From being crowned successful winners of the 2015/2016 West Midlands Cross Country League and the British Army Cross Country Championships, the Department of Healthcare Education (DHE) team led by Cpl Richardson, have gone on to continue their winning streak by winning the UK Midlands Inter Services Cross Country Championships 2016/2017.The teams success continued at the Cross Country Championships held at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst where they came runners up. Finding time from their busy university studies, hospital placements and military commitments, DHE have always turned up with strength in numbers with most races having 15 personnel competing.
From the beginning of the season DHE’s presence was well known and the team were strong from start to finish maintaining a positive attitude throughout the season. Overall there were 17 Midlands Female teams that took part over the season. DHE took 1st place in both the Female team category, and Junior Female category with Pte Griffin taking 1st place, an excellent win at her first season, where she continued to place 1st and 2nd place in most races. Pte Smith placed 3rd senior female making a strong appearance this season attending all league races followed by Cpl Bees in 4th position. Strong runners this year included Cpl Hodgkinson, Pte MacDonald and SAC Kershaw who due to other running commitments within the Army and RAF services could only attend a few races this year but still had a large impact on the team.
A hearty congratulations to all who took part
Article by: LCpl Katie Needham, Student Nurse, Department of Healthcare Education
2017 saw the re launch of the Army Medical Services (AMS) Polo Team, led by Lt Paul Erhahiemen QARANC.
AMS Polo was actually formed in 2011 but play slowed down due to operational commitments. The Captains and Subalterns Trophy held at Tidworth Polo Club in July saw the AMS team return to the military polo arena and take second place in its division having out performed the Household Cavalry and the Welsh Guards on day one, with the Royal Dragoon Guards narrowly clenching victory on day two.
The Captains and Subalterns (C&S) Trophy is the second oldest polo cup in the world having been instituted by the 9/12th Lancers playing at Hounslow in 1896. Nowadays, the tournament is held at Tidworth Polo Club over two days, with entries from over 20 Army teams, plus teams from the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force. Teams are put into divisions based on handicaps, thus offering a fair chance of winning. Team AMS delivered an outstanding performance given the challenges faced by the team, players being based all over the world, coming together for training poses an enormous challenge.
The team consisted of Pte Mollie Darwin QARANC, a Student Nurse at the Defence School of Healthcare Studies, Lt Paul Erhahiemen QARANC, Nursing Officer at the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine, Capt Emily Summers RADC, Dental Officer based in Dhekelia, Cyprus and Maj Olivia Allenby-Dilley RAMC (ICSC (L)).
AMS Guests were hosted in the AMS Gazebo with a champagne aperitif. The team’s successful re launch was celebrated with Lt Paul Erhahiemen showing off the art of sabrage with a magnum bottle of Jean Boucton Champagne in the presence of a large crowd of spectators . The technique of opening a bottle with a sabre became popular in France when the armies of Napoleon celebrated their victories. Napoleon is known to have said "Champagne! In victory one deserves it; in defeat one needs it." The blade travels up the neck of the bottle to break it away near the cork, leaving the main body of the bottle open and ready to pour.
Also in attendance were the team sponsors: Jean-Christophe Boucton – Director, Jean Boucton Champagne, Alastair Barlow – Director, StaaG Fashion, Richard Glenn –Manager, Jaguar Land Rover Marshall Military. The C&S trophy was a successful event for AMS Polo and an excellent family day out.
Thanks to our Sponsors
StaaG Fashion
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Jean Boucton Champagne
Champagne Jean Boucton is a privately owned family managed House born out of close ties within the same family of producers, bringing together the knowledge and ‘savoir faire’ of different wine makers to create a unique and exclusive range of high end Vintage and Cuvée Champagnes.
Contact: www.jeanboucton.com
Jaguar Land Rover – Marshall Military Sales
Jaguar Land Rover is a known British luxury carmaker. Marshall Military specialises in providing Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles to serving personnel at preferential rates offering up to 30% discount. Military personnel are also offered further exclusive benefits.
Contact: www.jaguarlandrovermilitarysales.co.uk Tel: +441733 213231
Photography by Jason Bax of Equuis Photography – Official Photographer of the AMS Polo Team.
It is with deep regret that the Association has to announce the sad news that Lt Col (Rtd) Margaret Nesbitt RRC known by her friends as Nellie passed away peacefully in a nursing home in Tilford on Saturday 5th August.
Her funeral will be held on 01 September at Aldershot Crematorium at 1415. Flowers or donations to the Army Benevolence Fund.
Info from - Lt Col Pat Gibson Aldershot Branch Chairperson
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The Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps (QARANC) Association held a Garden Party to celebrate their 70th Anniversary on 14 June 2017.
Her Royal Highness The Countess of Wessex GCVO, Colonel-in-Chief of the QARANC and Patron of the QARANC Association graciously hosted the event at her private residence, Bagshot Park.
The event was attended by nearly 200 Association members who also were offered the privilege of a tour of part of the gardens and afternoon tea in beautiful surroundings on a sunny and warm afternoon. The Countess of Wessex met and spoke with many attendees and cut the anniversary cake using the Regimental Sword.
The cake was donated by a former QARANC officer, Mrs Sheila Jones who now runs her own business. An Army Nurse fuchsia plant was presented to her Royal Highness by 2Lt Nicole Wolfe who was the most junior serving officer and a posy by Miss Bettina Wood the most senior attendee!
The QARANC Association wish to record their sincere thanks to Her Royal Highness for granting this honour and also to all the staff at Bagshot Park for their help and support in the planning and management of this wonderful and memorable occasion.
Today I was fortunately given the opportunity to attend the Army Reserve Professionally Qualified Officers course 172 final parade.
It was a glorious day with a lovely breeze the sun shining and barely a cloud in the sky.
Brigadier David McArthur OBE TD QHN VR Head of Army Medical Services Reserves was the inspecting Officer
I was very excited to see that a QA was the recipient of the sword of honor
Lt Samantha Gardiner QARANC
How lovely it was that the inspecting Officer, late QARANC, was there to present the sword to a fellow QA. Fellow QA’s who passed out on this course of 25 were Capt L Jones and Lt AA Owusu
The MacRobert sword is awarded to the Officer Cadet considered by the directing staff to be the best on the course. It is donated by the MacRobert Trust and crafted by Poole Sword Limited the first sword was presented in April 2016. The MacRobert Trust motto is “Not for Self but for Country”
Good luck and all the very best for their future with the Reserves and the Corps.
Lt Col Pat Gibson MBE QARANC
Forecast of Events
Date |
Event |
Location |
| 05 October 2017 | AGM & Guest Night Dinner | TBC |
| Oct 2017 | ‘Battlefield Tour’ | (London Science museum to visit the exhibition on Wounded: Conflict, Casualties and Care, Florence Nightingale Museum and Guys and St Thomas’s Museum) |
| 04 Nov 2017 | Festival of Remembrance | |
| 08 Dec 2017 | Christmas Luncheon | Ulster Reform Club |
Be part of this national cause to honour those who made the ultimate sacrifice
The bodies of 72,396 British servicemen who died at the Somme were never recovered. Somerset artist, Rob Heard is hand-stitching a shrouded figure to remember each one. he began with the 19,240 killed on the first day of the battle - 1 July 1916. These were displayed in Exeter last year.
He is now working on making tens of thousands more to 'bring the boys home' for the centenary of Armistice Day in 2018. They are looking at raising £150,000 to deliver this extraordinary installation in London.
You can be part of it by signing up to the kickstarter crowding funding campaign which launched on the 10 May 2017.
Kickstarter page: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/622425218/shrouds-of-the-somme
Help make this happen - http://shroudsofthesomme.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shroudsofthesomme
Twitter: https://twitter.com/shroudsofsomme
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shroudsofthesomme/
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission ensures that 1.7 million Commonwealth Forces who died in the two world wars will never be forgotten. They care for cemeteries and memorials at 23,000 locations, in 154 countries. The values and aims, laid out in 1917, are as relevant now as they were a 100 years ago.
On the 21st May this year the Commission celebrates its Centenary and to honour this remarkable anniversary BFPS has produced a commemorative cover.
I've been here for almost two weeks now, and I've only heard the phone ring twice.
That may have something to do with the fact that there is a total of 53 nurses in the Royal New Zealand Nursing Corps (RNZNC), 43 of these are Regular, 10 are reservists. There are no Healthcare Assistants. The Regular Force breakdown is roughly 11 in ED, 4 in ITU, 5 in Theatres, 4 in PACU, 2 in Primary Healthcare, 2 preceptors and 10 in the ‘other’ category. About 18 months ago all the Defence Health New Zealand became Tri-Service, even prior to this, nurses were only employed within the Army, fulfilling all Navy and RAF nursing capabilities.
More...
2017/2018
| Date | Event | Remarks |
| 03 June 17 | QA(A) Newcastle Branch meeting | |
| 17 June 2017 | Newcastle War Memorial Walk/Talk by Ann Clouston | |
| 24 June 2107 | Armed Forces Day. | |
| 09 September 2017 | QA(A) Newcastle Branch meeting | |
| 01 December 2017 | QA(A) Christmas Meal | |
| 06 January 2018 | QA(A) Newcastle Branch meeting |
QARANC Corps Day Service
Being the 70th Anniversary of the QARANC, we felt it fitting to hold a celebratory service and supper for our Corps Day celebration.
It was a combined event with the Newcastle Branch of the QARANC Association and 201 (Northern) Field Hospital. Both the Officers and SNCO Messes, as well as the RAMC Association provided support.
The opportunity for engagement between serving and retired members within and out with 201 Fd Hosp was too good to pass up. During the service, Padre Pyke lead the celebration which included readings from the diary of Helen Octavia Driver, Aug 1914. Thanks go to Jackie Hall, Fiona Mitford, Karen Race and Alexandra Cairns for their readings.
The CO delivered a leaving speech for Lt Col Laverick-Stovin and presented her 1st VRSM bar and Col Coles TD QHN presented WO2 Race with her Warrant.
Afterwards we all gathered in the Officers’ Mess for food, refreshments and a celebratory anniversary cake. There was a QARANC and 201 Fd Hosp history display for Unit members and guests to peruse. It was an excellent opportunity for both serving and retired QARANC officers and soldiers to get together and celebrate such an important point in our history.
Some of our younger members were surprised when they realised how recently the grey dresses were in service. Also, Cath Waller shared some of her experience of how core belts were utilised before manual handling aids were formally introduced.
The Chief Nursing Officer (Army) Colonel Karen Irvine QHN L/QARANC held her 2 day symposium over the 4-5 May 2017, in the fabulous grounds of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.
With a full and comprehensive programme of events and presentations the Churchill theatre was packed with QARANC personnel, from HCA's, ECT's, Registered personnel from all over the UK eager to learn and network in a relaxed atmosphere.
It has been a fantastic event with presentations from numerous areas of work from Veterans care to Occupational health, each presenter offering something more about their role and experiences within Nursing in Defence. Lots of exciting opportunities coming up and lots of important changes to the NMC codes and how nurses are trained.
An excellent event
Forecast of Events
Date |
Event |
Location |
| Saturday 24 June 2017 | Armed Forces Day | Caerphilly |
| Saturday 08 July 2017 | AGM & Mametz Memories | TBC |
| August TBC | National Botanic Garden of Wales | |
| Saturday 09 September 2017 | Eppynt Adventure | Sennybridge |
| Friday 27 October 2017 | Friends of the Museum AGM & AMS Retired Ofiicers' Lunch | AMD HQ Camberley |
| Saturday 04 November 2017 | Festival of Remembrance Concert | St Davids Hall, Cardiff |
| Sunday 12 November 2017 | Remembrance Day | St John the Baptist Church, Cardiff |
| Friday 08 December 2017 | Christmas Lunch | Radyr Golf Club |
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A Career in Army Nursing
The QARANC employs Officers and Soldiers in both the Regular and Reserve Army, as Registered Nurses, Student Nurses, and Health Care Assistants, and we are always looking for people. If you are interested in a career as a Nurse or Health Care Assistant which also offers other great opportunities then you are just the person we are looking for. A career in the QARANC is more than a job, you will have access to extensive training and development opportunities, not just related to your job, but personal development too. You will have the opportunity to use your skills in diverse settings – wherever the Army is employed health care professionals from the QARANC are there. Right now there are QARANC personnel working around the world, including Sierra Leone, Canada, Mali, Afghanistan, Germany, and Cyprus. Being in the QARANC you will have access to, and be expected to undertake adventurous training, and you will have access to free medical and dental care, as well as robust annual leave and pension package. For information contact a member of the QARANC recruiting team on: 01276 412741, 01276 412742 or 01276 412740 or visit
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