This year’s Remembrance weekend at the Victory Services Club was filled with moments of heartfelt reflection, joyful reunions, and a profound sense of gratitude for those who have served—and continue to serve—our country. Across the Club, members, guests, and veterans gathered to commemorate the occasion with warmth, dignity, and community spirit.
A Very Special Visitor
The weekend began with the honour of welcoming a remarkable guest: 105-year-old WRNS veteran, Christian Lamb. On her way to the Royal British Legion’s Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall, Wren Lamb stopped by the Club and was warmly greeted by Club Secretary and CEO, Colin Francis CBE. Her presence was inspirational and the VSC were delighted to welcome someone whose service and life story embody extraordinary resilience and dedication.
WRNS Veteran, Christian Lamb
Christian volunteered for the WRNS in 1939 and served for nearly five years. She began as a rating at Wren HQ during the ‘phoney war’ and the London Blitz, later becoming Leading Wren at Coal House Fort in Tilbury, where she managed the degaussing range—critical work that protected ships from magnetic mines.
In 1941, she undertook officer training at Greenwich Naval College, passing out as Third Officer before being posted to Plymouth to oversee the plotting and operations room during the Battle of the Atlantic. By 1943, she had moved to Belfast Castle to run the operations room there, where she met Lt. JB Lamb, DSC. They became engaged just ten days later. During this time, Christian plotted convoy ONS5, in which Lt. Lamb’s ship, HMS Oribi, took part in one of the most significant battles of the Atlantic. She remained at her post long after her shift, anxiously tracking the convoy’s progress until Oribi’s safe return.
Christian and Lt. Lamb married in December 1943. The following month, she joined Combined Operations HQ at Richmond Terrace, where she secretly plotted the landing craft maps vital to the D-Day landings. Her final day as a Wren came with the announcement that the landings had begun. Across the war, Christian served as a rating, a leading Wren, an officer, a wife, and a mother. By October 1944, she had welcomed her daughter Felicity. She later documented her extraordinary experiences in Beyond the Sea: A Wren at War.
In recognition of her contribution, she was awarded the Légion d’Honneur by President Macron at the 80th anniversary of D-Day in June 2024.
A Weekend Alive With Camaraderie
Throughout Saturday, the Club was a vibrant hub of activity, alive with conversation, reunions, and shared memories. At lunchtime, the VSC were honoured to host the King’s Own Scottish Borderers in the Trafalgar Room, where the regimental members enjoyed time together in an atmosphere filled with warmth and laughter.
In the evening, the Club welcomed Blind Veterans UK to a special Curry Buffet in Carisbrooke Hall. The room buzzed with animated chatter as friends, families, and veterans reconnected and shared stories.
Meanwhile, in the Navy Lounge Bar, members enjoyed a lively performance from Adam Christopher-Rhys and guest singer. With a repertoire full of wartime classics, they encouraged everyone to join in, filling the evening with music, nostalgia, and community spirit. It was a terrific night, enthusiastically enjoyed by all who attended.
A Morning of Reflection
Remembrance Sunday is, quite rightly, a quieter and more solemn occasion. As the morning unfolded, the distinctive Black “Poppy” Cabs arrived at the Club to transport veterans to the Cenotaph. Their return later in the day marked the beginning of another important gathering, as lunch was served to members and guests in the Grill Restaurant. Over the weekend, the VSC Grill restaurant in total served almost 1,000 guests, with additional events catered for in the Club’s event rooms.
Music, Memories, and Meaning
Later in the afternoon, guests were entertained by Tom Carradine, whose familiar songs and spirited sing-along style helped bring warmth and companionship to the day. His performance created an atmosphere that was both reflective and uplifting, ensuring the weekend concluded on a memorable note.
Throughout the entire Remembrance weekend, it was heartening to see so many families, friends, veterans, and serving personnel come together to honour those who have sacrificed so much. The staff of the Victory Services Club are genuinely privileged to serve and support all who visited, contributing in our own way to a weekend of remembrance, gratitude, and community.
A full gallery of all the published photographs appears below – please enjoy!
REMEMBRANCE WEEKEND 2025
