JulieBracken

It's a long story... it started with us; or maybe at birth, when the doctors couldn't decide on my gender.

I am reminded of an incident when I was aged about 6 at primary school. I was selected to be the drummer in the school band. I was so bad that after our first stage performance, the headmistress said that "I was so good, she was promoting me to play the 'triangle'! " And at the end of the show, the boys were separated from the girls to be given their prizes... and I was put within the girls...!!!

My hair was very long and my features were (and are still now) very feminine! It is strange how such memories stick in one's mind and how they come to fulfilment later on in life.

Ten years or so later, at my all boys boarding school I was cast in the main female role in Shakespeare's King Lear in the school play. In all my glory, I was Cordelia, the youngest of King Lear's three daughters, and his favourite.

Dressed in a gorgeous virginal long white organza dress, fully made up, I was every inch the lady; to the extent that I vividly recall my mother proudly declaring 'my beautiful daughter'.

Little did she know, if ever.... as I went to Sandhurst and joined the macho world of the licentious soldiery, serving 12 years in the British army, in UK, Bahrain, Berlin and of course many tours of duty in Northern Ireland. And when I left the army in 1978, I was then fully engrossed in starting a second career.

It was only in retirement that the 'ache' fully returned and Julie's nascent spirit was re-energised.