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In January we blasted the year of with
our Christmas party and a huge log fire, good food and good friends: it
could not get better. Everyone had travelled through the bad weather and it
was worth it. However, we sadly learnt of the death of our dear member Ida
Hunt and a glass was raised in her memory.
February held a birthday surprise for
me. A very generous donation was combined with my family present and
everyone bought me a new laptop - no excuse now to step down as Secretary.
What with the surprise birthday party and asking silly questions like, “Gosh
why are Joyce, Mary and Ena at the same pub as me?” I am truly amazed at the
generosity of all the ladies of the Hereford Branch.
In March we visited the Guildford
Museum. Seeing our Branch book there for everyone only demonstrated the need
to capture our experiences and put them down on paper. A number of the
ladies who contributed have since died but their families have been left
such abiding memories. Fifteen members then wended their way to Blackpool to
enjoy a superb weekend with outstanding camaraderie and a few tipples to oil
the wheels – so they told me
Lt Col Eileen Cunningham and Lt Col Ishbel
Thompson
along with Rosemary Jones one of the
anchorwomen of Hereford Branch
April came along with another surprise
lunch and a birthday cake with a WRAC badge on it. This time it was for
Norma Heath who thought she was going to have a quiet weekend in Hereford.
Everyone was scooped up and taken to Rosemary’s house to round the day off
with high tea.
In May the sunshine came with the news
that Ida’s son was completing the Cherbourg to Paris bike ride in aid of
Help for Heroes and in especial memory of his mother. He kept the Branch
fully up to date on his efforts and his overwhelming feeling was that it was
a most humbling experience, watching paralysed and disabled young people
striving to complete the course. He raised £1,212.50 and they united under
the name of ‘Band of Brothers’. Our own Jo Foster is participating next year
in the bike ride and she will have our full support at every turn of her
wheel.
June brings the Veteran Lunch that
will be held at the Axe and Cleaver and Doreen Bridle is travelling from
Southampton to join over twenty members on what promises to be a superb day.
The Hereford Branch is going to celebrate this event annually
July is the time for the famous Ross
on Wye coffee morning, Bring and Buy, cake stall and a raffle and Joyce has
a man to “do the door”. Please do not ask what that means but it makes the
day the success it is.
August will be the Queens Wood picnic
that is open to anyone who wishes to enjoy a day of sunshine with the
Hereford Branch. No dog, cat, grandchild is turned away. We have even had a
toy dog as the owner felt left out not having a pet. If you are not a member
of the Hereford Branch but will be in the area, you are very welcome to join
us. We work on the principle of bring a dish, preferably full. Rosemary
brings tea and coffee making supplies and it is truly a good fun day
Our new venue for our meeting is turning into
a success and these are held the last Tuesday of every month at the
‘Herdsman’, Hereford. Do I feel a pub theme developing?
The Branch would also like to take the
opportunity to thank Jo Foster for her superb contribution as Standard
Bearer; she is handing over the reins to Sharon Joyce.
To all our members who are not feeling so
strong, we send our love and best wishes
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