WRAC Association London Area

Chairman: Vacant

Secretary: Vacant

Greater London Branch

Chairman: Mrs Beryl Pepper

Secretary: Mrs Val Gaff

Surprise, surprise, Greater London Branch is still on the map even though we have not sent any reports of our happenings to the Lioness during 2011.

Well here is our up-date for 2011. Our year started with the sad news that London Branch had closed. As a Branch we started as a break-away from London Branch 40 years ago (a bit before my time in the Association). No one seems to know exactly how this came about but it was probably to do with girls still working and not being able to get to meetings during the week, hence our Saturday meetings – who knows?

We are very pleased to report that some of the ladies from London Branch have come and joined us and very welcome they are. They all said they enjoyed their first meeting with us which was in February. The attendance was very good considering the weather conditions at the time. Most of our ladies have more than one hours travelling time to get to London so its 100% for effort especially our ATS contingent. I think it must be something to do with our venue being Hyde Park Barracks – the young lads (well they are to me) look after us very well. Ha! Ha!

HQ’s AGM on the 2nd of April at the Victory Services Club was well attended by our members. Some of the ladies gave their usual helping hands with the Cloak Room and front of house duties etc, so big thanks goes to them from the Branch and a big “Thank You” to HQ for a super day.

Our own April meeting followed most of which was taken up with talk about the AGM and the forthcoming event,

being the Branch lunch to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the formation of the Greater London Branch which was also held at the Victory Services Club in June. Everything turned out better than we expected with 30 ladies attending including some from London Branch. A day to be remembered.

October seemed a long way off back in the summer for our next gathering. We like to keep our meetings very informal which helps any new members gel with the rest. We were in fact lucky to have a new member with us and she said she enjoyed the experience with the laughing and chattering in-between tea & cakes and our first attempt at a quiz. Well you know how it is once girls get going – no one was in a hurry to leave.

Well we are well into 2012 and our February meeting is not far off. We have booked a lunch at the Victory Services Club for June – we have started something now!! Let’s hope there are no more closures of Branches in 2012.

Best wishes to all from Greater London Branch.