A 71-year-old amputee veteran was among the women taking to the waves in North Devon as part of a surfing event designed to reconnect women from across the naval community.
Held in Westward Ho!, the event was organised through the Royal Naval Association’s Thriving Together programme. Veterans, serving personnel and women from the wider naval community travelled from across the UK to attend, including from areas where there is little naval community presence or support nearby.
Many arrived alone, without knowing anybody else there. By the time they left, plans were already being made to meet again.
Surfing lessons were delivered by North Devon Surf School, with women aged between 26 and 71 taking part.
Among them was Mary King, 71, who served in the Women’s Royal Naval Service and is an amputee.
Mary said:
“It was a fully inclusive weekend. The surfing was great. It was good to get back to it, as I haven’t been able to do it for a long time. It was absolutely awesome fun.”
For many attending, getting in the water was only one part of what made the experience meaningful.
One attendee, Abbie, joined the Royal Naval Association six months ago after being out of service for nearly 12 years. This was the first activity she had attended through the organisation.
She spoke about how valuable it was to spend time with women who understood service life and the adjustment that comes afterwards. Conversations naturally moved between naval life, motherhood, careers and the realities of transition after leaving the Armed Forces.
Some of those attending had joined the Royal Navy at just 16 years old. After years spent in such a close community, leaving service can feel isolating, particularly for those living away from naval towns and cities.
Women from different generations and backgrounds quickly found common ground, supporting each other both in and out of the water. What started with introductions on the first evening ended with new friendships, shared memories and plans to stay connected.
The event was partly funded through the Afghanistan Veterans’ Fund, which supports projects that improve wellbeing and mental health for veterans who served in Afghanistan and other recent conflicts, along with their families.
The funding has been disseminated by Royal Navy & Royal Marines Charity on behalf of the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust Afghanistan Veterans’ Fund at the request of the Office for Veterans’ Affairs.
Activities like this help create lasting connections for women within the naval community, particularly for veterans who may no longer live near military communities or support networks.
The Royal Naval Association is the largest Royal Naval membership Association for serving and former serving members of our Naval Forces, and their families, with over 240 branches in the UK and around the globe. Multigenerational, diverse and inclusive, the RNA’s community provides comradeship through the seven Cs: community, connection, companionship, compassion, care, commemoration and celebration. It supports its members through the peaks and troughs of life’s voyage. Once Navy Always Navy.
