In this episode, we hear the story of Roger Stevens, whose life began in Cornwall and was shaped by a family tradition of military service stretching back to the First World War. In the 1950s, he continued that legacy when he joined the Royal Air Force as a fireman during his National Service, serving in Northern Ireland before The Troubles and later in the Indian Ocean, England and Germany. While posted to RAF Gütersloh, Roger played a key role in saving the life of a German Starfighter pilot after an emergency landing; a moment that reflects his professionalism, composure and courage.

Roger also reflects on how the discipline and emergency-response skills he developed in the RAF helped him build a successful civilian career, becoming one of the country’s early paramedics. From his childhood memories to the experiences that shaped his working life, Roger offers thoughtful, deeply personal insight into a life defined by duty, compassion, and resilience.

In this episode, podcast host and author Matt Limb shares the story behind his book Valour – The Victoria Cross & The Lincolnshire Regiment. Written alongside the Veterans Voices UK podcast, the book brings together the stories of ten men from one regiment who earned the Victoria Cross.

From an unexpected discovery that sparked the idea, to a chance meeting in an Italian war cemetery, a moment that proved both moving and memorable - Matt reflects on his research and the courage of the men behind the medals, exploring what drove them, what connected them and why their stories still matter today.

Discover more about this landmark book at veteransvoices.uk/books.

Peter Franklin has lived his entire life in County Durham, shaped by both the coalfield traditions of his family and a proud record of service. His father served with the Territorial Force before 1914 and went on to be wounded in the Great War, while his brother suffered a broken back as a miner underground. Against that backdrop, Peter began his own path, serving his national service with the Hussars during the Malayan Emergency, before continuing in uniform with the Territorial Army through to the 1980s.

But Peter’s story is about more than soldiering. A lifelong passion for cycling has taken him far beyond the roads of County Durham, across Ireland, through Austria and into the mountains of Europe. It was through cycling that he met his wife, Frances, with whom he shared 63 years of marriage. In this episode, Peter reflects on family, service, and the freedom of life on two wheels.