adele. The photos show the cake and a very happy Adele. It was a well-supported meeting, and we look forward to our autumn outing to the Garden Museum and Christmas lunch at the Army and Navy Club.
Judy Cook
Millbank Branch Secretary
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