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Best wishes to everyone, wherever you are –
have a Happy and Healthy 2010. We still meet at the “Main House”, Lowe
Court, High Street, Wellington on the first Wednesday of the month – 2-4
p.m. No meeting in January.
Our year 2009 was much the same as the
previous year. In June we went to Veterans Day at RAF Cosford viewing the
many aircraft in the museum and having lunch. At the July meeting, Sadie
brought delicious cakes for us to scoff and celebrate her 85th
birthday. We welcomed a new member – Carol Wilkinson née McPherson, ex Lt
P507109. Camberley, Catterick, Bordon – 4 years in WRAC. Another WRAC we ask
ourselves – could this be a forerunner of the coach-load of WRAC we are
wishing for? Two new WRAC this year, it’s getting exciting!
In August we attended the Annual Service and
Parade of The Royal British Legion in Wellington. Several of us belong to
the Wellington and Oakengates Branch. We had a buffet in the Church Hall
afterwards. Still in August some of us, who are also members of the
Shrewsbury Branch of the RASC Association, went to their very nice luncheon
at the Wingfield Arms Montford Bridge – a good time was had by everyone.
September was rather eventful. Remember we
said in our last report “someone was going up in the world”. Nancy took to
the skies in a “Glider Flight” at RAF Cosford to raise funds for the
Association and Shropshire Branch. She was supported by members and friends.
The flight was fantastic – thanks to Cosford for being very helpful,
especially getting her in and out of the glider, legs being the trouble!
Just a bit of “man handling” to get on board!
With the Support Crew
We were pleased to welcome our Area Chairman,
Maggie Purkis and Area Secretary, Irene Hall to our AGM. After many, many
years of service to us, Beryl Lane retired as Secretary. Thank you, Beryl
for all you have done. We presented Beryl with something she wanted, a
“Special Pillow” guaranteed to stop nightmares concerning the branch! After
voting, we elected Denise Fuller as our new Secretary. Thank you, Denise for
taking on this appointment for us.
On 19 September four members travelled by
train to Liverpool for the North West Area Reunion at the Adelphi Hotel,
where we had a nice time. Before going to the Reunion, we had a memorable
journey around Liverpool in the magnificent (no, not the flying machine),
but the “Yellow Duck Marine” sightseeing by road, and cruising in the water
round the docks. Everyone was singing - or trying to - the nostalgic song
“We all live in a yellow duck marine”! Yes, we did get wet, maybe due
to our singing, which alone would have sunk a battleship!
Shropshire members with their Yellow Duck
Marine
In October we really enjoyed our day at The
Lord Hill Hotel, Shrewsbury, the Committee Meeting and lovely lunch – seven
of us went. On the 28th
we had our usual yearly invitation from the REME Association to their social
evening at the TA Centre, Dawley Bank. We had a great time, I think we all
won on the horse racing – we were certainly first past the post for the
excellent buffet afterwards.
November, the month for Remembrance and we
went to the service at the Garrison Church, Donnington. Sandra carried our
Branch Standard and Denise laid the WRAC Association wreath. Afterwards we
had a very tasty lunch in the Sgts’ Mess. In the evening we went to the
service at Oakengate’s Ceremony of Light and many Royal British Legion
Standards were paraded. Whilst 100 names were read out, corresponding
candles were lit by Cadets and the Abraham Darby Band played for the
evening.
We have our usual Christmas Lunch in December
and we are looking forward to visiting Chester Branch on the 9th
for lunch.
Our Committee now is:
Chairman - Nancy Tipton
Secretary - Denise Fuller
Treasurer - Brenda Adams
Once again the year has flown by so quickly.
We thank HQ for all their endeavours – keeping us all together, especially
through the Lioness which we treasure. |
