QA Association

The QA Association serves the present and past members of the Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps to help members stay in touch with serving members and those who have left the service.



The QA Association serves the present and past members of the Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps to help members stay in touch with serving members and those who have left the service.

All ranks of the QA's can join the QA Association at www.qarancassociation.org.uk

QARANC officers and other ranks are invited to join the QA Association when they leave the army, though can join at any time.

History Of The QARANC Association

Dame Louisa Wilkinson (DBE, Royal Red Cross) formed the Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps Association in 1947. Though prior to Corps status it was called the QAIMNS Association (Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service). It became the QARANC Association on the 1 February 1949.

The objectives of the QA Association include:

• Record achievements
  
  
• Record the history and traditions
  
  
• Share records
  
  
• Keep traditions going
  
  
• Offer practical help and support to members
  
  
• Offer friendship
  
  
• Keeping past and present members in touch with each other
  
  
• Organise social gatherings
  
  
• Represent members
  
  
• Hold a yearly re-union and Annual General Meeting
  
  
• Encourage acts of benevolence amongst members

These beautiful flowers were on display on the tables during the 70th anniversary reunion.




The serving Colonel-in-Chief is the Patron of the QA Association. This is currently Her Royal Highness The Countess of Wessex.

The Director Army Nursing Services (DANS) and Matron-in-Chief (Army) automatically becomes the ex-officio President of the QA Association whilst in this appointment. The current serving Colonel Commandant QARANC, the most senior currently serving QA Warrant Officer and the General Secretary also automatically serve as ex-officio members.

The QA Association is managed by a Central Committee. It is run on a day to day basis by the General Secretary who is also the Regimental Secretary of the Corps. The Central Committee consists of a board of trustees of a:

Vice President

Chairman

Vice Chairman

QA Territorial Army representative

Two serving QA officers

Four elected members


The Motto of the QA Association is Friendship.

Branches of the QA Association exist throughout the UK and the world (see below). Personnel can join their nearest branch or elect to just remain on the central Headquarter Roll.

QA Association branches will host functions and events to bring members together,

QA Gazette

The QA Association publish the QA Gazette magazine twice a year. These magazines have articles of interest to existing and former members such as news, sporting events, medal awards, birth, death and marriage notifications and articles. Branches and individual members are encouraged to contribute letters and articles.

The first QA Gazette was published in January 1950 (cited in the book Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps (Famous Regts. S) by Juliet Piggott).

How To Join The QA Association

Contact the QA Association at:

QARANC Association
Regimental Headquarters QARANC
Army Medical Services HQ
Former Army Staff College
Slim Road
Camberley
Surrey
GU15 4NP

Telephone: (01276) 412754

www.qarancassociation.org.uk

Costs And Prices Of Joining The QA Association

There is a small yearly fee to join the QA Association and the cost depends on the area you live because of postage prices for sending the QA Gazette. There are listed below. We would advise contacting the secretary of the QA Association for up to date prices and direct debit forms. You will normally be required to send a cheque for your first year membership and to complete a direct debit form for the yearly membership thereafter. This annual payment will normally be taken directly from your bank or building society in January.

Annual Subscription including Gazette for the UK, Northern Ireland or the Isle Of Man is £12
Annual Subscription including Gazette for Europe and Eire is £16
Annual Subscription including Gazette for all other destinations is £20

Members can also buy a QA Association Brooch for £5.


The links below take you directly to the official Army website for pdf printable forms for:

QA Association Application Form

QA Association Direct Debit Form

QA Association Gift Aid Certificate


QA Association Branches

The branches of the QA Association are Aldershot, Catterick, Colchester, Chester, Jurassic Coast Branch (Devon area), Midland, Millbank (London), Newcastle, Portsmouth, West Country, Yorkshire and Humber, Scottish, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The overseas branches of the QA Association are Cyprus and Germany.



Pictured above is Private Karla Partridge from Woodbridge at her passing out parade in 1987 at the QATC. Pte Partridge went on to her student nurse training at QEMH Woolwich and CMH Aldershot.




60th Anniversary Celebrations of the QA Association

The photograph below was taken at the 60th anniversary celebrations of the QA Association which were held in the grounds of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in the presence of the Colonel in Chief and the Patron of the QA Association, HRH The Countess of Wessex in 2007. 250 past and present members of the Corps enjoyed one of the sunniest days of the summer. The photo was of a group of past and present theatre sisters.


There is a photo of the HRH The Countess of Wessex cutting the 60th anniversary cake on the Colonel in Chief page.



In 2009 members of the QARANC Association made a trip to the Far East. Read more with photos on the QARANC Association Pilgrimage to Singapore and Malaysia 2009 page.


The crest of the association, at the top of this page, has kindly approved for replication by the association whose website can be found at www.qarancassociation.org.uk






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This beautiful QARANC Poppy Pin Badge is available from the Royal British Legion Poppy Shop.




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