WRAC Association South & South West Area

Chairman:  Major (Retired) Mack Maskens-McIntyre

Secretary:  Mrs J Ford

Winchester Branch

Chairman: TBC

Secretary: TBC

Two of our members, Janet Endean and Alison Schofield joined their Royal Signals Association husbands on an outing to Ightham Mote, an ancient moated manor house on the Surrey/Kent borders. The husbands then returned the compliment and accompanied them to the South and South Western area reunion held at the historic and beautiful Boringdon Hall at Plympton in Devon.

At lunch in August we welcomed Elaine Boden, recently returned from Crete where she had been living, then in October we were well represented at the WRAC Dinner Club in Solihull.

November was a busy month. The Branch took part in the parade at the Cenotaph, soon followed by our own AGM – postponed from September (a casualty of summer holidays); here we said a sad farewell to our Secretary, Herme Emary, who has now left Worthy Down. We are sorry to see her go – she has been an innovative and enthusiastic Branch member, full of ideas – particularly in the production of her quarterly “Winchester’s Pride” a newsletter full of ideas and candid camera shots. We presented her with an Emma Bridgewater mug which contained a scented candle with the hope that once burned out (the candle, not Herme!) she will use it to enjoy her daily “cuppa” and think of us. Herme’s departure meant a change of Secretary, so Alison relinquished the chair to fill the Secretary’s position; Lynn Blowes, our Treasurer gallantly agreed to carry on in the job she fulfils so capably. Still in November several of us went to the Officers’ Dining Club at the Victory Services Club where we were happy not just to greet the “usual suspects” but also Rowena Griffiths recently returned from service overseas.

We plan to meet again in January 2012 for our annual New Year’s supper and subsequently at the Grand Reunion, where we hope to fill a Winchester Branch table.