Page 48 - QARANC Vol 14 No 7 2013

46 QARANC THE GAZETTE
Newcastle Branch
Chairman – Col (Retd) Ann Clouston Secretary – Capt (Retd) Lyndsey Staerck
Our AGM in March was well attended and we appointed some new committee members as well as retaining our Chairman and secretary. Our new committee members are warmly welcomed.
We were delightfully entertained at our May meeting with the second part of nursing stories during World
War Two by Monica Cahart-Harris, one of our members .
With our fellow friends from the Newcastle RAMC Association, we undertook a guided tour of our local BBC studios in June. It was a fascinating insight into the news network and how it all works, especially so with breaking news.
In September we are visiting our local Maritime Museum named Trinity House. This was established in 1505 and will reveal some fascinating
artefacts to us all. It is not all about the past but the present too as the Brethren still use the Chapel for weddings, christenings and funerals. It also maintains a professional function as it is one of only three licensing authorities in Britain with the power to examine and license deep sea pilots.
The end of the year will see us all, eating, singing and dancing the night away on our joint Christmas festivities.
Jurassic Coast Branch
Chairman: Lt Col M Bandy Secretary: Miss P.Mckay
The AGM for the Jurassic coast branch was held in Winchester where 26 members attended and we enjoyed a lovely lunch. Miss Donna Martin Corps RSM and WO1 Bainbridge were our guests.
12 Members and partners enjoyed a service for QA corps Day on Sunday 24th March at St Osmund’s Church where we were entertained with a very amusing story by the padre. We then enjoyed lunch at the Smuggler’s which unfortunately has a steep set of stairs down into the pub which meant Col Braisby and her husband John were unable to attend the lunch. The lunch venue will be moved next Corps Day to The Springhead in Sutton Poyntz which is a flat walk from the car park.
On 19th June12 members and 1 partner visited the AMS museum where we enjoyed an extremely informative talk by Pete Starling the Director of the AMS museum. For some members it was their first visit to the museum and it was certainly worth the visit before it moves to Whittington Barracks in Lichfield. Many thanks to Pang Adams who made delicious cakes to have with tea after being shown around the museum.
Our forthcoming events include a trip to Poundbury on Saturday 7th December where we plan to have lunch in The Engine Room followed by a visit to the Poundbury Garden
Centre next door where they have an amazing Christmas display.
Our AGM is being held on 18th February 2014 at The Keep in Dorchester which is the Museum of the Devon and Dorset Regiment followed by lunch at the Royal Wessex Hotel.
We plan another lunch in Winchester on 20th Sept 2014.
The Jurassic coast branch welcome any QA’s who may wish to attend any of our forthcoming events.
Please contact Pauline Novak to attend any of our above events. Tel: 0117 9090412 or 07841260123 or e mail paulinenovak@hotmail.com