Page 30 - QARANC Vol 19 No 2 2021

28 The Gazette QARANC Association
Midland Branch
Chair: Clare Dutton Secretary: Collette Froggatt
‘That was the Year that was!’
As a committee we have tried to keep in touch with members in various ways. A copy of the original Gazette was sent to all members and HQ to celebrate the 70th Anniversary of our branch. We set up
monthly Zoom meetings
with the support of Darren Illingworth and QA students
from Birmingham University.
Quiz nights, Halloween,
and Christmas lunch
events with appropriate
attire were arranged, but
sadly not everyone had the technology to participate.
When numbers were low
and didn’t warrant a quiz
the students kindly shared
their journeys to becoming a QA and we were able to share some of ours, which I hope was mutually beneficial and enjoyable.
The COVID-19 grant from RHQ also allowed us to visit and give a small gift of a jigsaw and house plant to all our over eighties and vulnerable members,
Midland Branch members meet up in Sutton Park
all socially distanced of course. New Year calendars with Christmas cards and a personal message from Clare Dutton, our Chair, were sent to all, but sadly some were returned due to incorrect addresses. Please ensure that RHQ and branch secretaries are kept updated on changes of circumstances.
Sadly we have lost several branch members during this period and have been unable to pay our respects or attend their funerals. However we were able to attend one socially distanced and with funeral directors and crematorium permission, we managed coffee and mince pies from the back of a car, the best we could do given the situation.
QA ingenuity!
In collaboration with some
of our serving colleagues, all branch members received an Easter card, which was a lovely surprise. Our more senior members received a message from our Chair, Lieutenant
Colonel Clare Dutton.
Committee members have been
making contact with members with an occasional phone call. We held a picnic
in Sutton Park, with some confusion as to which gate to meet, but eventually nine of us gathered under the shade of a tree on a lovely sunny afternoon to share food, drink and conversation, and a game of Petanque/Boules despite there being no flat surfaces in sight. An enjoyable time was had by all, with the hope of repeating the experience in August. We have more events in the pipeline, so, please support us in our efforts.
Dates for your diaries include:
AGM Saturday 16 October 2021, @ Tallyho – menus and details to follow. Christmas Lunch Monday 13 December 2021, @Tallyho – menus and details to follow. Partners or friend welcome. Other events being looked into are a day at Warwick Races, a winery tour, and gin tasting.
Let’s hope that as restrictions are lifted and more people are vaccinated we can all get back to some normality and look forward to 2022. Please keep in touch and let your committee know of any ideas you may have and if there is anything we can do.
Sue Reading Vice Chair
nine of us gathered under the shade of a tree on a lovely sunny afternoon to share food, drink and conversation