Former WRNS Sporting Achievements recognised in WRNS100 Centenary Year

Recognised for their sporting achievements, former members of the Women’s Royal Naval Service and RN Servicewomen joined the Second Sea Lord’s Reward and Recognition event held in the gardens of Admiralty House on Tuesday 6th July.

Under blue skies on a warm and sunny afternoon, Vice Admiral Jonathan Woodcock OBE treated numerous serving and former Royal Navy and WRNS veterans to a sumptuous al fresco lunch accompanied by a lively Jazz Quintet from HM Band Royal Marines, Portsmouth.

The five sportswomen attending represented the WRNS or Royal Navy and made their mark with significant personal victories in their sports in recent years. They also marked the achievements of all sportswomen throughout the WRNS100 Centenary at this year’s event.

Amongst the sportswomen represented today were:

• Former Leading Wren Julia Clark (Rifle 2.2 and 303) in 1958 and 1959. She was a member of the Royal Navy’s team at Bisley representing Air Command.
• Former Warrant Officer (1) Nickii Hudson, who represented the WRNS & RN in Tennis singles and doubles and also played for the Inter Services team.
• Lt Cdr Kate Welch RN - Show jumper, Cross Country and Dressage - one of the initial group of Wrens to go to sea in 1990 as a Wren Writer who commissioned later on to become a Supply Officer. Kate has secured two RN Team victories at the Royal Windsor Horse Show and captained the ‘A’ Team in 2008. She has been the Top military rider in Cross Country at the Sandhurst Hunter Trials and won Military prizes in dressage, showjumping at the Larkhill Horse Trials.
• Commander Maggie Robbins RN - represented WRNS          and RN in Netball - also became the first woman to be   appointed Commanding Officer of HMS Excellent,      Whale Island, Portsmouth.
• Lt Cdr Sally MacLennan RN  - former WRNS Officer representing the RN Swimming team for many years. Sally maintains her links with the Naval Service through her work as a Trustee for the WRNS Benevolent Trust.

Members of the Leading Physical Trainers Qualifying Course No. 63 provided all the guests at the reception with entertainment in the form of a perfectly executed sailor’s horn pipe and a sword dance and Physical Training exercise routine.