Tuesday 8th March 2022: The Miller Theatre, The Newcastle upon Tyne Royal Grammar School: 7pm

Two years after COVID forced a suspension of the Society’s activities, we are pleased to announce our return with the 2022 Annual Collingwood Lecture.

Our speaker, Captain Catherine Jordan RN, is the current Commanding Officer of HMS COLLINGWOOD and Captain of the Maritime Warfare School in Fareham, Hampshire.  Her talk ‘Women in the Royal Navy’ brings together the historic anecdotes of women ‘serving’ aboard naval warships in Collingwood’s time, the history of the WRENS and today’s integrated service within the Royal Navy.   Captain Jordan’s own naval career is fascinating and she has achieved much that any youngster, male or female, might dream of.  This promises to be an enlightening and interesting talk, with history, biographical elements and an insight into today’s Royal Navy.

Some of you may have caught the recent TV series ‘Warship’ and taken a particular interest, in that it featured HMS NORTHUMBERLAND.  Several female Officers and Ratings had their time in front of the camera and one might reasonably wonder how much they owed to those who went before them.  This talk may answer that question.

Do come along.  This is an escape from the pandemic.  The Miller Theatre auditorium is large enough to allow good social distancing and is an ideal opportunity to ‘test the waters’ again.  Please tell others and let’s make sure there is a good audience for Captain Jordan.

We are as always indebted to the Headmaster and staff of the Royal Grammar School for their kind hosting of the Annual Lecture.