Page 51 - QARANC Vol 15 No 1 2017

THE GAZETTE QARANC 49
Last Post
Maj (Retd) Cynthia Marcelle Pettit QARANC
9 April 1947 – 13 October 2016
Cynthia Remembered
Cynthia, Cynth, Sister, Auntie, Nurse, Captain, Major, regardless of what she was called, was loved by us all and will be missed by us all. You could describe her as a character but she was a help to so many.
Cynthia was born on 9 April 1947 in Birmingham, the second child of Howard and Marcelle Pettit, sister to Richard, Philip, Vivianne and Danielle.
Cynthia spent her formative years in Sutton Coldfield and was educated at Boldmere High School for Girls. She was something of a rebel at school. A letter, sent to our father by the Headmistress in 1962, said she had a record of very silly and inattentive behaviour. She said such conduct was unsuited for a trainee nurse and recommended that she left school that Easter aged 15. Cynthia did and worked as a shop assistant until she was able to go onto further education at the local college before training to be a nurse at Good Hope General Hospital in Sutton Coldfield. She obviously proved her Headmistress wrong.
Cynthia decided it was time to leave home and at 18 enlisted in the Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps as a pupil nurse. Her progression through the ranks was remarkable, achieving Regimental Sergeant Major at the age of 26. Further promotion followed when she became a Captain and finally a Major at aged 35. Cynthia held the distinction of being the first female in the QARANC to rise from the rank of Private to Major.
During her 24 years army service Cynthia developed a wide range of skills within administration, customer services and field management. She had several postings abroad, including Cyprus, Libya and Germany. In 1989, Cynthia retired from active serve and became an Army Reserve Officer. However, this was not the end of her military career as, in 1990, she was recalled to active service for the Gulf War. She was proud to represent her Country once again and, although apprehensive, was smiling and happy to be back in the fold. Cynthia was Officer Commanding the administrative division of a 600 bed army hospital in Riyadh.
After the Gulf war Cynthia held a number of key administrative and project management roles. She spent a large time working for the Regular Forces Employment Association in Salisbury, assisting ex service personnel to find suitable employment. There was an article written about her at the time entitled ‘Cynthia to take Salisbury by Force’. It described her as a formidable woman and warning that Hurricane Cynthia was about to hit them. This probably summed her up perfectly. As she said in another article about her ‘I am no softie’.
However, there was a caring side to Cynthia. In 2003 she became the site manager at Reading University Student Village developing a relationship with the students who felt they could turn to her for comfort and advice. When interviewed about this job she did say there was one downside. She had been interrupted sometimes whilst taking an evening bath.
Cynthia’s last jobs were as a Voluntary Welfare Caseworker for the Royal British Legion and other voluntary organisations,
including Wiltshire Sight in Devizes. We understand she was a great asset to the charity, wonderful on the telephone and such a support and comfort to people.
Throughout her life Cynthia took great interest in politics even from an early age when she would help our cousin deliver leaflets during election time. She always enjoyed debating politics and watching Prime Ministers Questions.
Cynthia fought cancer until the end, enduring operations and long stays in hospital. She showed great courage and dignity and was always happy to offer advice and encouragement to both nurses and other patients. She was still able to enjoy watching her favourite programmes, Casualty and Holby City, while drinking a strong ‘builders tea’.
Cynthia’s last journey was to Warwickshire to be with her family. She was determined to make the trip; a soldier to the end
Philip Pettit
Mrs Mary Gardiner
22 June 1911–12 January 2017
Mrs Mary Gardiner died in Weymouth, aged 105. She was a long-time member of the Bournemouth Branch and one of the founder members of the Jurassic Coast branch. Mary last attended a branch event when she was able to attend the Corps Day Service in 2016.