Throughout the events taking place this week to mark eighty years since Victory in Europe, we 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.
This is Caroline’s twentieth year in the Corps. During her time she has served in a number of roles from Sections Head and Equestrian i/c, through to Communications Officer serving on the Regimental Board, and she is currently also the ‘Members’ Trustee on the Board. In addition like most FANY’s she has been roped in to a number of projects over the years from Balls to fundraising.
Our roles today are varied, in short we are mucking in to help usher and support veterans and guests attending the service to help the day go as smoothly as possible. We have been included in todays event to highlight both our World War II Heritage and our ongoing current role assisting both the military and blue light services in times of emergency and for routine training deployments.
As members of the Corps, we stand on the shoulders of the women of the FANY who have gone before us and none more so than our brave veterans of World War II. Some who gave the ultimate sacrifice behind enemy lines as part of the SOE, enabling us to achieve the Victory in Europe that we are commemorating today. I wanted to be able in some small part say thank you and help those attending the event. Our veterans continue to inspire the values of the Corps today.
I first heard about the Corps from a friend who was involved. I was working in Parliament and that same year the terrible July 7 London Bombings took place. I wanted to be able to do something tangible and helpful should anything like that happen again. Little did I know at that time volunteering, training and serving with this amazing group of women would have given me so much, personally and professionally, and the range of situations we have been able to support.
I have had the privilege and responsibility of serving on a number of emergency deployments ranging from supporting the City of London Police for Margaret Thatcher’s funeral, through to the more serious responses to Grenfell Tower, Covid, terrorist threats and supporting Afghan evacuees. There have been the thrills of adventure training, the fun of civipop support and ability to learn and grow transferable professional skills from first aid to public speaking and leadership training. Then there have also been poignant moments such as today, commemorating The Battle of the Somme, D-Day, HRH Queen Elizabeths Funeral, recently visiting Dachu or the Kings Coronation in a variety of ‘front of house’ and behind the scenes support.
We are all volunteers, we don’t get paid for the roles we do, and I am continually inspired by the resilient dedicated women I work alongside day to day, who quietly roll up their sleeves and drop everything to help in times of crisis.
