Page 41 - QARANC Vol 19 No 1 2021

The Gazette QARANC Association 39
Museum of Military Medicine Update January 2021
After considerable delay, on 16 December 2020 Cardiff Council granted planning consent for the site on Britannia Quay formerly occupied by The Tube visitor centre and for the removal of the so-called ‘Lock keeper’s Cottage’ on a part of the land. This latter consent was considered by CADW with no objection, and now our attention turns to the conditions that have been imposed. For the most part, these will need to be satisfied before construction can begin but none are unexpected. While these are being dealt with, the museum will launch its formal fundraising plan, now that we have something tangible for fundraise against.
Work has begun on community engagement in the Bay area, to develop the museum’s links with the people of Cardiff, as we look to incorporate local stories into the museum’s interpretation and displays. At the time of the planning committee some opposition to the project was voiced in the local press, relating both to the loss of green space and accusations in some quarters of imperialism. Of the former, Cardiff Council is content that the public amenities provided by the new museum will compensate, while the latter appears to have been inspired by sections of the Welsh nationalist movement. It should go without saying that the museum’s focus is medical innovation and advances in public health gained from the military experience. Part of the public engagement taking place will address these concerns.
Given the situation with COVID-19, since March 2020 the museum at Keogh Barracks has been closed to the public and staff and volunteers have been working from home for
the most part. The online shop is still open for business, however, and orders can be placed for uniform items and gifts. Please check our website museumofmilitarymedicine.org.uk for details.
In spite of the present restrictions, planning for the museum’s future is continuing, with consideration of how digital resources can be made to work for the museum, particularly around engagement and revenue generation. One goal is to ensure that as much as possible of the museum’s archives, drawn from across the four AMS corps, can be digitised and made available to researchers. We are also planning travelling temporary exhibitions, following on from the RADC Centenary exhibition this year. For example, work is underway on a display to commemorate the work of the medical services during the Falklands War to tour next year.
When the museum reopens, we will require more volunteers to help with the collections in readiness to move from Keogh. Some of these projects can be quite focused and will not need to take place on site. If you would like to get involved with volunteering, please contact Rob McIntosh, the Curator, on 01252 868612.
We also remain open to receiving donations from current serving personnel and from veterans. If you have archives or objects you would like to consider donating to the museum, please contact Rob on the number above.
Jason Semmens MA AMA Director
Hospital in Aldershot, where she became the first ever Registered Midwifery Sister Tutor. She was asked to set up the Army Midwifery School there, training new midwives and delivering babies until she retired in 1967. Many of her pupil midwives are still good friends of hers, and keep in touch from around the world, indeed even at 99 Norah still exchanges letters and phone calls with many of them.
Nurses were known as ‘dedicated spinsters’ as they were unable to serve if married until 1967. Indeed, Norah was offered the chance to be the first woman in the Forces to marry, but decided to retire instead as she felt she’d be unable to do justice to her work as a senior tutor whilst being newly married and setting up home. So, Norah and Tom finally married in their forties and set up home in Fleet. Norah continued to work as a volunteer for the QA Association, acting as Branch Secretary and providing support to retired personnel.
When the British Army handed the care of Jamaica to the newly formed West India Regiment Norah was given permission the bring the QA Mess dog Sam back to the Louise Margaret Hospital and took on his care. She also became ‘auntie’ to many local children, who brought her injured wildlife they found to be needing her special care, and an agony aunt to many who knew her and her wisdom. When declining health necessitated her moving into a care home five years ago she moved into Waverley Grange and continued her ‘listening’ role to residents and staff alike, until this last year when her loss of hearing and the restrictions of COVID-19 have taken this role away from her.
She is still a remarkable woman with a wonderful memory and great sense of humour. We were looking forward to celebrating her 100th birthday in February, and many friends, old and new, would have been there, as well as her husband’s family members. However, this current crisis has denied her this celebration and we will just do the best we can; Norah’s spirit is undimmed.
Joan Chapman