Our stories
<< Back to our stories
When we held our fundraising display at Clydach Craft & Produce Market on 30th Oct 2010, we were graced with the presence of this special lady, Mrs Joyce McCarthy. She was one of the stallholders in the market, and when she popped outside for a breath of fresh air (and to look at our bikes, of course), we had a revealing, and I suspect, nostalgic, chat.
It turns out that during world war 11, she used to be a despatch rider in the 93rd Searchlight Regiment RA, riding an Ariel 350cc around the London area. In October 1942 the 93rd searchlight unit became the first and only all-girl searchlight unit, to have ever existed in the British Army. She was in the unit until 1946.
" Joyce trying out Vlard's trike for size! "
Joyce said that although she rode bikes for all that time, she has never ridden a bike since then. When asked why, she replied that her brothers' wouldn't let her! How amusing is that?
" An Ariel 350, like the one Joyce would have ridden. "
Nice to have met you Joyce.
Richard & June Davies