Page 50 - QARANC Vol 14 No 7 2013

48 QARANC THE GAZETTE
Aldershot Branch
Chairman; Lt Col Tessa Grieves RRC Secretary; Lt Col (Retd) Tena MacMachan ARRC
Visit to Windsor Castle
It was a damp and dreary day in late May, but that wasn’t going to stop us having a good day out to visit a working Royal Palace. With two full coaches and a total of 40 Serving and Association members of the Aldershot Branch to Windsor, we were going to visit the official residence of Her Majesty the Queen. Although we had to endure a lengthy queue due to a high number of visitors and increased security measures to gain entrance into this imposing and magnificent Castle we were all able to gain free access courtesy of the MOD 90, which was an added bonus
Windsor Castle, the oldest and
largest inhabited Castle in the world, is a working palace. It is used for ceremonial and state occasions, where the Queen often hosts State Visits from overseas monarchs and presidents. Once we had entered the grounds, we were given a briefing on timings and meeting points, before collecting our audio- tour headsets. We then had time to wander around the Castle, enabling us to visit the beautiful Queen Mary’s Doll’s House, the State Apartments, with its spectacular St George’s Hall where the single table can seat 160 guests (enough for a Regimental Dinner) and St Georges Chapel, the spiritual home of the Order of the Garter. After a quick bite to eat, we returned to meet with one of the Senior Wardens who gave us a tour of the outer precincts of the Castle. He regaled us with many colourful stories, some little known facts, and others that could
probably be taken with a pinch of salt! For those who found time, a quick trip across the road from the Castle offered up plenty of retail therapy opportunities and to get some well needed (warm) refreshments in the many small bars and cafe’s. A trip to Windsor, and its Castle, has something to offer everyone, and our thanks must go to Lt Col Tess Grieves and her willing staff, WO2 Kerry Lewis and Sgt O’Riordan, for organizing such an
interesting and enjoyable day out.
Annual Summer BBQ
The summer meet for the Aldershot Branch is a BBQ event, inside or out - weather permitting! This year’s BBQ was held in Normandy Barracks and combined with a Families Day for the QARANC personnel and their families from MDHU Frimley Park. With bright sunshine and extremely warm temperatures to start the afternoon, it was a very well attended event, with games and face painting for the younger children and the opportunity to catch up for the Regular and Association members, all washed down with a glass or two of Pimm’s. Invited guests were the Col Comdt Lt Col (Retd) Sue Bush, Vice President of the Association, Heather Duncombe Regt Sec., Lt Col (Retd) Pauline Novak, and the new CO of MDHU Frimley Park, Lt Col Andy Day and his wife Clare who is also a former QA. Thank- you to the association for the donation of £1000 towards the day.
Lt Col (Retd) T. McMachan Secretary
Portsmouth Branch
Chairman: Major Gary Martin Secretary: Captain Nicola Riley
The Portsmouth Branch has seen some changes recently with the Secretary Lt Lucia Watson standing down on operational deployment to Afghanistan for six months.
The newly appointed Secretary, Captain Nicola Riley took over the position on 28 May 2013, so the Branch is looking forward to an exciting future.
Serving and Retired Members of the Portsmouth Branch have recently attended the QARANC Corps Day at DMS Whittington (led by WO1 CRSM Donna Martin), the Florence Nightingale Remembrance service at Westminster Abbey (led by SSgt Kelly Vassallo) and the Re-dedication of the QARANC Plot at the National Memorial Arboretum (led by Major Jason Thomas).
Forthcoming events will be distributed to members in the near future.
West Country Branch
Chairman: Tina Maddams Secretary: Mrs Hazel Blackstone
Our first social gathering of the year on 23rd March was a curry luncheon to celebrate Corps Day. The event took place at the Officers Mess, 243 Field Hospital - a unit based in our area. Several T.A. officers in the unit for the weekend joined us, including Major Amanda Manley, their regular Nursing Officer. The unit had recently returned from a tour of duty in Afghanistan an interesting subject of conversation. A delicious meal was enjoyed by everyone.
Several members of our Branch attended the homecoming parade of 243 Field Hospital held in Exeter on 20th April.
The summer Bring and Buy followed by luncheon was held on 11th May at The Beambridge Hotel, near Wellington in Somerset attended by fourteen members and seven guests. Our previous chairman, Pang Adams, brought along three of her sisters (from Australia, Malaysia and Singapore) who had arrived in the U.K. a few days before the event. Obviously, much clicking of cameras to record the attendance at this QARANC function.
Our next event will be the A.G.M. followed by luncheon in October at The Beambridge Hotel.
Celia Blundell