Page 47 - QARANC Vol 20 No 3 2023

The Gazette QARANC Association 47
NORTHERN IRELAND BRANCH
An unforgettable summer party
Once again myself and my fellow retired QA Yvonne Simpson were lucky enough to receive an invitation to ‘The Not Forgotten Summer Drive-in’ party.
This was held in the beautiful surroundings of Baronscourt Estate near Omagh, which is owned by the 5th Duke of Abercorn. This was our second year of attending and the charity certainly knows how to throw a party, as we can attest!
We were treated to a Cher and Freddie Mercury tribute act along with the wonderful Annie Riley and Max Fox with Musicality. There were games and raffles as well as a lovely Hog Roast. No summer is complete of course without a glass of Pimms, which was also provided.
We met the new Chief Executive of The Not Forgotten, Col (Retd ) Richard Walker OBE. He had instructed and Sandhurst and commanded the Royal Gurkhas Engineers regiment.
At the end of the party the Duke of Abercorn was presented with a Blackthorn walking stick with the charity’s emblem on the top. Lots of veterans still do not know about this charity and what they are about. I certainly hadn’t heard of them up until a few years ago.
A huge thank you to Rosie Thompson MBE and her team from the Association.
Please visit The Not Forgotten website at https://thenotforgotten.org. You can also list them as a chosen charity for your birthday, which I will be doing this year.
Linda Reed – Member NI Branch