A DOUBLE-first was achieved yesterday amid rare publicity in the normally secretive world of MI5, Britain's security service. For the first time, a woman was appointed to head the organisation. Equally unprecedented was the announcement of the new director-general's name.
The promotion of Stella Rimington, married with two children, after a career of 22 years in counter-intelligence, marked a new chapter in the history of Britain's intelligence services. Appointments have previously been closely guarded, with names of new chiefs of MI5 and MI6, the secret intelligence service, becoming known only unofficially.
A Home Office spokesman explained that since the Security Service Act 1989 came into force, MI5 had been on a statutory basis and the naming of a new director-general was in line with its changed status.
Mrs Rimington, aged 56, whose husband, John, is the director-general of the Health and Safety Executive, will replace Sir Patrick Walker, who retires at 60 in February next year. She will be promoted to the civil service grade of second permanent secretary at a salary of ú77,500.
The appointment, made by Kenneth Baker, the home secretary, and approved by the pime minister, is the first senior intelligence position filled under John Major's premiership. Sir Colin McColl, head of MI6, which comes under the Foreign Office, is due to retire in September next year, and it is possible that he too might be succeeded by a woman.
The decision to appoint a woman as MI5 chief was not unexpected. Mrs Rimington is a formidable intellect and administrator who has won admiration from within the security service and outside. For the past 12 months she has held the position of one of the deputy director-generals, working closely with Sir Patrick on the fifth floor of MI5's headquarters in Gower Street, north London.
Women have always held senior positions in MI5, far more so than in MI6 at Century House across the river. Mrs Rimington has a wide range of experience in MI5 and once headed F2, part of F branch, which handles domestic subversion.
She was born Stella Whitehouse in Croydon in 1935, the daughter of a mechanical engineer. After her family moved she went to Nottingham High School for girls at the age of 12 and then on to Edinburgh University, graduating in 1958 with an MA. In 1963, aged 27, she married John Rimington, who was working at the old Board of Trade, although he was seconded to the Treasury, researching decimal currency. Her husband, aged 56, who went to Nottingham High School for boys, has been director-general of the Health and Safety Executive since 1984.
The Rimingtons have two daughters and live in London. Mr Rimington said yesterday: "My wife's career is her own business but naturally I'm delighted for her. She's a very kind and straight person and the country is fortunate in having her services in such a position."
The choice of a woman was being presented as the latest example of the prime minister's desire to enhance the role of women in society. The defence ministry yesterday confirmed that women were to be allowed to train as fighter pilots.
