Association of Wrens

Shewsbury Social Group - lunch and catch up
2024-05-10 12:15 - 15:00 (Europe/London) | Beaconsfield Club, Meadow Place, Shrewsbury, SY1 1PD

Out of Town Meeting
2024-05-11 13:00 - 17:00 | Guildford Masonic Lodge, Hitherbury Close, Guildford, Surrey, GU2 4DR, United Kingdom
The meeting, kindly hosted by Guildford Branch, will be held at 13:00 on Saturday 11 May 2024 at The Masonic Lodge, Hitherbury Close, Guildford GU2 4DR.
The meeting will include reports from the President, Chair, Hon Treasurer, Administrators and Trustees.
On completion of the meeting (14:30) there will be a 45-minute presentation from Paul Iverson (Commonwealth War Graves Commission).
Refreshments will be available, and a fundraising raffle will be held (for which donations are most welcome).
This is your opportunity to find out about what’s new and happening at the Association, meet your Trustees and fellow former Wrens. Our Chair, Annie Lagrue, will be available throughout the afternoon and welcomes the opportunity to meet and chat with you to hear your views and ideas.
We very much hope you can join us and look forward to seeing you there.
For catering purposes, please complete and submit the application form, available in the members’ area of the website, by 12 April 2024.

AOW Virtual Branch – Guest Speaker Sue Elliott, National Memorial Arboretum
2024-05-13 19:30 - 21:30 | Zoom

Fife Branch - coffee/tea meeting
2024-05-14 14:00 - 16:30, 2024-06-04 14:30 - 16:30 | Seven Kings Pub, Dunfermline

Portsmouth Branch - AGM and meeting
2024-05-14 19:00 - 21:00 | Royal Maritime Club, 75-80 Queen Street, Portsmouth, Hampshire, PO1 3HS, United Kingdom

Swindon Branch meeting - Commonwealth War Graves visit
2024-05-15 19:30 - 21:30 | Lawn Community Centre, Guildford Avenue, Swindon, SN3 1JL

Standard Bearers Competition
2024-05-18 | HMS Excellent, Portsmouth
The Competition is in two parts:

Chester Cup – for experienced Standard Bearers, the winner of which will become the National Standard Bearer for the following two years.

Novice Cup – as the name suggests, is for less experienced/new standard bearers. This event is also an ideal opportunity for training novices. On Friday 17 May 24, there will
be a training session during ‘the Dogs’ where various Ceremonial Advisers and Parade Marshalls will be available to revise the official drill positions and moves. There will also be an opportunity for shipmates to run through the competition routine and where guidance and notes will be given by the judges.

Standard Bearers wishing to compete are to make their application to the National Ceremonial Adviser by 29 February 2024. Your application should include name, Branch, and whether accommodation is requested at HMS Excellent.
All Standard Bearers are encouraged to attend this event for experience. Whilst it is a competition, primarily it is a social event with the benefit of promoting the honour of representing the association and its shipmates at ceremonial events and commemorations, not least of honouring the memory of those that cross the bar.
Contact Details: National Ceremonial Adviser, Shipmate Mike Smyth – projects@rnassoc.org

Standard Bearers Competition
2024-05-18 | HMS Excellent, Portsmouth
The combined RNA and AOW Standard Bearers Competition is being held on Saturday 18th May at HMS Excellent starting with the Inspection at 11.00 followed by the Novice Competition and then the normal competition afterwards. It would be lovely to give our support to our two AOW competitors Chris Walker and Gail Foster. If anyone is able to go along to support please give your names into the RNA office by Tuesday 14th May. Good luck to all competitors.

Swansea Branch informal meeting
2024-05-21 13:00 - 16:00, 2024-06-18 13:00 - 16:00 | The Harvester, Morfa, Unit 19 Morfa Shopping Park, Brunel Way, SA1 2FB

Portsmouth Branch - coffee morning
2024-05-28 10:30 - 12:30, 2024-06-25 10:30 - 12:30 | Royal Maritime Club, 75-80 Queen Street, Portsmouth, Hampshire, PO1 3HS, United Kingdom

AOW Virtual Branch – Naval Servicewomen’s Network (NSN) Update and discussion with serving women
2024-06-03 19:30 - 21:30 | Zoom

Virtual Branch Zoom Meeting
2024-06-03 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.

Unveiling of Sculpture for 80th Ann of D-Day
2024-06-04 08:00 - 17:00 | Beaulieu
A rather special invitation has landed

To commemorate the 80th Anniversary of D-Day, a sculpture called ‘Hail and Farewell’, is being unveiled on the banks of the Beaulieu River in honour of the women and families who had to endure the anxiety of separation and the grief and loss of the D-Day campaign, both civilians and those who served, specifically those in the WRNS. You will note from the attached project brief and sketch, that the old WRNS insignia flies from the stern of the sculpture.

The sculpture sits on salt marshes by the river bank on land gifted to the Time to Connect Art Trail project by Nick de Rothschild of Exbury House and Gardens. The unveiling event promises famous faces, poetry and a ceremonial ‘Toss Oars’ from an RN Gig on the river rowed by serving personnel, with the salute being taken (hopefully) by Cdre Catherine Jordan and a couple of Centenarian Wrens. It will be followed by a reception. Specific details to follow IDC.

Exbury House and the Beaulieu River have a special significance to D-Day. In 1942 Exbury House became HMS Mastadon and the WRNS took on key roles in the planning and the training for the Normandy Landings. Nick de Rothschild is keen to have former Wrens present on the day and host them at a reception after the unveiling.

Please note that there is quite a bit of walking to do from the Palais des Vaches in Exbury to the river bank and back. We expect there to be a lot of interest so please contact Veronica (vradakin@gmail.com) soonest if you would like to attend

Fareham Informal Group - coffee morning
2024-06-04 10:30 - 12:30 | Masonic Hall, Fareham, Queen's Road, Fareham, PO16 0NN

Swindon Branch meet up with Cheltenham Branch
2024-06-06 10:30 - 12:30 | Dobbies Garden Centre, Siddington, Cirencester, GL7 6EU

Coffee Morning - St Mary le Strand
2024-06-07 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

Swansea Branch - D-Day Commemoration Service (formal dress)
2024-06-09 14:30 - 16:30 | St Mary’s Church, St Mary's Square, Swansea, SA1 3LP

Fife Branch - coffee/tea meet up
2024-06-11 14:00 - 16:30 | Seven Kings Pub, Dunfermline

RNA AGM weekend
2024-06-14 - 2024-06-16 | Cardiff
It is recommended that all bookings for Conference are made through the UK Holiday Group who have negotiated a special deal for the RNA.

Yeovil and District Branch - Veterans' Parade and lunch
2024-06-16 11:00 - 15:00
The parade starts with a service on Weymouth seafront and is open to everyone.

Swindon Branch meeting - Stamps Part II
2024-06-19 19:30 - 21:30 | Lawn Community Centre, Guildford Avenue, Swindon, SN3 1JL

Return to HMS Raleigh
2024-06-21 | HMS Raleigh, Trevol Road, Torpoint, Cornwall, PL11 2PD, United Kingdom
An exciting new bespoke event for current Association members will take place at HMS Raleigh on 21 June 2024. The Veteran Day will be tied-in with a formal Passing-Out Parade for Phase 1 recruits. This event is aimed at those personnel who either joined the RN via HMS Raleigh, or who served in the establishment (they take priority over others who joined via other routes).
The proposed outline programme for the day is as follows:

0915-1000 – Guests should arrive between these times and will be shown to the Raleigh Club. A programme of events will be provided by a member of the Initial Naval Training staff.
1005-1015 – Guests will be escorted to the Roebuck Theatre.
1015-1100 – Presentation of Life in Initial Naval Training
1100-1115 – Instructional Staff are introduced and give a summary of class performance.
1115-1130 – Awards and Trophy presentations.
1130-1230 – Opportunity for visitors to have an escorted tour of a nominated Phase 1 accommodation block (noting this does NOT include other areas of HMS Raleigh).
1130-1300 – Lunch in Victory Galley, Limers Diner or the Raleigh Community shop (card payment only). Raleigh Bar open from 1200.
1250-1330 – Opportunity to visit Parade Ground and East Drill Shed for photographs.
1330-1350 – Guests escorted from the Raleigh Club to the Parade Ground (or West Drill Shed) to witness the Passing-Out Parade.
1400-1515 – Passing-Out Parade (any changes to the timings will be briefed on the day)
On completion – guests to depart HMS Raleigh

It is anticipated that numbers attending will not exceed 40-50 (plus partners if wished).
If you would like to apply to attend, please complete the online application form by visiting the member’s area (forms) of the website.
If oversubscribed, places will be awarded via lottery type process.
Please ensure your application is submitted by Tuesday 30 April 2024.

Fife Branch meeting
2024-06-25 19:00 - 21:30 | RBL, 60 New Row, Dunfermline, KY12 7EF

Bournemouth & District Branch meeting - bric-a-brac
2024-06-26 10:15 - 12:00 | Westbourne Conservative Club, Alum Chine Road, Westbourne, Bournemouth

National Armed Forces Day 2024
2024-06-29
There is no national day event this year but regional events will be held across the country.

AOW Virtual Branch – Trustee Update from Sheila Houghton
2024-07-01 19:30 - 21:30 | Zoom
