Freddy was born in Plymouth in 1945 and was taken into care aged 4. He identified with his ‘sisters’ from an early age and was confused when he realized he was different from them. He struggled to understand the conflicting feelings inside him until the 1980s when things finally came to a head and he knew he had to become the woman he felt he was born to be.

In the first instance, by writing this memoir, Joy sought to put the events of her life to rest. Her daughter thought it had the potential to raise awareness and help other people understand why someone is compelled to make the change.