WRAC Association South & South West Area

Chairman:  Major (Retired) Mack Maskens-McIntyre

Secretary:  Mrs J Ford

Salisbury Branch

Chairman: Mrs Alison Ogden

Secretary: Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Val Trout

Many thanks must go to Plymouth Branch members for hosting a successful and most enjoyable Area Reunion at Borington Hall. The Hall is an impressive building enhanced by the delightful presence of the Rt Hon Ann Widdecombe.

Colonel Sue Rollo, SSAFA Secretary for Salisbury Division came to our July meeting and gave an interesting history of SSAFA and the many ways in which help is given to the Services personnel today.

August found us once again in Amesbury for our annual garden party at the home of our Secretary. We were pleased to welcome Jane Fairbairn and members of the Southampton Branch. However, the weather was dreadful so we held it in Val’s double garage! Due to the confines of the space it was a very cosy event which made it even more enjoyable. Joan Freeland, Frances Green and Christine Forward were able to chat about the time they had each served in Tripoli. 

We held our AGM in September. The committee was re- elected en bloc, so we are pleased our members enjoy the meetings and the programme.

Congratulations to the new WRAC Dinner Club committee for organising this year’s event at Solihull. A good time was had by all. At our October meeting our Chairman welcomed 3 new members; Carol Davies, Christine Humphries and Elaine Corner. This is very encouraging. Christine had seen my phone number in the last Lioness and made that important phone call.

In November Val tested our brain power with an interesting quiz. The joint winners were Clare Edwards with Jill Trainor, and Maureen Robertson with May Brown.

Some old Branch records have come to light and we find that the Branch was formed in 1946. So we voted to “push the boat out” and celebrate 65 years with a special event in June. We are all looking forward to this.

Linda Clark, Lesley Trattles and Pauline Edmund at Christmas Lunch

Quiz winners, Jean, Jill, Pauline and Marilyn