AN ex-Wren returned to the Cotswolds to lay a wreath on Remembrance Day.

Barbara Mason, 66, laid the wreath at the war memorial in her home village of Aldsworth to commemorate the centenary year of the formation of the Women's Royal Naval Service (WRNS) as a mark of respect for those women who risked or gave their lives, or are still in service.

After the wreath laying, the ex-wren attended the church service at St Bartholomew's Church, at which she read the lesson.

Barbara said: "The whole day was both exciting and emotional and I felt very proud to have served in the Wrens and to have represented them in my home Cotswold village of Aldsworth on Remembrance Sunday, in this the Centenary year of the formation of the WRNS.

"My thanks go to all those who organised and attended the service, which made it so very special to me."

Barbara studied at Farmor's School in Fairford and grew up in Aldsworth.

She then joined the Wren’s at the age of 17 in 1968 and served for 11 years.

She said she felt lucky as she was able to service in places including in Portsmouth, London, Scotland, Malta and Singapore.

She later settled and raised her family in Hampshire.

But she said her experiences with the Wrens and throughout the rest of her life meant that she now “appreciates going back there,” in a more nostalgic and homely sense. She is still a member of The Association of Wrens today.

Barbara usually attends memorials in Portsmouth or London on Remembrance Sunday, but said it felt more fitting to return to Aldsworth for the centenary year.