Page 53 - Qaranc Spring 2014

Mrs Susan Maree Cooper (Nee Treacy).
Born 27th May 1944 Died 19th August 2013.
I first met Sue in Liphook Transit Camp in early December 1963. We were heading for our overseas posting to BMH Singapore. Sue had come from the Military Hospital at Tidworth with 3 other girls, Janine Hamilton, Ann Wilson and Linda White. I had come from the Military Hospital at Woolwich with my friend Julie Davies.
We arrived in Singapore via QANTAS airlines in the early hours one December morning and persuaded a friendly Army Catering Corps cook to make us all some breakfast! We settled in during the first couple of weeks before Christmas and Sue, who was incredibly pretty, was the first of us to have had a dress made by a local dressmaker for the Christmas dance. We were all very envious!
Sue was posted to Hong Kong six months later and we lost touch until 1968. By this time we had both married men from the RAMC. I was living in Menden in Germany with my husband Dave Laraman, who had been posted to BMH Iserlohn. Dave came home one day and informed me that a Ray Cooper (Lab Tech) had been posted into the unit and his wife was Sue (Treacy). We were living very near to each other and Sue had her first baby Mark and I had my first child Lindsay. We became very firm friends and this friendship continued throughout Sue’s life. We were always in touch by letter or telephone and many times posted to the same units over the years.
In the early years, we would go to the German markets in Iserlohn to buy material to make (without a pattern)
something to wear for the social evenings in the Corporals Mess. Sue also had a flare for flower arranging. She also had the ability to throw a house party at the drop of a hat – such good times and good friends.
It was when we were both in Aldershot in 1978 when her younger sister Pam suffered an untimely death from a brain tumour. Sue had spent weeks visiting her in a London hospital, supporting both their parents and Pam’s husband. The strain on the family was evident. She and Ray went away for a break afterwards whilst I looked after their four boys (who were good as gold).
Peterborough and Civvy Street. I visited Sue and Ray many times in their home in Peterborough and they came to visit me in Wakefield. Sue was so supportive when I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2000 and came with me to my pre-operative appointment and afterwards. She was there to support me when my mother died and indeed visited my mother in hospital and nursing home beforehand.
I saw a great deal of Sue when she moved to live near Hebden Bridge and visited her there often and stayed over. We had some wonderful happy times together and lots of laughter.
When she became ill I had the pleasure of accompanying her to the South of Ireland to visit her father’s family who made me so welcome and obviously loved her very much. She was so brave during her illness and had to undergo many painful operations during her treatment.
I was particularly glad to have been
able to take her on her first cruise in May 2013. We went to Norway and both saw the Northern Lights and even though she was quite poorly during the trip, I think she enjoyed the holiday.
I was privileged to have been able to help to care for Sue in her final weeks at home and must give special thanks to Liz Ashworth who gave so much of her time to make it possible for Sue to remain at home.
Sue’s four sons are a credit to her and I am incredibly fond of them all.
Some things will always stay in my memory and she will always have a special place in my heart. Of course there is so much more I could say about her, but then again I could write a book...
Written by her close friend Wendy Chable.
THE GAZETTE QARANC 51
Lt Col Dorothy Golding ARRC
1942 – 2013
Dorothy Died on December 5th after a long illness.
Dorothy served in the Corps from 1960 to 1967.
After leaving the Corps she worked as a sister in the Accident and Emergency departments in Burnley until her retirement. It was during this time that I came to know her.
In the TA she became Matron of 207 Field Hospital and was awarded the ARRC in the 1980s.
Her funeral took place at Burnley Crematorium and
was well attended by family, Friends and Colleagues from Burnley General Hospital.
Representatives from 207 Field Hospital, QARANC Association and the Royal British Legion were also in attendance.
A very private person who will be missed by her Family, Friends and Colleagues.
RIP.
Christine Bramley ARRC Captain Retd.