The Invergordon Archive

The Wrens (Women’s Royal Navy Service) were not allowed to serve on ships in those days. I suspect their main role was in clerical and similar duties.
At Invergordon they were billeted in a large tenement building on the west side of the High Street just up from Munro Street. It was known as "The Wrennery".
This photo appears to have been taken on the No. 1 football pitch which was located in front of the Naffi building at The Black Park recreational grounds (known as "The Rec"). There were many pitches here for football, rugby and hockey. I can’t remember seeing cricket played. Further down Castle Road there were tennis courts enclosed by a high wooden fence. These seemed to be the exclusive haunt of officers.
When the Home Fleet was in port The Rec was extensively used and the No.1 pitch was reserved for important games like the Fleet Cup Final.
In addition to sporting types the Naffi catered for naval thirsts and as a result there were always many sailors who seemed unable to walk in a straight line, maybe they just hadn’t got used to being on land?

Yes Bill, this was Groundies sacred field, he had a unique way of telling us to "GET OFF THE GRASS".
I remember when the American Navy were in they would play baseball, which we kids thought was daft as we played Rounders using school books as bats and here were grown men doing the same thing with bats.

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