Throughout the events taking place this week to mark eighty years since Victory in Europe, the Corps will be sharing thoughts from FANYs taking part and sharing their reflections on why they joined the Corps, and why it was important to them to take part in this week’s events.
Today the Corps is sharing Captain Zoe Wickens’ thoughts, who is supporting in the Ops Room. Zoe joined the Corps in 2016 and is the current Deputy Operations Officer.
Over the bank holiday weekend FANYs deployed to the military Ops Room, the control centre that oversaw the VE80 rehearsal on Saturday morning and the main event on bank holiday Monday. Our role is to run the medical net and be the liaison lead between the Ops Room and the medical teams out on the ground who are there to provide aid to any military casualties. We record the details of any military personnel that require assistance during the event and transfer this information to those in the Ops Room for forward action.
For the past three years, since FANYs first supported in the Ops Room, I have been fortunate enough to work on a number of the ceremonial events that have taken place in London. It is a great way to be involved and also provides an insight into the extent of planning and logistical coordination that is required to seamlessly execute these major events. Whilst the early morning rehearsals can be very early, there is something quite special watching the troops parade through the streets of St James and Westminster whilst most of London is asleep.
I was first introduced to the Corp through my mum as one of her colleagues was a FANY. The colleague was always off doing something interesting in the evening or at the weekends and my mum thought it would be a great fit for me, and as is often the case mum was right. I still remember attending selection day and going through that first year of recruits training, and looking back now I underestimated the impact joining the Corp would have and the opportunities that would be given to me. Over the past nine years I have deployed to the casualty bureau for Westminster Bridge attack, Fishmongers Hall and Grenfell Fire, provided loggist support for City of London Police, undertaken character playing for various military units, marched in the Remembrance Sunday Parade and passed the French parachuting school’s wings course to name a few.
Being part of this historic organisation is a privilege. The role of the Corp today balances the demands of the modern day support requirements with the ceremonial events, such as the VE 80 parade, to remember the veterans that served before us.
