UPCOMING EVENTS

 

Out-of-Town Council meeting at Bletchley Park June 2012

The 2012 Out-of-Town COUCIL MEETING is to be held at Bletchley Park on Sunday 10th June 2012, starting at 1400.

It is hoped that members may take advantage of a special deal made with a local country hotel, located eight miles from Bletchley Park, for a Saturday evening finger buffet @ £15 per head, and/or B & B accommodation for two sharing @ Double £95, Single £85 accommodation.

Contact the AOW secretary 02392 725141 office@wrens.org.uk or refer to page 10 of the October issue of The Wren magazine to book directly with the hotel.

Contact Bletchley Park for tours, directions, etc on 01908 640404 or e-mail info@bletchleypark.org.uk

NB Those wishing to attend the Council meeting ONLY, will be most welcome.

Standard Bearers' Competition 21 April 2012

This occasional competition will be held in the lower hall of St Columba's Church, Pont St. London, (close to Harrods). There will be time for practice from 10am with the competition beginning at 2pm.

The National Standard Bearer Carol Gibbon would be pleased to offer any advice or answer questions from those who may be interested in becoming a Standard Bearer. Please contact the AOW secretary for Carol’s contact number.

Vice President Ellie Patrick will be overseeing the event, with representatives from the RNA acting as the judges. Supporters and interested parties are welcome to attend.

 

 

RECENT EVENTS

Cenotaph Parade 2011 Association of Wrens

Information submitted for the BBC TV commentary Cenotaph Parade November 2011

HISTORY

The Association of Wrens was formed in 1920 by ex-Wrens who had served in the First World War and were determined to maintain the camaraderie and naval tradition that they had experienced. This same commitment is shown here today by veteran members from WWII, post-war Wrens, and those who are currently serving in the Royal Navy. The Association has recently moved its HQ office to HM Naval Base in Portsmouth where it is hoped that the close proximity to the Royal Navy will bring about an increase in membership.

This week on the 11th day of the 11th month, 2011, the Royal Naval Philatelic Society has commissioned a Commemorative Cover issue entitled ‘Celebrating the Association of Wrens’ which depicts a montage of women who have served in the Royal Naval services across the decades.

THOSE MARCHING AND WREATH CARRIER

There are 70 members of the Association of Wrens marching today led by *Command Warrant Officer Annette Penfold RNR. The wreath is carried by the Chairman of the Association **Mrs Mary Hawthornthwaite who served as a Second Officer (Communications) in the Womens Royal Naval Service. Also on parade is a large group from the Solent Branch, the most recently formed Branch of the Association who are proud to be marching alongside veteran WWII Wrens, post war Wrens and serving RN personnel.

KEY FIGURES

Amongst those on parade are:

*Annette Penfold Command Warrant Officer RNR who joined the WRNS in March 1978 as a Training Support Assistant. She joined the RNR in 1989 and has been awarded the Second Sea Lord’s Commendation. She is currently serving as an External Auditor in NCHQ.

**Mrs Mary Hawthornthwaite who served from 1959-1968 as a Second Officer WRNS Communicator. She has been a loyal member of the Association’s Executive for many years and on 22 October 2011 was appointed Chairman of the Association.

 

Dauntless Assocation reunion weekend at Hayling Island

If you mention ‘holiday camps’ people usually say ‘Hi-de-Hi!’ and this time they would have been correct. Towards the end of October over 200 ex-Wrens, ex RN’s, plus some who are serving now, enjoyed an excellent weekend at Mill Rythe Holiday Village, which was THE original setting for the TV series. Although we missed Gladys Pugh trying to organise us, by a strange coincidence the lovely Katy Kelly, (ramble leader, cabaret star, games host and ¼ of the Abba tribute group) just happened to have spent 5 months basic training hoping to become a RM Bandswoman/person? She will get a complimentary magazine!

The main purpose of the weekend was to raise funds for the WRNS BT and this was accomplished in a variety of ways involving snail races, raffles and guessing games. Something for everybody seemed to be the flavour of the weekend; activities that either exercised the brain or body, indoors or outside. Paddling at the beach and indoor curling to mention a couple. We had a reflective period on Sunday morning when the St Mary’s Singers (R.C Church, Gosport) played for the service which was conducted by Canon Roger Devonshire.

During the weekend the Services Wrendered, and ‘Life in a Blue Suit’ stalls attracted a lot of customers and we were entertained by Shep Woolley, the Mill Rythe team, and a Talent Contest won by Yeovilton Branch. Congratulations to the Dauntless Association and Andrea Wrigley, for the best D.A. Reunion - EVER!

See others photos on the GALLERY

 

50th anniversary of the closing of HMS HARRIER

How many members will remember attending the windswept divisions on the cliff-top at HMS HARRIER, (RNADC and Met. Schools) at Kete, Dale, Pembrokeshire where once a wind speed of 106 mph was recorded, during a hurricane, in 1954! Some of those who had spent time there returned on 30 April 2011 for a RN themed event commemorating the 50th anniversary of the closing of HMS HARRIER.

The Coastlands Local History Group were hosts for the exhibition and at the church service standards were paraded from the Association of Wrens (Chris Watson from Cardigan and Kathy Llewellyn from Pembrokeshire Branch) and the RNA (Aberporth, Haven, and Pembroke Dock Branches). Cynthia Porter from Pembrokeshire Branch played the organ for the service.

A guard of honour was provided by the TS Harrier SCC Unit, from Milford Haven. On their return from the church service visitors tucked in to a very generous home baked Welsh spread. The celebration cake, iced with a replica of the Harrier crest, was cut by Julia Clark, Chair of the Association of Wrens with a Naval officer’s sword.

The exhibition in the Coronation Hall, Dale, was open for 4 days, and included WRNS veterans’ uniforms, memorabilia, and stories from ex RN and WRNS personnel, together with related accounts from village residents. The Cloudobservers Association (for ex-RN and WRNS Met Observers) also provided an impressive display with two souvenir booklets especially created for the occasion, ‘Life at Kete’ and ‘The Royal Navy at Dale’ www.cloudobservers.co.uk.

 

Brief report 90th Commemorative service

The 90th service of Commemoration and Rededication for the Association of Wrens was held at the church of St Martin-in-the-Fields in Trafalgar Square, London on 13 November 2010.

The service was attended by our Patron Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, Vice Admiral and Chief Commandant for women of the Royal Navy, Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope, First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff, and over 450 members of the Association.

At the lunch which followed small groups of Association members were presented to Her Royal Highness including Branch standard bearers, the Royal Navy uniformed ushers, and past and present serving personnel who modelled uniforms through the decades.

See GALLERY photos