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We are sorry we did not send a report in
for the last issue of Lioness.
We are still meeting monthly, but numbers fluctuate, and even went down to
three attending in the early part of the year. We always have friendly
meetings, although sometimes tinged with sadness when we hear the reasons
why various members are absent.
We have, unfortunately, lost two members
this year. Dorothy Allcott (née Leary) passed away in March; she had not
been able to join us for about nine years, but had not been forgotten. The
Secretary attended her funeral service. Dot’s late husband had been a member
of the Royal Marines Association and Normandy Veterans Association and
several of his friends also attended. Gladys Lilian Ash (née Mubbutt), known
to us all as Pat, passed away in June. She had been Chairman and Treasurer
of the Branch and, as a very talented lady, she will be remembered for
helping us to make such things as Christmas table decorations, dried flower
bookmarks and marzipan fruits. Her last time with us was at our October
meeting. She was very positive that the treatment she was receiving would
cure her, but it was not to be. She will be missed by us all and remembered.
As usual our Branch has been represented at
various events in Wolverhampton; we try to keep the ATS and WRAC alive in
the city. Several members enjoyed the Grand Reunion in Blackpool and also
Birmingham Branch Birthday party in May.
Mary Beeston has asked me to say that she has
been informed by someone at the National Memorial Arboretum at Alrewas, that
small shrubs that flower in the summer and have berries in the winter, have
been planted around the ATS statue. If anyone visits the Arboretum, she
would be very pleased if they would take a photograph and let her have a
copy as she does not think she will be able to visit again.
We send our very best wishes to all Branch
members who are not able to join us – you are not forgotten. May we be the
first to wish everyone a happy and enjoyable Christmas and hope you will
keep well during the winter months.
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