Page 51 - QARANC Vol 14 No 12 2016

THE GAZETTE QARANC 49
Daisy Mary Farr
M.B.E. 1913–2015
Our Founder Member of the Midland Branch QARANC Association, died on her 102nd Birthday following a fall and short stay in Hospital, Mary’s Funeral was held at Guildford Crematorium on 9th February.
We were pleased to be represented by Yvonne Thick and her husband Pete who had visited Mary several times before and after her move to Hazelemere.
They used to enjoy their chats
and reminiscing over photo’s
with a cup of tea, when Yvonne
called in on her way home after
work. It was after a fall, that Mary
realised her need to be nearer
family so with sadness at one
of Dorothy and Bob’s Griffiths
Garden Party’s we bade her a
fond farewell with a bouquet of
flowers. Mary enjoyed these occasions, taking part in Lawn Croquet, Boulles and chatting to friends and acquaintances.
Miss Farr was an accomplished pianist, loved classical music, reading and even tried her hand at art. Mary had a strong faith and had a regular pew in Birmingham’s Cathedral. Dorothy remembers her QA book of common pray never being far from her. After retirement she worked for several Charities.
Mary trained as a nurse in Birmingham and transferred in 1939 to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital when it first opened as Theatre Sister, in 1942 Mary joined the QA’s and in 1943 she was sent to North Africa then Naples during the Italian campaign and then to various hospitals and clearing stations in Genoa, Milan and Venice before returning home to London in 1946.
1948 Miss Farr returned to the QE Hospital as theatre Superintendent in charge of seven theatres, she assisted in establishing Cardio-Pulmonary By-Pass surgery.
1950’s Mary started the Theatre Superintendent’s Club becoming the 1st Chairman a post she held for 15 years later renamed the Mary Farr Theatre Club.
1952 Miss Farr re-enlisted during the Korean War.
1960’s saw her travelling to Belgium, France and Germany on an operating theatre related Study Tour.
Mary was held in high regard by all the Surgeons Anaesthetists and all her staff she was affectionately known as Polly as told to me by a retired theatre technician. She set very high standards and expected the same from others.
1968 Mary was awarded the M.B.E in recognition of her services to Nursing.
Mary continued to be an active member of the Association and in 2000 she was presented with a gift on the Midland Branch 50th Anniversary.
We have been privileged to know this diminutive, authoritative but gentle lady and along with the rest of the branch have some very happy memories of a wonderful lady, nurse and colleague.
Sue Reading
Chairman QARANC Association, Midland Branch
Elizabeth Wheeldon 1928-2015
Liz Wheeldon was born prematurely at Ross on Wye on 3 March 1928 into a large farming family. She was the eldest of two girls.
Her father served during the First World War on the Western Front with the Honourable Artillary Company. He sadly died whilst she & her sister Anne were young, from TB that he had contracted in the trenches.
Liz always longed to
become a nurse, and
her dream came true
when she embarked on her nurse training at the West London and Charing Cross Hospitals. Although Liz loved London, following her training she returned home to Hereford out of a strong sense of family duty towards her mother and sister.
Liz eventually followed her father into the military when she joined the QARANC. She had wonderful memories of her time spent in Malaya.
After leaving the QAs Liz joined the Hereford Branch of the QA Association, where she felt a strong feeling of camaraderie. She played an active part in the Branch, eventually becoming chairman. She had fond memories of the many attendances at Whitehall for Remembrance Sunday, and a real highlight was attending a Garden Party at Buckingham Palace in 1994. When the Hereford Branch closed Liz joined the Welsh Branch, where she was a faithful member and attended many of the meetings and social events. Liz often attended the AGM and Reunion where she met up again with a colleague Bettina Wood who she had nursed with in BMH, KL, Malaysia. Bettina who is now in the Millbank Branch, remembers Liz ‘as a very loyal and good hearted companion, on and off duty’.
Liz also held the position of Matron at Rossall Wellingborough Schools and Casualty Sister at Kettering and Hereford Hospitals. She took early retirement to care for her failing mother, another example of her putting her duty to her family before herself. After her mother died she continued to live in the family home with Anne, where she maintained a very active social life attending many concerts and plays all over Britain.
Liz leaves behind her sister Anne, who despite being blind spent many a social event with the Welsh Branch.
Rosy Hubbard Welsh Branch Secretary