Wrens visit wartime haunts

Commodore Annette Picton, the Commodore-in-Chief of the Woman's Royal Naval Service (WRNS), yesterday met several Wrens who had served in Malta during World War Two.

Some 200 Wrens have been invited to Malta on holiday by Cristina Edwards, herself a daughter of an ex-Wren.

Commodore Picton, the highest-ranking female serving officer in the Royal Navy, takes an active interest in the Wrens' association and was the guest of honour.

Ms Edwards said the Wrens visiting Malta were thrilled to revisit places such as Fort Ricasoli, Manoel Island, Fort St Angelo and the Whitehall Mansions, which had been their residence after the war and now houses the British High Commission.

Commodore Picton yesterday met the Wrens at the Imperial Hotel in Sliema. Some of the Wrens who served in Malta during the war had rooms at the Imperial and nostalgically wanted to revisit them.

Of the other Wrens who are in Malta some are still serving and have just returned from the Gulf.