WRAC Association North East Area

Chairman: Major (Retired) Dot Ryder

Secretary: Mrs Irene Maclean

Cleveland Branch

Chairman: Mrs Margaret Fick

Secretary: Mrs Hazel Crammen

I, Robbie Emmerson, am the new "Reporter" for our Branch. Irene Maclean decided after 10 years of writing our branch report to throw in her quill and I was "volunteered" by our members. Our thanks go to Irene for all her good endeavours.

A few of our members at the North East Area Reunion

Over the last few months we have celebrated Veterans Day with a tea-party and a quiz. Eighteen members attended the NE Reunion in September at York and we all thoroughly enjoyed ourselves – many thanks to our Area Chairman Maj Dot Ryder and York members.

Our Standard Bearer, Ann Mahony, has had a busy time attending many parades including Veterans Day at Eden Camp where 179 Standards were paraded.

She also attended many funerals and had the honour to be invited to York Minster to attend the funeral of a young soldier recently killed in Afghanistan.

Veterans Day at Eden Camp

Ann Burrows, a new WRAC member, generously donated £100 to our branch funds. It was part of her sponsorship money for running a 10K marathon with the Marsh Horse Harriers of Billingham. We are very grateful and congratulate her on her success.

Four members attended the WRAC Dinner Club in October at Solihull and as usual had a great time. On the way home they stopped off at the National Memorial Arboretum which they agreed was very impressive, the WRAC Association plot will, in a few years time, be most colourful. Irene Maclean paraded at the Cenotaph in London on Remembrance Sunday for the second year running and met up with a lot of her pals from the Dinner Club. They looked very smart in their green fleeces.

We hope to celebrate Christmas with a luncheon at the Thistle Hotel, Middlesborough on Wednesday 9 December and by the time you read this report it will be a distant memory, but to all readers – we wish you all a healthy and happy 2010.

The commemorative plaque at the front of the WRAC Association plot

Editor: The words on the plaque are:

This grove is dedicated to all the women who served in the WAAC/QMAAC in the First World War, the ATS in the Second World War and the WRAC from 1949 until 1992. The front of the grove is based on the letter W for women. Behind that there is a more open area for seating and quiet contemplation. The trees and shrubs have been specially selected because of their names or for their grace and elegance.

Between 1917 and 1992 nearly half a million women joined these Corps. They served in every continent and in over 35 trades and employments. More than 1,200 died in service. Whatever their role, their commitment and sense of duty have never been questioned.

They were proud to serve their country and their country is proud of their service.