Association of Wrens

HMS Collingwood Open Day
2025-06-28 10:00 - 16:00 (Europe/London)

Coffee Morning - St Mary le Strand
2025-07-04 11:00 - 14:00, 2025-11-07 11:00 - 14:00 | St Mary Le Strand Church, Strand, Westminster, London, WC2R 1ES, United Kingdom
Drop into our lovely church on the Strand for coffee, cake and a chat. Everyone welcome

Virtual Branch Zoom Meeting
2025-07-07 19:30 - 21:30, 2025-08-04 19:30 - 21:30, 2025-09-01 19:30 - 21:30, 2025-10-06 19:30 - 21:30, 2025-11-03 19:30 - 21:30 | Zoom
Primarily for members who do not belong to a Branch or Informal Group, please contact the office (office@wrens.org.uk) if you would like to attend.

Portsmouth Branch Meeting
2025-07-08 19:15 - 21:15, 2025-09-09 19:15 - 21:15, 2025-10-14 19:15 - 21:15 | Royal Maritime Club, 75-80 Queen Street, Portsmouth, Hampshire, PO1 3HS, United Kingdom

Swindon & District Meet
2025-07-09 19:00 - 20:00 | Lawn Community Centre, Guildford Avenue, Swindon, SN3 1JL

Edinburgh & District Branch Meeting
2025-07-14 19:00 - 20:30, 2025-08-11 19:00 - 20:30, 2025-09-08 19:00 - 20:30, 2025-10-13 19:00 - 20:30 | SVR Whitefoord House, Canongate, Edinburgh.
This meeting takes place on the second Monday of the months of March to October (Inclusive)
Zoom link can be available for those unable to attend in person

Swindon & District Summer Social
2025-07-17 10:30 - 14:00 | Shrivenham

Portsmouth Branch - coffee morning
2025-07-22 10:30 - 23:30, 2025-08-26 10:30 - 23:30, 2025-09-23 10:30 - 23:30, 2025-10-28 10:30 - 23:30 | Royal Maritime Club, 75-80 Queen Street, Portsmouth, Hampshire, PO1 3HS, United Kingdom

Portsmouth Branch Meeting
2025-08-12 19:15 - 21:15 | Royal Maritime Club, 75-80 Queen Street, Portsmouth, Hampshire, PO1 3HS, United Kingdom
Horse Racing Evening

Swindon & District AGM
2025-08-20 19:00 - 20:30 | Lawn Community Centre, Guildford Avenue, Swindon, SN3 1JL

Stubbington Fayre
2025-08-25 10:30 - 16:00

Trustee Voting Form 2025
2025-09-15
To vote you must complete this form by 15th September. Please read the submissions and then click the link to vote using the online form. Please copy and paste the link into your browser
https://forms.gle/u3Rv9Qf6rFKpYkDr8

Name
Details of work done for the Association, other Charities or professional experience

Karen Elliott
I am passionate about supporting the Naval Family and believe I bring the skills, experience and commitment necessary to serve effectively as a Trustee. I have previously served two terms as a Trustee and currently serve as Chair of my local branch. I have a proven track record in planning and managing a wide range of events, formal and informal dinners, quiz nights and meetings. I also organised the AOW Weekender and proposed the Annual Association Day. This is a critical time for the AOW, we must engage with current and prospective members as well as with other organisations across the Armed Forces and Veterans community – particularly within the Naval Family. Raising awareness and encouraging membership are essential to securing our future and preserving our legacy. I am committed to helping the association thrive by embracing diversity, fostering inclusion and ensuring we have a broad range of skills and shared enthusiasm to carry our mission forward.

Pauline Fenwick
I have been a member of the AOW for many years. I have organised Wrens Out Walking events and helped with Wrens 100 in Scotland. Until I left the NCS I was always trying to encourage the serving RN females to join the AOW but they believe that AOW is not for them because they were not in the Wrens. I would like the opportunity to help change this way of thinking and bring more awareness to them that the AOW is there for all of us. Having served both WRNS and RN, I believe times change and we need to understand these changes and move with it, without losing touch with our roots and ethos. Living north of the border, it would be good to have representation from Scotland on the Board of Trustees and be the link for all members. It would be an honour to be elected as a Trustee and I will give 100% commitment.

Lorraine Jobin
I joined the WRNR in 1983 and since that time the Royal Navy has been part of my life in both a military and civilian capacity. My skills include finance management, strategy, personnel management, communication, organisational and IT that I have developed throughout my career, in particular from my present role in Portsmouth Naval Base. I have organised many events from Mess dinners to training days and I believe I have the passion and dedication to offer to the role of Trustee to the Association of Wrens. I would like to be part of the team that takes the association forward to be attractive to current serving members of the RN and still retaining the current membership. I see growing membership for the future is key and that will mean change and that needs to be engaging and bring existing members on the journey.

Jennifer Miller
A life of service is what I have strived for all my life and found it initially in the Wrens as an Aircraft Engineer, serving from 1988-1994. Now as I look take on my final career before retirement, I have moved into the Civil service, supporting a team of scientist and Engineers. Being able to translate military speak to the tech whiz is a challenge I thrive on. This new role now affords me time in which I can pursue interests outside of the work domain and I have now stepped up into the Chair of the Yeovil & District Branch. My vision for the branch and the wider association is to continue the amazing legacy work whilst looking to the future. How can we ensure our stories continue to be heard, recognised and celebrated? By sharing our lived experiences across the generations and celebrating with those currently serving and those to come, their successes and adventures. I bring a passion for people, a continued wish to serve this community of extraordinary ladies and a willingness to put the work in.

Swindon & District Meet
2025-09-18 10:30 - 14:00 | Cobbs Farm Shop, Hungerford

Association of Wrens Annual General Meeting 2025
2025-09-27 13:30 - 17:00 | Union Jack Club, Sandell Street, London, SE1 8UJ, United Kingdom
The 2025 AGM will take place on Saturday 27th September 2025 at 13.30 at The Union Jack Club, Sandell St, Waterloo London SE1 8UJ
Please contact HQ to register your attendance.

Swindon & District Meet
2025-10-16 10:30 - 14:00 | St Peters Church, Marlborough

Chester Branch - Trafalgar Day
2025-10-21 | Mill Hotel, Chester

Bristol Branch Afternoon Tea
2025-11-01 13:00 - 16:00
We wish to invite you to a special afternoon tea to celebrate our 65th anniversary. The event will be held on Saturday 1st November 2025 at HMS Flying Fox, Winterstoke Road, Bristol, BS3 2NS from 1300 – 1600. Do join us for a walk down memory lane with fellow members past and present.
The theme of the event is “Service, Friendship and Shared Memories” and we are asking attendees to email a short bio (with a photo if possible) of their WRNS service to bristolaow@gmail.com to share with other attendees.
We are honoured that the Lord Lieutenant of Bristol, Mrs Peaches Golding has agreed to attend as our Guest of Honour.
If you would like to join us, kindly RSVP to bristolaow@gmail.com with your preferred contact detail.
We do hope to see you there.
Best wishes
Gillian Orchard Preece
Chairman
Bristol Branch Association of Wrens
