Page 48 - QARANC Vol 14 No 12 2016

46 QARANC THE GAZETTE
Obituary Mary Read 1926-2015
Mary Florence Read was born in London in 1926 to Lily who was a nurse and Tony a doctor. The family moved to Devon where Mary lived until she started her training in the Royal Devon and Exeter hospital; she then went on to do her midwifery in London.
Mary Joined the QARANC in the 1950’s, and after serving in the UK and Egypt was posted to Cyprus where she met her husband to be, John. They spent a short time in Africa, and in the 1960s moved to Wales where they made their home. After a career break to bring up her daughters, Mary returned to nursing. She was also very much involved in the local community. Mary become a Magistrate and was a member of the Conservative Party, Rotary and Inner wheel clubs, Red Cross, Good Neighbours, Radyr Woods Volunteers and of course much involved in the QARANC Association. Mary has been a member of the Welsh Branch since the early days of its formation, and was Chairman for over 10 years. During this time she was an incredible worker, raising funds for the Association whenever possible. Mary and John were extremely generous in hosting their legendary coffee mornings and encouraging their friends and colleagues to support the fundraising event. Mary rallied her many friends to help, thus managing to raise substantial funds for the branch every year. Mary also ensured that housebound members throughout Wales were visited, making certain that they knew that they were remembered and still part of the family of Army nurses, which meant so much to them.
One of Mary’s great achievements was the rescue of the painting called ‘Care of wounded Soldiers in Cardiff Royal Innfirmary during the Great War 1916,’ painted by Margaret Lindsay Williams. When the hospital closed Mary and John made enquiries as to its whereabouts and a long battle to save it ensued.
Over the next few years Mary relentlessly pursued the NHS boards, throughout various reorganisations, eventually
gaining permission to see the painting, which was in a very sorry condition in the disused chapel. After much discussion the Secretary of the QARANC Association managed to raise substantial funds from the Army Medical Services to renovate the painting to the beautiful condition it is in today, hanging in the grand hall of HQ AMS Camberley, Robertson House.
Without Mary’s unstinting effort this painting would have been beyond renovation by now and would not have been able to be admired by so many.
Mary has suffered ill health for a few years, and sadly in August this year succumbed after a major operation.
Mary’s commitment was a great example to us all.
Rosy Hubbard Welsh Branch Secretary
Mary Elizabeth Kelly (known as Meta)
It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Meta Kelly aged 98. She was born on 25th May 1917 in the Shetland Isles. Sadly, Mete died in October 2015.
She trained as a nurse at Aberdeen and then joined the QAIMNS in 1944 and served until 1947. She was stationed at Liverpool tending injured soldiers from Africa and in June 1944 she boarded the troop ship Invicta at Portsmouth for France. The QA’s were given a makeshift hammock filled cabin, Meta being so small kept falling out of the hammock and ended up sleeping on the floor. It took three nights and days to cross the Channel.
She served in Normandy and at the age of 26yrs she landed in France 13 days after D-Day. Following this she was sent to Belgium where she nursed the survivors of the Belsen Concentration camps and later when she was in India she cared for British prisoners of Japanese war camps. She was mentioned in dispatches for gallantry and distinguished service.
It was whilst she was in India that she met a fighter pilot William Kelly from Bristol and they married in 1949
and had six children. Her adventures continued firstly in Nigeria where they lived in a large house complete with servants then to Saudi Arabia and lastly Somalia before returning to Bristol.
She was a friend and
colleague of Brenda Fuller
nee McBride who was
instrumental in encouraging
Meta to join the Millbank
Branch. Meta was a great
supporter of the branch
when she was more able and always interested in news of the Branch and the Association.
She leaves two daughters and a son and nine grandchildren.
Josephine Jones