Page 50 - QARANC Vol 18 No 2 2020

48 The Gazette QARANC Association
Obituaries
Sylvia Garrett
9 February 1943– 29 January 2020
Sylvia had not been a member of the Association long, joining the Midland Branch in 2016. She had served with 202 General Hospital since 1980, retiring as a Staff Sargent in 1998 with a Long Service Medal.
Sylvia was married to Peter on 7 March 1967 and had two children, Debbie and Stewart. Sylvia trained as a nurse and worked at New Cross Hospital, as a welfare assistant in a school for disabled children, and then in a medical centre for a short while.
Tuesday’s TA training nights would often see Sylvia helping in the stores and later after training, behind the sergeants’ mess bar serving drinks. Sylvia enjoyed socialising with fellow members of the Branch and attended twice yearly meetings and Christmas functions.
In December 2019 that we learnt that Sylvia had been admitted with a chest infection, due to complications from Parkinson’s disease and, sadly she died peacefully on 29 January 2020.
Our thoughts and condolences to husband Peter, daughter Debbie, son Stewart, and their five grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
202 and the Midland Branch were represented at her funeral on 16 March at Bushbury Crematorium
She will be greatly missed by all who knew her. May she Rest in Peace.
Sue Reading Vice Chair
Pauline Joyce Gretton nee Dick
27 May 1946–25 February 2020
Pauline was the eldest of two daughters born to Doris and Lewis Dick in Oldbury. She and her sister attended Moat Farm Infants School and later Perryfields Upper School where she made a lifelong friend, Claire. From school Pauline worked in a pharmacy, before joining the QA’s in December 1963 to do her nurse training.
It wasn’t until 1964 that we all met up in BMH Hannover
that a real and lasting friendship began to form. Pauline was
always immaculate in her appearance, the sensible one
amongst us, Jane Metcalfe, Ronnie Redditch, Jean Sweet, Maggie Squires, Nina Stuart, and Sue Bristow-Jones and others. This friendship culminated in reuniting after 25 years and annually after that and then a grand 50th reunion.
After PTS we went in different directions, eventually meeting up again in BMH Dhekelia in Cyprus where we nurtured our friendships, had adventures, fell in and out of love, we worked and played hard as is the QA way!
Pauline married, moving to Herford in Germany and then to Rhodesia, returning to England for her friend Claire’s wedding, and not returning as her visa had been revoked with no explanation. Pauline took a commission in the QA’s. Whilst on leave she met and later married John and they had Charlotte the ‘best thing that happened to her’; sadly the marriage didn’t last but Pauline, with help from family, successfully continued her nursing career joining the Birmingham Children’s Hospital. In 1972 she became theatre sister, in paediatric cardiac surgery until 2012, when she went part time, until fully retiring in 2013.
Pauline met Tim whilst on a Solo’s Holiday in Zakynthos in 2004. Tim lived and worked in Broadstairs, (although originally from Kidderminster) taking it in turns to visit one another at weekends and holidays, so a long distance relationship bloomed. They travelled extensively to Peru, the Caribbean, USA, India, Sri Lanka, New Zealand with friends, touring France in Pauline’s MX5, walking holidays and week-ends away with friends and families.
Charlotte was married and had two sons Austen and Louis. Pauline doted on her grandsons, and extended family. She and Tim were fully retired and living together - life was good.
In 2017 whilst touring China, Pauline became ill, eventually being diagnosed with cancer. In 2018 Pauline underwent major surgery followed by radiotherapy and chemotherapy and with Tim’s support she worked hard to return to fitness and resume a normal fulfilled life. Sadly in late 2019 following severe pains in her back, investigations revealed that the cancer had returned. Typical Pauline didn’t tell anyone until after the New Year that she was in the terminal phase. With Tim, Charlotte, Macmillan nurses’ and friends’ help, Pauline remained at home losing her battle for life so bravely fought on 25 February 2020 with those dearest to by her side.
Pauline will be fondly remembered by the Midland Branch. She served on the committee for 18 years and becoming Honorary Secretary in 2012-2018 only giving up due to Illness. We enjoyed representing the Branch at the Cenotaph Parade, taking our partners to watch, Remembrance and Corps Day Services at RCDM, Litchfield and NMA. Troop Aid balls were a favourite and an excuse to dress up. Wherever she went Pauline was able to make and keep friends
Our sincerest condolences to all her family and friends . Rest in peace dear friend; you’ll be greatly missed.
Sue Reading Vice Chair