WRAC Association North West Area

Chairman: Ms Carrole Montessori-Gorman

Secretary: Mrs Pat Sanders

Stockport Branch

Chairman: Mrs Jean Latham

Secretary: Mrs Jean Latham

Greetings to everyone at home and abroad - do hope all is well with you after the long and very cold winter. We still hold our meetings at The Armoury on the second Thursday of the month at 2 p.m. Due to the bad weather and illness of some members our first meeting this year was on 11 March and it brought us a new member – Miss Marion Crabtree from Stalybridge in Cheshire – a most welcome addition to our group. She comes to us from the WRAC and we are delighted as we need new members to keep our meetings going.

Phyllis Warren, who lives in Buxton, celebrated her 90th Birthday in February this year and flowers and a card were sent to her from all the ladies in our group. Mona Hamer, another of our ladies, had a stroke earlier in March and is in a nursing home in Offerton. Mona was 90 on 30 March and we also sent her flowers and a card on her birthday - she is in our thoughts, such a wonderful lady. Last year Lillian Day celebrated her 90th Birthday and we surprised her with a party and flowers at the Pinewood Hotel in Handforth – it was a really lovely occasion and this year Lillian also had a wonderful time on her 91st Birthday! An incredible lady.

Now for the sad news. Mrs Beatrice Tait died on 24 February 2010. She had been ill for a few years and had been our Chairman before she became ill. Eight branch members went to her funeral including Molly from Chester branch who came with her daughter. Beatrice's family asked us to join them after the service and it was so nice to meet them – such warm and lovely people. A donation was made to the British Legion in her memory. Elisabeth Lapham – our Secretary, who was a great friend of Beatrice has written the following about her.

"Beatrice Tait, née Blakemore, was a very active person in her earlier years working for Re-Diffusion for some years and, before that, as a waitress. She liked card games especially whist and bridge and was very active in her local RBL. She joined the ATS at the end of 1940 and was the first ATS girl to be war-wounded. She enjoyed her Army life and made lots of friends – but when hostilities were over she couldn't get back quickly enough and immediately joined the Veterans. She was "straight as a die" and liked everyone to be the same. She did not like prevarication and would say a few 'hard words' to anyone she found being guilty of it. She was a nice person to have as a friend and she will be missed by all who knew her."

Mrs Lilian Edwards, a former member of our branch died on 16 May. Another great lady. Lilian set up the branch in Wilmslow and some of the Stockport ladies joined her and it was very successful. Lillian will be sadly missed by so many people.

On the social side, in April, six of our members and guests had lunch at Heaton Moor Catering College. Wonderful food – the best yet and we all enjoyed it so much. On 27 May, nine members and guests had lunch at the Bridge Hotel in Prestbury. Such a delightful place and we all had a lovely afternoon. The Plaza cinema in Stockport has now re-opened after refurbishments and is rather nice I believe; we are hoping to meet there for afternoon tea very soon.

In addition to our outings, we also had a collection and were pleased to be able to send £100 to Help for Heroes. We are now starting again to try and raise more funds but with only a small number in our group it takes time!