Meet Joe – war veteran, world traveller and fan of ‘herdy’

91 year old Dot Ashton bought a pin badge from the herdy shop in Grasmere for ‘her Joe’. During the Second World War, Dot was in the ATS, posted to gun sites around the country. She knitted a little RAF airman as a mascot for her husband, Norman, who was a Flying Officer on Lancaster bombers. The mascot was christened ‘Joe’, and he flew on all the wartime missions. He was definitely considered ‘one of the boys’, and poses with Norman and fellow crew members of ‘W for William’.

Joe has since travelled the world, acting as lucky mascot for Dot and family members. His first ‘memento’ badge from Hong Kong was soon followed by others, but his herdy badge now takes pride of place!