Former army officer to be ordained deacon

A portion of a press release from the Diocese of Ely on the forthcoming ordination of deacons on July 2.

Diana Johnson

To Serve in the Benefice of Girton

Diana is London-born in Lambeth and was brought up in Clerkenwell and Finchley, from which a place at Sandhurst beckoned. During 21 years of enjoyable military service in the Royal Engineers the high points were active service, intelligence work in Berlin, command of 200 soldiers in Belize, Central America and then of officer cadets at Sandhurst; before retiring as a lieutenant colonel.

Three years at Ridley Hall, Cambridge brought a master’s degree in Pastoral Theology to complement another in International Relations.

Since 1998, Diana has taught at a school in Cambridge and she underwent gender reassignment a few years ago. She will now combine her teaching with service in St Andrew’s parish church in Girton.

Diana has three grown-up daughters and is proud of two grandchildren, too. She enjoys hill-walking, photography and with her mountain leader’s accreditation she is never happier than when walking in the wilds.