The role made by women to help shape the modern Royal Navy has been highlighted during a recent visit by former members of the Women’s Royal Naval Service.
The ‘Wrens’ (or WRNS’) from the West Cornwall Branch of the Association of Wrens were invited to look around their old base at Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose.
They were hosted by members of the RNAS Culdrose Naval Servicewomen’s Network, which supports women in the service today.
Frances Townsend, now aged 67, joined the WRNS in 1973 and celebrated her 18th birthday on Flora Day in Helston.
She trained as a dental nurse and then as a dental hygienist before leaving the service.
She said: “I know that when I left the WRNS, I didn’t really talk about it much.
“You used to get a lot of abuse. There was terrible sexism at the time, both from inside the Navy and from society in general.
“I don’t think people realised the important job wrens did during the war and what we did in our time.
“We gradually made it so there was more inclusion for women. For instance, we fought for women to stay in the service after having a baby.
“We were the trailblazers of women in the navy today.”
Sally Robinson, nee Amos, 67 and from Helston, joined the service in 1975 and soon found herself behind the wheel of the station’s ubiquitous Bedford ‘Tilly’ vans.
She said: “I left school after my GCSEs, and I worked with the county council in Colchester. I absolutely hated it, so I went into the RAF and then into the Navy as a wren.
“I was an MT [military transport] driver. One of the wrens was always the captain’s driver and we used to drive out and pick people up from the station.”
Her time at RNAS Culdrose proved eventful when she met her future husband, aircraft handler Graham Robinson.
She added: “All the MT wrens ended up with husbands from the Navy and I met my husband there too. Here I am, all these years later and still married.”
Linda Sandercock, nee Stiles, also joined as an MT driver. The 75-year-old said: “I had a lovely time in the wrens – just the company and lifestyle.
“I lived in Exmouth Block – a big wooden Nissen hut. The door didn’t really fit and it was incredibly draughty.
“There were a hundred wrens and a thousand matelots (sailors). We used to go to the Seahawk Club. There was live music, comedy nights and two drama clubs we used to have.”
She that although the WRNS played an important role on the air station, she felt she could have contributed more if women had been allowed, adding: “I would have loved to have gone to sea. I would also have loved to have done observer or flying training.”
Lieutenant Commander Francesca Crowsley-Allen said: “We were really pleased to host this event for the West Cornwall Branch of the Association of Wrens.
“As a network, we help and support women who serve at all levels in the Royal Navy.
"There has been a cultural shift across society in the roles and expectations of women, and there is no doubt that those who came before us in the Navy have also helped change the naval culture to allow women to serve alongside men as equals.
"The WRNS played an important part in that process, and we celebrate that important contribution and heritage.”
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