No. 396 Winter 2019 The Association of Wrens and Women of The Royal Naval Services PATRON: Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal PRESIDENT: Mrs Alison Towler SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT: Mrs Anthea Larken CBE

VICE PRESIDENTS: Mrs Marion Greenway Mrs Beryl Watt Mrs Patricia Wall Mrs Julia Clark Mrs Marjorie Imlah OBE JP Miss Rosie Wilson OBE Miss Julia Simpson BSc CEng MBCS Mrs Mary Hawthornthwaite Miss Eleanor Patrick Mrs Carol Gibbon Mrs Janet Crabtree Miss Andrea Crook Mrs Pat Farrington CHAIRMAN: Miss Jill Stellingworth VICE-CHAIRMAN: Mrs Linda Mitchell HON. TREASURER: Mrs Rita Hoddinott EDITORIAL TEAM OF THE WREN: Mrs Georgina Tuckett Mrs Rita Hoddinott PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER: Mrs Celia Saywell MBE ADMINISTRATORS: Mrs Katharine Lovegrove Mrs Lin Burton TRUSTEES: Mrs Sue Dunster Mrs Rita Sayers Mrs Karen Elliot Mrs Lisa Snowden Mrs Lyn Gannon Mrs Georgina Tuckett Mrs Barbara McGregor Mrs Jackie Whitmarsh Miss Alison Moffatt

Subscriptions: Membership renewal for 2019/20 payable by 1 April 2020 Annual membership for UK members £13 or 5 years £60 or 10 years for £110 Annual membership for overseas members £16 or 5 years £75, or 10 years for £140 All correspondence for the Association of Wrens should be sent to: Association of Wrens, Room 215, Semaphore Tower (PP 70) HM Naval Base, Portsmouth PO1 3LT Tel: 02392 725141 email: [email protected] If a reply is required, please enclose a stamped addressed envelope

The contents of THE WREN are strictly copyright and all rights are expressly reserved. The views expressed herein are not necessarily the views of the Editorial Team or the Association and accordingly no responsibility for these will be accepted. Whilst the Editorial Team has high regard for all advertisers, readers are recommended to seek appropriate financial or legal advice before entering into any binding agreement.

VERY IMPORTANT Changes To Data Protection Act – Members Consent Please be aware that photographs and news submitted for publication to The Wren magazine will not be posted on the AOW website (www.wrens.org.uk) and the AOW Facebook page (not the ‘Wrens Facebook Group’) without the express permission of the member submitting the item. Personal information i.e. addresses, e-mail addresses or telephone numbers WILL NOT BE INCLUDED in the magazine, on the AOW website or on the AOW Facebook page unless members give specific instruction that they wish their personal details to be included. For example, include with your submitted article the following statement: ‘I give my written consent for my personal details to be included in The Wren magazine*/on the AOW Website*/Facebook page* (*delete any area where you do not wish your details to appear).

Registered under the Charities Act 2011 — Registration No. 257040 The Wren 1 FROM THE EDITORIAL TEAM ENCLOSED INSIDE YOUR WINTER MAGAZINE:

Annual renewal form for 2020/21

Application form for AOW2020 NMA event

Centenary Flyer

AOW2020 book of raffle tickets l-r: Katharine Lovegrove (Administrator), Rita Hoddinott (Hon Treasurer), Lin Burton (Administrator) and Georgina Tuckett (Trustee/Editor) CONTENTS Ladies this is the last edition before our centenary! Reading Scuttlebutt is essential as it gives more information about the major events planned for next year. We know there will be many other events planned by some of the branches, not to mention the WOW 2 Chairman’s Letter (Wrens out Walking) walks that are in the planning pipeline, so if you need to publicise something beyond 3 Important Information your own friends and branch members contact the office and they will help. For non-branch members 6 Events there is a special notice for you about our brand new virtual branch. Please also see page 15 with tips about 7 Trustees Corner taking photographs that are suitable for publication. There is the usual mix of letters and reports of events, 8 Branch and IG Reports members asking for information about lost friends and sad news in the notification of deaths pages. 10 PR Team Report We can only include those we are notified about although occasionally a notice of death is picked up 11 Standard Bearers Report on Facebook which enables us to give a mention to ladies who weren’t members. 12 2020 Scuttlebutt This has been said before but it is worth repeating – we do not pay people to write for us.The only ones 17 People and Places who pay us are the commercial advertisers. Even book reviews are not paid for as we are very selective 26 1960s Wren about which books we review – only books that mention Wrens (or former or serving female RN) or 28 WRNSBT AGM 2019 are written by Wrens, although we haven’t had any of those for a couple of years, get space in The Wren. 30 The Victory Walker This means that every report, article, letter and the majority of photos are sent in by you the members (or 32 Personal Memoir - Wren Campling a close relative who is obviously acting under orders!) and we are expecting that next year with all the events 35 WRNS Exhibition FAA Museum already planned that you will once again come up trumps and submit hundreds of items for us to read 36 An Unforgettable 48 Hours and hopefully include! And don’t forget the Mums and Daughters et al for our special Centenary article (see 37 Letters page 7). We are standing by our computers waiting for the deluge. 38 Anniversaries One thing we can assure you is that The Wren is as ever your magazine. 39 Where Are You Now? Georgina Tuckett 40 Obituaries Front cover: Jane Allen, The Victory Walker, returns trium- phantly to Portsmouth - 6 September 2019 43 Deaths Back cover: WRNS Exhibition launch at the FAAM, Yeovilton photo courtesy of NMRN 2 The Wren CHAIRMAN’S LETTER A cheery welcome to all Association Members. Wrens’ - and they just wished As 2019 draws to a close we look forward to 2020 - to get started on throwing the our Centenary Year with lots going on around the UK. die and seeing who could win I will leave you to read this magazine's Scuttlebutt in the game! A report of the visit, which Carol Gibbon, our 2020 Committee Chairman, along with a picture or two, has outlined next year's major events. It would be will be ready for the Spring good to see all these events well supported - not only issue of The Wren magazine - by those living in the local areas - but hopefully, by and the ship said that they will others so that each event in itself becomes a Reunion be able to host larger groups - and we all love Reunions! after sea trials, deployments For me a mini-reunion was when in July, I attended and when back alongside. So Jill Stellingworth Chairman Kingston Branch's 25th Anniversary lunch. This was watch this space! organised in a beautiful hotel on the outskirts of the This leaves me only to wish town in glorious gardens which the sun allowed us you all a very Happy Christmas and New Year. I to wander around at our leisure (that was before the look forward to joining many of you at the AGM and torrential rains arrived!) and to meet with members, Fundraising Dinner in the Union Jack Club on Friday some of whom had travelled up from Portsmouth and 13 December - and also at the Carol Service in St other areas. The exciting thing was also to see some Mary-le-Strand on Saturday, 14 December. Please new young members around the tables - young and come in good voice - you always have done in the older - there is no difference - we all have this common past! bond of Association membership. Later in September while in Norwich, I attended their Branch lunch where there were two members who had not long been out of the Royal Navy. At the same time Calling all members not belonging I was able to meet with friends whom I had met on to a Branch or Informal Group! previous occasions in the city - it is amazing how we can all keep in contact wherever we go and all have so much to talk about and laughter to share. Would you like to belong to a Branch or Informal Some of you may remember the 'Tot' years - others Group but don’t have one in your local area? Would may not! In July the RNRMC and RNA hosted a 'Black you like to be kept up to date with news from HQ Tot' lunch onboard HMS Belfast. The idea behind this and details of invitations and events both locally was for all of us to get together, enjoy a 'Tot' and have and nationally? If so please sign up to join our new lunch, but more importantly the message from the virtual branch! RNRMC was that each and everyone of us was to go We have introduced this new ‘branch’ to keep more away and find the 'Lost and Lonely' and bring them back members ‘in the loop’ about what’s new and what’s into the Naval 'fold'. I know that many of you do this as going on and who don’t currently receive this news part of your everyday life - like 'lookouts' searching for, through a group. If you are interested in joining and bringing back those who are isolated for whatever please contact HQ with an email address which reason. Please keep up this excellent work. can be your own or that used by a friend or family Talking of togetherness - thank you to all who attended member who is happy to pass the information on to this year's Annual Seafarer's Service at St Paul’s you. Please make sure you have their permission in October and who ordered your tickets through to pass their email address to us. the Association office. This meant that, instead of Please call HQ on 02392 725141 or email us at individuals scattered through the congregation, we [email protected]. We’d love to hear from you! had a group that was recognised for what we are - the Association of Wrens and Women of the Royal Naval Services. Our National Standard was in attendance - and even better news is that we were invited by the British Legion to parade our Standard at this year's Festival of Remembrance. It might have been a last minute invite - but it was nevertheless an invite for which there was no hesitation in saying 'Yes'! HMS Dauntless, while undergoing her regeneration programme and with contractors still onboard, nevertheless invited a small group of us to look around the ship. I believe this was because they knew that we would be presenting them with a framed WRNS100 silhouette print especially from the AOW to the Female Junior Rates, plus 5 Ucker Boards - all personalised and annotated ‘Presented from the Association of The Wren 3 IMPORTANT INFORMATION FROM HQ Association of Wrens - Room 215, Semaphore Tower (PP 70), HM Naval Base, Portsmouth P01 3LT Telephone number: 02392 725141 HQ email address: [email protected] Editor’s address: [email protected] Public Relations Officer’s address: [email protected] Website: www.wrens.org.uk Office opening hours: Monday to Thursday 0900 – 1700 and Friday 0900 – 1230 In order to avoid a wasted journey, please contact HQ before arranging to visit because security passes will need to be obtained beforehand. CORRESPONDENCE & PAYMENTS MEMBERSHIP YEAR All communications for the Association should be sent The membership year runs from 1 April to 31 March. to HQ with a SAE if a reply is required. and will apply to all members who join between 1 April All cheques and postal orders must be made payable to and 31 December. With their membership enrolment the ASSOCIATION OF WRENS. Overseas members letter they will also receive a copy of a previous are requested to send sterling money orders or pay by edition of The Wren magazine (subject to availability). credit/debit card. Payments may also be made using Members who join between 1 January and 31 March debit or credit cards via the website or by telephoning will have their membership expiry date extended to HQ. 31 March of the following year to allow them to be Please do not send cash through the post. There is allocated a full year. They will also receive a copy of a no need to send separate cheques for a donation, previous magazine (subject to availability). member’s subscriptions and insurance etc. As long as the individual amounts are clearly stated it can all be YOUR MEMBERSHIP NUMBER on one cheque. This can be found on your membership card and the address sheet which comes with The Wren magazine. CHANGE OF ADDRESS If your membership number starts with an A Notification should be sent to the Administrator at: you are an annual member and need to make a [email protected] or by post. payment on or before 1 April annually. If your membership number starts with a F MEMBERSHIP CARDS you have paid a five year subscription. You do not Replacement cards are available from either the need to make a payment unless you wish to make Administrator or via the website at £1.99 each. (Please a donation. We will remind you when your five year note it is not necessary to send in your card when subscription expires. renewing your subscription). If your membership number starts with a T you have paid a ten year subscription. You do not need DEATHS to make a payment unless you wish to make a donation. It is most important to inform the Administrator of a We will remind you when your ten year subscription member’s death. Records have to be amended and expires. delivery of the magazine stopped. Failure to inform HQ If your membership number starts with an L can easily result in unnecessary distress to surviving you are a life member and do not need to make a relatives and friends. There is no charge for a death payment unless you wish to make a donation. announcement or an obituary entry in The Wren. The informant will be sent a notification containing the ANNUAL RENEWAL BY BANK PAYMENT The current membership fees are £13.00 for UK death announcement. Email notification of deaths residents and £16.00 for overseas members. If paying should be sent to: [email protected]. annually by Standing Order please ensure you have A copy of the issue containing the death notification notified your bank of the correct amount and the and/or the obituary is available to the deceased payment date (on or before 1 April). Please ask your member’s next of kin on request. Further copies can bank to include your name and membership number be obtained for a donation of £3 each to cover postage. as an identifying reference. If you have a standing order set up to make this payment, please check your DATA PROTECTION bank statement to verify that the subscription has The Association database exists to maintain been paid. You can now set up an on-line Direct Debit membership details only. Member’s details are those payment through www.gocardless.com by entering the that have been supplied by the individual member when following link in your browser https://pay.gocardless. joining the Association and from subsequent information com/AL0001XF4ZPV5E provided by them to HQ. This information is not used If renewing by a credit/debit card please ensure that for any other purpose and the database is protected by the details of the card are written clearly. Payment may password access. Any member may request a copy of also be made by bank transfer. Please see reverse of their data by writing to HQ enclosing a SAE. your renewal form for our account details. 4 The Wren

BRANCHES & GROUPS INVITATIONS TO EVENTS If you are finding it hard to recruit for your Branch, The AOW is fortunate to receive invitations for please contact the Administrators who will be very members to attend some very exciting events; happy to contact non-Branch members in your area Buckingham Palace Garden Parties, visits to to see if they would like to join you. There may be a Highgrove House, canal trips, Founders Day at the charge for this to cover postage costs. Royal Chelsea Hospital and Christmas parties in Some members who do not belong to a Branch, or various locations. Details of events are forwarded to did belong to one which has since closed, continue all Branches and Informal Groups. If you don’t belong to meet up with others on an informal basis. In this to a Branch or Group but would like to be made aware case the Association would like to formally adopt of these opportunities please contact HQ to advise. such Informal Groups and thereby offer them the Some events are exclusively for members who are in benefits of being included on our website; have their receipt of a War Pension or an award from the Armed own Association email address, write a report for the Forces Compensation Scheme so if you are in receipt magazine and receive information and invitations. If of either of these please let us know. (Preference will, you would like your group to be adopted in this way on occasion, be given to War Veterans). please contact HQ. Not all members of an informal group need to be Association members but we will CENOTAPH CEREMONY require a named contact who is a current member, SUNDAY 8 NOVEMBER 2020 the name of the group, the number of members (both Tickets are essential for those taking part (but not for AOW and non-AOW) and frequency of meetings. spectators) and are available for current Association These details will then be presented to the Trustees members only. Please note tickets are not transferable. for formal adoption. The list for members to request a ticket for 2020 will be open from 1 June to 31 July inc. Full details will be DISSOLUTION OF BRANCHES & GROUPS available on our website or direct from HQ from 1 June. Branches who become Informal Groups are, under the Constitution of the Association, in effect dissolved WIMBLEDON TICKETS A number of tickets are available to members for this and should therefore take action in accordance with event each year courtesy of the Lest We Forget and Section 9j of the Constitution which states: ‘In the The Not Forgotten Associations. If you are interested event of the dissolution of a Branch, all assets of the in attending please contact HQ. Tickets are available Branch shall be realised and all debts and liabilities to current Association members only, one per member discharged, any remaining funds shall be disposed and are allocated via a lottery type draw. of as agreed by the Branch membership’. The advice of the Association Headquarters should be sought AOW MEMBERSHIP OF THE ROYAL MARITIME regarding the ultimate disposal of relevant archives CLUB PORTSMOUTH (Formerly the Home Club) and women’s service memorabilia (WRNS/RN). The AOW has an Annual Membership of the Royal Maritime Club; mention it when you book and you BRANCH INSURANCE will get a discount. The current discounted rates are Branches are required to pay £13.00 annually £88.00 per night for a standard room and £98.00 to provide Public Liability insurance for Branch for a superior room (double or twin). (Children business and social activities wherever held - Limit aged 3 to15 at £14.00, under 3s are free). All rates of Liability £5,000,000. Where appropriate this include breakfast. Prices quoted are effective from includes parading the Standard but not the Standard 3 December to 31 March 2020. For further details itself, see below. Informal Groups requiring Public please contact the Club direct on 02392 824231. Liability Insurance should contact the Treasurer for The RMC will be commecing a refurbishment entitlement on payment of the required premium. thoughout winter 2019 and after this time will no longer be able to offer single rooms. INSURANCE OF BRANCH STANDARDS Insurance for Branch Standards is available from PORTSMOUTH HISTORIC DOCKYARD HQ, through the RNA, at a cost of £5.00 per annum The Association has arranged for a discounted ticket (running 18 March to 17 March inclusive). This for members. If you show your AOW membership covers fire/loss/damage anywhere in the world card (credit card type) at the ticket office you can buy whilst in transit and includes both the Standard and a DAY ticket, giving entrance to the Museum of the the ceremonial equipment. An excess of £100 will Royal Navy, all historic ships (excluding the Mary apply to any claims made. Rose*) and Harbour Tours, for £10 each for yourself Please apply by completing the relevant section on and up to a further 4 friends. You must visit together. your Branch Return or contact HQ. For example, you and 2 friends would pay £30.00 in total, i.e. £10.00 each. Day tickets are not usually WAR MEDALS sold to the general public. (*A separate ticket must be Information is available at www.gov.uk/guidance/ purchased if wishing to visit the Mary Rose.) There the-ministry-of-defence-medal-office. is no discount on yearly tickets which are sold to Alternatively contact HQ for assistance. the general public. The Wren 5 THE WREN DONATIONS All items for consideration for the next edition (due Heartfelt thanks for your kind donations to the Association. Each one is greatly appreciated and helps out in April) must be with the office no later than 24 the Association work for the benefit of all the members. February 2020. Please send to [email protected] Please accept this acknowledgment in appreciation of or by post to the office address. your generosity. Individual letters of appreciation will All items submitted for The Wren magazine are only be sent for donations over £25.00 due to the rising considered by the Editorial Team and inclusion in cost of postage. the magazine is at their discretion. It is regretted All donations can be gift-aided if you are a UK tax payer, that no personal communication will be entered thus increasing the amount donated. into. Submissions can only be returned if a SAE is enclosed. LEGACIES Like the life-blood of any charitable organisation, the BIRTHDAY AND ANNIVERSARY NOTICES Association of Wrens relies heavily on subscriptions Notices are charged at £5.00 per entry. and donations to fulfil its role of celebrating past achievements, preserving history and traditions, ADVERTISING RATES fostering esprit-de-corps, supporting the work of the Members advertisements are charged at 15p per WRNS Benevolent Trust, and assisting with the relief word. There is no charge for ‘Where Are You Now’ of necessity and distress amongst both serving and requests or Obituaries. retired female members of the WRNS/WRNR and RN/RNR by referring them to the appropriate Service TALKING WREN charity. A recorded version of The Wren magazine is available The Association’s main expenditure arises from free of charge to members who are registered visually costs in relation to the above objectives – these are impaired. Please apply to HQ if you would like to primarily HQ staff costs, meeting costs, and costs receive it in this format. It is produced on a memory associated with the production and despatch of The stick by the Portsmouth Area Talking News (PATN), Wren magazine. therefore, the appropriate equipment is required e.g. While costs are constantly monitored and controlled in a computer, laptop, or a speaker (which is available order to minimise any annual losses to the Association, from PATN costing £15 or £25). Please contact the it is also true that unfortunately each year subscription Administrator for further details. Memory sticks are income is decreasing and we become more reliant on returned to PATN post-free by reversing the address fundraising donations and legacies to continue our label on the wallet. work. By remembering the Association in your will you can THE WREN MAGAZINE & AOW WEBSITE ensure that it will continue to thrive and benefit those Please be aware that photographs and news who follow in your footsteps in the Naval Service. submitted for publication to The Wren magazine A legacy will also mean that you can take advantage of will not be posted on the AOW website (www.wrens. the tax privileges that are available to encourage such org.uk) and the AOW Facebook page (not the ‘Wrens support, namely the reduction or even elimination of Facebook Group’) without the express permission of the tax payable on the balance of any estate and are the member submitting the item. Personal information themselves totally exempt from inheritance tax. i.e. addresses, e-mail addresses or telephone A legacy is a specific sum of money left in your will. You numbers WILL NOT BE INCLUDED in the magazine, do not need to let the Association know your intentions on the AOW website or on the AOW Facebook page as it is understood that the business of making a will unless members give specific instruction that they can be a very sensitive matter. For information a will wish their personal details to be included. can be made by yourself, however, we would advise Items offered for inclusion on the website should that you consult a solicitor or use a will service to be made initially via HQ at [email protected] or ensure your will is valid. 02392 725141. Please consider leaving a legacy to the Association – we do rely on and need your support.

Looking for Service Records?

MOD SERVICE RECORDS For guidance on how to apply for Service Records visit: https://www.gov.uk-get-copy-military-service- records Service Records up to 1926 - available from the National Archives: http://nationalarchives.gov.uk/help- with-your-research/research-guides/womens-royal-naval-service-records-1917-1919. (Tel: 020 8876 3444) Service Records (Ratings and Officers) from 1926 to present day contact: Disclosure Cell, Navy Command Secretariat 4, West Battery, Mail Point G2, Whale Island, Portsmouth PO2 8DX. Tel: 02392 628672/8670/8671/8667. 6 The Wren FORTHCOMING EVENTS Association of Wrens Annual General Meeting 2019 To be held on Friday 13 December at 1330 Gascoigne Suite, Union Jack Club Guest Speaker - Cdr Rachel Smallwood MBE MA MSc Royal Navy Carol Service Chairman of the Naval Service Womens Network followed by Saturday 14 December 2019 at 1330 The AOW and WRNSBT St Mary le Strand Church All welcome, no tickets Fundraising Christmas Dinner required at 1800 for 1900

Book Reviews Annual National Service for Seafarers A Game of Birds and Wolves The service for 2020 will be held on Wednesday 7 by Simon Parkin October at St Pauls Cathedral, London.

This isn’t a history solely of the WRNS but a history Current members and their guests are welcome to of the Battle of the Atlantic in which Wrens played apply for tickets. Please contact HQ if you would like a special role in several Naval establishments, to apply for one. Please note that the closing date for amongst them Bletchley Park, Scarborough and at requests is Friday 14 August 2020. the Headquarters in Liverpool. The sinking of the SS Aquila by a U-Boat is included WRNS Officer Training Course and the effect on the Wrens and the invaluable role Summer 1970 they played in the final defeat of the U-Boats which A 50th Anniversary Reunion is planned for June 2020. had had such a devastating effect on nearly reducing We would love to see as many course members as Britain to starvation levels with the sinking of hundreds possible. For further details, please contact Lucinda of merchant ships. The book includes many quotes Morrison at [email protected] or Jackie Rogers at from the Naval personnel and Wrens taken from their [email protected]. diaries and letters at the time. Highly recommended. A well researched and written factual book by Simon Parkin. Published by Sceptre on 7 November 2019 available in paperback, hardback and ebook. ISBN 9781529353037 Journey to the Unknown by Sr Isabel Kelly FMSJ

“True friendship is a special gift – one to be treasured. Like a diamond, it is rare, tough, durable and it shines for all to see. When true friends meet, they too sparkle like diamonds.” Sister Isabel joined the WRNS in 1952 and this is her story as a Franciscan missionary. Sister Isabel is well known particularly to Manchester Branch and to the Wrens she served with in the 1950s. Deuxieme Folie by Susan Marloye-James

The true story of her adventures on various waterways - the book begins by Susan explaining that as a formerWren she had to be the Captain and her husband (Belgian Air Force) could therefore only be First Mate! (Despite the title the book is written in English) ISBN: Softcover 978-1-9845-9047-3 EBook 978-1-9845-9048-0 The Wren 7 TRUSTEES CORNER Wanted for the Spring 2020 edition Celebrating Members and Relations as part of our Centenary Year

Was your Mother a Wren, or your Grandmother, or a Sister, or an Aunt? To mark our Centenary we would like to celebrate our generations of WRNS with pictures of current members and members of your family who were Wrens. So dig out photos of youself in uniform (if possible) and those of your Mum, Gran, Sister or Aunt and send them in for inclusion in The Spring edition of The Wren. Please include maiden names and dates of service if known. It would be wonderful to hear of several generations who were part of our heritage. Don’t delay get the old photo albums out NOW!

Important Information Please Read! Annual General Meeting Friday 13 December 2019

Please see calling notice on page 6 and note the change of start time for the AGM from 1400 to 1330. The Gascoigne Suite will be open in advance of this time where you will find our usual sales table and raffle. We are required by the UJC to authorise attendees of the meeting. At the door you will be directed to a nearby table where a Trustee will sign you in. Many thanks for your assistance. Services Wrendered

Members are reminded that Rita Sayers has retired and closed her business, she is no longer able to meet orders made to ServicesWrendered. Her website has been closed down. Rita extends thanks to all her customers for their support over the years. Association of Wrens Facebook Page

Events advertised on our Facebook page need to include the date, the venue and the start and finish time.

Three Years as a Trustee Janice Abbots

In December at the AGM I will have completed three It is with great sadness years as a Trustee and due to family reasons have that we announce the opted not to stand for re-election, although I will death of Janice Abbots volunteer to help whenever I can. on 21 October 2019. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time representing you Janice was Chairman of the members at various events and manning the sales Swindon Branch and an table. Association Trustee. Her It was a real privilege being presented to HRH The infectious enthusiasm Princess Royal at the WRNSBT AGM and being at the for the Association and launch of WRNS100 at the Museum of the Royal Navy. the WRNS will be much Going to Trustees training (a must for any new Trustee) missed. Condolences go was a very interesting insight as to how the Charity to the family and to all Commission works. It was also an honour to parade at her friends. An obituary the Cenotaph and represent you all at CONA meetings. will appear in the Spring Most of all I have been lucky to have met so many 2020 magazine. wonderful people from all over the UK, most recently bumping into a member of Kingston-upon-Thames Branch while on holiday in Guernsey. My trips to London will now be a little bit curtailed – Raffle Tickets well not quite any excuse for a trip to the Theatre or the V&A! Enclosed in your magazine is a book of AOW2020 Thank you to Anthea, Alison, Carol and Jill for all the grand draw raffle tickets. Please note that it is not encouragement you have given me and to all the necessary to return these to HQ if you do not wish Trustees I have served with. to purchase them. Sue Dunster - Chairman Nottingham Branch 8 The Wren Branch ReportS Manchester & District Branch reports should consist Our membership is on the increase with younger of no more than 120 – 130 words members joining us. We continue to enjoy our liaison with MURNU and our annual events are well not including details of meeting supported. We caught up with Jane Allen at Ainsdale arrangements. in December - what a role model she is. Members attended Memorial Services at Fountains Hall, Hull, Cheltenham Stockport, Scarborough and Liverpool. A short break in Krakow proved so successful that a similar visit is Ten of us enjoyed our annual Portsmouth trip, already planned for Berlin next spring. It was good coinciding with May’s OOT meeting. We were joined by to catch up with old friends at the OOT Meeting in 2 Monmouth and 3 Swindon members and everybody Portsmouth and an interesting visit to the Western had a great time. We all wanted to work at the Tower Approaches Museum in Liverpool was followed by a of London after Debra Whittingham’s inspiring talk! performance of “All Hands on Deck”. We meet on the Our chauffeur for the trip was Chris Walker, our second Wednesday of the month at The Manchester hard-working National and Branch Standard Bearer, Hall at 1200 and are always pleased to welcome new who runs a one-woman AOW recruitment campaign members. whenever she is representing us throughout the Rosemary Smith - Secretary UK. We have enjoyed talks on subjects as varied [email protected] as stained-glass, bee keeping and left-handedness. The sun shone on our Garden Party (eventually). We always celebrate Trafalgar Day with a special lunch Pembrokeshire and our Christmas party with quiz is legendary! Do join us if you ever visit the area. We’re still here! Lunching every month in Haverford- We meet at Albion House, North St, Cheltenham, west. We have had four new members since the last GL50 4DJ twice a month – lunch at noon on the first report and were very pleased to welcome Mrs Dorothy Tuesday and Branch meetings at 1400 on the third Cole who is a WWII Veteran, and her daughter, Judi Thursday of each month. Hayward, (who used to be with Derbyshire Dales), and Jo Storey – Chairman 07931390654 Sandie. Three members who were very supportive of the Victory Walker earlier this year when she was Fife recuperating in Pembrokeshire. Kathy and Jeanette were delighted to receive an invitation to be at the We enjoyed friendship over a lovely meal in The Gillies finishing line celebrations and reception in Pompey. restaurant, The Goth. July saw us enjoy, our annual In June we had a really enjoyable lunch meeting with ‘sea time’, sailing on board the Maid of the Forth, Cardigan Group, we ‘do all go back’ a few years, under the iconic Rail Bridge, the Forth Road Bridge but good Wren friendships last forever! This Autumn and new Queensferry Crossing. We managed to view we’re looking forward to renewing our connection with the new aircraft carrier, The Prince of Wales, under Milford Haven Sea Cadets. We would love to welcome construction at Rosyth Dockyard. visitors to Pembrokeshire. August was busy, meeting up for lunch. Some of us Contact Kathy 01437 765457 joined other Scottish Wrens in the Wrens out Walking or Celia 07794 800272 event, along the Forth & Clyde and Union canals, between the Kelpies to the wonderful Falkirk Wheel. Portsmouth The weather was very kind to us and we all enjoyed an afternoon tea there. Some of our members also We have enjoyed events during the summer months enjoyed a meet-up with the Edinburgh AOW branch, to where members found themselves enjoying an enjoy a Harry Ramsdens supper in South Queensferry. afternoon tea and tour of Goodwood House as well If you would like to join us contact as a coffee morning at Admiralty House and garden in Yvonne Thorpe [email protected] the Royal Naval Historic Dockyard, Portsmouth. We are grateful to Second Sea Lord for allowing us this privilege. Sadly, four of our members passed away this summer, Linda Dobinson, (Dobsey), Beatrice French, Hazel Baxter and Carole Penrose (former Chairman). These ladies will be missed, they will be always be remembered. RIP We have welcomed new members every month as the Branch continues to grow. It is good to see ladies who are now serving join us bringing blue and gold together. Jan Vanson - Chairman [email protected] The Wren 9 Swansea cheque and gifts at Praa Sands. July’s meeting was Our new routine of a monthly coffee morning, plus a an opportunity to celebrate monthly early supper in a pub, haunt of Dylan Thomas, Kay Stevenson’s 90th seems to be working well. Many of our members are birthday. At the end of working in the day so at least we can catch-up with July I was lucky enough them after 5.30pm! The next big event is the 25th to represent our branch at anniversary of the HMS Dragon Association in the the Captains Reception at Dragon Hotel at the end of October, with a female Cdr Culdrose. RN as Guest Speaker! Since our last report we’ve We meet on the third been to Margam Park, Cardiff Stadium for a Veterans’ Monday of each month promotion, and the Wales Air Show. Thanks go to at Culdrose Community HMS Cambria RNR Unit who shared their space, and Centre. their water on the hottest day of the year. Natalie once Contact again opened her house, (unfortunately not her hot Frances Townsend tub!) for the annual Garden Party which was enjoyed 01208 832729 by all. Contact Celia 01792 641747/07794 800272 INFORMAL GROUPS Lytham St Annes Our Summer started off on a sad note with the loss of two well-loved members - Dorothy Holmes (94) for whom we were proud to provide a guard of honour at her funeral, with Lynda Wilson carrying the Standard, also Nora Coppin (97) (of the Fleetwood Branch). Despite this our “travelling shoes” are still active, Ann- Louise (Turkey) Sheila (Italy) and Jenny to a wedding in South Africa. Our meetings are still at the Glendower Hotel, St Annes, 2nd Monday of the month at 10.30am Swindon where we will be having our Christmas lunch. All welcome to join us. We were pleased to welcome Edna Courtney aged Sheila 01253 402415 99 to our branch, she saw our advertisement in the Highworth Link proving it’s never too late to join the Association and Branch! Member Tina Hateley told Shrewsbury us about her hobby of park-runs, wild swimming and triathlons! Her son Owen came along to tell us Our numbers have diminished over the past 2 years about his school trip to Nepal in 2020 and we were due to members moving to be nearer their families. pleased to help to support this financially. Member We still manage to meet for lunch and chat in a local Jan Robinson, a volunteer caseworker with SSAFA, café on the first Friday each month. gave us an overview of the organisation and its work. Recently we have been excited to welcome 3 new We celebrated St George’s Day with an evening meal members who have relocated to the area from the and enjoyed afternoon tea at Penny Hockley’s house south. Feeling rejuvenated hearing their tales of life on one of the hottest days in July. We have a mix of in the more modern Navy. We celebrated the 80th day time and evening meetings which gives all our birthday of Annie Wycherley – such an interesting and members the chance to come along and join us. fun lady. We are hoping to visit the Arboretum during the summer where we have our own Rose in the WRNS West Cornwall garden. If there are any Wrens in the area we would love to We have had a busy year since our last report with hear from them. talks on aid to Moldova, Sailability and The Not Lena Hadley 01952 882701 Forgotten Association. Socially we enjoyed our usual Christmas lunch at Wheal Dream, a visit to Helston Town Museum for the temporary exhibition about the WRNS and our usual summer lunch at Roskilly's Ice Cream Farm. In June some of us were able to meet Vivien Jones at Trebah Gardens D-Day Exhibition. In early July Joan Kearsley, Sue Rayment and a few others of our Branch presented Jane Allen with a 10 The Wren PUBLIC RELATIONS TEAM REPORT Introducing the new AOW Public Relations Team: Celia Saywell – Public Relations Officer Lyn Gannon – Events and Sales Co-ordinator Vicki Taylor – AOW Facebook page Jackie Whitmarsh - Website

We are gradually working things out to be able to liaise and share the exciting and rewarding world of promoting the Association. Never a dull, or spare, moment! Thanks to everyone who commented on the D-Day feature; I have written personally to all those who contributed. Another 2019 task was to advise the Mikron Theatre Company on their production, ‘All Hands on Deck!’ and I finally caught their performance at the Western Approaches Museum in Liverpool. How fitting The Public Relations Team l-r: Vicki Taylor, Celia Saywell to be in the plotting room, alongside the huge wall map and Lyn Gannon (Jackie Whitmarsh missing from photo) and ladders, a perfect staging. The cast were wonderful; we had lots of coverage in the programme distributed to at least 130 venues (x 30 plus audiences) throughout the summer. By coincidence I went on the same night as nine Manchester Branch members. The Three Wrens Gin Company called into the Western Approaches Museum and were shown one of our flyers – result! We’re now looking forward to the donation of an interesting hamper. The distillery is in the grounds of Cholmondeley Castle which was the home of Superintendent Sybil Cholmondeley CBE who was a significant figure, assisting Dame Vera Laughton Mathews in the setting up of the WRNS in 1939. Celia Saywell MBE [email protected] 01792 641747 / 07794 800272

Events - Lyn Gannon The Association has been represented at events throughout the year – Sultan Show, Collingwood Open Day, D-Day 75 at Solent Airport at Daedalus, National Armed Forces Day, various Armed Forces Day’s around the country, Stubbington Fayre and Bournemouth Air Show. The Dauntless Association Reunion weekend will also have goods for sale. These events rely heavily on volunteers to help man the stand, alongside WRNS BT, and unfortunately we were unable to attend the Air Day at Yeovilton and HMNB Portsmouth Families Day because there were not enough volunteers. A list of next year’s events will be in the spring magazine, please have a look at the list and let me know if you’d be able to help out – you get to meet lots of lovely people – hopefully recruit new members - and sell goods for the AOW. You may even meet some former mess mates!

AOW Facebook Page - Vicki Taylor Love it or loathe it, the Association has to have a social media presence and I’m sure that a large number of our members are very IT aware and have a Facebook, Twitter or Instagram account! The Association Facebook page is administered by one person from the PR team in her spare time and currently has 2,150 followers. Our followers are obviously mainly women but not necessarily members of the Association plus a small number of men who follow our page. We would love to have more followers! We also regularly receive messages via Facebook as well as stories and pictures of a Mum or Gran. As long as you, your Mum or Gran are happy to appear on Facebook we’ll happily share the photo(s) and include a little bio! Editorial note: As part of our Centenary Year we are asking Mothers and Daughters or Grans and Aunts to send in their pictures for a feature article in a 2020 edition of The Wren magazine.

Website - Jackie Whitmarsh The new AOW Website went live on 14 May 2019. Since the launch, we have had in excess of 35,500 page views. The website is still a work in progress, and hopefully you will find it helpful and interesting. If you have any ideas for inclusion, please do let us know so that they can be considered. The “Shop” on the website has been completely updated and it is very easy to buy your AOW items from here. To avoid disappointment, it will automatically show if the item is out of stock, or low in stock. At the bottom of the homepage, the shop will show the three most popular items. This is live, so it changes as items are purchased. The current top seller is the “Wren on a Hat” Christmas Card. Just a reminder, when your subscription needs renewing, or you recruit a new member, it’s very easy to subscribe via the website. We have some new links on the website - Naval Servicewomen's Network, Notice Board and the Two-Six video are just a few of the links available - why not have a look and a play around? It’s everyone’s website, so any feedback is very welcome. The Wren 11 STANDARD BEARERS REPORT Well I have travelled a few miles this last few months. Saturday 29 June - National Armed Forces Day, in Salisbury, must have been the hottest day of the year. but how dare I complain. Standard Bearers marched behind 9 Chelsea Pensioners wearing their big red coats. It was a great march through Salisbury but we might have kept in better step if we could have heard a band playing. It does help. Sunday 30 June - I attended the Drum Head service in Hudson’s Field. Which was the finale of NAFD. Wednesday 14 August. I went to The National Memorial Arboretum for the Northern Ireland Op Banner 50th Chris Walker parading the AOW National Standard anniversary service. It was a very at the RNA Biennial Parade in London - September 2019 moving service, even though a very photo courtesy of Nigel Huxtable, RNA wet day. Of the 19 Standard Bearers I was the only Royal Navy representative. Whilst there I did pay a visit to our WRNS Garden. Tuesday 3 September took me to Plymouth for Merchant Navy Day and the unveiling of the Merchant Navy and Fishing Fleets WWII Memorial by HRH The Princess Royal. Sunday 8 September I was in London for RNA Biennial Parade. It was a lovely day but sadly I was the only AOW Standard Bearer. During the ceremony I had the privileged place at one of the corners of the Cenotaph. I saw only one other AOW member marching with the Veterans. Chrissie Hughes was there as our first-aider. As we marched off passing the Women at War Memorial I did my own let fly (eyes right). At the end of the march back into King Charles Street, on the right turn, a bird flew past and landed on the wall opposite and it was a Wren (not an AOW member). At the time of writing my next trip will be to London for the Seafarers Service (Wednesday 9 October) at St Paul’s Cathedral and in December I will be attending the AGM at the UJC. It is really nice to wear our new sash as I now get recognised as a National Standard Bearer and at a Muster I am told "come on Jenny you must be the National, so come up the front". I have lost count of the number of recruiting cards I have given out, ladies see my uniform or I approach serving RN ladies. I do hope HQ have heard from them. So Standard Bearers please carry some cards with you. You never know who you might meet. Next year, 16 May, is the Standard Bearers Competition at HMS Collingwood and I do hope this will be well supported. In 2018 we had quite a few spectators, which was great and we Standard Bearers enjoyed having their support. The RNA appreciated the Association being there, please come along if you can. Chris Walker Ed Note – unfortunately 16 May 2020 is the AOW Centenary Out of Town meeting in Exeter.

WWII as remembered by the Late Peggy Sharp

In the year 2000, a small advertisement was put in the Lichfield Mercury by Mrs Hazel Mingham. It was an appeal for former Wrens to meet together for companionship and to remember ‘old times’. Some 8 Wrens eagerly responded and this number increased to 10/11 at its ‘peak’. All of us had been serving in different categories and different places from Londonderry to the Isle of Man and Bletchley Park. Our “chair” decided that we ought to give a light hearted but accurate history of our times and work in the Service. Only now in August 2013, looking back on our longstanding friendships and fellow feelings do I realise that only 4 of our group are still alive. At 93, I am the longest survivor of that group. We were a bunch of very ‘good mates’. I volunteered for the WRNS in late 1941 (having worked in the Food office in Glasgow since late 1939, when we all had to seek a ‘reserved’ occupation or be seconded into the ATS, W.A.A.F or a munitions factory). Editorial note: Sadly Peggy passed away in March 2019. If you want to know more of this lively and fascinating history of Peggy Sharp’s time in the WRNS please contact the office and ask for a copy of her memories – either by email or on paper. 12 The Wren 2020 Scuttlebutt ! Our Centenary Year Beckons !

By the time you read this our Centenary Year will be almost upon us and what a year we have planned! The enthusiastic messages and plans received from you our members assures me that you have every intention of making the year memorable. Whether you are a Wren or a sailor the year is a celebration of who we are – special!

The last Scuttlebutt reported how 142 of us took the Steam Train ride from Bishops Lydeard to Minehead and what a great day it was. Valuable funds were raised on the day towards our Centenary celebrations, so thank you to everyone who enjoyed the adventure. Another hugely successful event back in July was the Wrens Out Walking launch around London. There were tired feet at the end of the day but the camaraderie was fantastic, so thank you to everyone who took part.

The launch of our Centenary Year is the dinner at the Fleet Air Arm Museum, Yeovilton on Saturday 21 March 2020. Plans for the dinner in Yeovilton are well advanced, the decoration, the disco, the photographer and the cake – watch this space for more information! Those attending will receive their ticket and information in January. This will be a very special evening celebrating who we are, our heritage and our future. Blue and Gold Together to show that although women in the navy have changed their blue badges for gold we still share the same spirit and enjoy a good party!

Application forms for the unveiling of our Centenary monument event on Wednesday 10 June 2020 are enclosed in this edition of The Wren and will again give priority to Association members. The day is planned to start at 1100 with an open air service in the WRNS Garden, followed by a reception and lunch in the NMA events centre. Although this event will accommodate 320 members demand for places is expected to be great as branches and informal groups have already started planning to attend, many of you have already organised accommodation in the area but details of an accommodation package are also available.

Our Centenary Out Of Town Meeting is being held in Exeter on Saturday 16 May 2020 in the Southgate Hotel, where the guest speaker will be Jane Allen with tales of her Victory Walk. For those living or staying in the area who wish to get together in the evening there will be an informal dinner at the hotel. If you are interested in attending please email the office on [email protected], The cost will be £30. On the Sunday immediately following the OOT a service commemorating past President Dame Jocelyn Woollcombe will be held in Plymouth. A Commemorative Service for each of the Association’s past Presidents, who are no longer with us, will be held at various dates throughout the year, do keep an eye on the website for details. On Sunday 8 March (the weekend of the Mountbatten Music Festival) a service will be held in St Mary le Strand Church at 1100 to commemorate the foundation of The Association. All are welcome to attend.

York Branch are planning a celebratory weekend on 12 and 13 of September 2020 with social events on the Friday and Saturday evenings together with a service in York Minster followed by tea.

Friday 2 to Sunday 4 October 2020 – Our final event in Edinburgh, will be an action-packed weekend with a reception on the Friday evening in Edinburgh Castle, courtesy of the Governor of the Castle Major General M Riddell-Webster CBE DSO. The Association AGM on Saturday afternoon and dinner that evening in the Royal Scots Club. Sunday morning a church service at Canongate Kirk after which free time to explore the sights of Edinburgh. Application form(s) will be included in the Spring 2020 edition of The Wren.

Fundraising for the monument has been amazing, and is still being received. Thank you to all who have donated. The Grand Raffle could win you £1,500, £1,000 or £500 not to mention lots of other prizes. Books of tickets are available so please help by buying and selling as many tickets as possible.

Apart from our three National Events we hope branches and informal groups will organise an event in their local area. This can take the form of anything you think would appeal to our members.

A complete diary of events will be kept in HQ and we ask that anybody organising an event to please contact the office so that it can be recorded on the 2020 planner ensuring that events don’t clash. Carol Gibbon Chair 2020 Committee The Wren 13 2020 Events Update 2020 Dinner Fleet Air Arm Museum Yeovilton Saturday 21 March The event is full with a lengthy reserve list

Tickets and information regarding the dinner will be posted out in mid to late January

Are you ready to get the party started!

The Chairman and members of Exeter Branch welcome you to the Out of Town Meeting at the Southgate Hotel, Exeter Saturday 16 May at 1400 Guest Speaker - Jane Allen

If you are attending the Out of Town Meeting please email Nancy Hill on [email protected] so that we can ascertain numbers

For those wishing to attend a dinner in the hotel that evening - bar open from 1800/dinner at 1930 3 course multi-choice meal £30 Payment and pre order required by 30 April Application form with menu choices available from HQ

Dedication and Unveiling of the Centenary Monument Wednesday 10 June at 1100 National Memorial Arboretum Followed by a reception and lunch in the NMA Events Centre Application Form enclosed with this edition of The Wren Registration of attendees from 0900 for issue of wrist band enabling access to the WRNS Garden and the Events Centre Set 3 course lunch with dietary option See application form for more details

Edinburgh Weekend Event Friday 2 to Sunday 4 October Friday evening– Reception In Edinburgh Castle Saturday afternoon – Association of Wrens AGM Saturday evening – Dinner In The Royal Scots Club Sunday morning – Service In Canongate Kirk Application forms in The Wren Spring 2020 edition

The Wren 15 Thank you Julia!

We thought you might like to see a behind-the-scenes shot of Santa’s Little Helper (aka Julia Clark, VP) hard at work packing all your parcels. The Christmas packing season got off to a flying start as soon as the summer magazine hit the streets. Julia has visited the office several times over the last few weeks and has been invaluable in picking and packing numerous parcels which is no mean feat considering the volume we have received. Thanks also to all of you who have supported the Association by placing orders, keep them coming - Julia loves a challenge!

Julia with another batch of parcels to post

Photography Tips

We love receiving your photos for the magazine even if we don’t always have room to include them all! To increase the chances of your photos being published here are a few tips that will help to have them included:

1. If you are sending in photos of a recent event please be selective and only send in two or three, avoiding photos with no Wrens included.

2. If you are taking a photo of a group please ask them to look at the camera – sounds obvious but you would be surprised how many backs of people’s heads we see.

3. Formal poses aren’t essential but a smile for the camera always helps.

4. If it is a large group perhaps some could sit in front or even kneel down – stairs are always useful as that automatically varies the height of the participants.

5. Lin and Katharine are wizards at removing things we don’t really want e.g. like signs saying ‘toilets’ but if there is a choice of backgrounds for your group then that always helps.

6. Not all photos have to be of groups – one or two posed in front of e.g. a ship’s name or something naval orientated or even a fabulous view of the countryside to vary the photos on a page also works.

7. Captions please! Name the people and if they have given their permission for the photo to be included – that part won’t be printed but we do need to know.

8. Obviously group photos from ‘old ships’ can’t always have permission of the people concerned but in that case the name of the ship/unit/training/branches/year taken etc. always adds life to a photo.

9. If you are taking a photo of someone in uniform check they are happy to be included and check their hat/ uniform is as they would like it to be for a photo.

10. Try to avoid sending in photos which are blurred or out of focus. They need to be of good definition and to a high resolution (300 dpi). Very old photos can, on occasion, be of too poor quality to reproduce in the magazine. 16 The Wren Gloucester Day Celebrations

The Gloucester and Cheltenham former Wrens gave their anchor t-shirts another airing, this time to march in the Gloucester Day celebrations on 7 September 2019. The day commemorates the defeat of the Royalist forces, by the small Parliamentary Gloucester garrison, in 1643. This year we marched behind the Cheltenham pipe band and celebrated afterwards in our usual fashion, with a tot of plum rum! Participating members are:- Brenda Adams, Jocelyn Harding, Anne Wilde, Jane Evans-Hoon, Marni Martin, Jo Storey, Nikki Bodkin, Steph Fields, Sue Colborne. Jo Storey Up Spirits! Chairman Cheltenham Branch

Bletchley Park Remembered

I attended the Bletchley Park 1940s weekend dressed as a WWll Signals Coder Leading Wren along with my swing dance coach Lynn Fairchild. We spent most of the day dancing in the swing jive tent to some fabulous 40s music. Two live bands and swing dance lessons were all part of the entertainment. Glynis Shaw

l-r: Glynis Shaw and Lynn Fairchild

Stenographers Unite 13 September 2019 - RMC Portsmouth

The First Stenographer Reunion had so many elements to it, emotion, remembrance, laughter, history and just so many great stories of unique drafts and experiences. What a wonderful afternoon we all enjoyed. The memorabilia table was well stocked with many photographs which told their own stories, not to mention Miss Edevene’s certificates, from a most unique college in Rochester we had to attend before being let loose on military establishments. The Writer (Stenographer) branch ceased to exist in the 1970s. The last one was recruited into the WRNS, it is believed, in 1972. Shorthand however, was still used by many Wrens. High speeds had to be achieved before even joining the WRNS with 100 wpm minimum for shorthand rising to 120 wpm to achieve your killick badge and that was no mean task. Typing speeds on a manual typewriter was minimum of 35 wpm rising to 70 wpm. These speeds had to be maintained in Boards of Enquiry and Court Martials, sometimes over several hours and not much leeway was given for requesting a break to catch up, an experience many of us found we shared. Many drafts which stenographers were sent on often carried the pressure of working for high ranking officers as well as keeping their secrets (both official and otherwise!!). Many Wrens in other categories, like stenographers were of course also bound by the Official Secrets Act. We may look like ladies who are getting on in years but we had a remarkable past to share on this Friday 13th!! We perhaps should have signed our own official secrets document?? Lovely to meet up as we did, probably the only time so many of this branch were ever in one room. I know connections and reconnections were made and will continue. I myself am thrilled we got together and thank you all for making it such a success. Jan Vanson Former Wren Writer (Stenographer) 1965–1968 The Wren 17 PEOPLE AND PLACES SS Aguila Remembered

Members of York, Cleveland and Manchester Branches gathered on the pier at Scarborough to commemorate the 12 Cypher Officers, 10 Chief Wren Special Operators and a Naval Nursing Sister who died when the SS Aguila was torpedoed on the way to Gibraltar on the 19 August 1941. The service takes place in Scarborough because the 10 Chief Wrens were serving there when they were selected to go to Gibraltar. For the first time we had a former QARNNS with us - she has recently joined the AOW. Georgina Tuckett

RNAS Culdrose 60th Reunion

On 11 September, we had a 60th reunion since joining RNAS Culdrose, our cabin was Exmouth Seven. We were only a small group due to last minute illnesses, must be our age! RNAS Culdrose gave us a wonderful welcome, we were driven round the airfield in a people carrier (Tilly), our hostess being a meteorology officer, Lt Francesca Allen. We were given a delicious lunch in the Wardroom, meeting female naval ratings who told us about their experiences working on ships – sounds exciting! At Culdrose they have their own en-suite rooms, unlike 1959 when we had twelve in our cabin and a long trek to the ablutions, but it was great fun! Thank you RNAS Culdrose for a memorable day. Jeanette Carr 16747 Air Mechanic

Former Radio Operators at the House of Commons

The photograph shows Pauline Watson (née Redwood) and Ann Magee (née Rush) at the House of Commons in July 2019. We met in 1966, as Radio Operators in HMS Mercury and Whitehall and lost touch when Pauline went to Malta and I went to HMS Vernon. On leaving, I returned to N.Ireland, married a Policeman who died in a helicopter crash in 1994 at the Mull of Kintyre. Pauline saw me on TV and set about finding me! She did so, following a chat to someone at a reunion. We met in 2016 on our 50th Anniversary at a reunion in Portsmouth. In July 2019, I went to stay with Pauline in Hertfordshire and was delighted to meet her delightful husband Peter, beautiful daughter Lucy, son-in-law Ed and 4 wonderful grandchildren. A great week with many visits including Prime Minister's Question Time courtesy of my MP, Lady Sylvia Hermon. Friendships just go on and on! Ann Magee

Fundraising Challenge for Jane

My daughter Jane Timms RN Rtd has just completed the 3 day 100K “Classic Challenge” in aid of the Army Benevolent Fund, raising in excess of £1,000 by walking over 60 miles across the battlefields of “The Great War”. Jane had planned to do this walk a year ago in memory of her Great Grandfather Harry White who was wounded and taken prisoner at Arras. However, being laid low by a stroke, she had to put it all on hold until she could regain her fitness. She has put a great deal of real effort into this by way of raising sponsorship and really hard training. As one of the other walkers said “The country could do with more Janes!” John Timms l-r: Ann Magee and Pauline Watson

The Wren 19 Solent Branch National Arboretum Trip

Like many Association Branches before us we had decided to plant a ‘Wren Rose’ at the ‘WRNS Garden’ at the National Arboretum. Once the gardeners had done this we followed it up with a weekend away in order to commemorate it. Meeting early at 0800 on the Friday morning at Fareham, 24 of us boarded the ‘Isle of Wight Tours’ coach where we were looked after by the two Dave’s, (one the tour guide and one the coach driver). Lovely relaxing journey up with stops for food and beverages!!! Two quizzes ensured we kept our minds sharp en route and before we knew it we were pulling up outside our Novotel Hotel which was to be our base for the weekend. We then met up with some more Solent members at the National Memorial Arboretum of our number who had made their own way there including our guest of honor for the weekend Jill Stellingworth. We were amply catered for by the staff at the hotel for our evening meal, then onto the bar and a few ‘hardy types’ had a small ‘cabin’ party later on. Saturday morning after breakfast we again boarded our coach for the trip to the National Arboretum, where we were able to attend the 1100 service before boarding the train so that we could orientate ourselves with the large number of memorials around the 100 acre site. The ‘Paratroop Regiment’ had a reunion along with their own dedication and so we were entertained by their marching bands and veteran march-past. At 1400 we mustered at the ‘WRNS garden’ and had a small ceremony to dedicate our rose. After a last look round at more of the fantastic memorials we boarded our coach and headed back to the hotel, though not before Dave (the driver) did a fantastic job of driving a big coach through a small housing estate in order for us to descend on the local co-op for more beverage purchases!!! The evening was a fantastic affair, the hotel staff did us proud organizing a wonderful ‘Gala Dinner’. We then had lovely, and fun, entertaining speeches before the disco started where we soon all found ourselves on the dance floor, (including some of the hotel staff). Soon the DJ had the measure of us and played the music we enjoyed in the 70s and 80s. Another ‘cabin’ party was held at the end of the evening before a well earned sleep. Sunday morning we departed the hotel having made new friends, once on the coach it did not take us long to spark up the boom box and song sheets. So now it was our turn to entertain the two Dave’s’!! And Yes ‘Alice’ was sung more than once. After a couple of stops we soon found ourselves back in Fareham, glad to be home but sad the weekend had ended. Liz Brown - Solent Branch Standard Bearer

Editorial note: It should be noted that the Solent Branch Wren Rose was planted back in early January this year. This Rose took the last available space within the WRNS Garden for Roses to be planted. Therefore, until we hear further from the NMA as to increased space becoming available then I regret that no more Roses may be planted. My article in the Spring 2019 issue of The Wren refers. Chairman Association of Wrens 2020 Centenary Calendar

The Calendar (on sale through the AOW shop at £6) is proving very popular. Did you recognise the pictures, all featured in The Wren over the past few years? January Wrens Out Walking - London July 2019 February HMS Warrior Coffee Morning – Portsmouth July 2015 March Nottingham Branch 40th Anniversary – October 2018 April WRNS100 Stone – Portsmouth Cathedral November 2017 May Royal Mail Stamp issued 2017 for WRNS100 June Farewell to HMS Dauntless – August 1981 July Glasgow Branch at the Royal Garden Party – Edinburgh July 2017 August Armed Forces Day – Gloucester June 2019 September WWI Uniforms at the Fleet Air Arm Museum Yeovilton 2017 October WRNS Uniforms through the years November Field of Remembrance Westminster Abbey – November 2015 December Radio Operator’s enjoying the Warwick Reunion - July 2014

The Wren 21 Old Royal Naval College launches Armed Forces visitor concessions Old Royal Naval College, King William Walk, Greenwich, SE10 9NN

The Old Royal Naval College is honouring its rich military history by launching a new Armed Forces concessions policy, hoping to welcome serving and former members of the British Royal Navy and Armed Forces to this must- see London destination. The new Armed Forces concessions policy includes free entry for serving Royal Navy personnel, and a concession rate for current and former Armed Forces personnel. From its important beginnings as Henry VIII’s Greenwich Palace, to becoming a hospital for retired sailors, it then served as a crucial training facility for Naval Officers for over a hundred years from 1873 – 1997. The magnificent Painted Hall within Sir Christopher Wren’s iconic Old Royal Naval College was also the site of Lord Nelson’s laying-in-state after the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. This fantastic new concession scheme aims to open up the Old Royal Naval College for those interested in its rich maritime history to explore the stunning riverside grounds and tour the magnificent Painted Hall. The UK’s finest Baroque interior, the Painted Hall’s vast decorative scheme took Sir James Thornhill 19 years to complete and tells the story of Britain’s triumphant naval power. The Painted Hall reopened earlier this year having had its remarkable painted interior brought vividly back to life. The two-year conservation project, supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, reversed years of decay and conserved the Painted Hall for generations to come. Day beds have even been provided to encourage visitors to spend time appreciating the spectacular ceiling and new multimedia guides are available in seven languages, along with expert talks and interactive packs for children. History buffs can explore the room where Admiral Lord Nelson’s body lay in state and can see the recently discovered Tudor foundations of Greenwich Palace in the King William Undercroft which also houses a new café, shop and interpretation gallery. The Painted Hall entry fee is valid for a year for return visits and includes a 45 min - 1 hour guided tour, taking in all aspects of Wren’s riverside masterpiece including the famous Water Gates, Grand Square and Chapel. It also includes access into the Skittle Alley and the opportunity to play a game of Victorian skittles with your friends and family. The brand new multimedia guide provides an informative and playful introduction to the paintings. Visitors looking for a more sensory experience will enjoy a collection of 13 exquisite touch objects inspired by characters and items depicted on the ceiling, such as a replica of Athena’s shield with its depiction of Medusa. To ensure the Painted Hall remains accessible to as many people as possible People’s Wednesday, on every first Wednesday of the month, is a pay as you wish initiative. Don’t miss visiting the Old Royal Naval College and the Painted Hall, an essential destination in Greenwich. Website www.ornc.org Tickets - Armed Forces Concessions Serving Royal Navy Personnel Free, with valid ID Serving Armed Forces Personnel £8.50 Visitor Centre, £7.50 online, with valid ID Veterans, Royal Navy and Armed Forces £8.50 Visitor Centre, £7.50 online, with valid ID Old Royal Naval College and events tickets available online at www.ornc.org/booktickets

75 Years of the Women’s Royal Canadian Naval Service

1942-2017 - 75th Anniversary of the establishment of the Women’s Royal Canadian Naval Service. Greetings from Toronto Wren Association, still battling on though our numbers are dwindling but, we keep in touch through the Jenny Wren Times. As you were preparing to celebrate your 100th we were thinking of our 75th anniversary. It was decided to mark the occasion with a tree and bench and early in 2016 we contacted the City of Toronto and suggested several places where we would like the tree, all to no avail for a variety of reasons, with the likelihood of a park near HMCS York. Then in the spring of 2017 came the flooding along the waterfront of Lake Ontario, causing extensive damage. We did not give up. In late 2018 the city contacted us and said we could have a tree and bench in Sunnybrook. We were thinking of the Veterans’ Centre, but they were talking about the Park, as the crow flies its close, but a 15 minute drive. On August 18 2019, following a service at Sunnybrook Veteran’s Chapel, our bench and red oak tree were dedicated by our padre, Father David Mulholland, in attendance were Ann Nancy Robinson, Betty Hart and Janet Watt Canadian WWII Veterans, Donna Murakami, Sue McLennan retired Canadian Naval Reservists, Joyce Lloyd, Francesca Young, Diane Lee Huba post war British Wrens and WWII Naval Cadet Sheila Kingsley. The tree was planted on a slight hill which was challenging to our veterans with their walkers, who were deposited at the side of the road to negotiate a less steep route to the tree. However, from the parking lot the route was steeper, and it was a difficult decision whether to roll down the hill, swoop ski fashion or walk sensibly by the road. We closed the day with a nice lunch at a nearby restaurant. Diane Lee Huba 22 The Wren The Wren 23 From Biker Chick to Intrepid Aviator aged 91 - Respect!!

I write a tribute to my mother Elsie Wright (née Bone), now 91, service number 58146, served from 1946–53. She ended her career as a PO Wren having served HMS Nuthatch, Daedalus, Victory, Drake, Collingwood and many more. She experienced fencing at the Royal Tournament, played Command netball, was Netball Captain for the Interservice team was good at hockey, cricket, tennis and again many more activities. A short time in the WRNS, yes, but one that greatly influenced her whole life. She is so proud of that life and the people she served with and to this day her loyalty to the WRNS is second to none. My mother, outside the service, went on to captain the local bowling team, become an avid and scary bridge player and all aspects of life was and still is determined to enjoy. She still regularly attends the WRNS reunions and local catch-ups where possible I have written this as recently my mother has gone from a real “Biker Chick” riding on the back of a Suzuki 1300cc motorbike to a Triumph Rocket 2.3cc and then at RAF Halton flying in one of the training gliders K13. Heaven only knows her bucket list for the following years. I believe the tribute I have written reflects the indomitable, stoic, courageous and independent but united nature of all WRNS. I am proud of my mother and through her I am proud of the WRNS. You have helped her mould her life and become the person she is today. Lesley (Daughter of Elsie Wright)

Elsie takes to the skies Elsie riding pillion 24 The Wren OTC 187 50th Anniversary Reunion

On 9 August this year, a small group of ex-WRNS Officers met to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of their course, OTC 187 from January to March 1969. We had gathered 29 years ago at a reception and dinner at the Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich when 8 of us met up for our 21st anniversary. This time there were 5 of us although we had been in touch with 2 others who were unable to attend and one had only made contact after the event. Sadly Diz Dalziel, who had organised the 21st anniversary reunion, had passed away. This year we joined the 1966ers’ Dinner at the Royal Maritime Club as several of us had joined up in 1966 l-r: Catherine Bowler,Mary Galloway, Nell Paton, Helen Eales so it was double fun. We had a splendid time and the and Pip Duncan. 29 years since we had previously met, melted away in the joy of catching up with non-stop chatter and laughter. We finished the reunion on Saturday morning with a trip up the Spinnaker Tower and a promise that we would meet again soon and hopefully be joined by the others who we missed this year. Helen Eales Wrens Volunteer Group

In 2010 after I completed the ‘Their Past Your Future’ recording of 1950s Wrens, I was asked if I could do some sewing work for the FAA Museum Archives but it would need a few more to help. So, I gathered three others from the Yeovil Branch and we began making cloth covers for uniforms and padded coat hangers for Archives and then went mad on making Pirate costumes for children’s dress-up during school holidays. Then there were child sized Commander Bond and 2nd Officer Miss Moneypenny for our 007 theme. This was followed by WWI WRNS uniforms including child-sized ones for the visiting l-r: Marie Firth, Shirley Melligan, Sandy Walton school’s WWI curriculum lessons and so on. and Ann Baker We not only sew but sometimes help with the school’s educational programmes and half term events. We now call ourselves the Wren’s Volunteer Group. We try and champion the WRNS whenever we can. Do come and see us sometime, our group works on Thursdays. We now have two more ex Wren volunteers who work in other departments. Sandy Walton Visit to Highgrove - 28 August 2019

Jan Robinson and I were privileged to join the Not Forgotten Association (NFA) visit to Highgrove. We convened at The Horse Guards Pub in Brokenborough for bacon butties and coffee before boarding the coach along with other veterans including those from the Merchant Navy. We were split into two groups and taken on a guided tour of approximately two hours of the grounds. Luckily it wasn't as hot as the previous days and we had to put our umbrellas up for a couple of showers. There was still plenty of colour in the garden and the apple trees were full of fruit. The garden is evolving all the time as Prince Charles gets ideas from visits here and overseas. The house and estate is the property of the Duchy of Cornwall. The original house was built in the 1760s. It burnt down in the early 1800s and was re-built in a plainer manner in Victorian times. When Prince Charles moved to the house, he found the original plans and added detail externally to return it to its original style. The tour ended with a quick trip to the shop – all profits go to the Prince's charities, before boarding the coach back to Horse Guards for a late buffet lunch. At lunch we sat with two Korean war veterans; Dennis and Tommy. Tommy joined the Army aged 14 years on VE day and served for many years with the Gloucesters. He spent two and half years in a POW camp in Korea (run by the Chinese which was apparently better than being under the North Koreans). Tommy started to lose his sight in 2010 and has become a member of Blind Veterans UK. His friend Dennis accompanies Tommy on many trips as his carer including several visits to Korea where they are treated royally and get thanked even by young children wherever they go. Jan recalls seeing them on TV at one of the veteran parades. Tommy has also been filmed by US and Korean film makers. Thanks to the Association for allocating us the places to attend this event which we thoroughly recommend. Christine Senior The Wren 25 Solent Branch Greet Victory Walker Jane Allen at the Memorlal Rose Garden, HMS Sultan

On Tuesday 3 September, Jane had reached HMS Sultan. In Gosport. Members of the Solent Branch joined her at HMS Sultan Moat where the Branch had planted a memorial garden with the Wren rose earlier this year. Frank, Jane’s husband organised for the ladies to then take a ride with Jane in the Super Sentinel Steam Wagon in Sultan. Great fun and laughter was had as we travelled onto the main road and down to Stokes Bay in Alverstoke and back. Our bodies were rattled and bumped up and down with Jane having to watch her injured shoulder! This was followed in the Junior Rates mess where a buffet lunch was laid on for all of us. I was honoured to have joined in that very short time in Jane’s mammoth walk around Britain and remain in awe of such Jane Allen (on left) with members of Solent Branch an achievement. Seeing her later in the week finally arrive at the end of the Victory Walk on Friday 6 September in the Royal Naval Historic Dockyard with the Royal Marine Band. “Congratulations” Jane from the Solent Branch of the AOW. Jan Vanson (Solent Branch) 26 The Wren

1960s Wren draft request came in from a girl at Lossiemouth, and as I wanted to see as many places as possible, I applied to join the WRNS in September 1964, and I applied for it and got it. In May 1967, I got the train was given a joining date of July 65, but they lost my from Culdrose for the very long overnight journey to papers and so I eventually got to HMS Dauntless on Lossiemouth. 28 September 1965 and joined Warspite 200. Wrens accommodation here was very different from I LOVED IT!!! Having served an accelerated what I had left behind at Culdrose. There we had old, apprenticeship as a hairdresser, because my father drafty single-story huts and at Lossie I was greeted was convinced that I would never cope with the with a brand new custom built block, together with discipline of the armed forces, I was finally doing what hairdressing rooms and plenty of bathrooms. The only I had wanted to do since I was 15 – I was now 19, one downside was that every morning Buccaneer aircraft of the oldest in the division. I didn’t mind scrubbing used to have their engines revved up very close to the toilets, which I seemed to do a lot, or polishing shoes, block, so if you were trying to sleep after a night watch, or marching behind someone who tick-tocked for the it was a bit difficult, but it was amazing how soon you whole six weeks or even starching my collars but what got used to them. I really did not like was washing-up in those dreadful Not long after arriving there, Princess Margaret came huge sinks, fully of greasy pots and pans with only up to officially open the new accommodation. It will T-Pol to use, which had no suds and no degreasing long stay in my memory seeing the area from the main agent at all. Ugh! Apart from that though, I loved the gate, where Nissen Huts had been flattened leaving camaraderie that very quickly developed between us uncultivated soil on view, being sprayed green so that and to this day, every time I hear ‘Heart of Oak’ I am it looked like grass from the air when she flew in, and tempted to start marching!! when we were on divisions being presented to her, a After 6 weeks, I left Burghfield to undertake Part II platoon of WRNS were taken out of the main body to training at HMS Mercury. I was to become a WRO(M). stand in front of rubbish bins so that she wouldn’t see Those of us selected to learn Morse were in the them!! What lengths they went to in those days to try minority, our classes were smaller and our training and give the impression that we all lived in a perfect longer, but we did feel ‘special’ as we were learning environment! the same as the guys on the ships. On the morning Again, I was working in the control tower, not on a that we left Dauntless, while I was attempting to close voice channel this time, but in the signal receiving my suitcase – my hand slipped and I severed the large room next door to the met office. Job-wise it was not vein in my wrist. Thanks to some quick thinking from as interesting, as there was very little for a Morse my cabin mate, Mavis Pritchard, I was soon in sick bay Wren to do, I only had one ship in the Moray Firth all getting a butterfly dressing on – I was just glad I didn’t the time I was up there, but there was one thing that have to clean up all the blood in our cabin, I got away made my draft to Lossie the most memorable: I met with it as our transport was waiting and I had already Bob there, he was the killick of my watch, and it wasn’t made them 10 minutes late. Of course, with one arm long before we started dating, and the rest is history. in a sling, it could have proved very difficult to carry all From Lossiemouth I went on draft to HMS Mauritius, my luggage, but as there were 8 of us, we somehow one of the main reasons I had joined up in the first managed to get it all to our destination. place. Trouble was, that by the time the draft came My time at Mercury was full of ups and downs. Some through, Bob and I had decided to get married, and I of the training I found easy, some very difficult and really didn’t want to go, but he was due to get drafted appendicitis half way through resulted in my being onto a ship, so we thought it would be silly for me not back-classed so I wasn’t able to pass out with those I to take the opportunity and if all went to plan we would had joined up with, which was disappointing, but that both be back in UK around the same time. Of course, was part of ‘Life in a Blue Suit’ I soon learned. the Navy doesn’t work like that, and just before I left, After finishing my training, I went on draft to HMS Bob’s draft came through: he was to go to HMS Terror, Seahawk, Culdrose, Cornwall and started to learn to Singapore, six months after I left, for 18 months. So, be the Channel 2 voice operator in the control tower, not long after I arrived in Mauritius, we decided that a job I really loved – until one day I will never forget. I would serve the minimum of 6 months there then The Commanding Officer was flying a helicopter and apply to get the Navy to fly me out to Singapore requested to move into another area. I refused as it where we would get married and Bob would get his was already full, but he pulled rank – flew where he draft extended to 2 years – and this is exactly what wanted to go – and landed on top of another helicopter we did. This isn’t to say that I didn’t enjoy my time causing it to drop out of the sky – right in front of where on the island. Although I missed Bob dreadfully, I met we were sitting, killing both the pilot and the navigator. some lovely people, was there for the Independence A traumatic day for Naval aviation! Apart from that, I of Mauritius, had some hairy moments when there loved it at Culdrose. I became a regular wet-wincher were racial riots throughout the island and got a lovely with 705 squadron, frequently being dropped into tan ready for my wedding. I learnt how to scuba dive, the sea and then ‘rescued’ by those training to did loads of snorkelling and oh yes, really enjoyed the be winchmen. This often caused amusement and busy workload that being in a Communications Centre consternation to holidaymakers on the beach in equal entailed. I was even able to use my morse regularly measure. When I had been there six months, a swap by taking over from one of the locally employed The Wren 27

Personnel one day every week. Birmingham twice a week, and so at the closing So, I officially left the WRNS on 28 June 1968, our ceremony, I was presented with my LS&GC Medal wedding day. I spent 2 years out there then returned with and I hung up my uniform for good. Bob to HMS Heron for his final draft before he left the RN I still have my jacket, tri-corne and black and white in 1971. Normal married life followed and in 1972 our handbags and so many memories – there is no doubt first son was born followed in 1976 by our second. Life that my life in WRNS and WRNR have made me the took some twists and turns and in 1979, whilst working person I am today and I am forever grateful that my at the NEC in Birmingham, I met up with the WRNR for father was so wrong. the first time, and decided to join. I started off at HMS Tina Lowe (née Hills) Forward in Birmingham and eventually transferred to WRNS September 1965 - June 1968 HMS Mercia in Coventry – a smart move as that was WRNR February 1979 - July 1994 where I lived!! I served for 15 years in the WRNR ending up as a CWrenRS – something I was very proud of. I also served through the transition period, starting off with blue badges and leaving with gold. I was very lucky being able to serve in most UK bases including Mount Wise Plymouth, Fort Southwick Portsmouth, HMS President London, HMS Neptune, Faslane and Port Headquarters in Orkney and Shetland. I also did a stint as DSR at HMS Raleigh for WRNR New Entries, was PA to Command Medical Officer Portsmouth during the Iraq War and helped Welfare Wrens in Plymouth during the Falklands Conflict. Oh yes, I also had 6 weeks in Hong Kong (fancy forgetting that!). In 1994, the RNR/ WRNR was pared down and HMS Mercia was closed, with personnel transferring to HMS Forward. I decided that, as I had reached the grand old age of 48 that I didn’t want to go back to travelling to and from 28 The Wren

WRNS BT Annual General Meeting 8 May 2019 at Trinity House, London

The Chairman, Cdr Heather Rimmer MBE RN, opened the meeting by welcoming Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, Vice Presidents and Trust Officials, Guests and Members to the meeting and invited Her Royal Highness to address the meeting. Her Royal Highness said that a year ago the Trust and its members were basking in the unequivocal l-r: Cdr Catherine Jordan RN, HRH The Princess Royal, Cdr success of WRNS100. One of the principle aims had Heather Rimmer RN, Mrs Sarah Ayton, Cdr Liz Walsmley RN and been to remind the wider community of the continuing Cdr Jane Allen RNR work of the Trust and the Association, who work together for mutual benefit; this would be continued with the advent of the Association’s own centenary in the Weekly Maintenance Grant to £25, and in the 2020. Plans were well in hand for another round of Weekly Support Supplement to £30, continued to be commemorative events. much welcomed. The one-off General Amenity Grant Her Royal Highness said that the Trust had seen a continued to prove a useful tool, with the number of its return to business as usual in 2018, dispersing over regular recipients remaining steady at 31. £275k in grants to individuals. Market fluctuations With the exception of regular grants, the two highest caused by Brexit and other world events resulted in areas of spend were £29k on disability aids, and £14k a slight drop in the value of the Trust’s portfolio, but on helping towards emergency clearance of priority overall its financial position remained very healthy. debt. While the latter particularly stood out, being Once again, an increasing number of legacies had twice as high as 2017, over half of this was used been bequeathed to the Trust; £134k had been to clear rent arrears when eviction was imminent, received during 2018, with a further £291k pending in including one very exceptional case where an elderly the pipeline at year end. Her Royal Highness said that and infirm husband was left stranded overseas with it was likely that the unique bonding and camaraderie limited income, when his wife, a former Wren, was forged within service could encourage individuals to unexpectedly moved into dementia care. Cdr Rimmer help and support others, and what better way to do emphasised that assistance with debt clearance this than through a generous donation. invariably related to unavoidable circumstances, and Her Royal Highness said that the Trust’s staff, and ever not a careless, irresponsible or frivolous lifestyle. growing team of Ambassadors and supporters, had 9 maximum grants of £4k were approved during continued to promote the work of the Trust within their 2018, 5 were subsequently abated when the Trust local communities, whether through direct or indirect successfully almonised with other charities, very fundraising, presentations, or by representing the Trust effectively sharing the cost. Expenditure on Education at both local and national events. As an outstanding grants, had doubled since 2017. This continued to example, on the longest (and very hot!) day of 2018, reflect an item of support specifically referred toin former Wren Liz Brown had cycled her Longest Ride the Trust’s Royal Charter, aimed at those wishing to on a loop through the New Forest, covering 154 miles retrain in order to be better able to support themselves and spending 15 hours in the saddle. She had raised and their dependent families. £1.4k for the Trust. The number of applicants approaching the Trust for In conclusion, Her Royal Highness said that it was clear the first time had reduced to 49, against 55 in 2017, that the Trust remained as relevant and important as but compared favourably with the 49 also assisted in ever. While the number of applications for assistance 2016. Returning applicants numbered 67, an increase were naturally reducing, the cases themselves were from 57 in 2017, and closer to that of 71 in 2016. often increasingly more complex. Financial Review Chairman’s Report Honorary Treasurer, Cdr Liz Walmsley started by Cdr Rimmer presented the 77th Annual Report of the saying that 2018 had seen mixed financial results for WRNS BT on behalf of the Central Committee. She the Trust. Overall, the accounts showed an operating went on to highlight the most significant points. deficit of £77k against a planned budget deficit of During 2018, the Grants Committee had made grants £232k and net losses of £413k after investment losses to 209 beneficiaries, including 16 residing overseas. of £380k. Main sources of income were legacies, The small increases made in 2017 in the value of investments, and donations. The Wren 29

Income from legacies totalled £134k, slightly higher than 2017. Investment income had decreased slightly from the previous year, to £141k but still provided approximately 51% of monies needed to cover Grants Expenditure. In memoriam and other donations, at £22k had increased against 2017. Fundraising income had increased to £25k reflecting the final payment of £15k from WRNS100, alongside sums arising from other fundraising events held throughout the year. Grants made to beneficiaries had decreased by 7.8% against 2017 - chiefly through successful almonisation. Investment Management Fees had decreased slightly, to £25k, reflecting reduction in the value of the portfolio. The value of the Trust’s investment portfolio had fallen significantly due to poor market performance towards the end of the year, with unrealised losses accruing to £380k.Taking into account all assets and liabilities, the Trust closed 2018 with unrestricted funds of £3.8m representing an overall reduction in value of £413k compared with 2017. Cdr Walmsley said that the Trust continued to hold sufficient funds to meet the anticipated needs of the charity for 2019.

Elections The Chairman asked those present and eligible to vote (i.e. former Wrens), to approve the list of those persons nominated for office in 2019/20. All current officers of the Trust were prepared to stand again. Cdr Andrea Crook (Cdr Rimmer’s predecessor as Chairman of the Trust), had agreed to be nominated as a Vice President. Cdr Rimmer asked for a show of hands from those in the audience who were eligible to vote, and the motion was carried. Cdr Rimmer also wished to recognise Miss Margaret Connolly, stepping down as an Ordinary Member from the Grants Committee after 10 years’ service. The Trust remained extremely grateful for her hard work and commitment over that period, and wished her well for the future.

Guest Speaker With the formal part of the meeting now concluded, Cdr Rimmer introduced Cdr Jane Allen RNR, acknowledging that many would know her from her long Naval career, her tireless work as Naval lead for the WRNS100 Project, or, more recently, as the Victory Walker. Jane went on to mesmerise the audience with her excellent, from-the- heart delivery, embellished by a superb photographic narrative of her walk to date. A full account of the entire AGM, including Jane’s presentation and the Annual Report is available to download from the Trust’s website www.wrnsbt.org.uk. Sarah Ayton - General Secretary

Seventy-Eighth Annual General Meeting will be held on 20 or 22 May 2020 (date and timings tbc January 2020)

Collingwood Hall, HMS Collingwood, Newgate Lane, Fareham PO14 1AS

Guest Speaker (tbc January 2020)

All serving female members of the Royal Navy who joined before November 1993 and all former members of the Women’s Royal Naval Service are cordially invited to attend.

The General Secretary will find it of great help if members let her know the names of those hoping to attend by 31 March as this is an invitation only event due to security requirements.

Nominations for candidates as officers of the Trust must be received by the General Secretary, Castaway House, 311 Twyford Avenue, Portsmouth PO2 8RN, no later than 3 February 2020, the consent of the person so nominated having first been obtained. Officers hold office from the date of the Annual General Meeting at which they were elected to the date of the next Annual General Meeting. The present Officers listed below are eligible for re-election. Chairman: Cdr H E Rimmer MBE RN Vice Chairman: Capt C E Jordan RN *Governors/Trustees: Mrs O Butter, Mrs B M Hines, Lt Cdr K Hutton RN, CPO S Parkinson RNR, Cdre A Picton RN and Mrs E Yeats Trustee: Cdr M J Robbins RN *Governors of the Trust shall not be more than seven in number.

Cdr E A Walmsley RN (Current Treasurer) and Mrs A Gott who are currently serving as Governors will have held office for seven consecutive years by the time of the 2020 AGM and in accordance with the Trust’s Charter are ineligible for re-election on this occasion. Items for inclusion in the agenda must be sent to the General Secretary to arrive no later than 2 March 2020 30 The Wren Victory Walker Returns to HMS Victory

Jane Allen, the Victory Walker set off from HMS Victory on 21 October 2017 to walk anticlockwise round the coast of mainland UK, raising money for two naval charities, the WRNS BT and RNRMC. In her last update Jane was heading for Land’s End, and in this final update she returns to Portsmouth and wishes to thank all AOW members who have supported her round the UK. As expected, the North Coast of Somerset, Devon and then Cornwall proved to be tough walking. Numerous ups and downs, sometimes broken by stretches of long sandy beaches, thick woodland Back where it all began and a few flat bits in between! Swathes of rain blew in from the Atlantic, later replaced by beating sun, blue skies and crystal-clear seas as I neared Land’s End. Surfers and lifeguards outnumbered walkers along a route scattered with Cornwall’s industrial past: old slate quarries, capped mineshafts, derelict engine houses and mounds of spoil from long closed tin and copper mines were fascinating to ramble through. Meanwhile, the modern ‘industries’ of celebrity-created fish and chips, vast pasty shops and ice cream parlours were all doing a brisk trade. After the long Taw and Torridge estuaries in North Devon, crossing rivers and inlets became far easier. As I progressed deeper into Cornwall and back into South Devon, I was blessed with numerous summer passenger ferries. This was my reward for walking up and round so many estuaries at the start of the Victory Walk. Rounding Land’s End was a wonderful moment, knowing I’d walked from John o’ Groats, not via the most direct route, but instead via the wiggliest route possible. To get there I’d tramped 2,955 miles across the top of Scotland, then southwards down the entire western coast of mainland UK. Leaving Cornwall’s ‘landmark attraction’ behind me, the terrain was slightly less arduous than before, with the coastline regularly punctuated by tiny coves, small fishing harbours and the larger port of Falmouth. Determined to visit all Naval establishments before they went on summer leave, I began my gallop along the south Cornish coast, with my first stop being RNAS Culdrose. Just before this, some West Cornwall AOW members met a hot and sweaty Victory Walker at Praa Sands received gifts and celebrated clocking 5,000 miles. Progressing eastwards I ‘ticked-off’ significant headlands, beginning with Lizard Point, the UK mainland’s most southerly spot. This completed my collection of the mainland’s four cardinal points. Dodman Point followed, with its large granite cross, then Gribbin Head and Rame, topped with its little chapel, on my approaches to Plymouth. There was a rush of Naval visits at Plymouth (HMS Raleigh, Vivid and Drake) supplemented by an afternoon at Devonport’s Naval Heritage Centre. Here I met an assortment of veterans and AOW members who presented me with more Victory Walk donations. This joined other donations in the Victory Walk coffers. But there was little time to relax as I’d more ferries to catch, a dusty path to be walked and Start Point lighthouse to be reached. My childhood was spent in this area and it was special to be back. No sooner had I reached nearby Britannia Royal Naval College, it was time for me to set off again bound for my last visit at Commando Training Centre, Royal Marines. Bright sunshine at Brixham’s Berry Head allowed me to see nearby Torbay and beyond. Ahead lay East Devon’s vast sweep of red and white cliffs; the full Jurassic coast yawned before me and in the distance I saw my next target, Portland Bill. I crossed the Exe and met local AOW members at Exmouth and before starting the Jurassic coast I had a superb day with ‘Royal’ at CTCRM. We came away with generous donations and lots of ‘good luck’ cries for my last push to Portsmouth. While Units went on leave, I again had to put my head down through more spells of awful weather as I walked the strenuous hilly switchback heading to Portland. On arrival, West Dorset AOW members rewarded us with afternoon tea – delicious! More tough walking followed as I began my final push through Dorset’s holiday towns of Weymouth and Swanage and out towards Studland at Poole’s harbour mouth. Across the water The Needles dazzled me from the Isle of Wight - good news! However, bad news followed when I learned that the Sandbanks ferry to Bournemouth wasn’t running. My 400-yard ferry journey was replaced by a 25-mile detour inland before I reached Bournemouth’s lengthy beaches packed with tourists. Shortly afterwards, I opened my last Ordnance Survey map and crossed into Hampshire. Finding it hard to concentrate and remain focussed, I nudged ever closer to my finish point. Out on Calshot Spit, famed for its flying boat heritage, I saw Spinnaker Tower glinting at me in the distance: this was the Tower I couldn’t shake- off when I left Portsmouth in 2017. Seeing that old friend reappear was a surreal moment. After months of an exacting routine, regularly interrupted by ‘unexpecteds’, I felt almost disbelief that the end was in sight. I edged up Southampton Water before hopping onto Hythe’s ferry which took me into the heart of Southampton’s bustling docks. From there I’d a straightforward walk to Lee-on-Solent and onwards to Gosport. Looking across The Wren 31 to the Naval Base, I was very tempted to jump onto Gosport’s ferry, but couldn’t: I was about to start my final round of Naval visits beginning at HMS Sultan. Local AOW members met me there and got more than they bargained for – a ride in Sultan’s Super Sentinel Steam lorry! That last week of walking between Naval establishments, meeting people, accepting donations was tiring but enjoyable. We were always made to feel very welcome, just as we were on that final day, Friday 6 September. Being met by Portsmouth’s RM Band at HMS Nelson and led through the Naval Base was a very special honour, as was my formal welcome by the Second Sea Lord. Sailors rattled buckets, well-wishers waved flags people cheered from office windows and the sun shone! The walk ended as it began – standing on the deck of HMS Victory. My 5,495-mile ‘deployment’ was over. The Victory Walk is raising money for two Naval charities, WRNS BT and RNRMC and you still have time to donate. The appeal will remain open to the end of the year. To donate go to www.Virginmoneygiving.com/ victorywalk17-18. To find out more about Jane’s Victory Walk go to www.victorywalk.uk

South Dorset Branch Support the Victory Walker

Have you ever tried to organise an event that has involved some challenges and then things just fall into place like a jigsaw as if the universe had had a helping hand? That is what happened to South Dorset Branch in the summer regarding supporting Jane Allen, the Victory Walker. Anyone who has been following Jane on her epic 5,500 mile walk will know that trying to pin her in advance to a particular time and place was impossible. So it was that South Dorset Branch were informed that Jane would ‘probably’ be in Dorset ‘sometime in August’! The Branch do not hold a meeting in August but had their monthly coffee morning/ afternoon tea planned as usual for the first Monday of the month. A cunning plan was formed by committee members on how to get information round to our members at very short notice due to our email savvy Secretary being away on holiday during the first half of August. Fate then threw us an unrelated event. One of our long-standing members died and her funeral clashed with the Branch’s afternoon tea. Members obviously wished to attend the funeral so we rescheduled the afternoon tea to the following Monday, i.e. one week later. On the Friday before the now rearranged tea, news filtered through that Jane Allen had made it to Dorset. Communication with her proved challenging but our Programme Secretary – and hostess for the tea – persevered. Amazingly it transpired that Jane walked around Portland Bill on the Sunday and had scheduled a ‘day off’ on the Monday to catch up on her administration from a camp site only 2 miles from the venue of our afternoon tea. What are the chances of that? Especially as our event had been rearranged due to the funeral. Jane accepted an invitation for her and Frank to join us and a fun afternoon was had by all. She gave us an enthralling hour long informal chat about her walk and then accepted a donation from the Branch. We were also able to forewarn her of a ferry problem near Poole which resulted in her having to make a 25 mile detour! Forewarned is forearmed. So whether we were helped by the universe, by fate or something else the South Dorset Branch are happy to have supported Jane Allen in some small way and congratulate her on achieving a magnificent feat of both physical and mental endurance. Elaine Smith

Members of South Dorset Branch present their donation to the Victory Walker. 32 The Wren Personal Memoir - Wren Margaret Elizabeth Campling

I was born on 31 May 1921 in Acton, London and educated in The Haberdashers School from 1926 to 1936. On leaving school I undertook an intensive 6 month secretarial course, gaining a certificate of proficiency on completing the course. I had two brief work experience employments during the course and was then employed full-time at Chappells (Music Publishers) at the Company premises between Bond Street and Regent Street, London. I lived with my parents and younger brother at the family home in Wandsworth Common. My journey to and from work took me across London daily. When the war began there was at first no great impact on civilian life but when German bombers On parade - Margaret Campling second from right started to appear over the city we soon learned to get off the streets when the alarm sirens 1942. My induction course was at St Mary’s College sounded. Hampstead and lasted two weeks. The intake was In these early days of the war no bombs were dropped about 200 young women; a very mixed group which but the alarms meant we took shelter no matter what was dispersed to postings immediately the course was we were doing. We called these nuisance raids and over. I do not recall ever meeting any of them again got quite contemptuous of them until the bombing and no names or faces have stayed with me. My title raids began and we would take shelter when the alarm was then Wren Campling and my service number was was sounded and stay in the shelter until the ‘all clear’ 24247. was sounded. My first posting was to Dovercourt, south of Harwich, New shelters were being built all over London, often as a Wren Writer. This posting lasted only two in the cellars of buildings, and I remember how they weeks, when I was assigned to the Admiral’s office at stank of freshly sawn wood. Ventilation was not good Gillingham. so the stench quickly became almost overpowering. This was referred to as Area Combined Services I remember having to abandon a bus after the alarm Headquarters and was housed in an extensive sounded and the anti-aircraft gun in Hyde Park opened tunnel system. It was about 80 feet underground for fire. We ran to the recently constructed bomb shelter protection against bombing. I remember that as well in Green Park, opposite the Ritz. As we waited for as naval command staff there were representatives of the raid to end there was a tremendous racket from the army, the RAF and officers of the Free French and the narrow entrance passage and the shelter warden other national forces. found himself trying to eject a horse whose owner The Naval Barracks, referred to as HMS Pembroke, refused to leave it in the street. The passage was too were at the Chatham end of the station and the narrow for the horse to turn so it had to be backed with Admiral’s office was at the opposite end, at Gillingham. great reluctance into the open air. My section’s office was close to the Admiral’s. At that The life of the city continued in spite of the Blitz and time I was billeted at Higham, Charles Dickens’s later the V1 and V2 terror weapons. The V2 weapons former home at Gad’s Hill. Transport to and from gave no warning at all, there would just be a huge the Tunnel was by an old coach. There were about explosion, but the V1 weapons, the doodlebugs, were 30 Wrens billeted at Higham; the rooms were called audible for miles, sounding like a motorbike. Everyone cabins and each housed between 10 and 12 Wrens. would listen, waiting for the sudden silence that meant We spent little time together and I have no memories that its engine had cut out and it was on its way down of particular friends in the Wren complement. and we could only wait and wonder where the bomb The Tunnel was narrow, just wide enough for two would land. to walk side by side, with offices on each side. I I recall during the Blitz having to constantly change remember that it was quiet and there was no smell to routes and means of transport because of the bomb it. The lighting was artificial and in winter months the damage. I used the Underground only once, having Tunnel staff would often not see the sun for days at a been forced, by the pressure of people crowding on time, but I did not find it claustrophobic. to the platform, right to the edge of the platform and My section dealt with Repair and Refit of naval shipping nearly over it as a train came in. and there were two Wren staff and a Chief Petty Officer I enrolled in the WRNS at Christmas 1941 (because I in command. My section handled destroyers, frigates liked the uniform) but was not called up until November and corvettes, other vessels were served by different The Wren 33 sections. The CPO would receive orders by telephone, most of the journey to the Admiral’s HQ at Courseille. identifying a particular vessel, stating location and the It was a very hot and uncomfortable trip and the air work required. We Wrens would then type the orders smelt dry and dusty. up and they would be forwarded for action. The work The WRNS contingent was welcomed and briefed by required ranged from reconditioning following wear Admiral Ramsay. I did not have much contact with and tear of sea time, to repair of action damage, and him after that but recall him as a fine officer and a refitting for other roles. kind man. My duties were to type up messages, Because I was capable of rapid and accurate both incoming and outgoing. These were relayed to shorthand and typing I was occasionally called on to the Signals section for transmission. The messages serve as stenographer at courts martial, which were dealt with location, deployment routeing, tasking and held at the Barracks. I do not recall the subjects or the destination of the vessels of the invasion fleet. I do personnel concerned but they were all minor matters, not recall any particular messages or ships apart from usually Absent Without Leave. HMS Widgeon, probably because I had dealt with In the months preceding D-Day I was occasionally orders for that vessel during my time in the Tunnel. called to the Admiral’s office to type notes for D-Day I remember that there were armed guards on the planning. I remember that these were never more HQ although the area had been cleared of German than a couple of pages at a time and were never set forces. The local French population in general had in any context, so I had (and have) no idea of their no love of British forces, perhaps because many of significance. them were farmers and had established relations with It may have been because of those services that, a the occupying Germans. They had been well treated, few days after the landings on 6 June 1944, I was probably because they supplied food, and there had taken from the section office by a naval captain, one been marriages between local women and German of the Admiral’s secretaries. He ordered me to follow soldiers. The sound of heavy guns in the Le Havre him and took me along the Tunnel until he found an area was often audible at HQ. empty office. Closing the door and placing his back to After about 3 weeks the HQ was shifted to Rouen. it, he told me that a contingent of WRNS staff was to This was in early September and just after Christmas be sent over to Admiral Ramsay’s HQ in Normandy we were moved to Brussels by lorry, taking all day. It to take over clerical and signals duties from RN was very cold and the flap was fastened at all times seamen,who could then be returned to their ships. apart from relief stops. I was billeted at Waterloo I immediately volunteered. He then told me that I had and had a tour of the 1815 battleground. I had been under consideration for officer training but that a week of leave and went home. I was delayed a posting to France would rule that out. I felt that a in returning because the Battle of the Bulge posting to France offered more excitement, and I had was underway and movement was restricted. no intention of becoming an officer so there was no From Brussels we moved to Minden in July 1945. It was reason to change my mind. I was given a week of at Minden that I had the only injury I suffered during leave, which I spent at home and was then ordered to my time in the service. A horse named Scarface stood Southampton for embarkation on the Prince of Ulster, on my foot, damaging the nail of my right big toe. The a former Irish Sea ferry. nail had to be removed under general anaesthetic and The crossing was rough and, not being a good sailor, I I spent six days in the sickbay. spent most of the time in my bunk. We disembarked at I attended the Armistice Day Parade at Brussels on the Mulberry Harbour, off Gold Beach at Arromanches. 11 November 1945. My detachment comprised an I do not recall the exact date but it was either late July Officer, a Nursing Sister, a PO, me (as Leading Wren) or early August. The WRNS contingent numbered and a Wren. British and Allied armed forces were about 30, 10 house staff and 20 operational, and we represented and a party of Chelsea Pensioners had were taken by LCT to the beach and transferred to an been flown in for the occasion. The King and Queen open lorry. We were informed that we were the first of Belgium attended the Parade and I managed to get women of any service to be landed in France. their autographs. Sometime after the Parade I was I remember that the beach was a continuous conveyor promoted from Leading Wren to Petty Officer. belt of amphibious lorries, running down to the sea, I was demobbed in Minden in July 1946 and returned switching to marine configuration and sailing out home. to the big ships waiting offshore. They would then Margaret Sheffield (née Campling) discharge whatever loads they carried, load up with supplies and return to the beach, where they would switch to land operation and leave immediately. The coast and countryside had been pounded by shelling and bombing and I recall that it looked tired, bleak, brown and dusty. I do not recall much sign of war damage apart from smashed equipment and wrecked pillboxes but remember that there were no fruit trees in the fields. I did not see much of the countryside because the lorry had a canvas cover that was fastened down through 34 The Wren Rugby Recognition for CPO Osman WOMEN’S ROYAL NAVAL SERVICE BENEVOLENT TRUST The WRNSBT is your Trust and a registered charity, a completely separate organisation from the Association of Wrens, although both are now based in Portsmouth. To be a member of the Trust you must have served in the WRNS and transferred to the RN before November 1993, or served in the WRNS since September 1939. The Trust helps both officers and ratings across the world. The Trust exists to provide relief in cases of necessity or distress amongst its members and their dependants and may also make grants for assistance with further education for members. Congratulations to our very own Chief Lorry Osman from HMS Sultan, who has recently been recognised If you wish to apply for assistance or are aware of a former Wren who may need our by Hampshire RFU through the England Rugby help, please contact the General Secretary, Volunteer Recognition Programme for her years WRNSBT, Castaway House, 311 Twyford coaching and managing Helston RFC and Cornwall Avenue, Portsmouth PO2 8RN RFU women and girls’ sides. Amazing job Lorry, well Tel: 02392 655301 done! email: [email protected] website: www.wrnsbt.org.uk Veterans Hearing Support

At Veterans Hearing Support we assist ex-service men and women who have hearing loss or associated difficulties such as tinnitus to access the Royal British Legions Veterans Hearing Fund (VHF). However, from experience we know that many Veterans and organisations who support veterans are not aware of the fund. We are seeking your help in getting the word out to the Veterans you work alongside about the fund and offer help through Veterans Hearing Support to access the fund. The application process is free and is not means tested so therefore it’s simple; if a veteran has a hearing loss, they may be eligible to access the fund. Our service to the veterans is free of charge and we have a network of highly trained audiologists right across the UK who will complete a full hearing assessment on eligible veterans to make sure they receive the correct hearing technology and assistive listening devices, or therapies required. If the service we offer is of interest to you or you would like to know more about The Royal British Legion’s Veterans Hearing Fund please do let us know and we can arrange a conversation about how we can support veterans in your area. Please direct Veterans to our Facebook page where they can read what people are saying about us: www.facebook.com/veteranshearingsupport or give them our phone number which is free to call: 0333 455 9116 for advice. The Wren 35

‘Wrens Reunited’ as New Exhibition Launches at the Fleet Air Arm Museum

The launch of a new exhibition at the Fleet Air Arm Museum in Somerset on 25 September saw veterans from the Women’s Royal Naval Service (WRNS) gather alongside invited guests to celebrate the work of women in the Royal Navy over more than 250 years – and included a surprise reunion of two veterans after almost 80 years. Mary Owens and Eve Wharton (AOW member), both WRNS veterans of the Second World War, were guests of honour at the formal opening of “Pioneers to Professionals: Women and the Royal Navy”, a new permanent exhibition at the Fleet Air Arm Museum tracing the evolving role of women in the Royal Navy. The two ladies, both in their nineties and living in Somerset and Wiltshire respectively, were surprised Guests enjoy a tour of the museum (photo courtesey of the NMRN) to find while reminiscing about their wartime experiences that they had served together at RNAS Machrihanish in Scotland in the 1940s. Following an opening address by Dominic Tweddle and introduction by Matthew Sheldon, the two ladies cut the ceremonial ribbon to launch the exhibition, alongside representatives from the Association of Wrens Yeovil, Taunton and Dorset Branches. Beginning with the brave pioneers of the mid-17th century, “Pioneers to Professionals” reveals remarkable stories of naval women through the years including the inception of the WRNS in the First World War and highlights their vital contributions to all areas of naval operations and breadth of involvement today. Speaking after the launch, Dominic Tweddle said: “This exhibition was first opened at our site in Portsmouth Historic Dockyard to mark the centenary of the WRNS and so it’s fitting that it has been reconfigured to uncover the often unknown but vital contribution of women to the Fleet Air Arm. Highly professional women have served in the Royal Navy since 1917 and this exhibition celebrates their achievements across an extraordinary range of activities, from pilots to seamstresses. It was the Second World War that revolutionised attitudes towards what women could and were able to do – thank heavens we haven’t gone back!” Following the opening ceremony, guests enjoyed a tour of the exhibition, which includes artefacts and photographs from the early years of the WRNS to the present day. There are log-books, drawings and images showing the trailblazers of the early 20th century; testaments to the mechanics, code-breakers and despatch riders of the Second World War; and a huge collage of images showing the variety of roles undertaken by women in the modern Royal Navy. Andrea Crook

Editorial note: Eve Wharton is a member of the AOW and is mentioned online as having been a Red Cross nurse from 1941, and then the Women’s Royal Nursing (sic) Service1942-46. She was a naval nurse testing for night vision at Machrihanish HMS Landrail, in Scotland. She wrote the book ‘Philippine Adventure post 1970. 36 The Wren An Unforgettable 48 Hours - June 1944

Following the death of Katharine Muller (2/O WRNS) her neighbour contacted HQ with the following article which was included in her local church newsletter, at Norton sub Hamdon in June 2004.

Three weeks before D-Day the Isle of Wight was ‘sealed’ and no one, service or civilian, could enter or leave. Spithead, the stretch of water between the Island and Portsmouth, filled up with all sorts and sizes of ships until one could have walked dry-shod to the mainland from our base east of Seaview overlooking the sea forts of Nomans and Horsand, relic against an earlier invasion scare. The weather in early June was stormy and Operation Neptune had to be postponed for twenty-four hours. At last the minesweepers passed out on their way to clear safe channels for the Fleet followed by tugs towing the strangest assortment in all shapes and sizes of apparatus which would form the Mulberry Harbours, pipe lines (for petrol), other vital equipment and ‘kitchen’ barges for combatting beach obstacles and getting the troops ashore and fed. All day on June 5 warships large and small, landing-craft loaded with troops and other craft continued to pass out east between the forts of Nomans and Horsand heading towards the Nab Tower Light House and then South to rendezvous off St Catherine’s Point to join the vast armada assembling in ‘Piccadilly Circus’ from ports all along the south coast, ready to cross The Channel to the landing beaches on the Normandy coast. Gradually Spithead emptied as all ships were logged out from our Control Room. The weather was still stormy and some of the smaller landing craft never reached their destination and were collected up around the island the following day. As dawn approached on June 6 the balcony of our first-floor Control Room with its good view over The Solent filled up with off-duty officers and the tension mounted. (I was lucky with my watches those 24 hours). At first light the roar began rising to a crescendo as wave after wave of planes, many towing gliders, darkened the skies as the RAF set forth to lay down their barrage and deliver the airborne troops. In the silence that followed we were left with an empty sea and sky and time to ponder the fate of friends and thousands of men and machines. Finally, off watch and down to breakfast to hear from John Snagge on the wireless that the long-prepared for D-Day had arrived. Katharine Muller 2/O WRNS (originally published in the Norton Newsletter – June 2004)

Lisa Snowden, Kathy Rolls, Shona Ashdown and Cate Whitewood attended the Celebration of the Life of Katherine Muller on 8 October. It was a lovely service which included the ‘An Unforgettable 48 Hours’ and concluded with the Naval Hymn. Through good communication and local liaison there was also a killick and three female Air Engineering Technicians from RNAS Yeovilton in attendance, along with the local RBL Chairman. The AETs paid their respects by forming two ranks for the coffin to pass through. It was very much appreciated by the families and the Lay Minister’. Edna Courtney (née Cole)

Edna (99!) recently joined both the AOW and Swindon Branch, coming along with her son Richard. Edna started basic training at Mill Hill in August 1941 then transferred to HMS Daedalus for Part II. She was promoted to L/Wren on 21 March 1942 and drafted to HMS Condor (Arbroath) before being rated PO Wren (AW) on 21 March. A draft to HMS Ariel followed. She went to RNAS Worthy Down for further training on Proctor aircraft and Barracuda wireless telegraphy. Edna was then drafted to The RN Section at RAF Defford until she received a class A release on 8 February 1946 and was granted her GCB. She attended dances when the future Prince Philip was present although she can’t remember if they danced together. Edna recalls everyone calling for FAA pilot “Winkle” Brown if an aircraft bogged down or had a problem that no one else could sort out. She can remember flying as a passenger in a Walrus when they were taking aerial photographs, and recalls another Wren who had a similar trip, but with a rather wet ending when the photographer forgot to close the aerial photography hatch after taking the pictures! During her time in the WRNS she made a very decorative stainless steel letter opener out of one of the spars between the two sets of wings on the Swordfish. I am not sure whether this was part of her training, or just something she made in her spare time. It involved many hours of filing to get the required profiles. It looked like a blunt dagger and after the war she used it for gardening. She lost it in the garden one day and I found it about 10 years later. All it required was a wash under a hot tap and it looked as good as new again. On one occasion, whilst on leave visiting her parents, she had to take rapid cover as machine gun bullets from an aircraft started hitting the street. One of the bullets broke a window in her mother’s house, causing glass to go everywhere. At the time a Ration officer was with her mother and immediately issued her with extra ration coupons and told her to get rid of all the food on the table in case it had glass in it! If anyone remembers Edna, she would love to hear from you – please contact HQ for contact details. As written by Edna’s son Richard Courtney The Wren 37 What is it about being a Wren?

What is it about being a Wren so many years ago which LETTERS still has us celebrating the fact and often reconnecting with anyone and everyone who also served in the same way? I have often asked myself this. I have had Memories of the GNTC a few jobs along the way since this time in my life, become a wife, a mother, completed my education, Reading the article about the GNTC in the last issue of and worked in a role totally suited to me in a library. ‘The Wren’ brought back many memories. But these were all just rites of passage to bring me to My best friend at school, Pat Langbridge, belonged where I am now, a retired lady of 68. to the Sunbury & Walton Unit, and when they had an And yet the only part of my past life which I revisit open evening she persuaded me to go along. I was almost daily, and maintain strong connections with, hooked and decided that I wanted a career in the are my brief time as a Wren, at a time when having WRNS. children ended our hopes and career. I loved all the activities, becoming reasonably I am aware that as we get older the past becomes proficient at semaphore though I never managed to more important to everyone because, simply put, we send an intelligible message in morse. However I have more past than future, but why do we all feel the achieved enough proficiency with the bo’suns call to pull of the Wren magnet? successfully pass the test for ‘Call girl’. Proudly sewing I haven't personally taken it as far as filling my home the badge on my left cuff. A title which earned me a with all things pusser (of which I have none) and I few raised eyebrows and several sniggers. don't even own a stripey top, (although I did buy the I joined the WRNS on Trafalgar day 1958 and soon scarf!) but there are ladies who certainly do go down realised that most of New Entry training was what I this route. had learned in the GNTC. I understand it's a sisterhood thing which other walks Years later, as a Wren at Culdrose, a party of us had a of our lives failed to give us, and this in itself is very day at sea in HMS Belfast and I was given permission special and probably unique to all the forces. However to pipe hands to dinner, while a very nervous duty some "girls" who served the least amount of time officer hovered close by, repeatedly asking me if I was compared to the length of others seem to be the most sure I could do it. The only comment afterwards came anchor faced of all. Is this because they have always from a sailor who said “That was a Wren”. mourned the passing of such a short time as a Wren A few years later, as a Careers officer I returned to my but can now feel as if they are back serving, and are old unit to give a talk on life in the WRNS. I was happy a part of the RN once again? to tell them that it was belonging to the GNTC that had Yesterday I was speaking with a friend in my village set me on my career in the WRNS. and I happened to mention the whole Wren friendship Diana Goetz (née Simpson) 1958-1964 base we have. She said she was so envious that I had this because she'd lost touch with former work TS Foudroyant colleagues, school friends, and even neighbours as life took her on her personal journey. She didn't Referring to the article on page 30 of the summer really have any past which anchored her to the young edition of The Wren, I would like to add an update on woman she was once when life was there for the the TS Foudroyant. taking. I guess being a Wren, and maintaining these This ship is now HMS Trincomalee and can be visited bonds we have, fulfils that for us. Feeling part of and boarded at the National Museum Royal Navy, something is a strong requirement and a great tool for Hartlepool. HMS Trincomalee has been restored to survival. I completely sign up to this. her former condition and glory and is the oldest RN There are some of you who take it further by rushing out warship afloat (200 years). to buy anything remotely Wren orientated, or through In the museum are various exhibits, an excellent gift meeting up regularly with others, and it matters not if and book shop and of course a café. All worth visiting. they are older or younger or when they served. Wrens Mary Goodall – Edinburgh & District Branch have become extended family, and can even be our lifelines and support systems. STOP PRESS!!! I understand too most of us would say it was the best time of their life. I certainly enjoyed my Wren days, and You’ve probably seen the exciting notice on page if I can ever finish building my time machine then I'm 6 about the Great British Bake Off. Those of you definitely going back to those days! So sentimentality who are fans of the show will know that the final must play a strong part of why once having been a was aired at the time of going to press. The very Wren remains such a huge part of our current lives. next day we received a call from the production But the most important thing we gain is friendship. company asking us to promote the next series to Lifelong friendship. our members. If you’d like to rise to the challenge Now here I am back at the beginning! Once a Wren please get in touch direct - would be rather special always a Wren it would seem. It's as it is! If you can't to have a former Wren in ‘the tent!’. beat it then accept it and enjoy...... Julia Elliott 38 The Wren ANNIVERSARIES Do You Know This Wren? Ruby Wedding Anniversary

TURNER – HEAVER on 14 April 1979 at Huish Episcopi, Somerset. Lieutenant John Turner to 2/0 Diane Heaver. Now living in Queensland, Australia.

Editorial note: Sadly the news of Di’s death came a matter of days after the anniversary notice was received Lovely photo! Who is the Wren wearing her navy blue in the office and her obituary is on woolly gloves, celebrating VE Day in Gordon Street page 47. Glasgow, on 8 May 1945, with RN and Allied sailors? We would love to know, please show this photo to any of your WWII Wren Veterans. Contact [email protected] or ring 02392 725141 Golden Wedding Anniversary Please help to promote OLLEY – SCARBOROUGH on 18 October 1969 at the story of the Wrens! St John’s Church, Woodbridge, Suffolk. Mr Robert Olley to Wren DSA Andrea Scarborough. Now living You will have read the D-Day stories in this in Colchester, Essex. last issue - NOW the BBC is asking for more, Hermione Russell (Researcher) says ‘ we have 100th Birthdays recently been commissioned to produce an archive of testimonies from the first years of Joan Pollard WWII. We particularly want to make sure that as (née Martin) many women’s stories as possible are included, especially Veterans from the women’s services. I celebrated my 100th birthday on It would be wonderful to speak to a WREN about 15 June 2019. the contributions women were making right from I served in the Wrens from March the start of the war.’ 1943 to January 1945 doing Please contact Celia Saywell (AOW PRO) initially electrical work on MTBs as a for further information on 01792 641747 Wren Torpedoman. By post via HQ (address as shown on page 3) In May 1944 I was drafted to Joan Pollard By email at [email protected] Kingswear, Dartmouth to join the Perhaps a family member or friend could help to Canadian 65th Flotilla of D Boats and stayed with them make the call? until VJ Day travelling to Devon and Great Yarmouth. I ended the war as the captain’s secretary (temp). WWII WRNS Officers Dinah Anne Perry (known as Anne) Happy 100th Birthday to Anne for 29 August 2019. I have a friend whose Mother and aunt were both She served 1944 - 1970 and is currently living in WWII Wrens, their respective numbers being 6 and Waterlooville 7; Kathleen and Eleanor James, one marched in THE victory procession and got an MBE. 102nd Birthday Could you please write up something interesting about what the WRNS officers did? Some Signal officers Jean Jutsum (née Emms) were on the big ships, hence award of Atlantic Star, Happy102nd Birthday to Jean for 6 November 2019. some were Admirals Secretary. There must be quite a Jean served as a Wren Telephonist in Portsmouth story as to how the women who were to be appointed Dockyard in 1940. to the five Commands were recruited? I know Mrs Bell Davis went to Greenwich, did Miss Currey of WWII WRNS Officers Ed note: In general we can only publish Portsmouth go too? The magazine seems to miss out what is sent in to us by our members. Numerically there were far on mentioning any of the more surprising things that fewer officers than ratings which may explain why there are so those who were already grown-up before the war did. few officers writing in The Wren. We certainly can’t commission I was only 16 when war started but some friends were anyone to write for us! Only drop massive hints in the right ears. older and of course one never asked questions. Any WWII WRNS Officers out there reading this – Hint Hint! Kenya Tatton-Brown (née Kitchener) 3/0 WRNS The Wren 39 WHERE ARE YOU NOW? WWII Service in Shetland Time to hear from those who joined the WRNS in the 1950-60s! My mother, who sadly died in 2011, served in Shetland during the war and I am thinking of writing a fictional Volunteers needed: Rachel, former RN herself, is book about those times based loosely on her life but looking for volunteers who are now living in Portsmouth need a lot of assistance with factual information. and the surrounding areas, and would be willing to I am hoping that in making an appeal through The speak to her about their time in the WRNS. She is Wren I can be put in contact with people who can help. completing a MA in History and would like to collate If any of your readers can help me with factual details the experiences of the women who joined the WRNS like the length and type of training Wrens received, after WWII. what uniform they were issued with, what jobs they If you would like to help and be involved, please generally undertook (though I believe my mother was contact HQ. involved in issuing supplies to the ships which docked in Shetland), the hours they worked etc. - anything to Joyce Donovan build up a picture of the details of everyday life. Also, perhaps there might be someone who knows My name is Sheila Finch and I am interested in making who I could contact to learn details about life in contact with Joyce Donovan. We were stationed Shetland during the war - what accommodation was together at HMS Dauntless from 1953-1955, in the like, how food and other supplies were provided, how clothing store. many people served there, what the impact on the Joyce was PO Wren J Moore – official number started local community was like etc. with 108000. I was Wren S McGinty – official number If you can assist in any way, my e-mail is 109007 [email protected] We did all meet up a few years ago but lost touch I really would be very grateful for any assistance any of again due to life commitments. your readers could provide and will be very interested I can be contacted via [email protected] or to learn about the stories and experiences of any ex 01326 313723. (or currently serving) Wrens. Pam Cowling Ajax 242

I enclose a copy of our ‘passing out’ photograph. Photo Plea I believe this is Ajax 242. Our training at Dauntless started in November 1970 and completed in early I am seeking a lost photograph on behalf of my 1971. mother. These are the details: It would be good to find out how we all are now as it It is a photograph from the WRNS Inter-Command will be 50 years next year that we first met. Netball Tournament, 1 February, 1952, at RN I enclose names to go with the photo as far as I can Barracks Portsmouth. remember them. Teams from Commands NORE, Air, Plymouth and Back row (left to right) ?, ?, Marilyn Brown, Judy Rose, Portsmouth took part and NORE Command team Evelyn Higginbottom, ?, Mary Dodswell? was presented with the trophy by the Commodore. Middle row (left to right) Caroline Fletcher, ?, Belinda My mother, 87, lost her own photograph of the Seddon, Lyn, ?, Brenda, Iris, Gillian event, and we would like to try and replace it for Bottom row (left to right) ?, Marjory, 3/O Beer, RPO her. It would be wonderful if you could help. Lomax, ?, ? She was Wren Welch (Eileen), Air Mechanic, with Marilyn Milligan [email protected] NORE Command, and would have been attached to HMS Heron, stationed at Culdrose/Yeovilton, in February 1952, having previously been on HMS Sanderling (Glasgow) and HMS Curlew at Newquay. She tells me that the team selectors were 1/O Roberts, 2/O Field, and 2/O Morris, and that the umpires were Mrs Hore and Miss Tout. What an amazing memory! It would mean a great deal to both of us if we could trace that photograph. Not least because it was at Yeovilton that she met and married my late father, then serving in the FAA. I hope you can help. Many thanks. Linden Hawthorne [email protected] The Wren 40 OBITUARIES Stella Partridge RRC 8 September 1920 – 25 July 2019

Stella was a life member of the Association and member of both Plymouth Branch and Informal Group from 1982, although she hadn’t been able to attend the latter for a few years. She enjoyed receiving her magazine and having it read to her when her eyesight became too poor to see the words properly and to hear what was going on within the AOW both locally and nationally. Stella served as a Leading Wren Steward between 1942 and 1948 in various places including Liverpool. She was able to achieve her desire to become a nurse on leaving the WRNS and qualified as a SRN when the NHS was Stella Partridge in its infancy. She also qualified as a midwife but spent the majority of her career as a Geriatric Health visitor in Greenwich. It was during this time that she joined the TA Nursing, attaining the rank of Major, and was awarded the RRC in the 1978 New Year Honours list. She had varied interests including volunteering with the local National Trust at Saltram and Poppy selling with the RBL but stated her dedication to helping other people stemmed from her training and time in the WRNS, something she was immensely proud of. A lady who will be missed by those who knew her. Nancy Hill – Plymouth IG

Nora Coppin (née Garner) 2 June 1922 – 24 July 2019

My mother Nora Coppin passed away aged 97 at the rest home near Garstang, Lancashire, where she had lived for the past two years. She joined the WRNS in March 1943 as a Writer (P) and served until September 1946, having seen service in the UK and India. Her service record lists the following: Mill Hill, Europa, Salsette, Braganza and Martillo. Her closest service friend in India was a fellow Wren, Betty King from Bromley, Kent, who survived serious injury in an explosion. Nora Coppin After war service Nora settled back in her home town of Poulton-le-Fylde, Lancashire, and worked for the District Bank as a bank clerk and bank manager’s secretary before marrying Major Frank Coppin (ex-Royal Engineers) of Blackpool. Two sons, Anthony and Stephen, were born in the mid-1950s. In 1992, by now a widow, along with her Wren pal Betty King (who had retired to Whitley Bay), Nora had a two month-long visit to South Africa and Australia where she met up with former Wrens living in both countries. She was a life member of the Association of Wrens, and regularly attended (health permitting) annual gatherings/ reunions in London where she met old friends and colleagues. She also joined the Fleetwood Branch (now sadly closed) of the Association and enjoyed its meetings at Fleetwood Nautical College and later at the Fleetwood RNLI base. She enjoyed occasional outings and social gatherings with the group, including a trip to the National Arboretum in Staffordshire in 2009. In her younger years Nora had been a keen tennis player. In her middle years she became a keen craftswoman enjoying sewing, dressmaking, tailoring, patchwork, leathercraft and millinery, obtaining City and Guilds qualifications in these crafts. She also assisted with the Poulton-le-Fylde WRVS meals-on-wheels service and the old people’s luncheon club. In her 80s she began to experience ill health, particularly with increasing osteoporosis of the spine. She moved to a bungalow in Garstang, Lancashire, in 2014. The funeral took place at Carleton Cemetery, Blackpool, on 6 August 2019, and was attended by eighty people. Anthony Coppin 41 The Wren Doreen ‘Dorrie’ Wilkie Bargh (née Pearce) 12 May 1927 – 4 September 2019 Served 29 November 1944 - 26 May 1947 L/Wren Supply (V)

After initial training at HMS Pembroke III (London), Dorrie undertook specialist Victualling training and was posted to HMS Beaver (Hull). This was followed by postings to HMS Cochrane (Rosyth), HMS Pembroke I (Chatham) and HMS Europa (Central Depot of the RN Patrol Service at Lowestoft). After being awarded her Leading Rate, Dorrie returned to HMS Pembroke III for a short spell, before her final posting to HMS President I (Chelsea Court, London). She was released from her wartime service on 26 May 1947. Dorrie had a varied career following her discharge and, at one time, served as a civilian at GCHQ Cheltenham. She also spent time with her husband, working in New Zealand and Hong Kong. She was a stalwart of the Cheltenham AOW group Celebrating Dorrie’s 90th birthday with Cheltenham and, until her late eighties, drove from her house in Thornbury to AOW visitors: Marie Berry, Dorrie Bargh, attend meetings. Maggie Yates and Steph Fields Christina Selwood 17 January 1948 - 19 July 2019

In memoriam for the scholarship and dedication shown by the late Christina Selwood in her booklet ‘The whereabouts of the twenty-six Wrens who died in Service 1917-1919’. Published by the Association 2017. Celia Saywell - Public Relations Officer ‘In the winter of 2013 while doing some research at TNA Kew into soldiers named on a World War I church memorial my attention wandered to thinking about Wrens in that war – a short while later I found out that 25 Wrens and one WRNS Officer had died in service in the 1917 – 1919 period. It took quite a bit more research to find all their names and I decided as my own personal WRNS100 project to find out what I could and to visit the graves of these 26 Wrens who had served 47 years before me. We (my husband, an ex CPO, who quickly became enthusiastic about the project) have travelled all over the UK from Dover to Plymouth, Wales to Lincolnshire, and Eastbourne to Inverness. I have tried to imagine the feelings of Lucy Hunter as she travelled from Glasgow to Sussex and Caroline Davies as she left a small Welsh village to live and work in London – (it was a culture shock to me in 1966 going to work at the MOD and live at the Home Club near Waterloo Station!). Of the 25 Wrens thirteen were classed as Mobile and 12 as Immobile, which meant that they lived at home, and were within a one-mile walk or a one-hour train journey from their place of work. Their ages ranged from 18 to 39, they served as Stewards, Cooks, Clerks, Typists, Telephonists and one as a Greaser on an Air Station. I have only found 8 on town War Memorials although another was added in 2010 and one town is putting plaques on all the existing houses of men and women who died in the Great War. Only one of the Wrens died as the result of enemy action the others died ‘from disease’, one of these was a death from appendicitis and most of the rest were probably caused by the Spanish Influenza pandemic. This is now believed to have begun in 1916 on the Western Front with the earliest recorded outbreak in England in 1917 at Aldershot Barracks spreading rapidly among young people. All the graves are now visited and recorded, I have found more information on some than others and I have enjoyed my journey – these Wrens are now real people to me and I will remember them with pride for their service. Christina Selwood Wren Radar Plotter Everall C.M. 122217 WRNS1965-1968 Editorial note: Christina’s book is available from HQ Barbara Abbott (née Stobbart) 7 November 1931 - 10 August 2019

Barbara whose death is reported in this magazine was a long standing member of the AOW and one of our stalwart supporters. In the days of the council meetings Barbara was a faithful attendee and also kept her branch – Grimsby – going for many years. A very sociable lady she could be relied upon to support the AOW at all the events including the annual Carol Service at St Mary le Strand. Barbara also went on many of the Wrens Tours around Europe and further afield. In a room full of strangers she could be relied upon to chat to all and make people feel at ease. Barbara also supported other service organisations and when the military club in her home town Grimsby closed down she managed to save much of their memorabilia and in particular the books from their library and found safe homes where they would not be put in a bin. Some of those books were sold at AOW events to raise funds for the Association and a couple ended up on my book shelf! Georgina Tuckett 42 The Wren Doris Miriam Bavington (née Cook) 1 May 1923 – 7 April 2019

My mother enlisted in the WRNS on 7 October 1942 and served until 17 September 1945. When I talked to Uncle John, a Royal Marine, about wanting to put her Wren cap on the coffin he said she was entitled to the Union Jack as well. My mother always told me she was on the switchboards at Fort Southwick during D-Day. In the March edition of Navy News, there is a story about Wren Marie Scott from Kingston-on-Thames who ‘was at the very heart of the invasion effort – part of the combined WRNS, WAAF and ATS switchboard team at Fort Southwick. On the day of the landings themselves she was operating a comms machine directly linked to the front; she could hear the boom and rattle of guns in Normandy coming down the wire.’ This is exactly what my mother told me. Doris Bavington The reason for Marie Scott’s story in Navy News was that she has just been awarded the Legion d’Honneur by the President of France. Had it not been for her stroke, I should have been on to the French embassy saying, ‘What about my mum?’ As it was, I rang the Association of Wrens in Portsmouth and renewed her subscription. The lady I spoke to kindly sent me some back copies of The Wren magazine and we read stories from them to my mother while she was in hospital. I discovered that my mother was actually a founder member of the Bedford Branch in 1947/48. Reports in the Bedford Record and Circular, 6 January 1948 and Bedfordshire on Sunday, 8 June 2008, confirm this. My mother kept a number of copies of the first of these, which shows a photograph of a darts evening to which Royal Engineer veterans invited the local ex-Wrens. The evening took place on 14 November 1947, which makes the photograph particularly interesting, to me at any rate. My mother is standing at the back. As she was only 5 feet tall, she must have been standing on something. My birth day was 20 June 1948, so she would have been in the early stages of her pregnancy with me. I reckon that makes me a founder member of the Bedford Branch of the Associationof Wrens as well! I think the Bedford Wrens remained my mother’s most important group of girlfriends throughout their adult lives. A poignant note in the front of her last address book says: ‘My friend …. has passed away. I’m so sorry. She was my best friend. I miss her.’ My mother is wearing her Wren blazer and blue tartan skirt today. Tony Bavington Jancis Andrews (née Clark) 2 January 1934 - 8 July 2019

Our mother Jancis Maureen She met our father while stationed in Andrews passed away quietly and Malta – Leading Signalman James suddenly on July 8, 2019, at the Ian Andrews who proudly served in age of 85. Always practical, she did the Royal Navy. She met her best her best to prepare us for this day friends for life Jean Beach (Bleachy) and left us a list of those to notify. and Valerie London (Val). Mum was On that list was to send notice to deeply saddened when Val passed the Association of Wrens. Her at too young an age from cancer, notice said only this ‘ANDREWS but she cherished her friendship (née Clark) Jancis (Dusty) with Bleachy and they spoke on the Maureen, 109235, Leading Wren phone every other Sunday. Telegraphist, Dauntless, Drake, Mum appreciated the structure and Victory (twice), Seahawk, CINC rules that were imposed upon the (MALTA) died West Vancouver servicemen and women as she on … Obviously, we were to fill in hadn’t had much she could count on the blanks, but there was so much in her tumultuous young life growing more to say. As mum aged her up in Northumberland. The WRNS time spent serving her country in were in many ways the most fun, the WRNS resonated with her as exciting and best days of her life – the best days of her life. Indeed, the people, the travels, tthe dances while going through her belongings and the proud work she did. I miss I found her daytimer. On March 4, her terribly, but she always said 2019, there is this entry: “I joined she was anxious to get to “HMS the WRNS 67 years ago today!” Paradise” to reconnect with all her then added in pencil “Best thing old friends. Her family wishes her I’ve ever done!” safe harbour. Elaine Andrews Jancis Andrews with husband James The Wren 43 Diane Turner (née Heaver) 20 September 1950 - 4 September 2019

Goodbye old friend - I first met Diane Heaver back in 1970 atHMS Dauntless when she breezed into the Dental Surgery where I was the DSA who came up from Portsmouth every week to do the ship’s company surgery. When the following year I went out to work in RN Hospital Gibraltar, I lived in HMS Rooke and was in the same mess as Di – we became great friends. We had a wonderful time out in Gib and who wouldn’t – so few Wrens and all those invitations. We left within a few weeks of one another and as we were both from Yorkshire, we spent quite a lot of time together on leave. I got married and had to leave the WRNS – not much chance of a draft in the wilds of Yorkshire. Di got a commission and headed for Greenwich and had a very successful career making 1/O, during this time she met John Turner. We had a very memorable weekend at the wedding in Yeovilton. When Di left the service she did a law degree and became a solicitor. Australia beckoned and they have all been there ever since. The Turners came over quite often and always came up ‘North’ to stay. Back in 2008 Diane (on the left) with we both had a lovely weekend at the AOW Reunion in York, how nice Angela Nalton at HMS Rooke 1972 for us both for it to be held in God’s own county but meeting up with old friends is a pleasure anywhere. In 2017 a visit was imminent, Tony their eldest son was killed in a sky- diving accident. In August 2019 another visit was planned when we got the awful news of Di’s cancer diagnosis, sadly she passed away on 4 September 2019. Di will be sadly missed, not just by her lovely family but by her many, DEATHS many friends, such a lovely person, as I am sure many of you reading this will remember. With all our notices of Angie Nalton (née Walton) ex L/Wren DSA members passing away, there [email protected] will be many who have shared years of friendship and others only a short acquaintance. Each one will be sadly missed by family and friends and the Association would wish to June 1944 record our appreciation of the loyalty and commitment Not when Phoenicia sailed the southwest shore, given to the Association. Not when Raleigh faced the Spanish Main, Had Plymouth seen the like: a heaving swarm of soldiers, ships, ABBOTS Janice (née Orton) 1967- and sailors, poised and tense. 72. Wren RP. Served Teddington No game of bowls, but breath and lives, suspended: one push to and FO Plymouth. Died 21 October turn the tide of total war. 2019 aged 72.

The tension broke with scamper of light craft, ABBOTT Barbara Georgina (née Manned by trios of fresh-faced, boats’crew WRNS. Stobbart) 1950-54. L/Wren Signals. Handmaids of history, despatching sailing orders, Served Burghfield, HMS Mercury, And smuggled female hugs for fear-filled men. Gamecock and Seahawk. Long- Sidelined by history as the last ships slipped from view, standing Secretary of Grimsby & For you, a long and peaceful life ensued. District Branch. Died 10 August 2019 aged 87. At last, your sailing orders have come through As I pen this tribute to the younger you. ABBOTT Christina Mary Graham (née Maclean) 1946-49. Wren Susan R Robinson Signals. Served RNAS Evanton, 3 September 2019 St Merryn and HMS President. Former member of Thanet Branch and Whitstable and East Kent IG. Died 5 August 2019 aged 91. 44 The Wren

ANDREWS Jancis Maureen, CONNORS Isabella Guthrie (née HINES-RANDLE Margaret known as Dusty (née Clark) 1952- Wilson) 1943-45. Wren. Served Dorothy (née Hearn) 1944-50. 55. L/Wren Telegraphist. Served RNC Dartmouth, HMS Ambrose L/Wren. Served HMS Duke, HMS Dauntless, Drake, Victory, and Cressy. Died 24 May 2018 Pembroke I, President and Seahawk, and CINCMED. Died 8 aged 95. Seahawk. Died 28 July 2019 aged July 2019 aged 85. 92. COPPIN Nora (née Garner) 1943- ANSELL Joan Theresa (née 46. Wren Wtr (P). Served Mill Hill, HUGHES Audrey (née Reynolds, Berman) 1942-45. Chief Wren. Europa, Salsette, Braganza and formerly Gandy) 1953-56. Wren Served RNAS Worthy Down, Martillo. Died 24 July 2019 aged Switchboard Operator. Served Yeovilton, Charlton Hawthorne, 97. HMS Dauntless, Drake, Ariel, Devonport, Chatham, Rochester Seahawk, and Plymouth. Member and Port of London Authority. Died DANCER Patricia, known as Pat of South Dorset Branch and 6 September 2019 aged 97. (née Fast) 1943-46. L/Wren PV. founder member of Yeovil & District Served HMS Pembroke, Bletchley, Branch. Died 8 July 2019 aged 85. BACON Priscilla Monica Jean Stanmore and Chatham. Died 22 (née Pettigrew) WWII. PO Wren. July 2019 aged 94. HUNT Ruby Marjorie (née Served Scapa Flow. Died 10 Clemmett) WWII. L/Wren Supply. October 2017 aged 97. DEW Doreen Jessica (nee Served Lowestoft and Chatham. Terry) 1943-45. Wren. Served Former member of Bournemouth BARGH Doreen Wilkie, known Portsmouth, Isle of Wight and Branch. Died 12 August 2019 as Dorrie (née Pearce) 1944-47. HMS Hornet. Died 21 August 2019 aged 96. L/Wren Supply (V). Served HMS aged 93. Pembroke III, Beaver, Cochrane, INGRAM Eleanora (née Pembroke I, Europa and President DOBINSON Linda Ellen. Served Anderson) 1943-46. PO Wren I. Died 4 September 2019 aged HMS Collingwood, Daedalus, Radio Mechanic. Served HMS 92. Dauntless, CTRM Lympstone, Pembroke, Ariel, Owl, Urley, Merlin HMS Vernon and Dolphin. Died and Sanderling. Died 5 July 2019 BAXTER Hazel Isabel (née July 2019 aged 65. aged 96. Funnell) 1944-48. L/Wren Steward (O). Served HMS Pembroke III, DOUGHERTY Doreen Helen (née LASHBROOK Lesley Ann (née Victory, Excellent and Vernon. Pettit, formerly Dooley) 1948-51. Measures) 1974-76. Wren Wtr Died 17 August 2019 aged 93. Wren. Served HMS Daedalus. (P). Served HMS Dauntless, Died 6 July 2019 aged 89. Pembroke, RNAS Yeovilton BERRY Muriel Brenda (née and Culdrose. Member of West Bateman) 1946-49. L/Wren FRENCH Beatrice Jessie (née Cornwall Branch. Died 30 June Signals. Served HMS Dauntless, Stobbs) WWII. VAD. Served RNH 2019 aged 62. Hornbill, Mercury and Pembroke. Haslar, Sydney, RNAH Southport, Died 21 August 2019 aged 91. Derby House and HMS Glory. Died MARSLAND Brenda Dorothy 19 July 2019 aged 95. (née Garnett) 1943-46. L/Wren Air BERRY Rose Eleanor 1959-74. Mechanic. Served HMS Fledgling, Chief Wren Air Mech and Quarters. GILBERT Jean (née Jarvis) 1943- Tern and Kestrel. Died 30 August Served HMS Dauntless, Mercury, 47. L/Wren. Served RM Chatham. 2019 aged 94. Pembroke, Drake, Collingwood, Died 7 August 2019 aged 94. Victory, RNAS Falcon, Daedalus, McDONALD Virginia (née Culdrose, Sanderling, Fulmar and GRIFFITHS Muriel Lillian May McMILLAN) 1960s. Wren RP. Yeovilton. Founder member of (née Tarry, formerly Vest) 1957-58. Served HMS Sea Eagle, President Yeovil & District Branch. Died 7 Wren Wtr (P). Served HMS Victory. and Dryad. Died 8 August 2019 June 2019 aged 87. Died 2 July 2019 aged 79. aged 71.

BONNER June Graham (née HARRISON Dorothy Winifred McQUEEN Pauline Dring (née Rayner) 1943-45. Torpedo Wren. (née Elworthy) WWII. Wren Mess Stanton) 1958-62. L/Wren Wtr (P). Served Scotland. Daughter of Cdr Caterer. Served HMS Pembroke Served HMS Pembroke, Phoenicia John William Rayner RN. Died 13 III. Former member of Chester and Vernon. Died 1 September January 2019 aged 93. Branch. Died 15 Apr 2019 aged 95. 2019 aged 80.

BURRAGE Rosemary Elizabeth, HEAL Sheila Rosamond (née MORRIS Mary Cecilia (née known as Elizabeth 1944-46. Reed) 1942-45. Bombe Machine Holloway). Chief Wren EN L/Wren Wtr (G). Served HMS Operator and Instructor. Served QARNNS. Served RNH Haslar, Pembroke III, Victory IV and Bletchley Park, Adstock and Gibraltar, Plymouth, RM Depot Warren. Died 4 August 2019 aged Eastcote. Died 25 September Deal and London. Died 14 July 92. 2019 aged 96. 2019 aged 75. The Wren 45

MUSTARD Beryl Mabel (née SELWOOD Christina Mary (née WILLEY Irene (née Emery) 1943- Jenner) 1947-49. Marine Wren Wtr Everall) 1965-68. Wren Radar 45. Wren Steward (G). Served (P). Served Burghfield, Yorkshire Plotter. Served HMS Dryad, CINC Plymouth. Standard Bearer for and RM Eastney. Died 4 July 2019 Portsmouth and MOD London. former Lincoln Branch. Died 1 July aged 90. Died 19 July 2019 aged 71. 2019 aged 95.

O’BRIEN Jeanne Irene (née SLATER Janice (née Evans) WRIGHT Joan Eleanor. Died June Hampshire) 1943-46. L/Wren. 1953-57. Wren Switchboard 2018 aged 83. Served Stanmore and Plymouth. Operator. Served HMS Dauntless, Died 12 June 2019 aged 94. Gamecock, Drake and Victory. Died 21 September 2019 aged 85. NON-MEMBERS PARTRIDGE Stella Lily Wilmott Atrill 1942-48. L/Wren Steward. SMITH Margaret Mary (née Smith- BRANTH Ellen (née Karsten) Served Liverpool. Died 25 July Dack, formerly Walton) 1961- 1942-45. PO Wren Special Duties 2019 aged 98. 65. L/Wren Met. Served RNAS (Linguist). Served Portland Bill, Culdrose and Lossiemouth. Died Lyme Regis, Torquay, Abbotscliff PASSELL Phyllis Annie, known 15 August 2018 aged 75. and SHAEF. Died 26 June 2019 as Phyl (née Thompson) 1947- aged 94. 50. L/Wren Air Mechanic (E). STEWART Elizabeth Ann (née Served HMS Fieldfare, Sanderling, Chambers) 1964-76. 2/O. Served COMRIE ARRC Gillian Margaret Daedalus and Heron. Died 1 RNAS Lossiemouth, Singapore, 1970-96. Commander QARNNS. September 2019 aged 90. FOST, HMS Excellent and DNW. Served RNH Stonehouse, HMS Died 27 September 2019. St Angelo, Hong Kong and RFA PENROSE Carol Joan (née Argus. Died 2019 aged 73. Slinger) 1965-67. Wren. Served SURGENOR Vicki (née Brooke) Whitehall. Former Chairman of 1973-78. Wren TSA. Served HMS DRUMMOND Angie. Wren Met. Portsmouth Branch (1990s). Died Drake, RM Deal and R Company Died in Holland 23 August 2019. 26 July 2019 aged 72. Poole. Died 3 September 2019 aged 63. DUNNE Margaret (née Jenkins) PHILLIPS Joyce Constance (née 1945-50. Wren Wtr (S/T) Served Burridge) 1944-48. PO Wren Radio TURNER Diane Kathleen (née Malta. Died 13 September 2019 Mechanic and Radar. Served Mill Heaver) 1968-81. 1/O Supply. aged 92. Hill, HMS Collingwood, RNAS Served HMS Daedalus, Rooke, Easthaven and Eglinton. Died 10 MOD, Neptune, Northwood and JACKSON Kathleen Joyce July 2019 aged 93. Yeovilton. Died 4 September 2019 (née Dernier) 1944-45. Wren aged 68. Bombe Operator and Wtr. Served POTTERTON Gwendoline Ruth Tulliechewan Castle, Bletchley (née Dadswell). Died 1 June 2019 WATSON Pauline Joyce (née Park (Eastcote), Leeds and aged 96. Tuffs) 1950-54. Wren Victualling. Chatham. Died 29 August 2019 Served HMS Raleigh, Ceres, aged 94. RANFORD Jeanne (née Dauntless and Daedalus. Former Henwood) 1950-52. Wren Wtr (G). member and Treasurer of MULLER Katherine 2/O WWII Served HMS Dauntless, Ceres, Guildford Branch. Died 2 August Coastal Surveillance. Served HMS Collingwood, St Angelo, President. 2019 aged 87. Appledore and Seaview IOW. Died Long-time member of Exeter 17 September 2019 aged 101. Branch. Died 27 August 2019 aged WESTON Vera Kate 1941-44. 89. Wren Stores (V). Served HMS NORTON Joan. Died 15 September Collingwood and Cricket. Founder 2019 aged 91. REDHEAD Jean Martin (née Hully) member of Bournemouth Branch. 1943-46. L/Wren Wtr (P). Died 19 Died 30 June 2019 aged 99. OLLEY Delia May (née Brown) July 2019 aged 96. 1946-49. Died 27 July 2019 aged WHITBREAD Enid (née Faulkner). 92. ROBINSON Eileen Lois (née Wren. Served HMS Dauntless, Martin) WWII. Wren Boats Crew. Pembroke, President and Ceres. SMITH Margaret (Peggy) (née Served Plymouth. Died 27 August Died Summer 2019 aged 85. Morris) 1942-45. Wren Steward 2019 aged 96. (O). Died 4 September 2019 in WILKINS Bernice Kathleen, Exeter. known as Bunny (née Davis) 1943- 46. Wren Signals. Former member WALTERS Valerie (née Conyers) of Aylesbury Vale IG. Served HMS 1953-55. Wren MT. Served HMS Victory and Cricket. Died 10 June Siskin, Daedalus and Curlew. Died 2019 aged 95. 20 September 2019 aged 89.