Winifred, 80, wins battle to become first female Chelsea pensioner

But it seems that the Chelsea Pensioners might have their hands full when she arrives.

Winifred Phillips was yesterday named as the first woman to join the Royal Hospital in West London.

And she appears determined to make a big impression, having lost none of her joie de vivre at the age of 80.

Miss Phillips, who served as a warrant officer in the Auxiliary Territorial Service, said: When I was in the Army I used to say: "When I get old I'm going to be one of the first women in there and I'm going to get in my wheelchair and chase all those men up and down the corridor".

I just know it will be a wonderful place to live. I would go in tomorrow if they would have me.'

She will take up residence in two years, to allow time to raise money for extensive redevelopment works at the site.

This will include the installation of female bathrooms and lavatories, and conversion of some of the sleeping quarters to ensuite rooms.

It would be unthinkable for Miss Phillips, of Deal, Kent, to live alongside the male residents.

They sleep in rather spartan fashion in narrow berths separated from each other by a curtain.

Other attempts to modernise the hospital, once described by a manager there as like a geriatric prep school', will include a cyber cafe and an Italian coffee bar.

The admission rules for the hospital, founded by King Charles II in 1692, are very clear.

Candidates must be in receipt of an army pension, be over 65, have at least 22 years Army service and be free of the obligation to support a wife, partner or family.

And, until now, be a man.

Female visitors are allowed in but must leave by 9.30pm.

Miss Phillips, who served in Singapore, Cyprus and Egypt, said she had little trouble convincing the institution to change its ways.

I was the first person to ask them to admit women. They'd never considered it before.'

When she moves in she will receive the distinctive scarlet uniform and three-cornered hat the Chelsea Pensioners wear outside the grounds.

The male residents have no objections to letting women inside their staid world – just the opposite, in fact.

Resident Charlie Parker, 77, recently told a documentary team from BBC4:

If women have served their time and given their service they are entitled to come. I've no objection – provided there's one each to go round.'

More recently, Chelsea's Captain of Invalids, Colonel Stephen Daniell, said: One of my horrors is dealing with the problems of jealous liaisons. I can see big troubles in dealing with the odd punch-up, but we'll cope.'

There are more than 300 male inpensioners, as the veterans are known, at the hospital. Around one a week dies, an occurrence described by staff as the Last Posting'.

Any empty places are soon filled, so keen are former soldiers to join the ancient institution.

Recently, as part of the BBC documentary series, Miss Phillips visited her future home with two other women veterans, former Regimental Sergeant-Major Agnes Doig, 75, and Second World War gunner Barbara Wetherall, 81.

The first of the programmes, which features the hospital's oldest resident, Bill Swingler, 101, begins tonight on BBC4.

The visit of the women to the hospital, Ladies in Waiting, will be shown at 8.30pm on May 10.