Sister Mary Joy Langdon
Michael Berkeley's guest is Sister Mary Joy Langdon, who was the first woman operational firefighter in the UK. She later became a nun and founded the Wormwood Scrubs Pony Centre.
In the hot, dry summer of 1976, Mary Joy Langdon made a very bold decision: she joined the fire service. She was the first woman in the UK to work as a professional operational fire-fighter. Then, after eight years, she changed course - and became a nun.
In 1989, as Sister Mary Joy Langdon, she founded the Wormwood Scrubs Pony Centre, introducing inner-city children and young people with disabilities to horse riding. Recently it helped children traumatised by the Grenfell Tower fire. The Centre also attracted one of Britain’s most acclaimed painters – Lucian Freud - who came to draw the horses.
Mary Joy's music selections include Mozart, Strauss, Bach and Grieg.
Presenter Michael Berkeley
Producer Clare Walker
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- Sun 29 Dec 2024 12:00Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 3
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