Page 39 - The Gazette Autumn 2023

SCOTTISH BRANCH
‘My goodness there was some noise in the room’
Here we are already past midsummer in what has been a sociable year for the Scottish Branch. Many members have made the effort to catch up informally in smaller groups, whether for lunch or coffee, as well as attending events arranged by the Committee.
In March we gathered in Perth to celebrate Corps Day; a bit different this year as there was no church service prior to lunch. Instead, we strung up the QA Association bunting in the hotel function room and following a few presentations we had a very useful chat about our events and activities.
The committee likes to check that what we arrange is accessible and enjoyable for attendees and to get a steer as to what we could try in the future. It’s helpful to get ideas from our members and sometimes that can mean doing more of the same. What’s that saying again? “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!”
Following our Corps Collect we were straight into a very tasty lunch, but my goodness there was some noise in the room as our members and guests swapped stories and by the sounds of the laughter, some highly amusing ones at that.
The end of May brought the very sad news that our most senior member, Janet Mantle, known as Nita, had passed away peacefully at the grand age of 102. Nita was our last member with Second World War experience and was an absolute joy to know. Members gathered to pay their respects at her funeral and our very own Captain Catherine Pounder QARANC (V) did us proud by playing the bagpipes as Nita entered the crematorium, carried by her family.
We are very fortunate to have Catherine in the Branch and we are forever grateful that she makes the time to honour our members in this way. In
Catherine participated in the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo Event in New York in April this year, proudly flying the QA banner on her pipes!
Cath Pounder piping in New York QA Banner
addition to her nursing role and her studies, Catherine participated in the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo Event in New York in April this year, proudly flying the QA banner on her pipes! She is also due to take part in the 2023 Royal Military Tattoo on the Castle Esplanade in Edinburgh. What an ambassador!
Branch members met in Edinburgh for our summer event in June. We arranged a private bespoke guided tour at the Scottish National Portrait Gallery, followed by a delicious afternoon tea in Café Portrait. The building itself is magnificent and that’s before looking at any of the exhibits, which range from historical figures such as Mary Queen of Scots and Robert Burns to more recent pioneers in science, sport and the arts and culture, such as Billy Connelly.
Of particular interest to many of our group was the painting titled ‘Unknown Man’ by Ken Currie, which depicts the forensic anthropologist Professor Dame Sue Black. Many of you may well remember that Professor Black was the lead forensic anthropologist to the British Forensic Team in Kosovo, working to identify the remains of the victims of war crimes committed during the Balkan Wars.
My goodness we were proud to read about our very own Mary Wilson and Fiona Grist in the Spring Edition. When you browse the Gazette, it makes you realise what a wealth of talent, commitment, not to mention endurance, there is across our Association as a whole.
Many of you will know the very talented Wendy H Jones who, since leaving the service has made a very successful career as a writer. She was awarded first prize for a non-fiction book at the Scottish Association of Writers Conference, as well as being placed third in two further categories. What an achievement! Amazingly she still finds time to support our Branch.
Scottish Branch has enjoyed some great events and on behalf of our members I must pass on a very grateful thanks to the Association for their generous contribution in the form of financial grants to subsidise the ever-increasing cost of events. It makes a huge difference and is very much appreciated.
Karen J Irvine RRC Chair
The Gazette QARANC Association 39
Coffee catch-up in Oban