Wren going extra mile in charity walk

Maureen Lightbody was inspired to get active for Macmillan Cancer Support after seeing the efforts of Captain Tom Moore.

The Groomsport lady was a visual signaller with Women’s Royal Naval Service (Wrens) at the age of 18 during WWII.

Remembering the end of the war 75 years ago, she said: “I remember we were all so relieved that the war was over. People were out and we were all very happy.

“You have to remember you only had the news at night at nine o’clock to tell you what was happening.

“It wasn’t like it is now when you have news around the clock.”

She added: “When I was in the Wrens I was trained to be a visual signaller.

“Every ship that came up Belfast Lough had to register in, they sent morse code, a light flashing, and we had to bring them in and give them their anchorage.

“The lough was chocca. You could have got across from Bangor to Larne jumping from ship to ship it was so full.

“Bangor was alive during the war, with Americans and the Navy. When the war ended there was a bit of an anticlimax because they all left.”

Maureen is around a third of the way through her challenge to walk a thousand paces every day (a roman mile) until her 95th birthday in July.

She said: “I don’t think I’d have thought of it other than Captain Tom.”

Maureen has raised over £7,500, with £1,000 of that coming in the first 12 hours.

She said: “I want to thank everyone so much.

“I want to give them a hug but obviously I can’t.”

Donate online at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/maureenlightbody