WRAC Association Wales & The West Area

Chairman: Mrs Maggie Purkis

Secretary: Miss Irene Hall

Hereford Branch

Chairman; Mrs Mary Nicholls

Secretary: Miss Sharon Joyce

Hereford continues to thrive and this year we have been busy as usual. Our Standard Bearer, Sharon Joyce, has been extremely popular and, since we managed to purchase a light weight pole which has eased the weight overall, there is no stopping her. Sharon was invited to take the Standard to the Standard Dedication Service held by Tamworth Branch. It was a great day and everyone was pleased that we had been invited. There was also a special request that came to us for the Standard to be taken to the funeral of a member – not of our Branch – we were more than happy to attend and the effort was very much appreciated by the family. They thought it was a fitting touch in celebration of a full life. Sharon has also been invited to take the Standard to the Violette Szabo museum on 26th June as part of the anniversary celebrations. By the way, should any other Branch be in need of a Standard pole (wooden) please get in contact with us and we can sort something out!

 Our Christmas dinner is normally held in January. Well we like to be different but this is nice after the standard Christmas festivities. We had good food, log fire and friends, what more can you ask for.

Hereford would like to apologise for being late at the AGM, through fair wind and foul weather not to mention the traffic jams, they persevered onward and made it in time for the lunch.

Which comes nicely to the yearly gathering celebrating the Veterans Day and we are meeting again this year and there will be over 25 of us attending. We normally get 'asked' to leave the Axe and Cleaver in Hereford as it is such a lovely atmosphere; we do not want to leave.

Last year we celebrated our annual picnic in Queen's Wood, just north of Hereford and this will be taking place again this August. Last year we raised enough to donate £100 toward the upkeep of the Lioness and this was done with a glad heart. Editor: It is so much appreciated when branches are good enough to support the journal.

An invitation to the Hereford Bishop's Palace did not make it quite clear what the objective was but Joyce was game to 'have a go' and stepped in for me. It turned out to be a personal thank you lunch for voluntary groups, given by the wife of the Bishop of Hereford for all their hard work over the years. It was an informal get together and Joyce thoroughly enjoyed it, she now insists that there be no publicity now she frequents places like the Bishop's Palace – oh yes and the Queen's Palace.

As part of our calendar of events, our contingency of ladies in Ross on Wye hold a coffee morning and raise money for the branch. This is also open to others of Bernard Hackett Court and enjoyed by everyone. With monies raised we are taking a coach of people to visit the National Memorial Arboretum in September. It will be a beautiful time of year with the colour of the leaves changing but still some warmth in the air. As it is maturing, like all of us, we see this as a great day out. The younger members are happy to ensure that those of us who may not be able to walk around are conveyed in their personal transport. We are really looking forward to the visit.

Help for Heroes is always in our hearts and to this end, Win Birt decided that she would not have any birthday present but donations towards this great cause. She is a modest lady but I am sure she will not mind me telling you.

Jo Foster completed a cycle ride around the Malvern Hills and Herefordshire to raise money Help for Heroes. If ever there was an advertisement for Lanocaine, this was it. Jo, who says she is not the best cyclist in the world, took this on with gusto. She enlisted the aid of a friend who turned out to be a great cyclist with a very, very fast bike and Jo with her world weary version tried to keep up. Turn your eyes away now if you have a sensitive stomach but this was all aided by a jelly saddle (I do not know either) Lycra shorts and copious amounts of Vaseline. You could not invent this, could you?

Jo's aim was to raise £400 and would be very happy to get £500. She actually raised over £600 and we are very proud of her. But it does not end there, she has volunteered to complete another adventure next year and, as this is in print, she cannot back out. We will keep you posted and any support would be greatly welcome.

PS: my apologies for no photographs. Jo's were very tiny, trailing behind in the distance and Joyce is still saying no publicity – sorry.