Page 40 - QARANC Vol 17 No 1 2019

38 QARANC THE GAZETTE
Jurassic Coast Branch
Chair: Lieutenant Colonel (Retd) Marjorie Bandy Secretary: Major (Retd) Pat McKay
A group of nine members went on a three-day walking holiday in October 2018 to St Ives in Cornwall. Besides walking, visits were arranged to the Cornish tin mines and a lighthouse, which was enjoyed by all. Evening entertainment included talks by local people and a quiz. The Jurassic Coast Branch came a close second in the quiz behind the Artists and Writers team. The total amount of miles walked by the Jurassic Coast Branch members totalled 181!
On 20 October 2018 our annual general meeting was held at The Eastbury Hotel in Sherborne, Dorset. There were 19 QAs in attendance plus nine partners. Colonel John Quinn, Association Chair, also attended. We had a most enjoyable lunch and a fundraising bring and buy sale with a Christmas theme was very successful.
Our branch chairman Lieutenant Colonel Marjorie Bandy discovered a QAIMNS grave in Weymouth whilst researching another project. It was decided to hold a wreath laying ceremony on Sunday 4 November for assistant nurse Florence Maud Louise Hook who died on 10 November 1918, aged just 23, one day before Armistice was signed. There are no records in the QAIMNS so it is difficult to state her cause of death.
The gravestone of Assistant nurse Florence Maud Louise Hook QAIMNS found at Weymouth cemetery
Jurassic Coast Branch members in the garden of the Eastbury Hotel, Sherborne
Jurassic Coast Branch members enjoying lunch at the Eastbury Hotel after the AGM
Planned events for 2019 are:
April (date to be confirmed): A visit to Amport House near Andover. Amport House is the tri-service Chaplaincy Centre and is the site of the Army Chaplains Museum. We will be shown around the house which has a fascinating history, as well as the museum and gardens. Sadly, Amport House is on the Army closure list.
8 June 2019: A visit to Keynston Mill, home of Parterre Fragrances. Keynston Mill is a 50-acre site dedicated to growing 2,000 aromatic
plants which are used in producing luxury perfumes. There will be a conducted tour, a workshop and lunch.
19 October 2019: Jurassic Coast Branch annual general meeting will be held at the Sid Valley Hotel in Devon.
All serving and association members are invited to attend any of the above events. For further information please contact our Branch Secretary, Major (Retd) Pat McKay on: the.pat.mckay@ gmail.com.
Major (Retd) Patsy May