Page 37 - QARANC Vol 15 No 1 2017

Turning the Pages
This year the Turning of the Pages to honour the sacrifice made by QAIMNS/ QARANC nurses killed or wounded caring for victims of conflict, was held at the Guards Chapel Wellington Barracks. Those Millbank members attending were Col J Jones and Maj A Rutledge.
The Guards Chapel is the spiritual home of the Household Division; it was destroyed by a Flying Bomb in 1944 during Sunday Morning
Service. Many people were killed or injured, but the Silver candlesticks, a gift from King George VI, continued to burn on the undamaged altar. The Apse was the only part of the building to survive. The new Chapel was designed by Bruce George and dedicated in 1963.
Therefore, it was a fitting venue for this Remembrance Ceremony to be held in conjunction with the RCN who are marking 100 years of its formation. The Standard and the Florence Nightingale Lamp was paraded and we were welcomed by The Revd J.H Dunwoody and Lorrae Allford, Vice Chair, RCN Council. There were representatives from the Queen Alexandra’s Royal Naval Nursing Service and Princess Mary’s Royal Air Force Nursing Service, together with a
large contingent of the QARANC.
The service proceeded with various readings from diaries and memories of those who had participated in the Great War and a poem written by Naseer Ahmed Nasir titled Internally Displaced persons. The RAF Spitfires Choir performed an Anthem with words from Patience Strong set to
music by C.H.H. Parry.
The names recorded on the page
of the Book of Remembrance being turned were read by SSgt Kay Price and Pte Pramond Rai. The Act of Remembrance then continued with the Last Post, Reveille and ended with The Kohima Epitaph.
It was an uplifting service to remember those to whom we owe so much.
Lt Col Josephine Jones
THE GAZETTE QARANC
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BRANCH NEWS
Field of Remembrance
On 10 November, several of the Millbank Branch were privileged to attend the ceremony at Westminster Abbey for the annual remembrance service. The Duke of Edinburgh and Prince Harry of Wales were in attendance.
I was very honoured to be asked to stand in front of the QA plot, flanked either side by two young serving sergeants resplendent in their uniforms. The Duke spoke briefly to our male sergeant & Prince Harry acknowledged us with a lovely smile. He spent a long time talking to some American service men, one of whom has been attending the service for an amazing 66 years.
Also present from Millbank Branch were Josephine Jones, Jane Carey- Harris, Bettina Woods and Gwin Foley. Terri Pitt accompanied a Chelsea Pensioner and so was not standing with us. Maggie Slattery and Margo Haywood were also there but at different plots.
We all felt proud to have attended such a special occasion and pleased to have represented the branch.
Lindi Kibbey Chairman
Lindi Kibbey & Sgt Owen
Remembrance Sunday at the 2016 Cenotaph Service and Parade in Whitehall
Several Millbank Branch members marched with other veterans and services at this year’s parade, joining the large QARANC group at this moving event. The early muster and wait was an opportunity to reunite with colleagues, chat with new acquaintances and to marvel at the numbers who had turned out both to march and to support. We were able to meet briefly with Millbank member Deirdre Barr, there in her senior role with St John’s Ambulance.
The QARANC group looked smart, marched well past the Cenotaph and proudly marched past Prince Charles who took this year’s salute. A humbling and moving day.
Judy Cook
Christmas lunch
This year’s Christmas lunch was held at The Robens Suite, Guy’s Hospital, London on 10 December.
What a wonderful event this is in the run up to Christmas. The raffle table was bulging with goodies of all kinds and the tombola did brisk business during the pre and post lunch period. A record number of QAs past and present attended, all of whom spent generously on the day. The meal was a traditional turkey lunch with vegetarian option.
Following the meal, our honoured guest Col Karen Irvine, Chief Nursing Officer (Army) and Director of QARANC, addressed the group. She painted a realistic picture of the current difficulties in army nursing leadership but her gritted determination to ensure that there was development and recognition for nursing was paramount.
A wonderful catch up with old friends and that view is just stunning.
Alison Browne