Page 41 - QARANC Vol 17 No 1 2019

Millbank Branch
Chair: Lindi Kibbey Secretary: Judy Cook
This has once again been a busy period for our branch with activities ranging from attendance at the Step Short Parade, The Lord Mayor’s Show, Remembrance events, a visit to The Cutlers’ Hall and our customary Christmas lunch.
Sadly during 2018 three of our members, Yvonne Hofner, Elizabeth Levy and Patricia Turpin died. They will all be missed.
Step Short Parade 22 July 2018
With France visible across the Strait of Dover, Folkestone became an important transit point in WW1 for soldiers including nurses leaving for the battlefields of the Western Front. From August 1914 until the end of the war approximately 10 million men passed through the port to France, and others who were returning on leave or who were wounded and requiring hospital treatment.
Embarkation was from the Leas, the cliffs above the harbour, where men marched down a steep hill to the boats that would take them to France. The word of command given to the marching men was, ‘step short’ and so we honoured all those who fought and gave their lives in WW1 at the Step Short Parade at the War Memorial Arch situated on the Leas directly above the harbour.
The Lord Lieutenant of Kent, Viscount De L’Isle, and Admiral of the Fleet and Warden of the Cinque Ports, the Lord Boyce KG, GCB, OBE, DL were honoured guests. The band of the Princess of Wales Royal Regiment marched us to the Memorial Arch and down the Road of Remembrance to the Harbour, keeping us ‘all in step’.
Colonel Jane Carey-Harris, Majors Christine Duchemin, Liz Gregory, Adele Rutledge and Gwin Foley as Standard bearer, paraded for Millbank Branch of the Association. We were proud to join approximately 200 others on parade from military associations including between 20-30 Standards being proudly carried.
2018 marked a special milestone in our commemoration of all those who were involved in WW1, but particularly those who marched down the hill now known as the Road of Remembrance to Folkestone Harbour and the battlefields beyond.
Gwin Foley
The Lord Mayor’s Show
and Remembrance Service
St Paul’s Cathedral
Saturday 10 November dawned with a beautiful blue sky when the Millbank representatives, Janette Parkins, Standard Bearer, and escorts Karen Ives and Fran Oliver Kay, met and took up post with the Millbank Standard.
What a vantage point we had, all the fantastic floats on both sides of us! The noise was tremendous. We could have been transported back to Oliver Cromwell’s’ time as the Lord Mayor approached. The Watermen were in their bright red coats and hats, together with the Lord Mayor’s ceremonial bodyguards of Pikemen and Musketeers. Then finally the amazing golden coach arrived with the Lord Mayor, followed by the order to raise the Standards. After a quick lunch we returned to St Clement Danes for a final parade of the Standards on the Lord Mayor’s departure.
The next day dawned grey and wet and we prepared to get soaked but on arrival at St Paul’s Cathedral the sky
Visit to Cutlers’ Hall 25 September 2018
On a glorious day in September, 25 members of the Millbank branch and friends met at the Cutlers’ Hall, one of the most ancient Livery companies in London, for a day of history, traditions, good food and company. We were greeted by the clerk in the great entrance way with refreshments before our tour of the Worshipful Company of Cutlers began.
Originally founded to protect the rights of the Cutlers in matters of welfare and to ensure the quality of the knives, swords and cutting implements they produce, the emphasis has changed over the years. Attention turned towards the development of surgical instruments and supporting education including apprenticeships. The Guild now focuses on many charitable endeavours for the benefit of future generations and maintaining the traditions of its ancient heritage and that of the City of London.
We ascended the great staircase and the beadle invited a member of the group to act as Master for the day. As the newest member of the branch, that honour fell to me. I was adorned with a long fur trimmed cloak and hat and led the way past the Wilkinson Sword, commissioned by the Indian Maharajas for Queen Victoria, into a room full of wonderful examples of the Cutlers’ range of work. The back drop to these fine items was the rear of the Old Bailey, and the stained-glass windows harked back to the time of the physicians,
Temporary Master of the Cutlers – Karen Ives with the Beadle
with quote of the day ‘Tobacco hic, Tobacco hic, t’wil make you well when you are sick’.
Next, we were treated to the Livery Hall, a magnificent wood- panelled room displaying banners and symbols of the Guild. We then participated in two ancient rituals: The Rose Water Bowl and the Loving Cup. After an explanation of the significance of these, as the Master, I led everyone in the rituals. We raised a glass and toasted the Queen before singing the National Anthem to complete our tour.
Finally, lunch was served in the magnificent Court Room. After words of thanks from Jane Carey-Harris who so successfully organised the day’s events, we departed with a new-found respect and wonder at the history and evolution of the Cutlers.
Karen Ives
THE GAZETTE QARANC
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BRANCH NEWS