Page 22 - QARANC Vol 17 No 1 2019

20 QARANC THE GAZETTE
Newcastle Branch
Earlier in the year we were asked to be involved in a WW1 Centenary Commemorative Service, which was to be held in October. This was over the weekend of 6-7 October and included a wonderful concert in St Nicholas’ Cathedral on the Saturday evening, with the Band of 5RRF and the Backworth Male Voice Choir. During this wonderful event, our chair Shirley Laverick- Stovin gave one of the readings and our QA Standard was paraded by Fiona Mitford. Following a service at the Response Memorial on Sunday morning, the Mayor of Newcastle used the Civic Centre to welcome Mayors from Belgium, France and America, as well as our local Mayor from Gateshead. Several other dignitaries were invited and military organisations representing the Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force were all present. The Royal British Legion and Scouts were represented to remember those who gave their lives in WW1. Members from The QA Association were present and attended both the evening service at St Nicholas’ Cathedral and the Civic Centre Reception and lunch, where Fiona once more had the honour to
Chair, Shirley Laverick-Stovin, with RAMC colleague, lays a QARANC wreath at Newcastle
Karen Crammond, Jacqui Hall and Shirley Laverick-Stovin at the Cenotaph Parade in London
parade our Standard.
In November, Shirley Laverick-Stovin, Jacqui Hall and Karen Crammond were fortunate to gain tickets to attend the Field of Remembrance at Westminster Abbey and to attend the service at the Cenotaph in London. We were all excited to be close up to see The Duke of Sussex (Prince Harry) talking to the young Army Cadets from the Bahamas who were positioned next to the QARANC Representatives. These Cadets had certainly travelled a long way to join in this very special service and I’m sure it will be an occasion they will never forget.
The Cenotaph March Past was also unforgettable, not least because the BBC had approached the QARANC RHQ to ask for names of veteran service personnel who had been deployed and were willing to give an interview. This interview was then on display throughout the route of the Cenotaph March along Whitehall and ending at the Horse Guards Parade. I was one of the representatives whose interviews were used and was quite surprised when I saw myself on the ‘Big Screen’. As Army nurses we are
put into some very sad situations and my memories of Camp Bastion live with me still. Just at that moment, I turned around to see a past former member of the Ambulance Train Squadron, Mrs Liz Keenan, a fellow QA who I had not seen for many years. More memories of a different kind were enjoyed and made as we joined in the friendship of other QARANC Association members who invited us to join them for lunch.
Whilst we were enjoying London, back in Newcastle Fiona Mitford again played her part as Standard Bearer for the Newcastle Branch of the QARANC Association at St James’ Park, where a further Service of Remembrance was taking place on 10 November at the dedication of a new plaque commemorating those Newcastle United footballers who had been in WW1 and WW2. She then paraded our Standard again on the Sunday for the official Newcastle upon Tyne Service of Remembrance for 2018. She has certainly done us proud this special year.
Major (Retd) Jacqui Hall Secretary, Newcastle Branch