The Royal Naval Association (RNA), Charity of the Day for the Army v Navy rugby match at the Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, was delighted to preside over a Navy win for the men’s team. The charity aimed to raise awareness – and a little cash – to support their benevolent activities, but their expectations were exceeded due to superb weather and ecstatic crowds.
The Royal Naval Association supports serving and former serving members of our Naval Forces, and their families. The organisation offers comradeship, sporting and social groups, welfare and wellbeing guidance, online events and funeral support to its members. The RNA is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year, one of the reasons they were lucky enough to be chosen as Charity of the Day.
The RNA brought over 600 of its members to the match. This included some of the RN veteran residents of Admiral Jellicoe House (AJH), a Naval residential home in Portsmouth.
Mable Kidney, 99, WW2 veteran and AJH resident said:
“I have never been to Twickenham; going there is on my bucket list and I’m so grateful that we have been given tickets.”
Mabel from Portsmouth, Hampshire, was only 13 when the war started, she joined the Wrens when she was 17 years old in order to see the world. Ironically, she was then posted to HMS Daedalus, just around the corner from home.
The RNA collected over £4,500 on the day in donations and engaged with many members of the Naval community to let them know what support they can offer.
RNA CEO, Bill Oliphant said:
“Given that the day was primarily an awareness raising exercise, we were delighted to have raised so much money. The extra funds will go towards supporting Shipmates in need, and hopefully lots more people will know who we are, and how to contact us in future.
“I would particularly like to thank Babcock, who donated £1000, the RNRU, who have pledged further donations, and an even bigger thanks goes to Victory Squadron, HMS COLLINGWOOD for their wonderful support in uniform on the day; we could not have raised so much without their help.”
If you are from a Naval background and would like to join the Royal Naval Association go to: royal-naval-association.co.uk/join-us
