Page 47 - QARANC Vol 19 No 1 2021

Newcastle Branch
Chair: Shirley Laverick-Stovin Secretary: Jacqui Hall
Happy New year from us all in the North East! It doesn’t seem two minutes since I was writing the last piece and here we are again. It just goes to show that however difficult a year 2020 was; Tempus Fugit.
Like so many, this has been a mixture of happy and sad times for us. We celebrated two significant birthdays in the latter part of the year (Kathleen Robinson and Marguerite Flower, both a magnificent 80 years). Of course, we were unable to have a get together, but I was able to get a photo of Marguerite with her flowers.
We have enjoyed weekly Zoom meetings, which though not as organised as our Jurassic Coast Branch, is enjoyed by many members. This included a Christmas Quiz won by Jacqui Hall, our Secretary. However some of us were able to join Jurassic Coast
Welsh Branch
Chair: Caroline Whittaker Secretary: Rosy Hubbard
Welsh Branch of the Association have not been able to meet up during the COVID-19 pandemic, none the less they have been busy! Many members are continuing to work during this difficult time. Some have volunteered to assist with the vaccination programme with others supporting those around them and fellow members. One member, Andrea Crane, has sent an interesting account of her lockdown experience in Portugal, having set off before the pandemic. Another, Valmai Davies, a committee member, has managed to get in 1.7 million steps in aid of Diabetes UK, whilst taking her daily exercise and walking the dog.
Regular contact has been kept with our members through telephone calls, emails and newsletters. The newsletters are now being sent out more frequently with a range of interesting and informative articles.
and the Scottish Branches for their marvellous virtual Burns Supper, which was brilliantly organised and delivered. Thank you very much to all involved.
Sadly we lost one of our stalwart members of the Branch in December when Lieutenant Colonel Tricia FitzGerald lost her short but well fought battle, having only been diagnosed earlier in the year. She was a pivotal member of the branch, always happy to take on any role to help us to deliver entertainment and support to our members. She was also our treasurer for the past few years and in her inimitable style the paperwork was immaculate, just like she always was. She will be sorely missed by us all. Despite the situation we were able to give her a guard of honour and both standards were paraded outside of the church.
We also sadly lost a brother, Lieutenant Colonel George Watson TD. Though he never transferred
over from the RAMC to us, he was a part of the combined local RAMCA/QARANCA group. He was a marvellous character and excellent company on the many battlefield tours where he joined us. We were able to give him a guard of honour and both standards were paraded.
Looking forwards, we are busy booking up our Spring event (in lieu of our postponed Christmas one) on 21 May and our battlefield tour to Verdun in September, also postponed from last year. These events are, as ever, in conjunction with our local RAMCA Northumbria Branch. We will hopefully have lots of lovely photos from them in the next Gazette!
Wishing everyone well across our branches. Take Care and Stay Safe from us all at Newcastle Branch.
Shirley Laverick-Stovin Chair
The Gazette QARANC Association
Zoom meet ups are continuing with the AGM and committee meetings taking place this way. A number of casual get togethers have also been held, including a mulled wine and mince pie celebration for Christmas. Thanks to the generosity of HQ QA Association our members received a Christmas card and a small gift purchased from Branch funds.
A series of Zoom talks with interesting speakers has been arranged for the Spring months. The first, a very informative and
interesting talk about the work of Blind Veterans UK was delivered by Major Eirian Davies, Care Manager at the Llandudno Centre. A Zoom St David’s Day dinner for members is currently under discussion.
An ambitious programme of events has been arranged for the year, so let’s hope the virus can let us meet up and carry on.
Diana McCrea Vice Chair
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BRANCH NEWS