Page 52 - QARANC Vol 14 No 9 2014

50 QARANC THE GAZETTE
Yorkshire and Humber Branch of the QARANC Association
Thanks to Facebook - a number of former QA’s, and RAMC, met at a reunion in Catterick in 2012. This led to us meeting regularly in Hull, as we found out that we all lived around the East Riding of Yorkshire. A chance question by one of us “why can’t we have a QARANC Association Branch in Hull?” led to a phone call to the Regimental Secretary Heather Duncombe. Heather very kindly gave us information about what was required. Again, through Facebook, a committee was formed and we set to and started planning our first event.
It was decided that we would look at going back to traditions, as we all remembered Corps Sunday and the obligatory curry Lunch. The date Sunday 23rd March, Corps Sunday, was identified, the room booked, lunch ordered – chicken curry, and thus we went to work trying to encourage and “recruit” new members.
Our first event went very well, 20 people were booked to come unfortunately only 15 attended but it gave us the chance to start the branch. The Corps Collect was said and the lunch went down very well. The highlight was meeting a lady of 82, Pauline, who joined the QARANC in 1950 -54. What stories she told, some slightly risqué, of what she got up to. She asked for the QA anthem, when
we played the QARANC march Scarlet and Grey, it was not the one she meant, but a ditty we all probably remember, “it wasn’t the WRAC that won the war, the QA’s were there before......” I am sure you can fill in the rest.
The chairperson attended the AGM as representative of the Branch, held at Victory services Club, in May. I hope that more members will be able to attend next year.
One of our members attended the RCN Congress, in Liverpool. She visited the Army Medical Services stand and they very kindly agreed to
give out association application forms as it seems they are often visited by ex QA’s who are still working as nurses etc. and “touch base” with their old corps.
Work continues to gain more members to the Association. Our next event is a tea dance, which is to be held in September, using a 1940’s theme, as it will be 75 years since the start of the Second World War. I hope that this will result in more people joining with us.
Alison Muir, Chairperson Yorkshire and Humber Branch
Jurassic Coast Branch Report
Chairman: Lt Col (Retd) M Bandy Secretary: Maj (Retd) Patsy May
On 8th February 2014 the branch AGM was held at the museum of the Devonshire and Dorset Regiment in Dorchester. Ten branch members attended and 6 other association members. After the meeting we were given the opportunity to look around the museum, which everybody enjoyed. We were told there was a terrific view from the roof however due to torrential rain and gale force winds it was impossible to see anything. We then had a fabulous lunch at the Royal Wessex Hotel in Dorchester High Street.
The QA Corps day was held at St Osmond ‘s Church Osmington followed by a splendid lunch at the Moreton Tea Rooms. The padre at St Osmond’s church always entertains with his sermons. Knowing he has nurses in the congregation he told us a doctor said to his patient the good news is you have 24 hours to live. So the patient said
if that is the good news then what is the bad news to which the Dr replied I should have told you yesterday. After lunch we all had a pleasant walk to St Nicholas Church with its famous etched Whistler windows and we visited the grave of Laurence of Arabia.
Regarding future events, we have a trip to the Sculpture Park in Dorset arranged for 6th September. We have also decided to change the date of future AGM’s to October. Our next AGM will be held on 25th October 2014 at the White Hart Hotel in Salisbury. QA Corps day will be held on 29th March 2015. We have a Jurassic coast boat trip with lunch being arranged for the beginning of July 2015.
All QA members are invited to any of the Jurassic coast branch activities even if they are not Jurassic coast members. If anybody is interested in attending any of the forthcoming activities contact;
Maj (Retd) Pat McKay Branch Secretary Tel: 01305 774560 email the.pat.mckay@gmail.com
Major (Retd) Patsy May