KIDLINGTON pensioner Dorothy Hughes yesterday ruled out romance as she officially joined the ranks of the Chelsea Pensioners.

The 85-year-old, formerly of Mead Way, and Winifred Phillips, 82, from Kent, were welcomed to the Royal Hospital, at Chelsea in London.

They are the first women to become Chelsea Pensioners in the 317-year history of the hospital, which cares for war veterans.

Mrs Hughes, who applied for a place after seeing the hospital on TV, said as she settled into her new surroundings: “It’s fantastic. There are a lot of women staff, so you don’t feel isolated, and once you’ve been in the Army, you don’t see them as men, they’re mates.”

Mrs Hughes served as an anti-aircraft gunner in the Second World War, defending London against German bombers during the Blitz.

After the war she became a sergeant and transferred to a research group working on a space programme.

She said she applied to become a Chelsea Pensioner because she wanted to make new friends and felt isolated at home, but she ruled out any romances.

She said: “It’s a new beginning for me and I’m going to love every minute of it, but I’ve been a widow for 18 years and no way would I go into a relationship.

“It’s my own life now and I’m living it.”

Chelsea Pensioners must be over 65, drawing an Army pension and without dependents.

Pensioner Lewis Prangle, 89, from Winchester, said: “There will be different kinds of conversations on the mess table – we’ve got to moderate our language.”

Women have been invited to become Chelsea pensioners because of the increasing number of female soldiers reaching pensionable age.

Ms Phillips, who served in the Army for 22 years, said: “It’s fabulous. It’s just like the Army all over again.”

tshepherd@oxfordmail.co.uk