RSR, as we know it today, owes its existence to an extraordinary woman. Despite the formidable obstacles in her path, Agnes Weston allowed nothing to deter her from meeting the needs of sailors and their families.

Agnes was born in 1840 into a happy, successful family. Women in those days didn't have careers - they got married or did "good works" and by her early twenties, Agnes spent much of her free time teaching in the local church and Sunday School. About that time the Somerset Militia arrived in Bath, where Agnes lived, and the local clergy asked Agnes to help care for the soldiers. She and her sister converted an old shop into a coffee bar, largely at their own expense, for the troops to enjoy quiet company, home made food and drinks, a writing room and games room. It was not free, because Agnes was convinced that to value it, the men had to pay. The bar also held Christian meetings, giving her a chance to share her faith.

The venture was highly successful, but had its critics. She was accused of giving the men ideas above their station and her parents were criticised for allowing their unmarried daughters to mix with soldiers. Officers perhaps, but soldiers no.

Regiments changed, but the work continued. Agnes wanted to keep in touch with the men she had met and started writing letters. For many, her letters were the only ones they got with news of home. One soldier showed his letter to the Sick Bay Attendant on a troop ship who asked if she would write to sailors too. This was her first link with the Royal Navy. As demand grew she produced a printed letter and by the end of her life, nearly fifty years later, the monthly distribution, called 'Ashore & Afloat', was 55,000 world-wide. She never missed a month, even when on holiday or in hospital.

In 1873, at the age of 33, Agnes was invited to Plymouth by sailors returning to their home port. There she met Sophia Wintz who became her partner in her life's work.
They started small - with Sunday afternoon tea and biscuits in open house at Sophia's parent's home in Plymouth. They quickly outgrew this and moved to a store outside the dockyard gate. They converted it to a bar similar to the one she had run in Bath.

In 1876 they converted the store into a hostel, serving meals, providing cheap accommodation and places to be quiet and relax. The idea was always to give the sailors a 'Home from Home', where they could relax, enjoy home cooking and - in their single cabins - have some privacy. The majority in the Navy of the time were living in crowded messdecks and sleeping in hammocks. It was also cheap, run on a not-for-profit basis.

The 'Rests' always consisted of both Hall and Hostel areas. The Hall was used for Bible classes, services, temperance meetings and social gatherings to which sailors were encouraged to bring their families. There was always a full social programme. The Hostel consisted of the restaurant, recreation rooms and cabins. Rests were never just hostels - they were always concerned with activities for the whole sailor and his family.

During this time Agnes started a savings club for sailors who wanted her to keep their pay so they weren't tempted to spend it. This prompted her to persuade the Admiralty to pay sailors’ wages into bank accounts - and also to pay allotments to their families - a system that was still in place until the early 1970's.

The first Rest in Portsmouth came as a result of a national tragedy in 1878 - the loss of the frigate HMS EURIDYCE with most of her crew of 320. Agnes immediately went to Portsmouth to try to see what suffering she could relieve and made a nation-wide tour to raise money, both for the Rest and for the bereaved. She worked tirelessly for naval wives and families and was instrumental in getting widows pensions introduced in 1894.

The Royal Warrant bestowing 'Royal' on the Sailors Rests was awarded after the Royal Naval Exhibition at the Chelsea Hospital in 1892. In 1898 Agnes was summoned to Windsor to meet the Queen and in 1901 she received an honorary degree from Glasgow University, amongst the first ever awarded to a woman.

Agnes died in 1918, aged 78, and was buried with full naval honours, the first time such an honour had been given to a woman. Her gravestone gives her name, dates and the simple epitaph, 'The Sailor's Friend'.

In that same year Agnes had been awarded the G.B.E. (Dame Grand Cross of the British Empire) in the Birthdays Honours List, long after it had been deserved. She was never personally presented with the award as she died before the investiture. This would not have worried Agnes who was a modest woman who never sought recognition or reward. The sailors said the G.B.E. stood for 'God Bless 'er' and they rejoiced to the last man because she had received no less than her just reward.

After the 2nd World War the Royal Naval Service, comprising the Royal Navy and the Royal Marines, went through a process of great change. The need for this to be reflected by the Royal Sailors' Rests was recognised and new styles of work were developed. In 1999 the charity was re-launched as 'RSR', with a more flexible approach that moved away from a being an organisation based on buildings to one that today is centred on providing 'people, places and projects' for the Services.

RSR still has Rest Centres at Rowner in Gosport and in Helensburgh that support the local naval bases. RSR Rowner provides daytime support and recreation to service personnel and families from the nearby-married quarters estate. Indoor and outdoor activities with crèche facilities are regularly arranged at the Centre and the staff team is aware of the importance of supporting families and the single sailor when and wherever they can. NVQ Courses, in co-operation with St Vincent College, are also available at the Centre. These have been an outstanding success and have made a real difference to the lives of wives preparing for a new career.

RSR Helensburgh (Braeholm) supports those who serve in Scotland and the Clyde Naval Base area. The Centre has superb views overlooking the river and is a truly great facility on offer to all members of the Naval Service, the Royal Naval Association and their families. It is indeed a 'home from home' with accommodation comprising 17 family, double, twin and single ensuite bedrooms with television, telephone and tea or coffee making facilities. Leisure facilities include a fitness gym, a sauna, a beauty salon and a coffee bar diner. Braeholm is a great place for a welcome break and the opportunity to enjoy the countryside around Loch Lomond.

A new and exciting challenge for RSR has been the placement of Chaplaincy Support Workers (CSW) with the Royal Navy and Royal Marines. Currently there are a total of thirteen workers at HMS NELSON, HMS COLLINGWOOD, HMS RALEIGH; HMS SULTAN; RNAS Culdrose; HM Naval Base Clyde; JSU Northwood, Royal Hospital Haslar and with the Royal Marines at CTCRM.

The work of the CSW is different at each establishment but similar in that each worker is a close member of the Chaplancy and is there to help, to offer support and solve problems if possible… rather like Agnes all those years ago.

RSR understands that naval families face the same challenges as everyone else. Separation and the demands of the job accentuate some of those pressures. Families often end up running two homes albeit one may be a billet on a naval base and another a married quarter. This can often lead to financial difficulties. To help, RSR has developed a partnership, for the Naval Service, with the money advice charity Credit Action (www.creditaction.org.uk) and produced information and a free phone help line (0800 138 1111). Such has been the success of the scheme that it has also been taken up by the Army and RAF. Further information is available here.

What is the rationale behind RSR's involvement in the naval service today? Like the original work of Agnes Weston and the Biblical Good Samaritan, who saw a need and reacted unconditionally, so we seek to demonstrate the love of Christ by our actions and without any strings attached.

The RSR Articles of Faith