Page 29 - QARANC Vol 17 No 2 2019

Royal Centre for Defence Medicine Families’ Fun Day 2019
On 31 July 2019, the Royal centre for Defence Medicine (RCDM) organised a families’ fun day at Highbury Hall, Moseley, Birmingham. The aim of the day was to gather together the families and friends of personnel working within RCDM and say thank you for all their support and dedication to each other, to the unit and to the Armed Forces. The event is run annually and each year a different RCDM department is responsible for the organisation. This year it was Staff Sergeant Rachel Staples and Sergeant Phil Swarbrick (RAF medic) from the Patient Co-Ordination Cell.
Once permission was granted to go ahead with the provisional plans, organisation of the event began. As this event received no internal funding other than a kind RCDM welfare grant which paid for the venue and food, it became apparent that we had to be imaginative with how we were going to pay for and run the event. Of the letters that were sent out we received grants from the QARANC Association and the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity who both very kindly gifted us £400.00. This gave us an amazing starting point. Sergeant Swarbrick then e-mailed the Forces Network or CSE as they are commonly known. Once the business case was submitted
Happy faces at the candy floss machine!
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we were astonished at the help we received. They offered to cover the event, and they brought with them a musician, bouncy castle, inflatable assault course and popcorn/candy floss machine. The funds gifted by the two charities meant we could provide
a wonderful face painter which was enjoyed by both children and adults alike, a circus performer who brought a full circus entertainment package, gazebo in case of bad weather and deck chairs to ensure ample seating for those who attended. However, by far the most popular element was the ice cream cart. Home made ice cream and sorbets were a hit and enjoyed by all. We were also gifted raffle prizes by Birmingham and West Midlands Football teams, supermarkets and from staff to ensure there were ample prizes to be won on the day. As a thank you to the QARANC Association and the RNRMC for their donations they were naturally invited to the event. Liz Keenan of the West Midlands Branch of QARANC Association was able to attend and spent the afternoon chatting to the families and serving QA’s.
The day was a complete success and luckily the rain held off just long enough for the event to finish, so everyone was happy and at the end of the day. There was even a little money left in the pot for next year.
Staff Sergeant Rachel Staples
Bouncy castle fun!