WRNS Hal Far officer dies

Commandant Sara Vonla McBride, a former director of the Women's Royal Naval Service who also served at the frontline naval air station at Hal Far, has died aged 82.

Vonla McBride, who worked hard to enhance the status of WRNS personnel, came to Malta shortly after being promoted to first officer at a naval air station in Scotland.

At Hal Far, Wrens were responsible for meteorology, armaments analysis and radar plotting.

The Times of London stated in its obituary: "As always, McBride's zest for life ensured a happy and fulfilling tour, her considerable talent as an actress finding expression with the local dramatic club.

"She observed that Malta's romantic bastions needed little embellishment as the set for Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew and other plays."

A succession of increasingly responsible staff jobs was crowned with promotion as Commandant in 1976 and appointment as director of the WRNS for three years to 1979. She was appointed CB on her retirement that year.