Page 44 - QARANC Vol 18 No 2 2020

42 The Gazette QARANC Association
Newcastle QA and RAMC Associations at Lijssenthoek Cemetery, Belgium
News from Newcastle Branch
This has certainly been a different year so far for us all. Newcastle Branch was able to have our January meeting but sadly, like everyone else, we have missed out on the March and June ones. All our planned trips out were up in smoke and another battlefield tour planned for September and October is now postponed to next year (virus willing).
However we are preserving the branch by keeping in touch through mini groups amongst the members. Phone calls, emails, Messenger, cards, Facetime and WhatsApp have all played their part. We have also followed other branches in having a Zoom get together on a Sunday evening, with a variety of topics discussed. Some of us have certainly been learning new computer skills, almost like going back to school! Following the generous grant from HQ we have given members a range of options in what they were needing/interested in and a variety of items have been chosen.
Sadly during the lockdown we lost our most senior member. Monica Carhart- Harris (98 years) sadly passed away. We were unable to attend her funeral but there are plans to hold a memorial event when we can to commemorate the life of this marvellous and much missed QA Sister.
We wish everyone in the Association good health in these difficult times. Take Care and Stay Safe
Shirley Laverick-Stovin Chair Newcastle Branch
Scottish Branch specially commissioned chocolates
the only Corps Day celebration to be held in 2020. Many of those attending from further afield made a weekend of it, making the most of the opportunity to explore the lovely city of Inverness and the surrounding area. The service was held in Ness Bank Church and led by the Reverend Fiona Smith, who delivered a very moving sermon. Immediately afterwards we took a short
a lump to your throat. The cemetery is so peaceful and immaculately kept, and reading some of the headstones it was heart breaking to see so many young ages and those whose names were unknown. Following everyone over to Nellie`s grave I could feel myself getting more nervous with the enormity of the task in hand given to me. Once at Nellie`s side, her life story was going through my mind that here was a young girl of only 26, a policeman`s daughter from Wakefield in Yorkshire, who had got herself over ‘to do her bit’ to help, and my eyes started to fill up remembering how she`d died. As we all gathered round, me facing Nellie and everyone in a semi-circle around the back of me I kept thinking would I get it all right for her, and don`t let her down. Our Chair , Shirley, read out Nellie`s story, then the moment came for the
wreath laying. I stood up straight, two steps forward, laid the wreath, stood up straight, nodded, two steps back and brought up a salute, right turn, three steps forward and dismiss - then froze. I was convinced I should have stayed put, but was assured everything was OK - phew. I`d achieved it for her OK and felt so proud. I did notice that the grass in front of Nellie`s grave was completely bare, so she must get a few visitors, being the only woman amongst 10,000 lads, who we`re sure will be looking after her. I was thinking she`d probably be wondering why she was being made such a fuss of, and why she`s getting so many visitors. On her poppy wreath, I`d written ‘Remembered by the QA/RAMC Associations, Northumbrian Branch, and the Corps. Rest Well Lass.
Scottish Branch
Chair: Karen J Irvine Secretary: Sheila A Jones
It seems no time at all since writing our last Gazette article in the warm sunshine of Lanzarote in early January, blissfully ignorant of what the next six months would bring.
The time has certainly flown by, just not quite in the way we imagined. At that time we had been looking forward to our forthcoming Branch events due to be held in a number of locations across Scotland, not least our Branch 70th anniversary celebrations. We started off well in February with a Coffee Catch Up at Barbour’s Department Store in Dumfries, which was well attended.
Established in 1856, Barbours is a traditional independent department store, with a great restaurant which still provides table service and where all the delicious food is freshly made and baked on the premises, very much a rarity now. Everyone was in great spirits and we all enjoyed our coffee and the most fabulous scones fresh from the oven. Definitely worth a visit if you are in the area.
Come 14th March and we were much further north as we gathered in Inverness to celebrate Corps Day. We were delighted that CNO(A) was able to make the journey north to join us, but little did we know that it would be