Page 49 - QARANC Vol 15 No 2 2017

Lt Col Ann Healey ARRC
Ann was born on 24 May 1925 in Beaconsfield. Her mother’s family co-owned a furniture factory in Penn Street. She had a sister Joan and brother Jack, my father.
During my childhood she would appear after months of absence when back from a military posting overseas. I remember as a child going to a London station to see her off with her large blue trunk of belongings. On one occasion I went to collect her from RAF Brize Norton. I also have a vague memory that I may have gone to an army base in Colchester with her.
While she was away in the fifties and sixties we lived in Ennismore Gardens, Thames Ditton with her mother Pat so family get-togethers and Christmases were at our house. I was never quite sure how to address her since she was affectionately known as Biddy, something I was never quite sure she liked but certainly that’s how my father would often refer to her and so did we all.
She saw quite a lot of her brother Jack and sister Joan when she returned from overseas. Jack was an RAF navigator in the second world war who received the Legion of Honour in 2016 and then went on to work as a company secretary and director. Joan, who worked for EMI Records and lived on the Embankment in Twickenham, married Roy and went to live with his family after he died. All had very successful careers.
Ann trained as a state registered nurse at Wembley Hospital in 1943 and joined the Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps as a Lieutenant in 1951. During these years she served in Germany, Cyprus, Singapore and Hong Kong. She was an operating theatre sister, a Matron in Hong Kong and Assistant Director of Army Nursing Services Far East. She worked at the Royal Army Medical College Millbank as a Director of Studies, Army medical Services. Her final rank was Colonel. She retired in 1982. Ann was awarded the Associate Royal Red Cross Medal
by the Queen in 1977.
She bought a flat in Elton Close,
Hampton Wick, and I can remember many visits with my father to see her. She then moved to Riverholme East Molesey with a wonderful view of the Thames from her sitting room. Her balcony was always stocked with carefully tended pots of flowers. At one time she owned a King Charles spaniel and she would take it on walks to nearby Bushy Park.
In retirement she enjoyed bobbin lace making amongst other crafts. She also enjoyed music and particularly opera. I know Ann quite liked new technology. The latest TVs and Hifi. She was also a religious person with a book of prayers by her bedside.
Ann and I talked on the telephone and occasionally by email. I sent photos of my children. I can remember her support to my father and myself after my mother’s death in 1988 and how in the following years, until he moved to a care home in 2012, Jack
would walk over to Riverholme to lunch with Ann every Monday then fall asleep at her side.
It came as a shock to learn that Ann, my last living direct relative, had died in Kingston hospital on 7 May. I wish I had known and been there for her at the end.
In recent years she had not been well and although not completely housebound she relied on the wonderful support of her neighbours at her flat at Riverholme in East Molesey. I know Ann would wish me to thank them all for their friendship and support over the years.
The number of people who were present at her funeral did not represent the large number of cards and letters I received from her friends, most of whom were unable to make the funeral on the day, many of whom live quite a distance away. They all say how much they valued her friendship.
Ian Jones-Healey Nephew
THE GAZETTE QARANC 47
Lt Col Sheila Scott QARANC (V) 1933-2017
Sheila was born in Edinburgh in 1933. She spent her formative years in Luthrie in Fife and returned to Edinburgh in 1952 to commence nurse training at the Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh (RIE). She became a Pelican in 1956, and registered Midwife in 1957, following which she joined the Federal Nursing Service in Rhodesia for 4 years.
After returning to RIE, Sheila became a Theatre Sister and was involved in the development of pre- set theatre trays, the standardisation of sterilisation services of surgical instruments and linen.
In 1967 Sheila moved to the South Eastern Regional Hospital Board as a nurse planner, before heading to London to work for the Department of Health as Principal Nursing Officer, with a budget of millions. She was involved in major planning of theatres and intensive therapy units.
Throughout her working life and in retirement Sheila travelled extensively, delivering lectures on theatre design and sterilisation services in Australia, Venezuela and Iran.
She joined the QARANC (V)
205 Sc General Hospital whilst in Edinburgh, transferring to London joining 217 Field Hospital, becoming Matron and rising to the rank of Lt Col. Her role of Matron inspired many others.
Returning to Scotland she became an active part and committee member of the Scottish Branch of the QA Association, updating the records of membership.
When Sheila retired to Kingsbarns, Fife in 1999 she devoted her time to organising reunions for her PTS members and the Dundee and North East Fife Pelicans. She thrived on the challenge of bringing as many people together as she could and researching suitable venues for lunch.
Throughout her professional life and Army career Sheila was an effective organiser.
Her smile, sharp wit and kindness to others will be sorely missed.
She passed away on 8th January 2017 in St Andrew’s Care Home where she had been lovingly cared for during her last weeks.
Sandra Turnbull, niece and Isobel Gibson Maj (Retd) I M Gibson
Lt Col (Retd) Margaret Nesbitt RRC
Known by her friends as Nellie passed away peacefully in a nursing home in Tilford on Saturday 5th August.