Page 67 - QARANC Spring 2024

Louise Clowes. Like Kay, she was Northern Irish, which immediately interested Kay, and a doctor, which interested Ken. Louise was travelling to Singapore with her husband Edward, to work in the hospital there. Edward, like Ken at the time, was in the Army. A lifelong friendship was forged during the long flight with several stops en route.
The Clowes’ daughter, Annie, was born the following year in April 1957, and her parents invited Kay to be her godmother, ensuring that the close family friendship would continue to flourish for over 66 years. Kay’s relationship with her goddaughter was so strong that Annie drove every ‘likely marriage prospect’ down to ‘Ladygate,’ Kay’s much-loved home in Fleet, to be vetted first-hand by her very protective but critical godmother! I guess I must have passed the vetting process!
Until very recently, Annie and I invited Kay for a monthly Sunday lunch at her favourite local restaurant in Fleet, the Lismoyne Hotel, where she would be impeccably turned out in a tweed suit and striking red overcoat. After lunch we always took her for two more visits; first to ‘Ladygate,’ where we would park outside and she would regale us with reminiscences about her happy days entertaining in the huge garden there; and then on to visit her beloved Ken’s grave in Aldershot Military Cemetery, following his very sad death in March 1984, aged only 60. Kay will now join him in Aldershot, as we always promised her that she would.
Kay looked forward to rejoining Ken, who was by far the most important part of a life greatly devoted to nursing, bird watching, gardening, travelling and staying in close touch with her widely scattered siblings, family and friends, all underpinned by her strong lifelong Christian faith and commitment to the Church of Scotland.
Kay had a happy life. As she told us towards the end, she had no regrets, and she was looked after wonderfully by all the staff at Beacon House and a small coterie of loyal and long-standing local friends and professionals.
Colonel (Rtd) Bridget McEVILLY CBE ARRC
Colonel (Rtd) Bridget McEvilly sadly passed away on 22 January following a long illness.
Held in high regard by many in the QARANC the wider Army Medical Services and the Defence Medical Services, her passing will be a sad loss felt by all who knew her.
Our thoughts are with her and her family at this time.
There will be a Memorial Service in the near future and details will be released once finalised.
She was fortunate to remain fully engaged in everyday life, and very dignified in everything she did, until she passed away peacefully
Her eyesight to watch her beloved birds remained perfect. Even if her hearing was a bit of a nuisance for her, she never let her lifelong diabetes mar her pleasure in the simple everyday routine at her much- appreciated last home, Beacon House, and she remained largely untouched by great old age, or by any natural ravages of time.
Kay was a splendid lady, full of happy memories of her beloved husband Ken (or to give him his proper title Brigadier Kenneth Panton Milne). She was fortunate to remain fully engaged in everyday life, and very dignified in everything she did, until she passed away peacefully in bed in the company of her delightful carers.
Rest in Peace, Kay, with Ken - finally reunited after 40 years.
Colin Sheaf
The Gazette QARANC Association 67
The Last Post
Betty HASLAM, Midland Branch, 29 July 2023
Kay MILNE, Aldershot, 23 August 2023
Ann ‘Pat’ FRAZER, HQ, 3 September 2023
Janet SOLLY, September 2023
Lt Col (retd) Penelope MOODY, Jurassic, 21 September 2023 Penny NOBLE (nee Thornton), 22 September 2023
Mary Elizabeth HITCHCOCK, HQ, 30 September 2023 Margaret GIBBS, 23 October 2023
Edwina ANDREWS (nee Taylor), HQ, 26 October 2023 Shirley RATCLIFFE (nee Thatcher), HQ, 7 November 2023 Nesta EASTON, HQ, 17 November 2023
Hannah JONES, Chester, 27 December 2023
Janine DWYER, Chester, January 2024
Ann-Marie MILLAR, 23 January 2024
Our sympathy and condolences to families and friends