Page 44 - QARANC Vol 17 No 1 2019

42 QARANC THE GAZETTE
Newcastle Branch
Chair: Lieutenant Colonel (Retd) Shirley Laverick-Stovin Secretary: Major (Retd) Jacqui Hall
Unfortunately, we start this Newcastle Branch news with sadness with the loss of some members and supporters. Captain Jill McMillan, Phyllis Swan and Mary Clouston, (mother of Colonel (Retd) Ann Clouston), all passed away during the months of September-December 2018. Their funerals were attended by Branch members.
On 5 September 2018 our Branch was fortunate to have a private tour up Greys Monument, with a meal at Jamie’s Italian afterwards. We are privileged to have our own ‘Tour Guide’ as Colonel (Retd) Ann Clouston is an official Newcastle City Guide for the Council and is always willing to impart her vast knowledge of our lovely city. Of course, our outing included our local RAMC Association Branch members!
As ever our Annual Christmas Dinner Dance was held at the Britannia Airport Hotel in Newcastle, where we had a very
successful Christmas celebration. It was our best turnout for a number of years and we hope to continue to improve.
Major (Retd) Jacqui Hall Branch Secretary
West Country Branch
Chair: Sue James Secretary: Mo Holman
The West Country Branch has continued to support the Corps motto of ‘Friendship’ throughout the year. The events calendar is well established and sustained by a group of members who can travel between the different venues. It is now almost a time-honoured tradition that we meet for lunch to celebrate Corps Day in March in the beautiful area of Exton in Devon. The restaurant is close to the estuary and is a well-
Jim Ferguson receives his MBE from HRH The Duke of Cambridge
known walking area for locals and tourists to the area. Other venues for our meetings are currently Wellington and near Wells, both in Somerset with the pre-Christmas lunch held near to the shopping experience that is Cribbs Causeway, in Bristol. We are keen to discover new venues across the south west as our membership area covers South Gloucestershire to Cornwall and across to North Wiltshire.
This year has been a time of trying to catch up with member activities and we were thrilled to hear that Jim (James) Ferguson’s commitment to mental health services in Devon had been recognised through the award of MBE. Jim will be talking to us about his professional work both in the AMS and civilian sector at our AGM in May 2019.
One of our Bristol members, Dorothy Flint, is a student with the University for Creative Arts, involved in art work across disciplines. I was lucky enough to visit the South West group’s ‘Osmosis’ exhibition where Dorothy’s work was displayed and meet with Dorothy and some of her course colleagues. More information about Jim and Dorothy’s achievements will be available on the Branch page of the Association website. We are keen
Dorothy Flint with her exhibit at ‘Osmosis’ for the University of the Creative Arts
to involve them in the Association oral history project.
Other Branch members are actively involved in supporting Wells Cathedral, the ‘most poetic of the English Cathedrals’ in the centre of England’s smallest city through volunteer activity as welcomers, guides and flower arrangement. Branch members attended the Cenotaph parade and the Association’s annual reunion in May.
We are keen to extend the hand of friendship to new members and look forward to developing links to new activities and the histories of our members.
Mo Holman Secretary