Utilising skills and knowledge from my time in the Girls’ Brigade such as camping, cooking, cleaning, sewing, drill, and figure marching was invaluable during the early weeks at HMS Raleigh completing my basic training.
Making your bed in a certain way with perfect hospital corners, keeping your bed space clean and tidy, bulling your shoes, ironing and taking instructions from your officers in charge… Having my Girls’ Brigade uniform to keep clean and tidy, being proud of being on parade and in my company was a real help during the transition whilst in basic training.
We attended church every Sunday whilst in basic training, I remember everyone wanting to sit next to me as I had a pocket-sized bible allowing us to follow the readings, this was presented to me from 3rd Enfield Girls’ Brigade and Sunday School when I left for training, I still have and use this today!
I remember going on expedition on the moors in the winter, I knew how to cook and keep myself warm, I remember many of my fellow trainees keeping all their clothes on overnight trying keeping warm however in the morning waking up to frost on the ground they were all freezing as they no additional layers to put on, I was fine as I knew from camps with Girls’ Brigade to wear minimal clothing to sleep and though I passed on my knowledge to layer up in the morning, not everyone took this advice.
RNAS Culdrose was my first posting, I swiftly found a church, Helston Methodist Church, and joined the camps bible group. I was made to feel very welcome, whilst here I became a Sunday school teacher and joined the circuit youth group where we performed several musicals, Hosea and Jesus Folk come to mind. My faith and work have always been central to who I am. I enjoyed downtime with my fellow Wrens, at Culdrose.
At RNAS Yeovilton I joined the bible group on camp and met some lovely people, I found Yeovilton Baptist church and was very well looked after.
I travelled abroad for the first time to SHAPE in Belgium (a huge camp that’s tri-service and multi-national). I made the most of my time overseas doing a lot of sightseeing and visiting many countries. I met some amazing people whilst at SHAPE including my husband Paul who was in the Army at the time. We got engaged after 6 months and were married a year later. I was posted back to the UK during this time.
HMS Northwood, I lived at home for this tour with my parents as we saved for our wedding. Both in SHAPE and Northwood, I worked in an underground bunker. I was at Northwood for 6 months but then left the forces due to Army and Naval posting being separate, Paul and I did not want to spend our married life apart. As Paul was the higher rank, and him being able to get promoted through the ranks more easily, logically it made sense for me to leave the Navy and begin a civilian life as an Army wife.
My time in the forces was an eye-opening experience I met amazing people from all walks of life. I am still in contact with many of my old colleagues thanks to social media.
My time in Girls’ Brigade, my Christian faith nurtured by Sunday School and my loving parents were instrumental to my time in the Navy. I continue to be involved in Girls’ Brigade as a leader at 4th Lincoln.