Page 7 - The Gazette Autumn 2023

Introducing Tracey Buckingham ARRC, Administration Manager
Tracey Buckingham, who was recently appointed the QARANC Association’s Administration Manager, will be familiar to many members.
She gave 35 years’ distinguished service to the Corps, joining as a private and retiring last September at the rank of major – with many assignments and the occasional operational tour under her belt.
Tracey was happily enjoying retirement before answering the call to ‘help out’ at the QARANC Association office earlier this year. We are delighted that she is now staying on to permanently take on the responsibility for the day-to-day running of the Association on behalf of the Board of Trustees and the QARANC.
Tracey reflected: “Having started as a private and ended as a major and held multiple appointments in the military, I feel that the values and standards of the Army have been ingrained into my daily life. Those values – loyalty, selfless commitment, and respect for others – have synergy with the QARANC Association.
“I feel like my military career has been a good preparation for this new role with the Association. I still have a great deal to learn, especially about the charity side of things, but I am excited to learn and to be an integral part of this great organisation, serving our members.”
Tracey joined the Corps as a ward stewardess, now
It’s often the people that make a post memorable and exciting rather than the location
known as healthcare assistants. Her soldier career involved clinical posts at Queen Elizabeth Military Hospital, BMH Hong Kong and Royal Hospital Haslar.
She was employed in staff or training posts at the HQ Defence Medical Education and Training Agency, the Army Medical Directorate and Defence School Health Care and Education. On reaching WO1 she was regimental sergeant major at Military Defence Hospital Unit (MDHU) Portsmouth and MDHU Frimley Park.
Tracey was the first HCA to commission as a health support officer. Her appointments included 2iC HCA Training, SO3 AMS, Adjt DMG Frimley Park, SO2 Soldiers and AHPs, OC Phase 2 Training, 2iC JHG South and Training Officer JHG South East. In amongst all of that she found time to be a specialist advisor to HCAs.
She reflected: “It would be difficult to choose a favourite role as they all offered something unique and different. It’s often the people that make a post memorable and exciting rather than the location.”
Tracey’s husband of 27 years is Andy Reynolds, who recently left the Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC) after 37 years. They live in Fareham, Hampshire with their cocker spaniel dogs Sky and Willow.
The Gazette QARANC Association 7
‘Monkeys in Mexico were quite a distraction.’
Welcome to the Autumn Gazette, my fourth edition in the editor’s chair, and as before an absolutely joy to produce.
Normally at this time of year, I put the Gazette to bed before heading to my sun lounger with the family for ourannualholiday,butthistimewe booked earlier to ensure we would be back for my eldest’s exam results. This has meant putting the finishing touches to the magazine from a hotel balcony in Cancun.
My observations: 1) as workplace locations go there are few better; 2) reliable internet connections abroad are a godsend; 3) when your resort is surrounded by exotic wildlife such as spider monkeys, coatis, and turtles, it can be quite the distraction. Hopefully
also some inspiration for the edition. As always, I am hugely grateful to everyone who contributed articles and reports. The Gazette would not be the lively, varied, and uplifting publication that it is if not for you, so a big thank
you. Asyou’llseefromthecover,weare
celebrating the King’s Coronation and the role of our QAs in that historic occasion (see p10-14). There are also reports from Corps Day in Portsmouth and the Reunion Lunch in London. I was delighted to attend the latter (see p20), and speak to members, and it was pleasing to hear your positive feedback about the Gazette. I aim for it to go from strength to strength.
We are welcoming two new advertisers this edition, who I would
encourage you to support, and members will be emailed a link to an online version of the Gazette that could be useful for personnel posted abroad, or to share articles with family.
There’s so much I would love to recommend in this edition, but with limited space it’s best I let you discover it for yourselves. Enjoy!
Steve Bax
Editor, QARANC Gazette