Page 56 - QARANC Vol 14 No 10 2015

54 QARANC THE GAZETTE
Lunch with Betty
Guys Lunch on the 13th December was a great success. Our retired Association Chairman Lesley Wright was our guest. We also had Mrs Evans with her daughter Liz and 60 other members and friends. Betty’s award which had been left at the Magazine offices was picked up by Josephine Jones a few days before our Lunch and after a few words from Lindi our Chairman explaining why the award was given to Betty, Lesley very kindly re- presented Betty with her award.
Left: Josephine Jones, Lesley Wright, Betty and daughter Liz
Below: Judy Evans, Lesley and Linda Kibbey Branch Chairman
Poppy Planting
We have all seen the amazing pictures of the fields of poppies at the Tower of London and two of our Branch members volunteered to take part in the planting on separate occasions. We all met at the back of the Tower where we were counted in checked off their list and signed in at the registration desk. Watched the orientation video, issued with personal protective equipment (PPE) including a bright red volunteers shirt, met our team leader and escorted into the gardens.
Two o’clock on a Saturday afternoon and the railings overlooking the gardens had visitors standing 3 to 4 people deep.
We were shown how to put the Poppies stems together ready for the flower and we all got to work.
It has been such a popular thing to do (Volunteering to Plant the Poppies) that each day AM and PM the groups were given a limited number to plant 5,000 per session had been allocated.
One gentleman standing above us dropped 3 sheets of paper, which had pictures of 3 relatives who had lost their lives in the war. He asked if we would hold the copies of their photos next to the Poppies so that he could take a photo of them in this crimson garden - all very touching and humbling. In the words of the British Legion. “This was an opportunity to play a unique role in the commemorative events across the
UK marking the outbreak of the First World War the most stunning artistic commemoration of the centenary.
My thanks to Dottie Calderwood who organised the QA’s to be present at the Poppy Planting days. I am very grateful to her for all the assistance she has given me with the above and her skills in the IT department I would never succeed in getting anything on line if it was not for her. AJ
Future Events
Sunday 29th March 2015.
Thursday 16th April 2015.
Tuesday 22nd – Friday 25th September 2015
Corp Day and AGM
Outing to Kew Gardens
Edith Cavell Commemoration
I take this opportunity to send you my best wishes for the coming year. Allison Johnson, Millbank Branch Secretary.