Page 4 - QARANC Vol 18 No 2 2020

2 The Gazette QARANC Association
President’s Foreword
Welcome to the Autumn edition of the QARANC Gazette. Given how busy everyone has been, I think you’ll agree, it is fantastic to see such a variety and volume of articles from our regular and reserve units and Association Branches. This has been quite a year. As we were gearing ourselves up to have a year of celebrating Florence Nightingale’s bicentenary and the contribution of HCAs and nurses, there were a lot of plans although many were cancelled, and it has been fantastic to read how you have found different ways to celebrate nursing. It was great to see QARANC images illuminated onto Lichfield Cathedral to mark military nursing for International Nurses Day.
This year we have developed new skills in remote working and communication skills to keep in touch with each other. As always, HRH The Countess of Wessex has shown deep interest and support for all of us; serving and retired. Her Zoom call to nursing and HCA colleagues in Cyprus for International Nurses Day and her letter and cards have meant a great deal. I hope that you have also all enjoyed your gift provided by the QARANC Association; it would be great to hear what you spent it on!
Of course, we were also looking forward to marking our Corps Day to be celebrated in many different locations. As with so many other events, most Corps Day commemorations were postponed until next year, but it’s great to read about how you managed to hold events, many of them virtually, so our special occasions were still marked. I believe it has only been Scottish Branch who managed to hold their Corps Day before lockdown, and I was so delighted to be part of it, especially as it was held in the town where I enlisted and was attested many years ago.
As 2020 also marks the 70th Anniversary of soldiers enlisting into the Corps, there is some wonderful coverage in this edition from a previous publication. We didn’t request specific articles to commemorate the anniversary because in every edition of our Gazette there are shining examples of soldiers and former soldiers who have made the most of every opportunity; whether sporting, adventurous training, and through professional or military
opportunities at home and overseas. This edition is no different, and there are some outstanding examples of the truly remarkable work which has been going on both at in the forefront of activity and behind the scenes. I am sure our forebears would have been delighted to have had the opportunities which we now have.
Staying on the 70th theme, this year also marks the Scottish Branch and Midlands Branch who entered their 70th year as established Branches. I hope that when conditions permit, there will be celebrations in style.
Our QARANC Award winners for 2020 have been selected and you’ll see their names published further inside. A huge congratulations to all award winners. Unfortunately, although we aren’t able to hold an award ceremony this year, we plan to have a double 2020/21 awards ceremony next year.
The last six months have been extraordinary, but you don’t need me to tell you that! I have mentioned before how immensely proud I have been and still am of the way that you have all adapted so quickly to the changes. Many of you have led the changes and worked in different roles and taken on the different responsibilities in your stride. We have seen the excellence in clinical care in traditional and in more novel clinical settings, the Branches have found different ways to reach out to members to keep in touch, and the routine work has continued at pace to ensure those serving remain career managed for training, development, appointments and promotion opportunities.
I also pay tribute to the RHQ team who have had to find alternative ways of working remotely for almost all of their activity. Quietly working extremely hard behind the scenes, Mrs Sue McAteer and her team have continued to provide a top service for all of us and come up with new ideas to support us and keep us in touch with each other.
There have been changes too in our Colonel Commandant team. We have said a (distanced) fond farewell to Colonel Jane Davies OBE QVRM TD DL who has worked long and hard to support our Corps and we wish her well. We welcome Colonel Kevin Davies MBE RRC TD DL and look forward to working with him. Both Colonels Carol Kefford and Kevin
Colonel Alison Farmer
Davies are keen to visit Branches and units and meet you, so please do get in touch with RHQ.
I hope that by the time you read this, you will all have had a break and some leave or a holiday. It’s been a long stretch since Christmas! I leave you with one thought; amongst our busy times we have probably all paused at some point to self-reflect and to re- establish what we feel is important in our lives. I suspect that for most of us, it is friendship.
In friendship,
Sub cruce candida
Colonel Alison Farmer ARRC QHN Chief Nursing Officer (Army)