AS FAR as is known, the Revd Heather Aston (fourth from left) is the first WRNS officer to have been ordained. She was made deacon in Truro Cathedral by the Bishop of Truro, the Rt Revd Tim Thornton, and will serve in the Cornish benefice of Meneage, on the Lizard Peninsular.

She was also one of the last Wren officers to be trained and pass out from the Royal Naval College at Greenwich, in 1976, before such training was moved to Dartmouth. When, a year ago, she was at a reunion at the British Museum of 11 of the 16 Wrens who were on her officers' training course, she told them that she was to be ordained this year.

They all put the date into their diaries, and between them arranged for a green stole to be embroidered with the WRNS crest, to be given to her at her ordination. No than eight of her former colleagues came to the ordination service in Truro, including one from France, while those in Australia and Canada sent their congratulations by post.

Bishop Thornton was very ready to be photographed with all nine ex-Wrens after the service, who tried to replicate their passing out photograph; and the new deacon was delighted when she realised that she could wear her new stole at the eucharist on the following Sunday.