Northern Ireland Office

The Countess of Wessex, Colonel-in-Chief of the Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps (QARANC), has attended a service held in St Anne’s Cathedral in Belfast recognising the dedication and work of thousands of Military Nurses.

Over 500 serving and retired men and women and their families attended the interdenominational service where the dedication of a Memorial Window in recognition of the service of the QARANC in the preservation of life in peace and war took place.

Her Royal Highness was greeted by Dame Mary Peter DBE, Lord-Lieutenant of the County Borough of Belfast and went on to meet Colonel (Retd) Rosie Kennedy CBE OstJ TD Colonel Commandant, QARANC, and The Very Reverend Dr Houston McKelvey QVRM TD who conducted the service.

Before joining the congregation Her Royal Highness had the opportunity to meet a number of guests attending the service including Brigadier George Norton CBE Commander 38 (Irish) Brigade, Lieutenant Colonel Anton Philpott, Commanding Officer, Duke of Connaught Unit (DCU), Major Bunnie Foulkes, Chair Northern Ireland Branch QARANC Association, and Major (Retd) Judy Evans, Regimental Secretary QARANC.

For the formal dedication of the window, The Dean escorted HRH to the south side of the Sanctuary where the window was installed in 2007. The Countess then petitioned the Bishop of Connor, The Right Reverend Alan Abernethy to dedicate the stained glass memorial, depicting the Corps’ Badge, in remembrance of the service given in times of peace and conflict by members of the Corps.

Following the service Her Royal Highness was Guest of Honour at a QARANC reception in the Cathedral Hall where Major Shirley Laverick-Stovin, Second-In-Command Operating Theatres DCU, presented a number of guests who attended the service.

Her Royal Highness accepted a gift of an engraved crystal Rose Bowl presented by Corporal Ellen Taylor in recognition of the visit.

Notes to Editors:

On arrival HRH was greeted by:

Dame Mary Peters DBE, The Lord-Lieutenant of the County Borough of Belfast and went on to meet:

Councillor Naomi Long MLA, The Rt Hon The Lord Mayor of Belfast

Councillor Francis McCoubrey, Sheriff for the County Borough of Belfast

Mr Michael McGimpsey MLA, Minister, Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety

Colonel (Retd) Rosie Kennedy CBE OstJ TD, Colonel Commandant, Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps (QARANC)

The Very Reverend DrHouston McKelvey QVRM TD, Dean of Belfast

Brigadier George Norton CBE, Commander 38 (Irish) Brigade

LtCol Anton Philpott, Commanding Officer, The Duke of Connaught Unit, (DCU)

Major Bunnie Foulkes, Chair, Northern Ireland Branch, QARANC Association, and

Major (Retd) Judy Evans, Regimental Secretary, QARANC

HRH The Countess of Wessex is the third and current Colonel-in-Chief of the QARANC. HRH took over the role on the 1 July 2003.

HRH Last visited Northern Ireland in November 2004.

The Board of St. Anne’s Cathedral approved the installation of a window honouring the role of Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps, and its predecessors, in peace and in war worldwide.  It was installed in the south side of the Sanctuary in September 2007, opposite the memorial window for the Royal Army Medical Corps which was installed in October 2006.

The window was designed and installed by CWS Design Stained Glass Studios of Hilden, Lisburn.  The centre illustrates the Corps Badge and below is the inscription 'In Memory of all Military Nurses’, both of which are set into a delicate grey French glass.  The border shows the Corps colours interrupted by Celtic Crosses.

The installation was funded in the main by the QARANC Association, with one third funding by Joan Thompson, OBE RRC TD, one time member, and matron (1982-1987), of the then 204(NI) General Hospital RAMC(V).  She also held the appointment of QHNS during that period.