Remembering the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Year by Domini Barrett

2012 was a memorable year in many ways. It was not only the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and London Olympics, but the year my husband and I moved to Hohne, Germany. He was assigned to be the Senior Chaplain of 7th Armoured Brigade. 

On top of all that, in the Autumn I deployed with 243 Field Hospital to Afghanistan on Op HERRICK 17. I was the lead paediatric nurse during a three month period working in the Role 3 hospital in Camp Bastion. It was a busy and challenging tour where I also nursed adults alongside my primary role with children.

The entire year was highly eventful; settling into a new home and country and then going away for a long period. During the summer we enjoyed a lovely summer holiday exploring parts of southern Germany on a mammoth road trip and marked the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee with parties both in the Garrison in Germany and then with family and friends when we were back in the United Kingdom. However, amongst all this there was no parade or formal presentation of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal. As I recall the unit’s focus was very much on the build up training (of which there was a great deal) before we went on operations. At this point in my career I had served for nineteen years and so was able to proudly add my new medal to my Golden Jubilee Medal which I had received ten years previously.

As an officer in the Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps, I have always been conscious that whether at home or overseas I am serving both my Queen and country and so Jubilee milestones marking Her Majesty’s long reign are certainly to be celebrated.



Major Domini Barrett - Senior Nursing Officer - 306 Hospital Support Regiment

A Guest of the Countess of Wessex at the Platinum Jubilee Party by Laud Afam-Adjei|

For the past 70 years, the Queen, Elizabeth II, has reigned as the United Kingdom's sovereign monarch and head of the Commonwealth. As a serving soldier from the Commonwealth, I can attest in a small way to her exemplary leadership, thoughtfulness, and selfless commitment to her role thus far, and I couldn’t be more appreciative. Following the impact of the Corona-virus pandemic, the celebration of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee offered a great opportunity to socialise, come together, and enjoy a typical British bank holiday with somewhat questionable summer weather.

For me, the celebration began on Thursday, June 2nd, when I attended a picnic hosted by the DHE Hybrid Branch of the QARANC association. It was a simple yet entertaining event that saw me jumping on a bouncy castle like a 7-year-old, attempting to compete in a soft play gladiator duel and various other sports such as 'tug of war' and volleyball. The day also provided me with the opportunity to consume beers and eat my weight in cake, scones, and assorted pastries. My team finished third in the tug of war competition, but that didn't stop me from drinking beers late into the evening and dancing around the fire to questionable music.

My celebrations continued in London, where I was honoured to be a guest of the Countess of Wessex, the Colonel in Chief of the Queen Alexander Royal Army Nursing Corps (QARANC), at the Queen's Jubilee party at Buckingham Palace. 

The live experience was incredible; the lights, energy, and atmosphere made me a very proud and an honoured British citizen. With this being my first concert, there were many acts that inspired and entertained me, with the scene of Paddington Bear having afternoon tea with Her Majesty being my favourite of the night. There was a lot of dancing and cheering from me all night. Many memorable and beautiful speeches were read, the majority of which thanked The Queen for her service and included a message from her about protecting the environment for future generations.

My celebration concluded with a peaceful street party in my hometown of Ipswich, where my children and other children in the neighbourhood rode bikes in the street. I laughed with my neighbours and shared cakes again, and our neighbourhood looked alive for the first time in two years, with everyone having a good time.

 

Cpl Laud Afam-Adjei, Student Nurse(ADULT) QARANC