The WOW Report

  • WOW Report
  • About
  • RuPaul’s Drag Race Live!
  • WOW Presents Plus
  • What to Watch
  • Store
You are here: Home / Featured / #TDOV: 90 Year-Old British WWII Veteran Comes Out as Trans, Proving It’s Never Too Late!

#TDOV: 90 Year-Old British WWII Veteran Comes Out as Trans, Proving It’s Never Too Late!

By Trey Speegle on March 31, 2017 7:14 am

Patricia was Peter Davies, Service Corp solider during WWII


Today is International Transgender Day of Visibility and what better way to get inspired than to see someone, at any age, finally become themselves.

Patricia Davies, is from a village in Leicestershire, England and says she has known since the age of three that she was female but lived in fear that coming out would see her ostracised from her family, community or even land her in jail. Last year at the age of 90, she finally decided to begin transitioning,

“It feels like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. I was living a lie.“

Despite being open with her late wife 30 years ago, Patricia – born Peter – decided to continue to live in the closet. She says she knew she was female at the age of just three. Patricia said she feels like she has been given a new lease on life after she revealed her secret to her supportive neighbours and she has also started taking the female hormone estrogen. Her gender on her medical records has been changed to female.

“I’m not ruling it [surgery] out. I’m quite happy with where I am but it’s not something I think I will experience. If they said it was safe I would talk it over with my surgeon, assuming I live long enough.

I have been keeping quiet. I have slowly started to tell some of my neighbours. Everybody said “don’t worry, as long as you’re happy”.

I’ve known I was transgender since I was three. I knew a girl called Patricia and I decided I wanted to be known by that name but it didn’t stick.

My mother seemed to go along with it. We went to see Peter Pan and I wanted to be a fairy. She made me a wand. She didn’t say it was strange.

Patricia kept her secret until she retired, before sharing it with her late wife.

“I have always been attracted to women but not in a sexual way. I’m not gay. My attraction to women was that I wanted to be like them. I would have liked to be like the pin-ups.“

Despite keeping her true identity a secret, she says she wasn’t miserable, explaining:

“I was never totally unhappy. I always made the most of things and looked on the bright side of things. I’ve always had a wicked sense of humor.

The atmosphere [around being transgender] was not safe. People did not understand what transgender was. Really even the medical profession didn’t understand it as the treatment was to give you the ‘electric shock treatment’.

They thought they could make you better. They didn’t realise it was something that you could not cure.

Because of the general hostility of people I kept quiet. It wasn’t until recently that I felt safe to come out and I felt an overwhelming desire that I wanted to break free. So I came out and I’ve not regretted it.

I’m known to pretty much all the old faces in the village. I’m quite content now and I wear a skirt and blouse. I don’t wear any men’s clothes any more.“

Patricia served in the army from April 1945 until April 1948, leaving when she was 21 and getting married only a few months later.

“Perhaps Hitler got news I had joined in April 1945 and gave up. That’s what I like to think.

Nobody seems to bat an eyelid, they accept me as I am.

There was a TV show in the 70s about a man that wanted to dress as a woman and at that point I had never even heard the word ‘transgender’.

I looked it up and there it was and I knew I was transgender. I was 60 when it all came pouring out to my wife, she was very sympathetic and helped me all the way but we agreed to keep it quiet.

She used to buy me jewelery and she would call me Patricia. I kept it a complete secret. When I first came out to my wife I started to wear female shoes, some teenagers spotted it and started hurling abuse.

They used to often throw eggs at my windows too. They did it so much I had to get the police involved. But they have grown up and gone now thankfully.“

Since coming out last year, Patricia has become a member of The Beaumont Society, a support group for the transgender community, as well as joining the Women’s Institute.

“It’s not 100% safe now but it’s much better than it was. People that I have told seem to be very accommodating and haven’t thrown abuse at me. I joined the Women’s Institute. I socialise with them and have a natter. I’m having a great time. I have a new lease on life.

I’ve been made most welcome in the societies. I think people will benefit from being educated on this a bit more.“

Amen to that, Patricia.

(Photos, Mickey Jones; via The Daily Mail)

Show the love:

  • Tweet
  • Share on Tumblr

Filed Under: Featured, LBGTQ, Life, News, Transgender

More

ABBA! Nick Offerman! Murray Bartlett! David Bowie! The WOW Report for Radio Andy!

ABBA! Nick Offerman! Murray Bartlett! David Bowie! The WOW Report for Radio Andy!

by Blake Jacobs on February 3, 2023 11:00 am

Adam Joseph Reimagines Loosey LaDuca’s Talent Show Track “Let Loose”- Listen

Adam Joseph Reimagines Loosey LaDuca’s Talent Show Track “Let Loose”- Listen

by Paisley Dalton on January 31, 2023 9:28 am

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Trending


#TikTokTrend: Madonna Dancing to Gaga’s ‘Bloody Mary’ Has Fans Kinda Freaking TF Out –Watch

Robert Fux, Farao Groth & Kayo Are Sashaying to the ‘Drag Race Sverige’ Judging Panel

Monét X Change & Bob the Drag Queen Launch New Line, BOMO Beauty

The LOOK George Santos Gives After Being Asked “Who Do You Think Will Win Drag Race..?” –Watch

#80ForBrady: Trixie Quizzes Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda, Sally Field & Rita Moreno –Watch

About

From the creators of The Eyes of Tammy Faye, Party Monster, Million Dollar Listing, RuPaul's Drag Race, I Am Britney Jean, Big Freedia, and more.

Schiaperrelli! Madonna! Tom Hanks! Kylies Minogue & Jenner! The WOW Report for Radio Andy
Madonna! Joanna Lumley! Edgar Allan Poe! Jennifers Lopez AND Coolidge! The WOW Report for Radio Andy!
Prince Harry! Jennifer Coolidge! M3GAN! Jordan Peele! Randy Joins Us for the WOW Report for Radio Andy!
Rest in Perfection Barbara Walters and Anita Pointer! The WOW Report for Radio Andy!
ONJ! QE2! Leslie Jordan! Our In Memoriam Episode for 2002 on The WOW Report for Radio Andy

© 2021 World of Wonder Productions, Inc | World of Wonder is a trademark of World of Wonder Productions, Inc | Privacy

Copyright © 2023 · News Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in