Lighting the Fuse

Imagine standing over a bomb - you need to make a choice. Remember, your life depends on it.

In this extraordinary memoir, Lucy Lewis reveals the hidden world of bomb disposal training and how she came to be the UK's first female bomb disposal expert. From joining Sandhurst to rushing to her first bomb disposal call-out, Lucy's story is full of high stakes and tense situations that for most of us, are beyond comprehension.

Lucy's story however is also a deeply inspirational one - joining the military in the 1980s just as women were taking on more dangerous roles, Lucy's every move was watched and scrutinised. This didn't hold her back however, and this is how she broke through the ceiling, fought against sexism and achieved something no woman had ever done before.

Lighting the Fuse is an eye-opening memoir, that reveals the hidden world of being a woman in the military and how a young woman with an ordinary background, made history - not just once, but twice.

“Gripping and eye-opening”

Choice magazine

Lucy Lewis joined the Army in 1988 and after attending Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, she became the first female bomb disposal officer to operate in the Armed Forces. Lucy served in Germany, Northern Ireland and the MOD and was part of a small female delegation to Jordan hosted by the royal family to advise on their merging of male and female armies.

In 2018, Lucy took on another trail-blazing role, becoming the first woman appointed as University Marshal at the University of Cambridge. She lives in Cambridge and is always looking for her next adventure.

Imagine standing over a bomb - you need to make a choice. Remember, your life depends on it. In this extraordinary memoir, Lucy Lewis reveals the hidden world of bomb disposal training and how she came to be the UK's first female bomb disposal expert. From joining Sandhurst to rushing to her first bomb disposal call-out, Lucy's story is full of high stakes and tense situations that for most of us, are beyond comprehension. Lucy's story however is also a deeply inspirational one - joining the military in the 1980s just as women were taking on more dangerous roles, Lucy's every move was watched and scrutinised. This didn't hold her back however, and this is how she broke through the ceiling, fought against sexism and achieved something no woman had ever done before. Lighting the Fuse is an eye-opening memoir, that reveals the hidden world of being a woman in the military and how a young woman with an ordinary background, made history - not just once, but twice.

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