Page 41 - QARANC Vol 15 No 2 2017

Armed Forces Day
The weather was perfect on 24 June when this year’s Armed Forces Day was held in Caerphilly. The programme commenced with the Band of the Royal Welsh leading the Parade through the centre of Caerphilly.
Capt Lyndon Davies proudly carried our Branch Standard and a QARANC grey beret was prominent, marching in the veteran section. This was followed by a Drumhead service in the arena. The programme was well organised with activities throughout the day in the arena: side shows, Armed Forces demonstrations, musical stage performances by local Welsh artists and of course a Fly Past by a Spitfire.
The QARANC Association Gazebo was once again a great success, and was a focal meeting point, being very prominant in Corps colours, with Corps Crests flying. We had a number of enquiries from former QARANC personnel interested in the Association, with one person keen to do her nurse training in the Army. Over the last two years we have managed to recruit a number of new members at Armed Forces Day events. One of our members, Gaynor Morris from Swansea, met an ex QA, and after a few sentences great screams were heard. They had worked together over 20 years ago in the QARANC.
As you can imagine there was a lot to discuss, and yet another potential new member! A number of people went away furbished with Association information and joining forms, and in fact one managed to become a fully fledged member by the time we held our AGM in July.
Quick work indeed; having the Gazebo certainly focuses attention on the QARANC Association.
Annual General Meeting and Hospital Simulation Visit
The Welsh Branch held their Annual General Meeting in July at the University of South Wales, which included a tour of the simulated hospital. The theme was to provide an insight into the modern clinical training facilities available for trainee nurses, both pre and post- registration. The visit gave a fascinating insight into the use of sophisticated advanced simulators, which allow students to perform basic and advanced clinical skills in a safe clinical environment.
Gone are the days of practising injections on oranges and passing nasogastric tubes on fellow nurse learners. The simulated environment has been designed with two fully functioning wards, sluice area, intensive care, paediatric unit and an accident and emergency department, incorporating a fully kitted ambulance.
The latest addition to the facility is the development of a “community flat”, thus enabling students to practise the delivery of healthcare in patient/client homes. After the tour the AGM was held, and we had a fascinating update from the Chairman of the Museum of Military Medicine, Col Phil Hubbard, on the exciting development of the facility so far.
Finally Marilyn Williams, as she stands down as Chairman from the Welsh Branch, was presented with flowers and thanked by all for her outstanding leadership during her very successful tenure; she will be a hard act to follow.
THE GAZETTE QARANC
Vera Vaughan celebrates her 105th birthday
Vera is a very special member of the Welsh Branch and three of us visited her on Saturday 2nd September to share moments of her 105th Birthday.
Proudly displayed on her table was a birthday card from HRH the Queen. She had also received cards from the First Minister of Wales, Rt Hon Carwyn Jones and the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Rt Hon David Gauke.
Vera joined the Civil Nursing Reserve Service in 1939 where she nursed in various hotels, which had been converted into hospitals during the war. In 1941 Vera joined the QAIMNS and was sent to Palestine and worked in Military Hospitals in Jerusalem, Haifa, Nazareth, Gaza Montecasino and Rome, where she nursed cases of malaria and sand-fly fever as well as surgical cases. The hospital in Rome was also a Training college for Popes and Vera proudly boasts to have had an audience with Pope Pious. She was in
Rome on VE day and part of the great celebrations. After the war Vera left the QA’s to be with her parents and became the matron of a nursing home for Nursery
Nurses.
She later opened a business selling children’s
clothing with her sisters. Vera has lived for a number of years in an apartment in Llandrindod Wells, where she has many dear friends.
39
BRANCH NEWS