Page 5 - QARANC Vol 15 No 2 2017

THE GAZETTE QARANC 3
Chairman’s Report
Welcome to the Autumn Edition of ‘The Gazette’ - my first as Colonel Commandant and therefore Chairman of the QARANC Association and so my first effort at writing the twice yearly Chairman’s Report. I have been in post for just over a month at the time of writing and so have relied heavily on the help of others in what I should say. I think this is going to be a recurring theme for the time being at least while I find my feet and I am already very grateful for all the assistance and support I am getting.
It has been a fabulous spring and summer as we have enjoyed the celebrations for our 70th Anniversary. Corps Day at the Royal Garrison Church in Aldershot followed literally by a trip down memory lane to the Royal Pavilion for lunch was very special and our collective thanks go to Dottie Calderwood for her considerable powers of persuasion in securing the agreement of the current custodians who not only gave us access but then looked after us so well. I say a ‘trip’ down memory lane; it was of course for some a ‘march’ down memory lane along that very familiar driveway to the spot where our Foundation Stone used to be.
Our reunion in May was another opportunity to catch up with old friends and hear our President, Chairman, and our Treasurer’s respective reports bringing us up to date not just on the Association but on developments and activities within the Corps. This also included an update by Col Jane Davis about the plans for the Museum of Military Medicine (MMM) (Col Jane represents the QARANC as a Trustee on the Board for the MMM). Importantly, it was for many the first opportunity to meet Sue McAteer, our new Regimental Secretary and General
Secretary to the Association, who, in an entertaining break with tradition, gave us her first impressions of life in the role. Although new into the post and without a military background, Sue has settled in as a natural and already has had an impact. I am very grateful for the help she has given me to get started and I am delighted by her interest in, and ambition for, the Association.
With regret it was also the time to say ‘Farewell’ and huge thanks to Col Sue Bush RRC for her astonishing six years as our Colonel Commandant. Astonishing because the time seems to have passed so quickly but astonishing too for the amount that Col Sue has achieved on behalf of the Corps and the Association in that time. There have been some real challenges but every one has been faced and dealt with so that the Association is stronger, more resilient and, therefore, more sustainable as a result. I am very grateful to be picking up where she left off, but also a bit in awe of the act I have to follow.
We had a truly memorable afternoon at Bagshot Park for the anniversary garden party, kindly hosted by our Patron, Her Royal Highness The Countess of Wessex. For some it was another trip down memory lane, having been there in a previous life as recruits or student officers visiting the Royal Army Chaplains Department. I have no recollection of the gardens then being as loved or as interesting as they are now and it was a huge privilege to be guided by Andrew, the Head Gardener, for our tour.
This all happened before I started in this role but I was nevertheless very conscious of the phenomenal amount of time and energy invested by our Colonels Commandant, Col
Sue Bush and Col Jane Davis, plus the many serving members who assisted leading up to the event and on the day. Our thanks to them all. A special mention, however, to Sheila Jones for the remarkable cake. Sheila’s talents with the icing bag only really came to the surface when she retired from the Corps and set up her own business running courses and making grand wedding cakes. It was the perfect representation of our Corps with references to the stable belt, buttons, uniforms, lanyard and colours. I hope everyone also took a look at the additional references at the back of the cake with the kaftans and thick grey PT knickers on washing lines. It took me straight back to my early days when both were part of QARANC life, so thank you for that memory too, Sheila.
Now back to me, if I may, before finishing. I am honoured and very proud to be Colonel Commandant alongside Col Jane and, therefore, to hold the appointment of Chairman to the QARANC Association. I know very well the significance and responsibility of the roles and confess that I have a great deal to learn. But learn I will, and already many of you are helping me to catch up so thank you, not just for the guidance and support but for the welcome and encouragement. I’m looking forward to meeting many more of you over the coming months.