Page 34 - QARANC Vol 20 No 1 2022

34 The Gazette QARANC Association
MILLBANK BRANCH
Keeping fingers crossed for 2022
Chair – Christine Duchemin Secretary - Judy Cook
The Millbank Branch committee has done everything possible to keep in touch with members, particularly those known to be alone or less able to leave their homes. Our Zoom social meetings continue to be well attended.
Many members continued to return to work in some capacity. I donned a reflective jacket and enjoyed being a volunteer steward at a large vaccination centre in Southampton.
At the AGM in late July, the chair passed from Lindi Kibbey to Christine Duchemin. Over many years Lindi has made a significant contribution to Millbank and her enthusiasm and thoughtfulness will certainly be carried forward.
Several Millbank members marched at the Remembrance Sunday Parade at the Cenotaph and once again we were able to join the St Paul’s Service of Remembrance and parade our standard.
There was also a significant Millbank
turnout for the HQ organised Reunion Lunch in Leeds. Some were fortunate to be invited by Terri Pitts to attend Founders Day at The Royal Hospital Chelsea and others at The Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance, London.
The usual Millbank busy programme of social outings has been curtailed but we are keeping fingers crossed that the already once postponed battlefield tour to France will go ahead. The Christmas lunch and Bring and Buy was a great success this year in a new venue to us, Chelsea Football Club.
Sadly, we lost several members since the last Gazette, Peta Bousted, Maureen Keating and Gillian Russell. Although never a compensation for their loss we have been delighted to welcome three new members.
I wish everyone well for 2022, stay safe
Judy Cook
Reunion lunch at Leeds Armouries
Following the Chairs and Secretaries meeting, I joined 16 Millbank members and guests at our reunion lunch.
The noise was deafening as friendships were renewed after many months of separation.
I got the chance to speak to members of the Welsh branch who have supported us in the past and a friend from my first regular posting to Tidworth 45 years ago, Pang Adams, who is a previous winner of the Association medal and previous chair of the Southwest branch.
We were welcomed by QARANC General Secretary Sue McAteer and had a talk via Zoom from Col Alison Farmer, the Association President.
Several presentations were made, one to Col. Jane Davies and a picture to Col. Jane Carey- Harris. These were for Jane D’s work as Col Commandant and Jane CH with the Board of Trustees.
We were well looked after with a great three course lunch. The table centres were lovely vases of flowers, and each was given to a deserving member. On our table Karen Eifflander was celebrating a birthday, on a nearby table was a vase for me, to cheer me up following my husband’s stroke in Oct 2020, I was very touched.
Christine Duchemin
Millbank Christmas Lunch
I was not sure about the choice of venue, Stamford Bridge – home of Chelsea FC.
As I came out of the lift, the noise of happy Millbankers was so loud I thought Chelsea was playing at home! All that chatter from 60 members and their guests. Some had not been to a function for at least 18months.
It was such a joy to be together. We had a team photo and was said that shouting ‘QA’ at the camera instead of ‘Cheese’ made us look as if we were gasping for air!
Half of us went on a short tour of the stadium which is vast. People on the other side of the ground looked like Dinky toys and the pitch is more pampered than a Hollywood diva. The private boxes were set for dinner. It really is a very grand corporate world there.
There were also the familiar traditions, fundraising raffle and tombola, turkey and the trimmings,
crackers with jokes to groan at and news to be exchanged among friends. The thanks and cheers for our new chairman, Christine Duchemin and her committee for arranging this event left no doubt that it was a huge success. Sadly, our guest of honour Colonel Kevin Davies, one of our two
Kate Eardby winner of the Raffle and QA Spoon at Christmas Lunch
Colonel Commandants, could not be with us as he was on Covid duty with the Welsh Ambulance Service.
As we left and passed the Christmas lights of Chelsea, we felt Christmassy and the world seemed almost normal. It was wonderful to be among friends again. Let’s hope we can meet again soon.
Chris Eberhardie