Page 46 - QARANC Vol 14 No 7 2013

44 QARANC THE GAZETTE
Millbank Branch
Chairman: Lt Col (Retd) Josephine Jones RRC Secretary: Mrs Allison Johnson
Such a busy few months with Branch members attending as many occasions as possible.
We had our Branch Corps Day at the end of March.
Members Attended the Old Comrades Parade at the beginning of June and Armed Forces Day in London at the end of June. Those events will be reported in our own newsletter at end of year along with reports on the rest of our outings that we still have to enjoy. The following reports are other memorable outings members of the branch attended.
Corps Day on March 27th started the year for the Millbank Branch.
I was the Branches representative at The QARANC Corps day held at DMS Whittington on Wed 27 March 2013 in the presence of HRH Countess of Wessex, Colonel-in- Chief QARANC. The Director of Army Nursing Services Col Peter Childerley, Colonel Commandant Rosie Kennedy who accompanied HRH during the visit along with Corps RSM Miss Donna Martin.
All three services Mod civilians and QARANC Association members were invited. The day was broken into 3 parts firstly
Millbank Branch travels
On a wet and cold day in May 2013 a party of Millbank members gathered on the Embankment in London to board a coach to travel to the National Memorial Arboretum. Some other members travelled by cars to join the coach party at the hotel. The drive to Staffordshire could have been better due to the rain and the road spray. However this did not daunt the spirits of the travellers.
A jolly evening was spent in the local
restaurant called Frankie and Benny’s,
who coped well with the unexpected
influx of diners. The following morning
we all travelled to the Arboretum and
were greeted by the deputy to the
Chief Executive and the group organiser, together with guides who were to lead us during the day. It was a medical day as a group of RAMC from Birmingham were also present.
Our party attended the chapel service to begin the day; this is a poignant short service including a short talk on the history of the chapel and the Arboretum. The chapel is furnished in wood with supporting pillars representing the twelve Apostles and all the other furnishings tell a story of events from the bible. We were lucky to get a seat as it was standing room only by the time the service started.
Following this informative beginning to our day some went
a Church Service at St George’s Church, DMS Whittington, followed by lunch at DMS Whittington Combined Mess, and then the rededication of the QARANC Memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum. Unfortunately the National Arboretum was still under water so that part of the day was cancelled and rearranged for early June.
I arrived in good time and met up with other Association members from the Midland Branch, found a seat in the Church where we had a good view of all the proceedings.
It was an excellent service celebrating the history and the future of the QARANC led by Padre Maj Young.
Major Alison Cripps QARANC and Mrs Jill Saunder performed two duets. One in particular was very special, the words For The Fallen, two verses had been specially arranged and had been taken from a poem by Laurence Binyon which included the famous verse:
‘’They shall grow not old as we that are left grow old”
It was a most beautiful piece.
I was invited to join one of the groups to meet HRH The Countess of Wessex our Col-in -Chief in the Red area and in due course I was introduced and had a few moments talking with HRH. It was a very special day.
Allison Johnson
on a guided tour and others boarded the land train for a tour of the site with a commentary. To say that it was cold is an understatement, the wind cut us all up, but we braved it happily as we identified the various wonderful memorials and the many plantations of trees. Many of the trees bare plaques in memory of individuals. The central memorial is indeed a
thought provoking reminder of how many have lost their lives on our behalf and sadly continue to do so. The latest names were being added whilst we visited! We were all excited to identify “OUR“ plot, which had been newly re- sited.
We enjoyed a splendid lunch in a separate dining area and were looked after very well and were able to have time to spend some money in the shop. The whole site is under the auspices of the Royal British Legion. There is an opportunity to purchase Poppy flowers and crosses and wreaths maybe ordered before a visit.
After lunch we made our way to the site of the QARANC Memorial, a short walk from the centre. The memorial looked very good on its new site and is very prominently placed near to the Polish memorial. We laid our wreaths and a cross and the QARANC Collect was read.
Sadly we have lost one of our most loyal members Vera Harris who died unexpectedly at the beginning of April she will be sorely missed.