Friday August 21st, 1998

Two go public on their change of sex

BY HELEN CARTER

A Church minister and former policeman who decided to change sex, with the support of their wives, have spoken of their difficult decisions.

Yesterday Rev Bill Parry, a minister of Maesteg, South Wales, announced he wanted to be known as Dian.  As part of the transformation she has bought seven grey wigs, a wardrobe of dresses and has begun taking female hormones prescribed by a private clinic.

Former West Mercia policeman Tony Ashton had a sex change operation last year and now lives as Claire Ashton with her wife, Barbara, in Shrewsbury.

Claire speaks of her decision to become a woman in a documentary which will be screened later this month.

The minister’s wife, Anita, who has been shopping for clothes with Dian, said yesterday that she was shocked when she learned of her 59 year old husband’s secret 10 months ago.

She added: “It has been a very emotional time for me and my family.  But we have been married for 38 years and you can’t walk away from the person you love.  I still love Dian and now we go out shopping for clothes together.”

Dian said: “Ever since I was a little lad I have fought back my female impulses and the fact that I am a transsexual.”

She added: “But last year I underwent a profound change.  My body began to alter and I knew I couldn’t fight it any longer.  From now on I am only going to dress in women’s clothing.”

She said that she was hoping to consult a surgeon at the end of next year, if her treatment is a success.  Despite her decision to be open about her treatment, she is anticipating hostility from the church authorities.

“I am a committed Christian and an ordained minister.  It will hurt me if they are unable to accept me, but that is something that I will have to understand,” she said.

Dian, who is a campaigner against homosexuality, pleaded to be left alone and treated as a gentlewoman.  But her three grown-up daughters are finding it difficult to cope.

She said of her wife, Anita: “I don’t know what I would have done without her.  I would have gone quite mad.  She has been my rock and has offered me support since I told her I could hide my true identity no longer.”

But Emlyn Davies, the chapel secretary, said: “It’s unlikely he will ever take services here again.  If he turned up dressed as a woman I would have to bar him at the door.  We will have to take some action, but that action will be decided by the members.”

Claire Ashton, aged 46, also had the full support of her wife, Barbara, when she had surgery to transform her into a woman last year and they still live together as friends.  Claire began to dressing as a woman in the 1950s and after her marriage 18 years ago continued to dress up and hid clothes and make-up in their attic.

Claire said: “It got to the point where I couldn’t go out dressed In civvie clothing.  Although I was dressed as a man I perfectly expected people to react to me as a woman.

“When I put on my uniform to go to work it was a disguise I could hide behind.”

She retired from the police force, where she had worked in the tactical firearms unit, last year.  Her wife, Barbara, said: “He was a perfectly normal, pleasant man.”

The Carlton documentary, Headliners.  will be screened on August 30.

Christine Burns, vice-president of the lobby group Press for Change, said she was not surprised the women had stuck by their partners.  “I believe that this is because people know that the vows they take when they get married are for life.”

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