WW2 WRNS Patricia Potton

Video interview with Wren Patricia Potton. Patricia was born in 1923 in Barry, South Glamorgan, to Patrick and Lily Gervaise, and was the sixth of nine children. Only 16 when war broke out, Patricia had to wait until she was 18 before she could volunteer for the WRNS (Women's Royal Naval Service). Her family were opposed to the idea, but although her aunt burnt her call up papers she arrived for training at HMS Eaglet in Liverpool. Before the completion of her training, Patricia requested to be given the category of Officers’ Steward because she enjoyed meeting people and was interested in catering. Her request was granted and she was told to report to HMS Osprey in Dunoon. Her duties there included cleaning cabins and serving meals. Patricia was one of eight Wrens who made up the entertainment committee called “The Glenmorag Follies”. One of the “Follies” was a trained dancer and she choreographed and taught the others. Not having any tap shoes they had to “make do and mend” by using their uniform shoes which had metal pieces in the heel and toe. It was through the follies that she met her future husband, Frank. He saw her perform and asked to be introduced to her, after telling a friend that he was going to marry “that Wren with the nice legs in ‘The Glenmorag Follies'”! Patricia was demobbed in May 1946 and married Frank in June at Wortley Parish Church, Leeds. When her son started school she put the catering experience gained in the Wrens to good use. She became the manageress of a hotel grillroom and eventually the owner of her own 10-bedroom hotel. The Archive holds Patricia's recorded interview & transcript, video interview, scrapbook of her time in the Wrens, her memoir, and photographs of Nagasaki taken by her late husband Frank. #history #military #militaryhistory #war #ww2 #veteran #interview #archive #wrns #wren #womeninwar