Page 45 - QARANC Vol 14 No 12 2016

Welsh Branch
Chairman: Lt Col (Retd) Marilyn Williams RRC OStJ TD • Secretary: Maj (Retd) Rosy Hubbard TD
Lunch with Sally
In September one of our members, Sally Fowler hosted a fundraising lunch at her beautiful home in the Gloucestershire countryside, which was enjoyed by all. We had a small raffle and then meandered around her lovely gardens in the sunshine.
Friends of the
Museum AGM
Two of our members attended the Friends of the AMS Museum AGM, which was held at Camberley in September. The meeting commenced at 11am followed by an interesting talk by Kristen Hissey on ‘Innovation, Collaboration and Technology of British Dental Surgery in the 1st World War’. The RAMC Retired Officers had invited the Friends to join them for lunch in the Officers Mess, which was a very pleasant event. The food was excellent and it was good to have an army curry again. This was the first time the joint event was held and it was most successful.
Festival of Remembrance Concert
The Remembrance Concert was held, as usual in St David’s Hall, Cardiff. The first half of the concert was presented most impressively by Mr Robert Lloyd Griffiths OBE OStJ, and the guest stars were the talented soloists Ms Ellen Williams, Jay James and Ms Amie Harris, who gave very moving musical renditions. The massed Male Voice Choir and the Band of the Royal Welsh are so much a part of the event, and this year the guest artists were the group Collabro, who raised the roof with their singing.
The second half was the Muster Parade and Parade of Standards. Rosy Hubbard very smartly paraded our standard, and some of 203 paraded in the General Muster. It was lovely to see Maj Eirian Davies, of 203, wearing the grey and scarlet Ward dress, looking every bit an
Army nurse. The stage setting, when all the standards and units are mustered is a sight to behold, and Rosy was in full view and did us proud. The service is always emotional, especially when the poppies fall from above.
Remembrance
Sunday
On Remembrance Sunday four of our members and a number of personnel from 203 Field Hospital attended an Act of Remembrance held at Llandaff Cathedral. The service, led by The Very Reverend Gerwyn Huw Capon, reminded us of the sacrifices made by men and women in both world wars and all conflicts since. After the Reveille wreaths of poppies were laid in the Cathedral chapels of St David and St Illtyd. Marilyn Williams laid a wreath on behalf of the QARANC Association, Welsh Branch, and Lt Col Caroline Whittaker laid one on behalf of 203 Field Hospital.
Following the service we returned to 203 Field Hospital Officers’ Mess, for a very good curry lunch, where we were joined by other personnel returning from another Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph in the city of Cardiff.
Christmas Lunch
Our annual Christmas gathering was, as usual, at Radyr Golf Club, and this for me always marks the beginning of Christmas. It was a very wet December day, but was, as always our most popular event. A total of 28 members & guests gathered together to enjoy a very nice meal and chance to catch up on the gossip with those we had not seen throughout the year. There was much enjoyment and hilarity and it was a great start to the Christmas festivities.
Following a busy 2015, we look forward to meeting our friends again at the AGM in March.
Remembrance Sunday
Rosy Hubbard, Branch Secretary
THE GAZETTE QARANC
Festival of Remembrance Concert
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BRANCH NEWS