WRAC Association Wales & The West Area

Chairman: Mrs Maggie Purkis

Secretary: Miss Irene Hall

Marches & Mid Wales Branch

Chairman: Mrs Carys Palmer

Secretary: Mrs Carys Palmer

As our 60th anniversary year draws to a close, I think I can confidently say that our members will not only remember it for the fantastic Grand Reunion in Blackpool but also for branch events. But first I'm pleased to report that two new members worthy of note have joined us; first to arrive was Eileen Carter who had just retired from her dual positions as London Area Chairman and Trustee of the Association. Then, just before we went to Blackpool in March, Irene Hall our Area Secretary surprised me by saying that she would like to join our branch - we must be doing something right!
With our anniversary still in mind I felt we should turn our June garden party into a more special event so I hatched a plot ready to present for the members approval at our AGM. After that it was simply a case of confirming the arrangements and waiting until Lt Col Westlake decided if she could come as our guest speaker. It was by a happy coincidence that our party fell on Armed Forces Day and the weather was perfect. Our invited guests from Chester and Wirral branches arrived at Glansevern Hall Gardens near Welshpool with Pat their Secretary very much in command of the wheel of a large minibus! I invited these ladies because I wanted to thank them for the support they have afforded us (but especially me) ever since we began the branch four years ago. We hired the conference room for the afternoon and our hosts at Glansevern Hall surpassed themselves. Vases of flowers on the tables, the warmest of welcomes and a splendid buffet lunch that thirty-three members and guests were soon tucking into. We were delighted that Sue was able to join us and she gave us an informative and thought provoking talk about the Association, its future and the busy role that she plays within it.

Address from the Vice President

I personally will remember the event as 'the silly hat day.' Someone arrived with a rather small WRAC forage cap, which they promptly perched on my head. Not wanting to disappoint I did my best to keep it aloft but I was much more comfortable with the large red one. I wore that to deliver a rendition of Jenny Joseph's 'Warning' to an attentive, but slightly bemused audience- I don't think they recognised me under the hat! To make the day even more special I recruited a new member, Maj (Retd) Chris Tucker QARANC, who had come as a guest. I don't expect Lt Col Westlake has many opportunities to personally welcome a new member but she did on this occasion. Later, a collection was made for the Association and with thanks to everyone's generosity, we were able to hand over a cheque for £165.

Marianne under the forage cap and the Vice President welcomes Chris Tucker

While some of our guests dispersed out into the gardens, others simply preferred to sit in the shade with a cup of tea or a cold beer! The raffle raised nearly £100 which will be used to send Christmas flowers to our more elderly and distant members.

Chester and Wirral enjoying the sunshine

In her letter afterwards, Sue described the day as 'a mini Welsh reunion,' well, our reuniting didn't end there. Our autumn meeting was a trip to the seaside so that Monica, who is unable to travel very far, could join us. Just two weeks before the event, shrewd Monica advised me to change the venue as the food had 'gone downhill' at our chosen one and she recommended the superb Trefeddian Hotel which sits on the side of a hill overlooking the sea at Aberdovey.

Eighteen members and guests were soon reuniting: Kath from Pontypridd with Gwenda from Dolgellau; Nancy from Tywyn with Cordelia and Joan from Barry; Judith from Aberystwyth with Carys from the Marches; Lizzie, also from the Marches, with Monica from Tywyn; Pat and Terry from Pwllheli with me from the Marches. I always enjoy seeing those two as I served with Terry at Shorncliffe back in the early 60s, and finally, Nerys from Rhyl who came as a guest to be reunited with us all as she had been left out on a limb ever since Rhyl branch closed. We all sat at one long table to tuck into what can only be described as a celebratory feast. It was difficult to choose from the extensive menu but I'm still talking about the lunch I had on that day. Smoked salmon and shrimp followed by roast breast of guinea fowl, then rounded off with a huge dish of fresh strawberries and cream, and all for just £13.95! We discovered that one of the ladies serving our meal was none other than 22-year-old mother of two, Sgt Kyli Williams, the Tywyn Army Cadet Force Commander. I've promised to keep in touch with her.

Sgt Kyli Williams – a better fit for the forage cap!

If you are reading this as an Association member living in our area, but you are not yet a branch member, now you know what you are missing! You will be very welcome to join us. The branch AGM will be at The Longmynd Hotel, Church Stretton at 11am on Saturday 27th March 2010 followed by a 3-course lunch at 12.30pm.