Serving the Naval Family Since 1876 “God’S Hand Has Greetings from Head Office Been Upon the Tiller” – a Life Well Lived

ASHORE AFLOAT Autumn 2018 Serving the naval family since 1876 “God’s hand has Greetings from Head Office been upon the tiller” – a life well lived Dame Agnes Weston’s Royal Charity for the Naval Service It is a privilege for me to be writing the introduction (Generally known as Aggie’s) to this special edition of “Ashore and Afloat” – 2018 marks the centenary of the death of Company No. 11114651 which commemorates 100 years since the death of Agnes Weston. She lived a remarkable life, Charity No. 1176596 Dame Agnes Weston. We are keen to use this edition to sacrificing the comfort of a middle class remember Aggie’s wonderful life and to give thanks for professional home in Bath in order to work her legacy – that is the organisation that she left behind with lowly sailors (or “Bluejackets”). Contact Us and which has become our current charity; “Dame Agnes Aggie Weston’s Weston’s Royal Charity for the Naval Service.” Her strong Christian faith led her to devote herself to Castaway House making life better for thousands of sailors, and to be their 311 Twyford Avenue advocate amongst the Admirals and policy makers who There is an overview of Aggie’s life on page 4-5, from a privileged childhood Portsmouth PO2 8RN little understood the deprivation that those on the lower to “Mother of the Navy”. For those that want to dig a bit deeper you T 023 9265 0505 deck and their families had to live with. The key parts of could have a look at the “History” page which is on our website under the E [email protected] her ministry were her Sailors’ Rest (which earned the prefix “About Us” tab (www.aggies.org.uk). Alternatively, you might want to get www.aggies.org.uk “Royal” when Queen Victoria recognised their value to your hands on the autumn edition of “Scuttlebutt” which is the magazine her Navy). Aggie noted in her autobiography that the of the National Museum of the Royal Navy, and where her story is told. PATRONS Royal Sailors’ Rests in Devonport and Portsmouth had over In May 2017 the Trinity Mirror West publishing group launched its 1400 beds between them, and the total of men sleeping Her Majesty the Queen ‘100 Great Westerners’ campaign, which aimed to celebrate the most in them was over 350,000 per year. There were many more inspiring individuals from the South-West of England and South Wales. who used the Rests without sleeping in them. Meanwhile, CHAIRMAN OF TRUSTEES Readers were able to nominate figures from the past or present and she was also an enormous influence in the temperance Cdre Bob Fancy RN (Rtd) the top 100 in the poll would have a locomotive named in their honour movement, managed the work of the Royal Naval Christian by Great Western Railway, which supported the campaign. We were Union and provided all the funds for that organisation’s CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER delighted when we found out that Aggie was one of the top 100 and work. She, in partnership with her lifelong friend Dame Craig Fulton MSc “her” locomotive will be commissioned sometime in 2019. Sophia Wintz, was indeed a major force for good. Aggie would certainly have smiled to find that an Intercity Express train was Aggie’s desire was always to stay “in the harness” Editor being named after her. She travelled extensively by train on her fundraising until the very end, and she managed to do exactly that. Theresa Pratt expeditions, but she also recognised the value of the railways for getting Although she did not go out in public much during Cover Photo sailors home quickly and away from the temptations that lay outside the her final days, she still did a full day’s work in her Young and Old Aggie dockyard gate. “office-cum-sitting room” at the Royal Sailors’ Rest in Devonport on 22 October 1918. Her staff noted that she I hope that you enjoy this edition, and if this magazine is the first that was particularly bright and cheerful as she thanked God you have heard of Aggie Weston for a while then do check us out on line. for “another day’s work done” and went off to bed. We are always delighted to hear from new or old supporters, and we She had a heart attack early the next morning and died normally have some volunteering opportunities if you would like to join us. shortly afterwards. Her final words were “Don’t trouble Thanks for your interest; and God bless! about me, I’m all right.” She was lady ahead of her time and whose influence and legacy lives on today in the charity that bears her name and is still privileged to have HM Queen as its Patron. It is therefore fitting that we should take a moment to remember and give thanks for her life. And it is wonderful that Great Western Railways should have nominated her as a ‘Great Westerner’ and will name one of their fantastic new locomotives after her. Craig Fulton, CEO aggies.org.uk aggies.org.uk Dame Agnes Weston A golden thread through 78 years 1874 Links to the Navy grow while 1840 1858 1868 supporting the Temperance 1878 1892 Born to Charles Confirmed in her Christian Asked by George Dowknott, a sailor in Society. Sailors from Procures a music hall Queen Victoria Henry Weston faith at Walcot Parish HMS CROCODILE if she would write to him. HMS DRYAD request a in Commercial Road issues Royal Warrant (a barrister) and his Church by the Bishop of He becomes the first of the ‘Bluejackets’ with ‘public house without the drink’ and opens the first bestowing title of ‘Royal’ 1918 wife Agnes in London. Bath and Wells whom she would regularly correspond. at the Dockyard gates. Portsmouth Rest. upon the Sailors’ Rests. Died, as she had wished “whilst still in the harness” and personally managing the Royal Sailors’ Rest in Devonport. She passed away in her sleep at the age of 78 on 1845 1867 1873 1876 1888 1918 23 October. Family moves to Asked to provide Meets Sophia Wintz First Sailor’s Rest Three public houses Appointed Dame Grand Lansdown, Bath. recreation facilities in Devonport. opens in Fore purchased and new Sailors’ Cross of the Order if the for private soldiers of They start running Street, Devonport Rest opened in Devonport. British Empire. 2nd Somerset Militia ‘kitchen meetings’ stationed in Bath. for boy sailors at Began to correspond the Wintz’s house. with some of the soldiers when they deployed abroad. Aggie’s today Pastoral workers Storybook Waves Welcome to Scotland Aggie’s Pastoral Workers are based in 15 RN and Storybook Waves is ‘Welcome to Scotland’ is a project that provides support RM establishments in the UK, from Arbroath to a great example of and advice for families who are deciding whether to Culdrose, and generally work in close collaboration the practical side of relocate to Scotland after the serving member has been with the Naval Chaplaincy Service. Their primary role is pastoral support. assigned to the area. to provide ‘pastoral support’ –they are there to listen It helps deploying Aggie’s provides a free two night stay in Bed and when people need to talk; to encourage, comfort and members of the Royal Breakfast accommodation in the Helensburgh area support. They will also Navy and Royal Marines for an RN or RM family; so the have knowledge of maintain the link with families can see all of the where specialist their children no matter facilities available on advice is how far away from home they the Base and locally available may be. Anyone serving away from home, can easily (SFA, schools, etc). should it be record a bedtime story for their child to listen to. needed. Once recorded, trained volunteer editors add a soundtrack, and create a personalised CD for each child so that he or she can listen to a parent’s voice whenever they want. aggies.org.uk aggies.org.uk Note from the Chairman Reflection Bob Fancy – The next 100 years Jonathan Martin, was CEO at Aggie Weston’s from 1995 to 1999, leaving Aggies to It is impossible to briefly summarise the enormity of Aggie Weston’s lifetime achievements, but I hope that this magazine will have provided something work as Chaplain to the Borough of Poole. Last year he was appointed chaplain to of a flavour. the Port of Southampton, and has the great privilege of serving the 100,000 seafarers When I personally consider all that she did it is indeed humbling for me, and who visit the port every year. He has had many years to reflect upon the practical and my fellow trustees, to find ourselves with the responsibility for developing spiritual needs of sailors, and of the work and legacy of Dame Agnes. He says: and continuing the legacy which we have been left. Over the last couple of years we have carefully looked at the most successful parts of our work, and Colossians 1:15-20 speaks of Jesus, the Son, the physical Picking up drunken sailors did not endear her to the analysed the current requirements amongst the sailors, marines and families in image of the invisible God reminding us that all upper crust of society, but it did to the men of the the naval community. As a result of these considerations we have sold the last things have been created through him and for him. Fleet who kept this country safe. She demonstrated of the charity’s properties and now focus on the provision of pastoral support.

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