Association of Wrens

Coffee Morning - St Mary le Strand
2025-11-07 11:00 - 14:00, 2025-12-05 11:00 - 14:00, 2026-03-06 11:00 - 14:00, 2026-03-13 11:00 - 14:00, 2026-03-20 11:00 - 14:00, 2026-03-27 11:00 - 14:00, 2026-04-10 11:00 - 14:00, 2026-04-17 11:00 - 14:00 (Europe/London) | 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

Cenotaph 2025
2025-11-09 08:00 - 17:00
https://forms.gle/bhCeoFiBZdpJdCwC6
To March please complete this form by July
Please copy and paste the link into your browser

Portsmouth Branch Meeting
2025-11-11 19:15 - 21:15 | Royal Maritime Club, 75-80 Queen Street, Portsmouth, Hampshire, PO1 3HS, United Kingdom

Swindon & District Meet
2025-11-20 10:30 - 14:00 | Studley Grange Garden Centre

National Arboretum Visit
2025-11-22 10:00 - 16:00 | National Memorial & Arboretum
🌿 National Memorial Arboretum Visit
📅 Saturday 22 November
🕙 1000 – 1600
(Arrive at your own pace, no pressure on timing)
Places are limited so please confirm as soon as you can if you would like to attend
✨This will be an informal relaxed day of reflection, good food, and community
🍴 Event Details
11.30 am The land train will take the group for a tour of the grounds

1pm /1.30pm Two-course meal with water, tea & coffee
Menu options: Meat, Fish, or Vegetarian (chosen on the day)
Total cost: £27.00 per person
Raffle: Please feel free to bring a donation
Payment Details Please use the below secure payment link to make your payment

https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/VPX7CEVW45YMU

Mobility option: Motorised scooters available for hire (£10 per day, advance booking recommended)

🚗 Travel & Parking
Free shuttle bus available from Tamworth Train Station to the NMA

Self-drive: onsite parking available

£8 on the day
£5 if prepaid via NMA website
Tamworth hotels, the Travelodge, Premier Inn, Tamworth Arms
DO NOT BOOK THE HOLIDAY INN in Tamworth
Lichfield hotels, the George Hotel, Premier Innkeepers Hotel or the Swan

Portsmouth Branch - coffee morning
2025-11-25 10:30 - 23:30 | Royal Maritime Club, 75-80 Queen Street, Portsmouth, Hampshire, PO1 3HS, United Kingdom

Virtual Branch Zoom Meeting
2025-12-01 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
2025-12-09 19:15 - 21:15 | Royal Maritime Club, 75-80 Queen Street, Portsmouth, Hampshire, PO1 3HS, United Kingdom
Christmas Party

Association of Wrens Carol Service
2025-12-13 13:30 - 15:00 | St Mary Le Strand Church, Strand, Westminster, London, WC2R 1ES, United Kingdom
The service this year will be held at St Mary le Strand.
All welcome and no need to register your interest.
Carol Service St Mary le Strand
Saturday 13th December 13:30
Please click the below link to the website where you will find links to the Live Stream of the Wrens’ Carol Service. Hope this help people join in who otherwise could not be here.
On YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/live/aYDCtzM5Dqk?si=aIDN0VXetO4Ncr4U
And on FaceBook:
https://fb.me/e/8eGDprqTJ

Thames River Cruise 2025
2025-12-13 18:00 - 22:00 | Westminster Pier, Westminster Pier, Londond, London, SW1A 2JH, United Kingdom
Leaving from Westminster pier at 18:00 (Embarkation 17:45)
You can you use the payment link below to book your place or you can call the office if you prefer.
https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/BWCMM5SUKNQE6

Virtual Branch Zoom Meeting - March
2026-03-02 19:30 - 21:30 | Zoom

Aldershot Informal Group
2026-03-14 10:15 - 11:45, 2026-04-11 10:15 - 11:45 | Scout Hut, Manor Park, Church Hill. Aldershot, GU12 4JU, Scout Hut Manor Park Church Hill, Aldershot, GU12 4JU, United Kingdom
Scout Hut, Manor Park, Church Hill, Aldershot, GU12 4JU

Swindon & District Meet 1030 Meet at The Three Trees Chiseldon
2026-03-18 10:30 - 14:00 | Studley Grange Garden Centre

Virtual Branch Zoom Meeting April
2026-04-13 19:30 - 21:30 | Zoom
PONN (MH) Abigail Wright, co-Secretary of the Naval Servicewomen’s Network, will join the meeting to talk about her work in mental health, specifically for the submarine service, which led to her being named Defence Woman of the Year 2025.

AOW Edinburgh Branch 80 Anniversary Weekend
2026-04-17 - 2026-04-19 | Edinburgh
Following an over-whelming response and a huge flurry of booking forms, the list for the Friday Evening Reception / Gala Dinner / Saturday Afternoon Reception is now closed.
We will maintain a Reserve List for any further requests received, but as most have paid as soon as their places have been confirmed I’m not sure that places will become available.
We are sorry if you had planned to attend, but sadly we are restricted by the venue capacity and have processed reservations on a first come first served basis.”

AOW Out of Town Meeting
2026-04-18 13:00 - 16:00 | Edinburgh

Swindon & District St George's Day dinner
2026-04-23 19:00 - 23:00

Coastal Forces Monument Appeal Charity Extra Crowdfunding Weekend 8–11 May 2026
2026-05-08 - 2026-05-11
Amy Goodman’s figure will form part of the Coastal Forces memorial which is due to be unveiled in Portsmouth, Hampshire, in 2027. The work will be modelled on the late Eve Branson, who served as a signaller during World War Two and was the mother of tycoon Sir Richard Branson. Wrens – members of the Women’s Royal Naval Service (WRNS) – filled a variety of roles left by men between 1917 and 1993, serving in both world wars.
“It is incredible to think we are celebrating over a century of women in the Coastal Forces, and their extraordinary journey since World War One to the current day where we have several female admirals and many women in other senior command roles.”
Janet Crabtree, Chairman of the Association of Wrens said the monument would “help educate new generations about the important contribution of members of the Women’s Royal Naval Service”. She said their service was “pivotal to the emancipation and equality of women, culminating in Wrens serving at sea from October 1990”.
A Donation link will be live during these 4 days.

Virtual Branch Zoom Meeting May Mandy Powell will be giving a talk on the Dauntless Project 1946-81
2026-05-11 19:30 - 21:30 | Zoom
TALK
Mandy Powell will be giving a talk on the Dauntless Project 1946-81

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.

Swindon & District Meet
2026-05-20 19:00 - 21:30, 2026-06-17 19:00 - 21:30
Community Room Tesco Extra, Ocotal Way, Swindon, SN1 2EH

Virtual Branch Zoom Meeting AOW Chairman Janet Crabtree will join us to talk about the St Mary Le Strand (SMLS) Restoration Project
2026-06-01 19:30 - 21:30 | Zoom
Monday 1 June 1930 – AOW Chairman Janet Crabtree will join us to talk about the St Mary Le Strand (SMLS) Restoration Project – ‘The Jewel in the Strand’. Janet will join the meeting at about 20.00.
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.
