Helen Renton

Renton was born on 13 March 1931[3] in Denny, Falkirk, Scotland, to John Paul Renton and Sarah Graham Renton (née Cook).[1][2] She was educated at Stirling High School, a state high school in Stirling.[1] She studied at the University of Glasgow, graduating with an undergraduate Master of Arts degree (MA Hons).[2] She remained at Glasgow to undertake one year of postgraduate business studies.[2]

Renton joined the Women's Royal Air Force (WRAF) in 1954, and then underwent two months of officer training.[2] On 9 June 1955, she was commissioned into the Secretarial Branch as a pilot officer.[4] Having completed an accounting course, she was posted as a junior accounts officer to RAF Spitalgate in Grantham, Lincolnshire, England.[2] She was promoted to flying officer on 9 June 1957.[5] She served in the United Kingdom between 1955 and 1960.[1] On 1 April 1960, she was promoted to flight officer with seniority in that rank from 9 March 1960.[6] From 1960 to 1962, she served in Cyprus.[1]

Renton returned to the United Kingdom in 1963.[1] She spent 1967 as a member of the HQ staff of Royal Air Force Germany.[1] On 1 January 1968, she was promoted to squadron officer as part of the half-yearly promotions.[7] From 1968 to 1971, she worked at the Directorate of the WRAF in London.[1][2] On 1 July 1971, she was promoted to wing commander as part of the half-yearly promotions.[8] She then moved to Cyprus where she served as the most senior WRAF officer at the headquarters of the Near East Air Force.[2] From 1973 to 1976, having returned to the United Kingdom, she was based as RAF Training Command.[1] From 1976 to 1978, she was a staff officer at the Ministry of Defence.[1] On 1 January 1977, she was promoted to group captain as part of the half-yearly promotions.[9]

On 16 February 1980, Renton was appointed Director of the Women's Royal Air Force in succession to Joy Tamblin, and made an acting air commodore.[10] On 1 July 1980, she was promoted to air commodore as part of the half-yearly promotions.[11] She was head of the WRAF during the Falklands War, and although no WRAF personnel were directly involved in the conflict, they played a supporting role from bases in the United Kingdom.[2] She retired on 13 March 1986.[12]

Renton never married, nor did she have any children. She believed "children and military life are incompatible".[2]

Renton died on 2 June 2016, she was aged 85.[2]

On 16 February 1980, Renton was made an Honorary Aide-de-Camp (ADC) to Queen Elizabeth II;[10] she relinquished this appointment on 31 January 1986.[13] In 1981, she was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws (LLD) degree by the University of Glasgow, her alma mater.[1] In the 1982 New Year Honours, she was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB).[14]