Page 37 - QARANC Vol 15 No 2 2017

Midland Branch
QARANC Reunion... bring your Beret!
THE GAZETTE QARANC
Saturday 25 February 2017 saw 45 QARANC past and present personnel and some family and friends gather at the National Memorial Arboretum (NMA), Alrewas, Staffordshire, for an informal reunion. The whole idea for the get-together came from Fran, a former QARANC ward stewardess, who left the Corps in the 1990s. She had wanted to meet at the NMA with some old friends and word spread. A Facebook group was set up and then the ‘QA Reunion...bring your beret’ event was created. With over 250 invites going out and the Facebook group (QAs Reunion) continuing to grow to over 1200 members the NMA were warned off.
Some people made a weekend of it as they had travelled some distance and stayed close by to the NMA. A few sociable drinks were had on the Friday evening but the main event commenced at 1000hrs in the newly opened café where everyone met for a brew and a chat. Members of 202 Field Hospital were also in attendance which was great to see. At about 1100hrs the group moved down to the main memorial, ‘The Wall’ for a group photoshoot. Our photographer, Alex Ford (Precious Times Photography) is husband of ex-serving QARANC SSgt Theresa Ford and had kindly stepped in at the last minute, saving the day. At one point we did think that either my mother, Lynne Gladwin or myself might have to be snapping away with the camera but we couldn’t have
guaranteed people’s heads would have been in the shots so it was brilliant that we had a professional on hand!
The group then made their way to the QARANC memorial where Father David Smith (Padre at DMS Whittington) led a short and fitting service. We had a minutes silence and the last post was played by Dan Ellis (former Cpl/Staff Nurse) amongst the service of hymns and prayers.
More photos were taken and the group returned to the café for more chat and a spot of lunch. A collection was taken and donations given to the Padre for his charity and to the NMA. A small speech was given and the collection presented to the duty manager of the NMA before everyone went their separate ways either home or for a longer look around the NMA.
Special thanks go out to all those who attended, to all those involved in making the day so special and to the NMA for hosting us.
The NMA is such a thought-provoking, emotional and special place it is hoped that this will be an annual event with 3 groups benefiting from any money donated by those attending, namely, the QARANC Association, the NMA and the Padre’s charity.
Samantha Sharland Maj (Retd)
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BRANCH NEWS
Royal Devon & Exeter NHS Foundation Trust
sign up to the Armed Forces Covenant
On 22 June 2017 Chief Executive of The Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital, Suzanne Tracey, signed the Armed Forces Covenant, committing the hospital to honour the Covenant and support the Armed Forces Community.
“We recognise the value Serving Personnel, both Regular and Reservists, Veterans and military families contribute to our business and our country”.
Lt Col Guy Benson R Sig signed the Covenant on behalf of the Ministry Defence.
Back Left: Maj (Retd) Kay Foster QARANC - Governor at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital. Maj David Thomas QARANC. Assistant Director of Nursing -Surgery. James Brent - Chairman. Front left: Suzanne Tracey Chief Executive, Lt Col Guy Benson R Sig