'Being with other female veterans was healing'

Jean (left) and Jo MacDonald are both army veterans

Twin sisters who attended a new course for female veterans who have experienced trauma in the services say it was "healing".

Jean and Jo MacDonald, from Dorrington, in Shropshire, enrolled on the five-day course at the Royal British Legion (RBL) Battle Back Centre in Lilleshall.

It saw nine women, including the sisters, take part in inclusive sporting activities, as well as coaching with experts.

"Actually being with other women that had suffered similar experiences was very healing, because we felt safe enough to share our stories," said Jean, who was a lance corporal in the Women's Royal Army Corps before she was dismissed in 1981 because she was gay.

"We're finding that women have a different need to men, in the way that if you have experienced some trauma within the service, for example, that could be abusive... you need this safe space to be in."

Jo, who is also gay, chose to leave the army after Jean was forced out.

She added: "We all came together not knowing anybody. It was an amazing experience. We were able to do many activities, including archery, wheelchair basketball, sitting volleyball and cycling.

"It was all based on wellbeing and improving life, and it was very, very good to meet new people as well and make good bonds."

King Charles laying flowers at the at the LGBT memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum last month

Jean said that it had been tough to begin with - she had just attended the unveiling of the memorial to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender military personnel by the King at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire last month.

"When I arrived, I was just so emotionally and physically shattered from having attended the memorial," she said, but added that the new course had made her feel "invigorated" by the end of the week.

Jo said: "Just to see Jean improve just over the few days was incredible to watch.

"I think there's some strength when - I don't know whether you want to call it sisterhood - when you have a group of women together, especially having been veterans. We all used to get fed up with this so-called banter [from men], with different innuendos," said Jean.

"It was just such an incredible experience; to achieve that in a small period of time was just amazing."