#020. When Maurillia was seven years old, living in Trinidad & Tobago, she told her mum ‘One day I will be a soldier and live where the Queen lives’, and she did, but sadly it ended far too soon.
This is The Silent Why, a podcast on a mission to open up conversations around loss and grief and to see if hope can be found in 101 different types of loss.
Loss #15 of 101 - Loss of a dream career.
In this episode we chat to the brilliant and inspiring Maurillia Simpson. Aged 19, Maurillia left home for England and enrolled to be a British Soldier, but had no real idea of what life would look like on the frontlines.
Veteran Lance Corporal Maurillia Simpson completed three operational tours of Iraq, during which she encountered enemy fire, saw comrades killed, drove through minefields and on one occasion was buried alive for 20 hours after a mortar attack. But it was an accident in 2013 which led to her being medically discharged and exiting the army without the full use of her left leg and wanting to end her life on top of a building.
Thankfully "the wind didn't blow" and Maurillia is still with us today, spreading her message of hope and endurance.
As a military veteran, Maurillia has reached incredible heights; drafted as a reserve player for Team GB Paralympics, won gold and silver medals at the Invictus Games in 2014, sang the National Anthem at the NFL in 2021, was part of The Choir for the Invictus Games, sang on Songs of Praise 2020 and BBC Sports Personality 2016, is a member of the Gosp-Ability choir formed for the celebrations of Prince Harry and Meghan’s wedding, and has been on BBC R4's Woman's Hour. Her enthusiasm for life is infectious and we feel privileged to share her story with you.
Maurillia singing 'Flesh and Blood' as part of The Choir for the Invictus Games with Gareth Malone: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qt6pIYmHuBs
Singing 'Just Be' on Songs of Praise with Laura Wright: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgn-Hj3yBlg
Interview on BBC Woman's Hour (from 28 mins): https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0000swb
Meeting Prince Harry:
https://www.zimbio.com/ph
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