Page 46 - QARANC Vol 14 No 12 2016

44 QARANC THE GAZETTE
Chester Branch
Chairman: Col (Retd) Sylvia Short OBE Secretary: Mrs Lynn Orfanelli
Our branch continues with its many functions. During the year the branch was saddened to hear the death of Miss Beveridge and Mrs Olive House. 2015 was all about our 4th Reunion which is hard to believe. As is usual, ideas are exchanged as soon as the previous one has finished! One of which was to hold it in a castle!
A couple of days before Christmas 2013 my phone goes and Liz Ashworth is on the phone. “I found it “said Liz. “Fantastic I said but what have you found?” “The castle and it is near a Railway Station.” “Great I said, well hold that thought and we will talk in the New Year. Out of curiosity where? Shrewsbury came the reply.
So on what started as a dry crispy day in February, the committee met and we made our way to the Castle in Shrewsbury full of high hopes? However, despite the best efforts of the staff it proved to be impossible. So leaving the castle we set off on a tour of Shrewsbury Town and started to visit all the hotels and Restaurants around, all to none avail. By now not only was our hopes beginning to fade but the weather took a turn for the worse! We somehow found ourselves down by the River Severn when someone spotted an Advert for ‘sails on the river’, maybe we could hire a boat Dorothy and Liz said in unison. Oh grab a leaflet I said and let’s move on to final hotel if only to get out of the rain! The final place we visited was The Prince Rupert Hotel. As soon as we walked in we knew we had found what we were looking for.
The owners of the hotel were able to meet us there and then and confirmed that they were able to accommodate us. When we had finished speaking to them and drinking a very welcome cup of tea Meg said “what about the boat?” I got the leaflet out took a look at it and we decided to go and see them. To our astonishment they said no problem.
The reunion got underway. Starting with us meeting up on the Friday with a sail down the Severn on the Sabrina and a
Barbeque. We left the hotel with Glynis leading from the front, street map in hand, and Jill making sure that no one took a wrong turn! The evening started with a welcome glass of wine and off we sailed. Laughter was in abundance. The time passed by and soon we were back on land!
Saturday morning was free time and we all made use of it exploring all that Shrewsbury offered. In the afternoon more people joined us, more chattering and exchanging photos and more revelations.
On the Saturday evening the Prince Rupert Hotel put on a splendid dinner it was a thoroughly enjoyable evening. Despite the late night when some of us retired, in true QA fashion we were all up on the Sunday morning to attend the service, which was held in the Church opposite the hotel. The service was led by Fr Michael Fish SSC CF. It was a lovely service designed by Michael to incorporate the QARANC including the Corps collect and our Hymn. It was also an opportunity to reflect and taken in the events of the last 2 days.
On behalf of the Chester branch I would like to say a big thank you to Col David Bates and his wife for joining us and involving themselves fully in all the events that we arranged.
The weekend was a huge success for all sorts of reasons. Most of you should have the DVD of the event. If you have not received yours, please contact me.
In November, a party of us once again took part in the Remembrance Parade at the Cenotaph. For those of you who have not been, may I suggest you come along this year if you can? It is without a doubt a very moving event and with the crowds behind you even more so.
Finally, the year ended with our Christmas Lunch, which was held once again in the Queen Hotel. All had an excellent time.
Lynn Orfanelli Branch Secretary