Welsh woman’s career in the Royal Navy is a world record-breaker
A WOMAN from Bridgend has been recognised by the Guiness World Records as the longest-serving female in the Royal Navy.
Barbara Mcgregor joined the Navy in 1977 and retired on January 31 this year – her impressive career spanning 43 years and 189 days.
The 62-year-old surpassed the previous record-holder – a lady who had served in the Army for 43 years – earning her a spot on the Guiness World Records list in August.
Ms Mcgregor was invited to read the Act of Remembrance at Paddington Station on Remembrance Day yesterday, where she laid a wreath as part of Great Western Railway’s second Poppies to Paddington initiative.
Speaking to BBC Radio Wales, she said she was “deeply honoured” to hold the world record, and felt “so proud” to take part in the ceremony.
The Wren has also been awarded the Armorial Bearings of Bridgend County Borough, and wore her uniform for the final time as she laid a wreath at the cenotaph in Bryn, near Maesteg, where she is from originally.
Ms Mcgregor, who lives in Aberkenfig, joined the Women’s Royal Naval Service as a radio operator in 1977, serving at HMS Heron, Yeovilton, HMS Dryad, Portsmouth, and HMS Rooke, Gibraltar.
This was followed by the first of two deployments at HMS Raleigh, Cornwall, where she trained new female ratings. Her second period at HMS Raleigh was during a time of change for the Navy when female and male recruits were trained together and women first went to sea.
More recently she became regional development manager for the Naval Regional Command Wales and Western England, which encompasses 15 armed forces careers offices. She was also involved with the 2014 Nato summit in Cardiff.
She retired as the most senior Warrant Officer of the Royal Naval Careers Service but will continue to attend Remembrance services as a trustee of the Association of Wrens.
Speaking to BBC Radio Wales on Claire Summers’ breakfast show, she explained she had faced “lots of challenges” in her early days as a woman in the Navy.
“As we know, over the last 40 years, the ladies who join the Royal Navy today can actually join any part of the Royal Navy – very different to when I joined the Women’s Royal Naval Service, where we were very restricted with our roles,” she said.
“Although we could travel extensively, unfortunately we couldn’t do all the roles that we can do today. So we are totally amalgamated into the Royal Navy and we can do any job that we would wish. So everybody is equal, which is terrific.”
She went on to explain how a “very good friend” of hers, who was with her in Portsmouth on HMS Dryad in 1979, felt Ms Mcgregor’s career should be recognised.
“She approached the Guiness Book of Records and I surpassed a lady in the armed forces who was in the Army who had served for 43 years, and they recognised my record in August. Myself, my family and all my friends – we were deeply, deeply honoured,” she said.
Ms Mcgregor is a former pupil of Cynffig Comprehensive School in Bridgend and has returned there several times to give talks to youngsters.
Bridgend County Borough’s plans to officially mark her retirement have had to be put on hold due to Covid restrictions. However, yesterday the council announced she has been offered the Armorial Bearings of the county borough, which feature symbols that honour the area’s long association with the sea.
Bridgend County Borough Council’s Armed Forces Champion Richard Young, who also served in the Navy, said: “On behalf of the council, I would like to offer our sincere congratulations to Barbara on her retirement after an exemplary 44 years of service in the Women’s Royal Navy. She should be rightly proud of the many years of dedicated service she has given to her country.”