Page 51 - QARANC Vol 20 No 2 2022

The Gazette QARANC Association 51
Royal Hospital Founder’s Day returns to full glory
Founder’s Day, the most iconic date in the Royal Hospital Chelsea (RHC) calendar returned to its full glory in June after 2020’s cancellation and last year’s pared back celebration.
The iconic venue welcomed Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence KCVO CB ADC to review the Chelsea Pensioners on parade for the 330th Founder’s Day.
Almost every year since 1695, the Royal Hospital’s veterans have gathered together in the central quadrangle, Figure Court, to mark the foundation of this unique community by King Charles II.
Among the guests was Chris Eberhardie, from Millbank Branch, who says: “I was delighted to be sitting with fellow QAs high in the stands with a good view of proceedings. Our President, Colonel Alison Farmer, and several members of Millbank Branch were there. Our Corps was represented on parade by In Pensioner Barbara Whilds, also a Millbank member.”
The role of QA nurses in caring for the In Pensioners during Covid was acknowledged in the speeches following the review of the parade by the Vice Admiral, who gave a witty and entertaining speech.
Chris added: “The straight lines during the march past and even the mobility scooters were a delight, like a modern cavalry. It was a humbling experience to witness such a smart and well- disciplined parade.
“Afterwards we repaired to the lawns and marquees for a picnic lunch where it was lovely to catch up with Millbank friends and return home with that sense of pride and spring in the step that can only come from such an occasion.”
A fond farewell for retiring John Fagan
After 32 years of dedicated service in the Army WO2 John Fagan is retiring from 204 (NI) Field Hospital. John joined the Army Reserves as a Combat Medical Technician in 1990 and transferred to the QARANC as a Healthcare Assistant (HCA) in September 2006 to reflect his clinical currency within his civilian role.
WO2 Fagan has dedicated much of his time helping others develop and assisting with training and instructional duties. He was a first aid instructor in Battle Casualty Drills (BCD), Unit Fire NCO, a Skill at Arms Instructor and Range Management Officer. He has been fundamental in maintaining the original Military Annual Training Test (MATT) 1, now reformed and known as Individual Training requirements (ITRs) core combat skills in marksmanship.
WO2 Fagan has selflessly volunteered for operational service on several occasions; deploying to Iraq on Operation TELIC, individually in April 2005; and twice with his own parent unit 204 (NI) Fd Hosp to Operation HERRICK in Afghanistan in September 2008 and then again in January 2013.
He was one of the first HCAs across the whole of Brigade to step forward in
the wake of the Ebola Crisis in Sierra Leone in March 2015, to deploy on Operation GRITROCK, which was a difficult task and calling. Additionally, he has seen service in Kenya in the summer of 2014 in support of troops providing humanitarian aid to indigenous people.
For his loyal service to the Army Reserves he was awarded the Volunteer Reserve Service Medal in March 1998 and since then has no less than three Clasps to support it. In 2021 WO2 Fagan was also awarded with Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenants Certificate in Northern Ireland for meritorious voluntary service for going above and beyond the normal high standard expected of all members of the Reserve forces.
WO2 Fagan will be dearly missed by all at 204 (NI) Fd Hosp and many will hold fond and dear memories of him. We look forward to keeping in touch with him through the association and its functions for many years to come.
WO2 Joy Burgess 204 (NI) Fd Hosp Belfast