WRAC Association North East Area

Chairman: Major (Retired) Dot Ryder

Secretary: Mrs Irene Maclean

Sheffield Branch

Chairman: Mrs Margaret Dufty

Secretary: Mrs Brenda Colley

We send warmest wishes to all readers of the Lioness. Since my last report we've had two lunches out at our favourite venue, the Cutlers Hotel in Sheffield, and Christmas this year has already been booked. Last November some of us went to London for Remembrance week-end and went to the Royal Albert Hall on Saturday evening. It seems a more moving experience this past few years with our forces suffering so much in Afghanistan. Dame Vera Lynn was there and acknowledged a standing ovation, although her voice was a recording. Our February meeting was cancelled due to the icy conditions, but we have averaged ten members each meeting since. We get a number of apologies from those who can't attend due to age and immobility, but two of our regular attendees will be 90 this year. Neither of them misses a meeting, which is just as well as one of them is Margaret Dufty, our Secretary.

Spring Lunch April 2010

A year ago I reported we'd been invited by the UOTC to their Beating Retreat at Somme Barracks. It was a really super event. We were treated to re-enactments of battles, including one where they were attacked by Native Americans. With bows, and arrows with rubber suckers on them it was quite comical, although I'm sure it wasn't at the time. This year they had a full military band so needed a full size parade ground and it was held at the TA Barracks, Endcliffe Hall. Once again a superb evening and we thoroughly enjoyed it - despite sitting under dripping canvas in the pouring rain.

On 4 June, four of us joined the Normandy Veterans on their visit to Normandy. It was very tiring. After the very long journey, we hit our beds at 0010 hrs and had to be on the coach again at 0730
for the first of our visits to the memorials and cemeteries. On 6 June, the service was in Bayeux Cathedral, a magnificent building and the ceremony afterwards was excellent. The French people were very welcoming and it was heartening to see so many young people attending. A whole class of 14 yr olds from Burmondsey were so smart and well behaved that we felt quite proud of them.

Normandy June 2010

Standing L-R: Brenda, Megan and Jean Seated: Margaret Dufty

We have two more Veterans Day parades to attend, in Wakefield and Sheffield. Our annual trip to the National Memorial Arboretum is on 3 July and our day at Eden Camp for the parade and Remembrance Service is 13 September. Hopefully we will also manage to fit in a day's outing in between. So, still quite a lot to look forward to this year. We still meet at Victoria Hall, Sheffield on the first Thursday of each month at 1.30 pm and would welcome anyone who cares to join us.