hen I was younger I had dreams of joining the military, but my hopes were dashed after I had to have a major operation. I turned to nursing but almost as soon as I qualified I fell pregnant with
my two sons. When they were a bit older I went back to general nursing before moving to the Isle of Wight and becoming a district nurse. I ran my own team and gained an MSc in Public Health but still felt I needed a challenge. When a friend told me she was joining the TA, she suggested I come along. Excited at the chance to fulfil a childhood dream, I applied to the army and the navy and was offered the chance to join both – I chose the navy. In 2007 I served in Afghanistan for the first time, working in the wards for six months. This year, I served again for four months as a team leader. When I’m not out there, I work in the emergency department in Portsmouth’s Queen Alexandra Hospital. In Afghanistan we don’t just care for serving British and Allied forces, but the local coalition forces and nationals too. I think I’m lucky to have such a great job – and even luckier that this year I am home for Christmas!
Dress, £150, 8-20, Pearce II Fionda at Debenhams. Bag, £24.99, New Look. Earrings, £15, Accessorize. Shoes, £110, Dune