Page 55 - QARANC Vol 14 No 10 2015

THE GAZETTE QARANC 53
Millbank Branch
Chairman: Lt Col (Retd) L Kibby Secretary: Maj (Retd) A Johnson
What a great year the members have had. As a branch we continue to grow with 135 members the highest number we have had since I took on the secretary’s role.
This year began early with our Millbank Standard being
flown at some of the most prestigious of Parades in all the QA Millbank Standard was flown 7 times again a record for the Branch.
The last 6 months of the year was as busy as the first. With flying our Standard at Commemoration Parades, outings and last but not least our annual Christmas lunch at Guy’s hospital.
Visit to La Chapelle
D’Armentieres
I was asked to carry our QA Association Standard by the local RAMC Association at the Remembrance commemorations in France on the 11th November 2014. With kind permission from the QA Millbank Branch, I was able to take our Standard to La Chapelle D’Armentieres in northern France. This was an annual twinning commemoration between Birchington in East Kent and La Chapelle.
The other Standards that were carried were those of the RAMC, the Birchington Royal British Legion and the Scouts who carried the Union Flag. There were a number of local French Standards and the local band provided the music.
During the First World War, La Chapelle found itself on the front line, the town being virtually destroyed by the conflict. There are 6 different cemeteries in various parts of the town from this period.
The Standards were first paraded at a short ceremony taken by the Mayor of La Chapelle at Wez Macquart, a village near to La Chapelle. This was followed by a further wreath laying ceremony at 11am in the main square in the Town. All the Standards then followed the band to the
British Cemetery, on the high street. Here I could find no evidence of QARANC or RAMC headstones. We all walked to the Town Hall for further speeches from the Mayor, followed by light refreshments. To my surprise, coach then took us to another part of town for a 5-course meal, given by the Twinning Committee.
Our return by coach was thwarted by Eurotunnel delays and we eventually arrived home at 11pm. our morning had begun at 3.30am so, all in all, a long day.
I felt honoured to parade our Standard on your behalf, in remembrance of the nurses who had worked and given their lives in such a horrendous conflict.
Liz Gregory
The Gill Glover Lecture
At Headquarters in the middle of November, 3 Millbank members and 1 Welsh branch member attended the Gill Glover Lecture along with about 40 serving members of the Association.
This year the speaker at the Glover Lecture was Shirley Cramer CBE Chief Executive, Royal Society for Public Health & Institute of Healthcare Management.
Shirley Cramer is an experienced voluntary sector leader in both the UK and USA. She was the Chief Executive of Dyslexia Action, the UK’s leading independent provider of services for individuals with dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties for over a decade.
Shirley opened her talk by giving out a few facts that today there are 12 million people over the age of 65, which, demonstrates how successful the NHS has been. Shirley raised the point that we are living longer but asked the question are we living better? This led to the crux of her talk, which was on Good Practice and the expectations the public have.
She raised the issues being discussed across the country with people and politicians regarding the people’s own responsibilities for their own health and the inequalities that persist across the country from district to district in the Health care provided.
High standards, quality, training and staff development at
all levels is required and appears to be forgotten in the NHS. During her talk Shirley brought up time and again the skills Gill Glover used in both her Military and Civilian roles as an educator to ensure that training was of the highest quality and in turn that any care given to the sick and injured would be the best possible.
It was an excellent evening with Lt Gen Gerry Berragan CB Adjutant General as Col David Bates guest. Throughout the meal the AMS Reserve Band led by Band Master WO1 Bead entertained us.
This is the first year that I have attended the Glover Lecture and Dinner and it is so easy for members of the Association to join in. You do need to join HQ Mess, which costs £10 a year to all Officers. All you need to do is contact Heather Duncombe Regimental Secretary via e-mail regtsecqaranc@ hotmail.com telephone 01276 412754 or by letter to REG HQ QARANC, HQAMS, Slim Road Camberley. Surrey GU15 4NP and ask for an application form.
Col Bates DANS is keen that all Regular, Reserve and Retired QARANC Officers who are in the Association have the same opportunities to attend the yearly meetings /dinners/ Cocktail Party. Please do consider it.
Allison Johnson
Secretary Millbank Branch